Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
At 09:49 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 08:36 PM Sunday 5/28/2006, David Hobby wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: Apparently that day is here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006240126,00.html BatLeth meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. Let me elaborate: The thing is big and clumsy, but doesn't even have any reach to make up for that. It's probably a bit better than a quarterstaff, though, since it does have sharp parts. And if as in this case you are trying to make the argument, People mustn't play with things with sharp points, raiding someone's house and confiscating one makes it look like you are doing something. Not that I've heard of anyone committing a mugging or robbing a convenience store armed with a batleth. And it would be hard to see how it could violate any concealed carry laws . . . If you hold it right (and CAN hold it right, it takes practice!), you can get a little reach out of it. I could hurt someone at 3' easily enough IF I were in good practice with it. So I'm okay as long as I stay 7' from you and carry a phaser. Or a .357 Magnum . . . --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin. Cyrano de Bergerac's Thrust home. (Hoo-ha!) ::rimshot::
At 07:35 PM Sunday 5/28/2006, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I could use some help from fencers--and from anatomists. All Hoon are double-jointed as well as having that extra arm and leg segment. The toehook means they can lunge and stand off balance BTW, what is the [natural] function of the toehook? --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hello
At 09:29 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, T. Wavis wrote: Figured I'd start afresh. And a second line, just for the halibut. Greetings, Mr. Odatta. Are you visiting all the SF lists I am on this spring? --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin. Cyrano de Bergerac's Thrust home. (Hoo-ha!) ::rimshot::
In a message dated 5/30/2006 11:42:13 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: BTW, what is the [natural] function of the toehook? Brin never said. But as their patrons found the Hoon in alpine valleys (Contacting Aliens) I figured it was to easily walk across frozen rivers. And besides the mating use, the umble was used to bring down unstable snowpacks on the mountains. So the Hoon are more cold weather than originally written. The Hoon were given sucker pads. Luckily, our good Dr. Brin never said WHERE. So the sucker pads became the valves between the two interior sacks that make the single throatsac. Isn't lack of detail wonderful? Vilyehm ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hello
--- David Hobby [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You do sound a bit like Elmer Fudd, though. Which oddly enough was my nickname of sorts when I was a toddler with very little hair. -Me __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
David Hobby wrote: Julia Thompson wrote: ... Julia-- Sure, 3 feet (90 cm) I believe. But how much does it weigh? If I just had a normal 3 foot sword, I'd be faster, and speed does matter... ---David Considering wearing a metal gauntlet, so I can grab one (sharp) end, and increase the reach. Oh, it's pretty darned heavy, even made out of aircraft aluminum. I could do a lot better just picking up a sword at random than picking it up. But I could inflict some pretty serious pain from about a foot closer than my farthest sword distance IF I were in practice. IF. Julia-- Aluminum? So it's lighter than it looks-- good. And the British police are proud of confiscating one? (No comment.) The one we have is aluminum. I don't know about the one they confiscated. Our aluminum one is still fairly heavy. It was made by someone in Texas; we got it at Aggiecon one year. I have a friend who has made a couple working with the guy who made ours. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brain fart
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 10:49 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 5:52 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 4:11 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: The really funny one was someone wandering around before noon one day with vodka and celery in his cup, trying to find some bloody mary mix, and not finding it anywhere. bloody mary mix? You mean tomato juice? ;) Yep. Or you can actually buy stuff labeled Bloody Mary Mix that has a little bit more added to the tomato juice. (Not sure what, but it's on the aisle with the mixers and costs more than the straight tomato juice you get on the aisle with vegetable juices.) I know, I was just being me. Avoid being ripped off by using tomato juice, a dash of worcestershire sauce (Lea Perrins is best), a drop of Tabasco, and a little freshly ground black pepper. And plenty of vodka. ;) I can't handle the Worcestershire, myself (and I know that Lea Perrins is the best brand to buy for the consumption of those who can, including my husband and my mother-in-law), but I could have given him pepper (brought a little grinder) A real one or one of those you buy pre-filled in the spice section of the grocery store? (Not that I'm knocking the latter, as I have one each of those filled with salt, black pepper, and peppercorn medley sitting on the kitchen table to use instead of the common SP shakers. But it would make a much better story if you were hauling around one of those wooden things that a waiter in a fine restaurant might bring by your table. Not that I know what it's like to eat in a fine restaurant, either . . .) Mini Pepper Ball. Bought at the grocery store pre-loaded, but not on the spice aisle. I don't like the big wooden things; the Pepper Ball is easier for me to use. And I wouldn't call some of the places they've done that for Dan all that fine. Well, maybe the Cheesecake Factory could be considered fine by some stretch, but that's about as far as I get to go these days. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brain fart
