date:20100811

Amazing... 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 1:31:23 AM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
XP 






Yep there are a lot of Tercels that are still running here. Same thing with the 
Toyota Echo. It gets 45mpg and they took it off of the market after 4 years. 
During the gas crisis they were selling for $10k used. 


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 10:20 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 






Yep, that's a very common scenario for new OS's. Microsoft is just ticked that 
they did their jobs too well with XP. Heck, there are lots of companies still 
coding for XP. 
Years ago, Toyota had a car that lasted for freakin' ever. I believe it was the 
Tercell line? I just know that everyone who owned one sang its praises for 
reliability and long life. The car actually did so well that in time Toyota 
changed the car so that newer versions weren't quite as long lasting. The urban 
myth is they did this specifically because they wanted customers to buy a new 
car at some point 


- Original Message - 
From: "Kelwyn" < ravena...@yahoo.com > 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:53:05 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






When my very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows XP was stolen I replaced it with a 
very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows 7. One of the consequences of upgrading to 
a new operating system is that my old palm pilot software won't work with the 
new windows 7 operating system and Palm, unlike every other software 
manufacturer I deal with, does not offer a patch for Windows 7. 

~(no)rave! 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson  wrote: 
> 
> 
> I hear you. I have two laptops, both running XP. I don't want to spend the 
> money now to replace them just to get Windows 7. They're an IBM T41 and T42, 
> and run XP great, but would drag a bit with 7. 
> I have a desktop running 7, but I loaded VMWare to it, and then loaded a XP 
> into that VMWare session. Why? So I can do test and support for the many 
> cases where XP is still dominant. Most non-IT people I know with home PCs 
> have told me repeatedly they're happy with XP, and won't get a new OS until 
> they have to buy a new machine. 
> As for Apple, it truly is a different experience. Ducats prevent me from 
> going that route, but I am looking forward to it... 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Martin Baxter"  
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:41:49 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm 
> looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady 
> friends of mine who have Macs. 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... > wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the 
> corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers, 
> requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years 
> doing it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP. 
> There's a lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate world 
> to ensure that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often a major 
> expense in upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater needs for 
> RAM, CPU power, and hard drive space. For the home user, there's the money to 
> buy a new OS, the always scary prospect of upgrading a machine's OS 
> --somethign I never do, preferring a wipe/new install--and the time and 
> effort needed to learn about using and troubleshooting a new OS at home. And 
> again, if the home user has a PC that's as relatively young as five years 
> old, it may be fine for the old OS, but must be upgraded or replaced to give 
> the most robust experience on the new OS. 
> I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have to 
> do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at 
> trying to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be 
> perfectly happy using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least 
> they're still sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" < adrianne.bren...@... > 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook 
> from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it. 
> 
> 
> They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it, 
> they MUST support it.

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

In terms of casual, non-tech users, i agree with your statement. Win95 wasn't 
bad for its time, but had problems. Win2K is actually a pretty good OS, but it 
was more for corporate environments. It lacked the heavy multimedia and 
graphics bells and whistles aimed for the home consumer. That's what ME and 
Vista were supposed to bring, but failed at doing. XP was the successful 
combination of the security/stability of 2K with the multimedia/user 
friendliness of what ME and Vista were supposed to be. 
Again, Windows 7 is a really good OS, too. I like the new look, the many 
options, the expanded help menus. But it has a pretty steep learning curve to 
master, and the cost is just prohibitive for many people. 
As for Linux, i agree. There are many user friendly versions with 
ever-increasing user friendly GUI's and stuff, but you still need to get under 
the hood to make it work fully in all home situations. I'm teaching myself 
Ubuntu, but that's a career move as well as for a genuine interest in learning 
it. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Bosco Bosco"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:53:27 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






It's my own marginally informed opinion that XP is the only decent, stable and 
fully functional version of Windows ever. I didnt hate 98 but ME blew chunks 
and 2000 was not a great system for casual users like myself. Everything since 
XP has been a piece of crap. Microsoft has made a fortune stealing ideas and 
repackaging them poorly. There's no mystery in the desire to kill the best 
thing they ever made. There's no need to return to the trough if you're getting 
good feed. If you take away the food, you make people hungry again. It's pity 
that Apple costs a billion times more than the hardware's worth and linux 
requires a reasonable tech mind to run effectively. 

