Re: Is it just me?
On Jul 20, 2005, at 10:57 PM, Dave Land wrote: On Jul 20, 2005, at 10:43 PM, Warren Ockrassa wrote: Or is half the net dark in the US right now? I can't seem to get to CNN, the NYTimes, or, most disturbingly, Mr. Cranky or The Filthy Critic. How'm I supposed to get movie reviews I can trust … ? It's just fine from San Jose, CA. So you know the way from San Jose? Actually things seem to have come back, but for about an hour or so, nada. -- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress The Seven-Year Mirror http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Is it just me?
On Jul 20, 2005, at 11:05 PM, Warren Ockrassa wrote: On Jul 20, 2005, at 10:57 PM, Dave Land wrote: On Jul 20, 2005, at 10:43 PM, Warren Ockrassa wrote: Or is half the net dark in the US right now? I can't seem to get to CNN, the NYTimes, or, most disturbingly, Mr. Cranky or The Filthy Critic. How'm I supposed to get movie reviews I can trust … ? It's just fine from San Jose, CA. So you know the way from San Jose? From, to, around, through, and so forth. Been here about 16 years, so yeah, you could say I know the area a bit. Actually things seem to have come back, but for about an hour or so, nada. I poked around a little and can't seem to find anything that indicates that there were any major increases in packet loss over the past couple of hours. In particular, http://www.internettrafficreport.com/ doesn't show any problems in North America since a slight blip around lunch, pacific time. Dave ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Is it just me?
On Jul 20, 2005, at 11:40 PM, Dave Land wrote: Actually things seem to have come back, but for about an hour or so, nada. I poked around a little and can't seem to find anything that indicates that there were any major increases in packet loss over the past couple of hours. In particular, http://www.internettrafficreport.com/ doesn't show any problems in North America since a slight blip around lunch, pacific time. It's likely regional. I'm not sure where a lot of the net traffic from around here is routed -- it could just as easily be Vegas as Phoenix -- or it could be something nearer, at the ISP itself. It's weird how random it seems to be, though. My own site (served from California) is reachable, but the ISP's portal for users (hosted who knows where, but possibly either NY or MN) is out. That's just one example of the apparently random nature of it. Oh well. According to the ITR site there are several routers that are out right now, including one in Texas. If our local stuff is channeled via Phoenix through one of those points maybe that's the cause. …Huh, and now it's back again. -- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress The Seven-Year Mirror http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
MTG fans: Yer missin out…
The first unofficial MTG tourney to be held in NW AZ is less than 12 hours away. -- What is MTG? A strategy game that lets us know, for sure, that Big Blue still hasn't topped us: http://www.wizards.com/magic/ It's a CCG, collectible card game, that started in 1993 and is still the best of them all; it was the first and is the model after which all others have been shaped. -- What is a tournament? It's a conclave of MTG players who get together and pit their skills against one another. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/tournamentcenter -- What's happening today? A special, unsanctioned local event that is intended to support both local interest in MTG (hosted by Hastings Bookstores) and a NW-AZ web site centralized on MTG players: http://magicmanron.com/ Prizes are Saviors of Kamigawa boosters -- as well as a Uron-block booster pack made just for participants. Anyone in the event gets a Uron block premium card. More on Uron can be seen at http://magicmanron.com/UronBlock/index.htm -- Why do I Give a Fig? A neat kid I know is doing it. -- Why do You Give a Fig? Oh hell, you don't have to. I just think it's pretty cool. -- Warren Ockrassa, Publisher/Editor, nightwares Books http://books.nightwares.com/ Current work in progress The Seven-Year Mirror http://www.nightwares.com/books/ockrassa/Flat_Out.pdf ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Uplift locations and dates. Hey, Alberto?
Alberto Monteiro wrote: Maru Dubshinki wrote: Why don't you guys just ask Brin about all these niggling lil' details? This is his list, and it's not like he's dead. Because He usually replies: I don't know, you are the experts in those presky details or something like that :-P Several of my favorite authors are that way. Orson Scott Card is notorious for using his fans to remember and correct details. Terry Pratchett is notorious for not remembering previous details and contradicting. I loved his approach to it, because he spent an entire novel (Thief of Time) explaining that the contradictions are just a part of the reality. -- --Max Battcher-- http://www.worldmaker.net/ Support Open/Free Mythoi: Read the manifesto @ mythoi.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Interesting articles . . .
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/21/space.catastrophe.reut/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/20/eros/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/18/obrien.nasa.ap/index.html --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: Is it just me?
I had no problems accessing CNN, BBC, and a handful of other regular websites from my Blackberry, but a few were inaccessabile. Regular net seems OK, though... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: MTG fans: Yer missin out
The first unofficial MTG tourney to be held in NW AZ is less than 12 hours away. Pass... Damon, got trapped in collectable games, learned his lesson, and now has deep philosophical opposition to the concept... Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Uplift locations and dates. Hey, Alberto?
In a message dated 7/21/2005 11:12:35 AM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Orson Scott Card is notorious for using his fans to remember and correct details Well, they messed up giving Columbus a telescope. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: MTG fans: Yer missin out...