At 08:21 AM Wednesday 5/31/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 10:49 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 5:52 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 4:11 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: The really funny one was someone wandering around before noon one day with vodka and celery in his cup, trying to find some bloody mary mix, and not finding it anywhere. bloody mary mix? You mean tomato juice? ;) Yep. Or you can actually buy stuff labeled Bloody Mary Mix that has a little bit more added to the tomato juice. (Not sure what, but it's on the aisle with the mixers and costs more than the straight tomato juice you get on the aisle with vegetable juices.) I know, I was just being me. Avoid being ripped off by using tomato juice, a dash of worcestershire sauce (Lea Perrins is best), a drop of Tabasco, and a little freshly ground black pepper. And plenty of vodka. ;) I can't handle the Worcestershire, myself (and I know that Lea Perrins is the best brand to buy for the consumption of those who can, including my husband and my mother-in-law), but I could have given him pepper (brought a little grinder) A real one or one of those you buy pre-filled in the spice section of the grocery store? (Not that I'm knocking the latter, as I have one each of those filled with salt, black pepper, and peppercorn medley sitting on the kitchen table to use instead of the common SP shakers. But it would make a much better story if you were hauling around one of those wooden things that a waiter in a fine restaurant might bring by your table. Not that I know what it's like to eat in a fine restaurant, either . . .) Mini Pepper Ball. Bought at the grocery store pre-loaded, but not on the spice aisle. I don't like the big wooden things; the Pepper Ball is easier for me to use. I have a couple of mostly plastic ones somewhere around here that I picked up in Utah or Colorado which you squeeze rather than twist to activate the grinding action. And I wouldn't call some of the places they've done that for Dan all that fine. Well, maybe the Cheesecake Factory could be considered fine by some stretch, but that's about as far as I get to go these days. I seldom get even that far. --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
At 09:04 PM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: ... BatLeth meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. Let me elaborate: The thing is big and clumsy, but doesn't even have any reach to make up for that. It's probably a bit better than a quarterstaff, though, since it does have sharp parts. If you hold it right (and CAN hold it right, it takes practice!), you can get a little reach out of it. I could hurt someone at 3' easily enough IF I were in good practice with it. Which I'm not, and which is very low on my priority list at the moment. (I think it's lower on my list than firespinning, which is fairly low.) Julia-- Sure, 3 feet (90 cm) I believe. But how much does it weigh? If I just had a normal 3 foot sword, I'd be faster, and speed does matter... ---David Considering wearing a metal gauntlet, so I can grab one (sharp) end, and increase the reach. Oh, it's pretty darned heavy, even made out of aircraft aluminum. I could do a lot better just picking up a sword at random than picking it up. But I could inflict some pretty serious pain from about a foot closer than my farthest sword distance IF I were in practice. IF. How would you rate your chances with a regular sword versus someone with a batleth who was in practice with it? Or, IOW, is a batleth in the right hands likely to be superior or inferior to a garden-variety pig-sticker which may be easier to obtain and learn to use? --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
On Behalf Of Damon Agretto You guys and your swords. I'll take a pollaxe... Never bring a sword, batleth or a poleaxe to a gunfight! - jmh Bang Bang Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
At 08:48 AM Wednesday 5/31/2006, Horn, John wrote: On Behalf Of Damon Agretto You guys and your swords. I'll take a pollaxe... Never bring a sword, batleth or a poleaxe to a gunfight! Don't bring an old battleax to a drive-in movie, either . . . --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 09:49 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 08:36 PM Sunday 5/28/2006, David Hobby wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: Apparently that day is here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006240126,00.html BatLeth meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. Let me elaborate: The thing is big and clumsy, but doesn't even have any reach to make up for that. It's probably a bit better than a quarterstaff, though, since it does have sharp parts. And if as in this case you are trying to make the argument, People mustn't play with things with sharp points, raiding someone's house and confiscating one makes it look like you are doing something. Not that I've heard of anyone committing a mugging or robbing a convenience store armed with a batleth. And it would be hard to see how it could violate any concealed carry laws . . . If you hold it right (and CAN hold it right, it takes practice!), you can get a little reach out of it. I could hurt someone at 3' easily enough IF I were in good practice with it. So I'm okay as long as I stay 7' from you and carry a phaser. Or a .357 Magnum . . . Yup. :) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brain fart