Bosco 

--- On Wed, 8/11/10, Keith Johnson  wrote: 



From: Keith Johnson  
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 6:16 PM 






Vista was the worst OS Microsoft has put out in decades, with the possible 
exception of the horrid Windows Millennium. Both are buggy, hard to 
troubleshoot, and just plain unstable. I bypassed both, sticking with Win2K 
until XP, then XP until 7... 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter"  
To: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:36:17 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Makes me angry as well, Keith. Just a few minutes ago, my niece, running Vista 
on her laptop, had lost all sound on her system, and we had to puzzle out how 
to reset the drivers. I've never had that issue using XP. 


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < KeithBJohnson@ comcast.net > 
wrote: 









No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds at 
their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one to 
Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP is 
the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no reason 
to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, for 
people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial struggle, 
XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do here. 




- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter" < martinbaxter7@ gmail.com > 
To: "SciFiNoir2" < scifino...@yahoogro ups.com > 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows 
XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put 
together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't 
die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP 
users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade? 

More at: http://www.pcworld. com/article/ 202612/microsoft s_notsosecret_ 
plan_to_cripple_ windows_xp. html?tk=nl_ wbx_h_crawl1 

-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik 





-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] Johansson, Lively Competing for “Gravity” Role

See, this is what irritates me about Hollywood. Jolie drops out, so the only 
possible contenders are Johansson (26) and Lively (23)? if the script is about 
an astronaut who has a daughter, they're both a bit too young, especially 
Lively. What, there are no actresses in H'Wood in their 30s, or is that too old 
nowadays? Cotillard is at least 35, which would probably make more sense. 


* 

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2010/08/11/johansson-lively-competing-for-gravity-role/
 
Johansson, Lively Competing for “Gravity” Role 

August 11, 2010 by Michael Hickerson || Category: Film News , Polls 

A few weeks ago, it was reported that actress Scarlett Johansson had been cast 
as the female lead female lead opposite Robert Downey Robert Downey , Jr. in 
the upcoming sci-fi movie sci-fi movie , “Gravity.” 

The reports of the casting of Johansson may have been pre-mature. According to 
the Hollywood Reporter , Johansson is in competition with actress Blake Lively 
for the starring role. 

The movie will be directed by Alfonso Cuaron Alfonso Cuaron , who co-wrote the 
script with his brother Jonas. 

During the past two weeks, Johansson and Lively tested for the lead role of a 
female astronaut lost in space. A decision is expected within the next week or 
two. 

The movie’s plot revolves around astronauts repairing the Hubble telescope the 
Hubble telescope who are hit with an avalanche of satellite junk. In a plot 
akin to “Cast Away,” the surviving astronaut must fight her way back to Earth, 
where she hopes to reunite with her daughter. 

The project originally was set up at Universal as a vehicle for Angelina Jolie, 
but it moved to Warners , where it hit debris of its own: Jolie left the 
project, partially because of the studio’s balking at paying her $20 million 
fee. Although Downey brings star power to the project, his role is overshadowed 
by the female lead, whose struggle to survive becomes the movie’s focus. 

As the project underwent further developments this summer, Marion Cotillard 
Marion Cotillard , who stars in Warners’ “Inception,” tested for the lead role. 

But now Lively and Johansson look like the likeliest candidates, even though 
they are younger than Jolie. It’s unclear whether the character is still 
written as a mother in the latest draft, though both actresses have played 
older than their ages in recent movies. 

Filming probably would begin early next year, depending on the availability of 
the female lead. 

According to the Reporter, Lively is considered the favorite of Warner studio 
execs, who believe her star is on the rise on the rise with the high profile 
role in next year’s “Green Lantern.”