Damon Agretto wrote: The first unofficial MTG tourney to be held in NW AZ is less than 12 hours away. Pass... Damon, got trapped in collectable games, learned his lesson, and now has deep philosophical opposition to the concept... Hi. I'm Damon, and I am a cardaholic. Hi, Damon, Welcome. Dave ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: MTG fans: Yer missin out…
Warren Ockrassa wrote: The first unofficial MTG tourney to be held in NW AZ is less than 12 hours away. Dang. The only guy I know who would be interested who would have had a prayer of getting there is too far from his cards to collect them and still get there in time Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Harry Potter Discussion (Spoilers!!!) L3
[Spoiler space] On Jul 20, 2005, at 5:16 PM, Matt Grimaldi wrote: I'm thinking that he did have Dumbledore's blessing. Looking at the death scene, it's very clear that Dumbledore was trying to rescue Draco from having blood on his hands. Warren Ockrassa wrote: That's a damned astute observation. He was definitely delaying Draco, and I'd be very surprised if it were from *fear* that he was doing it. He was waiting for someone to show up, and when Snape finally does, it's almost like he's egging him on. I have a hunch that Draco's task was similar to Snape's original sin that he's trying to atone for backstory. Anyway, Dumbledore prime concern was definitely *not* trying to prolong his own life in that scene, but rather trying to protect both Harry and Draco. As for Harry himself being one of the Horcruxes; I had that idea too while reading this book, but set it aside. If his scar really was one of those things, they would have made some effort at removing it long ago. I have a feeling that the final truth about that scar will be much more complicated, and probably will explain why Harry has such difficulty with occulomancy (sp). -- Matt ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Harry Potter Discussion (Spoilers!!!) L3
Warren Ockrassa wrote: I see your point, and it'll be interesting to see if it resolves that way or not. It could break either direction, really. That's part of Rowling's appeal for me. She's pretty careful to keep you guessing, and as Gautam pointed out, makes a concerted effort to play fair with her readers. It's one of her best qualities. Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Harry Potter Discussion (Spoilers!!!) L3
Warren Ockrassa Julia Thompson wrote: p.s. the best thing about Snape, as far as I'm concerned, is the actor who's played him in the movies Alan Rickman. He was also the Metatron in DOGMA, the Sherriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and the Spock-like character in Galaxy Quest. I've always wondered if she didn't create Snape's visuals with Rickman in mind. He's just too perfect a fit. What's fun about the movies is watching these fine English actors hamming it up and having a good time. Emma Thompson in particular cracked me up. Jim ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: MTG_fans=3A_Yer_missin_out
Some of his homegrown spells are just other cards renamed. There are a few neat ones among them, but he crosses up on when things should be an instant and when they should be sorceries a few times. There are also a few that are just strictly better or worse versions of other cards, which is kinda meh IMO. The repeat mechanic is neat. This is one I'd love to see; the arguments alone of whether or not it's better than storm would be worth the price of admission. :) Stall is...OK. I think it would probably be better on big fatties for the Timmies rather than on weenies. A 2/2 flyer for one mana is ridiculously cheap, true, and it *would* allow for a number of quick flying beats by turn three, but if it doesn't come out turn one, it's practically useless. A few of his decisions are puzzling; a pumpable 1/1 for one mana? And it's common? It's better than Nantuko Shade! OTOH, his costless splice spells are decent; the black one in particular is cool. Pit's Pull could rock, and the lands that allow you to choose depletion or pain are neat, though maybe a bit powerful; I mean, Starlit Lake would allow you to play Lightning Angel on turn 2 in Extended; that's strong stuff and well worth 2 damage! The goblin Spikes would make in their pants over Tar-Lan Palace, I think. :) Overall, despite any criticisms I may have made, it's not a bad effort. He managed to get a little in there for Johnny, Timmy and Spike, which is good. Jim I believe in the heart of the cards Maru ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: MTG_fans=3A_Yer_missin_out
On 7/21/05, Jim Sharkey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Some of his homegrown spells are just other cards renamed. There are a few neat ones among them, but he crosses up on when things should be an instant and when they should be sorceries a few times. There are also a few that are just strictly better or worse versions of other cards, which is kinda meh IMO. The repeat mechanic is neat. This is one I'd love to see; the arguments alone of whether or not it's better than storm would be worth the price of admission. :) Stall is...OK. I think it would probably be better on big fatties for the Timmies rather than on weenies. A 2/2 flyer for one mana is ridiculously cheap, true, and it *would* allow for a number of quick flying beats by turn three, but if it doesn't come out turn one, it's practically useless. A few of his decisions are puzzling; a pumpable 1/1 for one mana? And it's common? It's better than Nantuko Shade! OTOH, his costless splice spells are decent; the black one in particular is cool. Pit's Pull could rock, and the lands that allow you to choose depletion or pain are neat, though maybe a bit powerful; I mean, Starlit Lake would allow you to play Lightning Angel on turn 2 in Extended; that's strong stuff and well worth 2 damage! The goblin Spikes would make in their pants over Tar-Lan Palace, I think. :) Overall, despite any criticisms I may have made, it's not a bad effort. He managed to get a little in there for Johnny, Timmy and Spike, which is good. Jim I believe in the heart of the cards Maru Wait a sec- That's Yu-Gi-Oh! You traitor! ~Maru anyone understand the rest of it? ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