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 08:21 AM Wednesday 5/31/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 10:49 AM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 5:52 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: Charlie Bell wrote: On 30/05/2006, at 4:11 PM, Julia Thompson wrote: The really funny one was someone wandering around before noon one day with vodka and celery in his cup, trying to find some bloody mary mix, and not finding it anywhere. bloody mary mix? You mean tomato juice? ;) Yep. Or you can actually buy stuff labeled Bloody Mary Mix that has a little bit more added to the tomato juice. (Not sure what, but it's on the aisle with the mixers and costs more than the straight tomato juice you get on the aisle with vegetable juices.) I know, I was just being me. Avoid being ripped off by using tomato juice, a dash of worcestershire sauce (Lea Perrins is best), a drop of Tabasco, and a little freshly ground black pepper. And plenty of vodka. ;) I can't handle the Worcestershire, myself (and I know that Lea Perrins is the best brand to buy for the consumption of those who can, including my husband and my mother-in-law), but I could have given him pepper (brought a little grinder) A real one or one of those you buy pre-filled in the spice section of the grocery store? (Not that I'm knocking the latter, as I have one each of those filled with salt, black pepper, and peppercorn medley sitting on the kitchen table to use instead of the common SP shakers. But it would make a much better story if you were hauling around one of those wooden things that a waiter in a fine restaurant might bring by your table. Not that I know what it's like to eat in a fine restaurant, either . . .) Mini Pepper Ball. Bought at the grocery store pre-loaded, but not on the spice aisle. I don't like the big wooden things; the Pepper Ball is easier for me to use. I have a couple of mostly plastic ones somewhere around here that I picked up in Utah or Colorado which you squeeze rather than twist to activate the grinding action. That's what the Pepper Ball is. It's a lot easier, IMO. And nicely refillable. (The only problem I've ever had with one was not being sure I had it totally clean after Dan dropped it in the marinade he was making that time. I replaced that one.) And I wouldn't call some of the places they've done that for Dan all that fine. Well, maybe the Cheesecake Factory could be considered fine by some stretch, but that's about as far as I get to go these days. I seldom get even that far. Ah. Before I got to go to the Cheesecake Factory in April, the finest I ever got was the Olive Garden. (And a lot of the time we just do takeout from there, so it doesn't exactly work out to fine dining. Or the sort of situation where there's a waiter to pepper the salad.) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 09:04 PM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: ... BatLeth meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. Let me elaborate: The thing is big and clumsy, but doesn't even have any reach to make up for that. It's probably a bit better than a quarterstaff, though, since it does have sharp parts. If you hold it right (and CAN hold it right, it takes practice!), you can get a little reach out of it. I could hurt someone at 3' easily enough IF I were in good practice with it. Which I'm not, and which is very low on my priority list at the moment. (I think it's lower on my list than firespinning, which is fairly low.) Julia-- Sure, 3 feet (90 cm) I believe. But how much does it weigh? If I just had a normal 3 foot sword, I'd be faster, and speed does matter... ---David Considering wearing a metal gauntlet, so I can grab one (sharp) end, and increase the reach. Oh, it's pretty darned heavy, even made out of aircraft aluminum. I could do a lot better just picking up a sword at random than picking it up. But I could inflict some pretty serious pain from about a foot closer than my farthest sword distance IF I were in practice. IF. How would you rate your chances with a regular sword versus someone with a batleth who was in practice with it? Or, IOW, is a batleth in the right hands likely to be superior or inferior to a garden-variety pig-sticker which may be easier to obtain and learn to use? The batleth would certainly have the oh, no, he's crazy! factor going for it. :) Not sure of much beyond that. For most folks, a pig-sticker is probably the way to go. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