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Yep there are a lot of Tercels that are still running here. Same thing with
the Toyota Echo. It gets 45mpg and they took it off of the market after 4
years. During the gas crisis they were selling for $10k used.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 10:20 PM, Keith Johnson
wrote:

>
>
> Yep, that's a very common scenario for new OS's. Microsoft is just ticked
> that they did their jobs too well with XP. Heck, there are lots of companies
> still coding for XP.
> Years ago, Toyota had a car that lasted for freakin' ever. I believe it was
> the Tercell line? I just know that everyone who owned one sang its praises
> for reliability and long life. The car actually did so well that in time
> Toyota changed the car so that newer versions weren't quite as long lasting.
> The urban myth is they did this specifically because they wanted customers
> to buy a new car at some point
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Kelwyn" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:53:05 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows
> XP
>
>
>
> When my very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows XP was stolen I replaced it
> with a very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows 7. One of the consequences of
> upgrading to a new operating system is that my old palm pilot software won't
> work with the new windows 7 operating system and Palm, unlike every other
> software manufacturer I deal with, does not offer a patch for Windows 7.
>
> ~(no)rave!
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith
> Johnson  wrote:
> >
> >
> > I hear you. I have two laptops, both running XP. I don't want to spend
> the money now to replace them just to get Windows 7. They're an IBM T41 and
> T42, and run XP great, but would drag a bit with 7.
> > I have a desktop running 7, but I loaded VMWare to it, and then loaded a
> XP into that VMWare session. Why? So I can do test and support for the many
> cases where XP is still dominant. Most non-IT people I know with home PCs
> have told me repeatedly they're happy with XP, and won't get a new OS until
> they have to buy a new machine.
> > As for Apple, it truly is a different experience. Ducats prevent me from
> going that route, but I am looking forward to it...
> >
> > - Original Message -
> > From: "Martin Baxter" 
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:41:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple
> Windows XP
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm
> looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady
> friends of mine who have Macs.
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... >
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the
> corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers,
> requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years
> doing it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP.
> There's a lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate
> world to ensure that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often
> a major expense in upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater
> needs for RAM, CPU power, and hard drive space. For the home user, there's
> the money to buy a new OS, the always scary prospect of upgrading a
> machine's OS --somethign I never do, preferring a wipe/new install--and the
> time and effort needed to learn about using and troubleshooting a new OS at
> home. And again, if the home user has a PC that's as relatively young as
> five years old, it may be fine for the old OS, but must be upgraded or
> replaced to give the most robust experience on the new OS.
> > I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have
> to do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at
> trying to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be
> perfectly happy using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least
> they're still sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > - Original Message -
> > From: "Adrianne Brennan" < adrianne.bren...@... >
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM
> > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple
> Windows XP
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook
> from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it.
> >
> >
> > They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses
> it, they MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative.
> >
> >
> > ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> > http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> > Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> > Dare t

Re: [scifinoir2] 'Spider-Man' musical set to open

I'd love to hear Shatner sing the 1970s Spiderman theme song in jazz form.
:)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:36 PM, brent wodehouse <
brent_wodeho...@thefence.us> wrote:

> http://jam.canoe.ca/Theatre/2010/08/10/14980436-wenn-story.html
>
>
>
>
>
> 'Spider-Man' musical set to open
>
> By REUTERS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> NEW YORK (Reuters) - The long-awaited Spider-Man musical with music by U2
> members Bono and The Edge, will open on Broadway in December, the show's
> producers saidTuesday, after being caught in financial problems.
>
> "Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark," which has been in the making for several
> years and was originally due to open earlier this year, will begin preview
> performances on November 14 with opening night set for December 21, the
> show's producer Michael Cohl said in a statement.
>
> Inspired by the Marvel Comics hero that has also been turned into a series
> of Hollywood films, the musical will spin a new take on the story of
> teenage science geek Peter Parker, who is bitten by a genetically-altered
> spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to the ceiling, the producer
> said.
>
> The musical is expected to the most expensive in Broadway history, with
> local media reporting it to cost up to US$50 million to stage.
>
> The title character will be played by actor and singer Reeve Carney, who
> fronts rock band Carney and appeared in the film, "Snow Falling on
> Cedars."
>
> Jennifer Damiano of the Broadway musical "Next to Normal" has replaced
> Evan Rachel Wood to play Mary Jane Watson, and Patrick Page from "The Lion
> King" replaces Alan Cumming to play Normon Osborn/The Green Goblin.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo!
> Groups Links
>
>
>
>


-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Yep, that's a very common scenario for new OS's. Microsoft is just ticked that 
they did their jobs too well with XP. Heck, there are lots of companies still 
coding for XP. 
Years ago, Toyota had a car that lasted for freakin' ever. I believe it was the 
Tercell line? I just know that everyone who owned one sang its praises for 
reliability and long life. The car actually did so well that in time Toyota 
changed the car so that newer versions weren't quite as long lasting. The urban 
myth is they did this specifically because they wanted customers to buy a new 
car at some point 


- Original Message - 
From: "Kelwyn"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:53:05 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






When my very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows XP was stolen I replaced it with a 
very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows 7. One of the consequences of upgrading to 
a new operating system is that my old palm pilot software won't work with the 
new windows 7 operating system and Palm, unlike every other software 
manufacturer I deal with, does not offer a patch for Windows 7. 

~(no)rave! 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson  wrote: 
> 
> 
> I hear you. I have two laptops, both running XP. I don't want to spend the 
> money now to replace them just to get Windows 7. They're an IBM T41 and T42, 
> and run XP great, but would drag a bit with 7. 
> I have a desktop running 7, but I loaded VMWare to it, and then loaded a XP 
> into that VMWare session. Why? So I can do test and support for the many 
> cases where XP is still dominant. Most non-IT people I know with home PCs 
> have told me repeatedly they're happy with XP, and won't get a new OS until 
> they have to buy a new machine. 
> As for Apple, it truly is a different experience. Ducats prevent me from 
> going that route, but I am looking forward to it... 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Martin Baxter"  
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:41:49 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm 
> looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady 
> friends of mine who have Macs. 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... > wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the 
> corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers, 
> requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years 
> doing it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP. 
> There's a lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate world 
> to ensure that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often a major 
> expense in upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater needs for 
> RAM, CPU power, and hard drive space. For the home user, there's the money to 
> buy a new OS, the always scary prospect of upgrading a machine's OS 
> --somethign I never do, preferring a wipe/new install--and the time and 
> effort needed to learn about using and troubleshooting a new OS at home. And 
> again, if the home user has a PC that's as relatively young as five years 
> old, it may be fine for the old OS, but must be upgraded or replaced to give 
> the most robust experience on the new OS. 
> I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have to 
> do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at 
> trying to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be 
> perfectly happy using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least 
> they're still sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" < adrianne.bren...@... > 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook 
> from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it. 
> 
> 
> They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it, 
> they MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative. 
> 
> 
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~ 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com 
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon 
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath 
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... > wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No, it's

[scifinoir2] [FYI] Don't be fooled: the Google-Verizon plan would kill Net Neutrality

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/106645-dont-be-fooled-the-google-verizon-plan-would-kil/

[
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/106645-dont-be-fooled-the-google-verizon-plan-would-kil/
]Don't be fooled: the Google-Verizon plan would kill Net Neutrality

Evil

By [ http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Authors/EDITORIAL/ ]EDITORIAL | August
11, 201

Want evidence that Google is just another avaricious, monopoly-minded
corporate behemoth? Consider this: Google has retreated from its long-held
support for net neutrality and teamed with Verizon to suggest that new
laws allow Internet providers to favor some Web services over others.
Google and Verizon also want Congress to exempt mobile devices from net
neutrality and to limit the Federal Communications Commission's regulation
of the Internet.

Google and Verizon have proposed this in a very simple and undeniably
clever way, which - unless thoughtfully considered - appears to be
eminently reasonable.

Under this plan, the Internet as it now exists and is currently understood
would remain net neutral. All content would be treated as equal.