At 09:45 AM Wednesday 5/31/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: Ronn!Blankenship wrote: At 09:04 PM Tuesday 5/30/2006, Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: Julia Thompson wrote: David Hobby wrote: ... BatLeth meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. Let me elaborate: The thing is big and clumsy, but doesn't even have any reach to make up for that. It's probably a bit better than a quarterstaff, though, since it does have sharp parts. If you hold it right (and CAN hold it right, it takes practice!), you can get a little reach out of it. I could hurt someone at 3' easily enough IF I were in good practice with it. Which I'm not, and which is very low on my priority list at the moment. (I think it's lower on my list than firespinning, which is fairly low.) Julia-- Sure, 3 feet (90 cm) I believe. But how much does it weigh? If I just had a normal 3 foot sword, I'd be faster, and speed does matter... ---David Considering wearing a metal gauntlet, so I can grab one (sharp) end, and increase the reach. Oh, it's pretty darned heavy, even made out of aircraft aluminum. I could do a lot better just picking up a sword at random than picking it up. But I could inflict some pretty serious pain from about a foot closer than my farthest sword distance IF I were in practice. IF. How would you rate your chances with a regular sword versus someone with a batleth who was in practice with it? Or, IOW, is a batleth in the right hands likely to be superior or inferior to a garden-variety pig-sticker which may be easier to obtain and learn to use? The batleth would certainly have the oh, no, he's crazy! factor going for it. :) Not sure of much beyond that. For most folks, a pig-sticker is probably the way to go. Or, as I and others have pointed out several times, something that shoots . . . --Ronn! :) Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too? -- Red Skelton (Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Weekly Chat Reminder
As Steve said, The Brin-L weekly chat has been a list tradition for over six years. Way back on 27 May, 1998, Marco Maisenhelder first set up a chatroom for the list, and on the next day, he established a weekly chat time. We've been through several servers, chat technologies, and even casts of regulars over the years, but the chat goes on... and we want more recruits! Whether you're an active poster or a lurker, whether you've been a member of the list from the beginning or just joined today, we would really like for you to join us. We have less politics, more Uplift talk, and more light-hearted discussion. We're non-fattening and 100% environmentally friendly... -(_() Though sometimes marshmallows do get thrown. The Weekly Brin-L chat is scheduled for Wednesday 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central time in the US, or 7 PM Greenwich time. There's usually somebody there to talk to for at least eight hours after the start time. If you want to attend, it's really easy now. All you have to do is send your web browser to: http://wtgab.demon.co.uk/~brinl/mud/ ..And you can connect directly from William's new web interface! My instruction page tells you how to log on, and how to talk when you get in: http://www.brin-l.org/brinmud.html It also gives a list of commands to use when you're in there. In addition, it tells you how to connect through a MUD client, which is more complicated to set up initially, but easier and more reliable than the web interface once you do get it set up. -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ This message was sent automatically using cron. But even if WTG is away on holiday, at least it shows the server is still up. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
[Medicine] 'Frontline' program on HIV/AIDS
I happened across the first part of this program last night; it was extremely well-done and presented some information I wasn't aware of (frex that AZT was in the public domain, as it had originally been discovered in the 1950's as an anti-cancer candidate, but was handed over to a pharma for trials as an anti-HIV drug). If you are at all interested, I'm sure it will repeat at some point; the second part is on tonight, here. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/etc/synopsis.html The Age of AIDS. After a quarter century of political denial and social stigma, of stunning scientific breakthroughs, bitter policy battles and inadequate prevention campaigns, HIV/AIDS continues to spread rapidly throughout much of the world, particularly in developing nations. To date, some 30 million people worldwide have already died of AIDS. · There were 4.9 million new infections in 2004 -- 14,000 new infections every day · 3.1 million people died of AIDS in 2004 -- 8,000 people per day · HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged 15-59 · Half of all new infections occur in people under age 25 Debbi No Adequate Words Maru __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Raise the Cloak!
Andrew Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
From: Deborah Harrell
Nick Lidser [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
No such cloak exists yet...
snippage
Ah, but a fur coat does!...the hair of unicorns...
bends EM energy around them, thus rendering them
invisible to us when standing stillFelines,
naturally, *do* have...retinal adaptations
which allow them to see unicorns and other
invisible
creatures, hence their occasional 'inexplicable'
stares.#
Invisible Teal Unicorns Maru ;-)
#There's a story in _Catfantastic_, IIRC, about
some
cats and the computer-generated bogies they
thwart.
This probably isn't the story, I too am thinking of
another, but a similar topic.
http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/smith/smith2.html
and even pictures
http://www.fourth-millennium.net/cordwainer-vr/mother-hittons-farm.html
I can't access the first here at the library (silly
web-{non}sense monitor!), but that compound DownUnder
looks formidable...I expect the Littal Kittons are
suitably sized. ;)
Debbi
Teal NoSeeUms Maru ;-)
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