The Internet as it develops in the future, however, would be different.
Tiered service would be allowed.

In other words, the giant corporate providers who effectively govern
access and regulate traffic would be able to give preferential treatment
to certain content or content providers.

This is, in and of itself, a nasty piece of snake-oil salesmanship,
especially given the speed and unpredictability with which the digital
world evolves. But when mobile access is stirred into the brew, it becomes
positively toxic. All trends favor more and more mobile access. Morgan
Stanley predicts that within five years, the mobile Web will outstrip the
desktop Internet.

Given the extent to which the Internet governs economic development and
the extent to which it is the medium for free speech, it is clear that the
Google-Verizon plan is bad news. So much for Google's motto, "Don't be
evil."

To understand this pledge, it must be considered in context. The pithy
slogan appears as the first three words in Google's corporate code of
conduct governing relations with investors. Yet no corporation can
survive, let alone thrive, without turning a profit. So it stands to
reason that Googlers (yes, that's how the company refers to its employees)
may have a less restricted view of how to interpret the motto than, say,
the world's non-Googlers.

If net neutrality were a simple code of conduct, then the FCC last year
defined it as follows: providers cannot favor their own content; they need
to explain when and why variable Internet speeds are imposed on consumers;
and they can not limit access to lawful content.

As neat and clean as these principles seem, their implementation could
prove to be difficult to impossible, thanks to the Court of Appeals for
the DC Circuit, which in April ratified rules adopted by the Bush
administration that were intended to derail Internet regulation.

The court's decision undoubtedly contributed to the break-up last week of
the closed-door discussions the FCC was holding with big Internet
corporate players. Whether those talks should have been conducted in
secret is now a moot point. But the parallels with former first lady
Hillary Clinton's private health-care deliberations and Vice-President
Dick Cheney's closed energy sessions are certainly troubling.

Power, of course, abhors a vacuum. So while Google's joint proposal with
Verizon was a vicious slap in the face to advocates of net neutrality -
especially in view of the company's previous admirable support of the
concept - under the circumstances it should come as no surprise. Consider
the predatory vigor Google displayed when it cornered the digital market
on books whose copyright has expired. Vito Corleone would have admired its
ruthless elegance. However, Robert Darnton, the historian who heads
Harvard's vast system of libraries, has been eloquent in pointing out the
intellectual hazards of this development.

It would be foolish to expect Congress to unplug the Google-Verizon view
of the future. Massachusetts congressman Edward Markey has been foiled in
his attempts to do so. But the FCC does have the power to short-circuit
it. The FCC must reach back to precedent established since 1910 and
declare Internet providers "common carriers" subject to federal
regulation. This is not some cute form of legerdemain. It is legal
hardball that would no doubt provoke a hotly contested lawsuit.

If the FCC will not stand up to Google, who will? It is time that someone
establishes that what's good for Google is not necessarily what is good
for the United States - or the world.

For more information, and to learn what you can do, visit the Save the
Internet Coalition at [ http://savetheinternet.com/ ]savetheinternet.com.

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

2010-08-11 Thread Bosco Bosco

It's my own marginally informed opinion that XP is the only decent, stable and 
fully functional version of Windows ever. I didnt hate 98 but ME blew chunks 
and 2000 was not a great system for casual users like myself. Everything since 
XP has been a piece of crap. Microsoft has made a fortune stealing ideas and 
repackaging them poorly. There's no mystery in the desire to kill the best 
thing they ever made. There's no need to return to the trough if you're getting 
good feed. If you take away the food, you make people hungry again. It's pity 
that Apple costs a billion times more than the hardware's worth and linux 
requires a reasonable tech mind to run effectively. 

Bosco

--- On Wed, 8/11/10, Keith Johnson  wrote:

From: Keith Johnson 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 6:16 PM







 



  



  
  
  Vista was the worst OS Microsoft has put out in decades, with the 
possible exception of the horrid Windows Millennium. Both are buggy, hard to 
troubleshoot, and just plain unstable. I bypassed both, sticking with Win2K 
until XP, then XP until 7...

- Original Message -
From: "Martin Baxter" 
To: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:36:17 PM
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP








 


  

  
  
  Makes me angry as well, Keith. Just a few minutes ago, my niece, running 
Vista on her laptop, had lost all sound on her system, and we had to puzzle out 
how to reset the drivers. I've never had that issue using XP.


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson  
wrote:
















 



  



  
  
  No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy 
with infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it 
back from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard 
to find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds 
at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one 
to Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP 
is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no 
reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, 
for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial 
struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do 
here.


- Original Message -
From: "Martin Baxter" 
To: "SciFiNoir2" 

Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP








 


  

  
  
  Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of 
Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows 
Vista and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the 
operating system that won't die, including refusing to issue security 
patches for XP SP2, putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way
 to get people to upgrade?

More at: http://www.pcworld. com/article/ 202612/microsoft s_notsosecret_ 
plan_to_cripple_ windows_xp. html?tk=nl_ wbx_h_crawl1



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik






 



  



 









  









-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] The Unwritten

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/11/unwritten-2-pulse-po.html


Unwritten 2: pulse-pounding graphic novel shows the grim and selfish
ways that people use stories


Cory Doctorow   at
9:21 AM Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010



One of the strongest graphic novel debuts I read in 2010 was the first
collection of The Unwritten
 , a story
that peeks into the secret life of narrative and the blood and teeth
lurking beneath our fantasies and fairy tales.

Now, The Unwritten Vol. 2: Inside Man
 ,
author Mike Carey and illustrator Peter Gross continue to work their
magic, in a fast paced adventure story that delves more explicitly into
the ways that humans manipulate story to their own ends.

Tom Taylor is the namesake of Tommy Taylor, a globally beloved fantasy
character in the mold of Harry Potter from a series of books written by
his father, who mysteriously disappeared years before. A Z-list
celebrity, Tom ekes out a meager living signing copies of his father's
books at conventions until a grad student publicly challenges him with
evidence that he is an impostor (news to Tom!).

A pariah, Tom flees angry mobs of disillusioned fans, finally coming to
the very castle where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, where a group of
famous (and insufferable) writers have gathered. Then, amid revelations
about an ancient conspiracy of story and storytelling (encompassing
Twain and Kipling), the writers are murdered in most grisly fashion,
leaving Tom to take the blame.

Book 2 picks up with Tom in jail in France, the subject of worldwide
resentment and hate, in a prison built on the site memorialized in the
ballad of Sir Roland's famous rout by the Saracens. Now all the stories
are coming together: the ancient ballads, the Tommy Taylor novels, the
gossip blogs that follow Taylor's every move -- and now Tom is in more
danger than ever.

If you like Willingham's Fables
  and the
way that an adventure story can explore story itself, The Unwritten
continues to satisfy. Highly recommended.

[scifinoir2] Entering the extreme-fan universe

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Entering+extreme+universe/3385109/story.html

Entering the extreme-fan universe
 
By Kat Angus, Postmedia News August 11, 2010


There's a sense of nervousness that comes before interviewing an actor
whose work you admire. What if he/she turns out to be boring? Or rude? Or
he/she suddenly starts swearing and declares the interview over?

Such were my fears about talking to Warehouse 13 star Allison Scagliotti.
It wasn't that I actually expected her to start spouting profanities, but
I didn't want anything to tarnish my affection for her work or Warehouse
13 itself. Not only has the sci-fi series quickly proven itself one of the
most downright enjoyable shows on television (Secret Service agents
investigating mystical artifacts with magic powers? Count me in!), but
Scagliotti stands out as one of the most charming members of the cast.

As Claudia, the show's resident hacker with the caustic wit, Scagliotti
carries herself with a swagger and sense of sardonicism that most adults
can only dream of -- and I was terrified that, in real life, she'd turn
the conversation into a meditation on honing her craft.

Luckily, my fears were entirely unfounded. Not only is 19-year-old
Scagliotti every bit as delightful as Claudia, she's not afraid to admit
she's just as nerdy as her TV character.

"I'm a geek, myself," Scagliotti says. "I just bring my own interpretation
of what that means to Claudia. I bring my sarcasm, I bring my desire to
fit in and my own insecurities to her. Claudia's a little goofier than I
am, but it's fun. It's fun to don a different-coloured hair streak every
week and be her."

And, Scagliotti claims, she knew she was destined to play Claudia from the
moment she first read the script.

"I was rehearsing for the audition with my friend, Nolan Gerard Funk --
doesn't his name make your pants want to get up and dance? -- and he
looked up at me and said, 'You are this girl,'" she remembers. "He said,
'If you don't get this part, I don't know what that means for the career
we have chosen, because this is so you and nobody else should have it.'
So, thank God I got the part!"

(As luck would have it, Funk was later cast on Warehouse 13's second
season, playing -- of course -- Claudia's love interest.)

I'm far from the only one to jump on the Scagliotti fangirl train. The
actress quickly became a fan favourite when she joined Warehouse 13 part
way through Season 1, when Claudia hacked into the warehouse in an attempt
to rescue her brother, Joshua, from an inter-dimensional limbo. (Isn't
that always the way?) After Joshua was saved, he went off to Switzerland
to continue his scientific research, and Claudia remained at the
warehouse, living her own life for the first time -- and giving Scagliotti
plenty of juicy material for Warehouse 13's second season.

"She's coping with having no real romantic experience or any past or even
a job that she can really talk about," Scagliotti says of Claudia. "Not
only is her job top secret, but the last 12 years of her life were devoted
to saving her brother from an inter-dimensional space. That's not exactly
light conversation."

Warehouse 13 viewers love and identify with Claudia's sarcastic, outspoken
nature. To many, she's an incredibly cool personification of their own
geekiness. It wasn't long before Scagliotti became aware of her tremendous
popularity among the show's fans.

"I had no idea they would love Claudia so much. This is my first foray
into the extreme-fan universe, and it's overwhelming in the best possible
way," she says. "I get this outpouring of love from people who watch the
episode and just eat it up.

"I love that I can be this liaison to the fanboys and fangirls everywhere.
I mean, what a great opportunity I have to connect with the people who
make our show possible."

So it wasn't a surprise when the Warehouse 13 producers partnered up with
another beloved science-fiction series, Eureka, for a special crossover
event -- and that they chose Scagliotti as their ambassador. For one
episode this season, Eureka's Neil Grayston (Fargo) brought his character
to visit Warehouse 13 (the episode will air Aug. 20), and Scagliotti
returned the favour with a guest spot of her own (which will air when
Space begins airing Eureka's fourth season this fall).

Although the two shows have very different approaches to their crazy
shenanigans -- Warehouse 13 is based in magic, whereas everything on
Eureka has a scientific explanation -- Scagliotti insists the crossover
couldn't make more sense.

"I think it's totally plausible that these two facilities could exist in
the same universe. A top-secret town populated by geniuses and a
top-secret warehouse in the middle of nowhere that houses powerful and
mysterious artifacts -- they're equally weird," she argues.

"The crossover was so easy to do because -- I've decided to hijack this
metaphor -- it was like packing a bag and visiting family members. The
cast of Eureka is amazin

[scifinoir2] Bam. Kapow. Its supernerd

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/michael-cera-bam-kapow-its-supernerd/article1664725/

Profile

Michael Cera: Bam. Kapow. Its supernerd

The sweet is still there in Michael Ceras new role as Scott Pilgrim and
so is the goofy, but so is a lot of mixed martial arts action combined
with some indie cool. The hardest thing for our wispy leading man? All
that cardio work

Bob Strauss

Los Angeles - From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published on Saturday, Aug.
07, 2010

We know he does sweet. Neurotic and self-deprecating, obviously. But
kicks, flips and wire-work?

Yes, Brampton geek god Michael Cera finally gets his turn as action hero.

Well, sort of.

As the lead in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World an adaptation of a cult
Canadian comic book hitting screens next Friday Cera plays an unemployed
22-year-old in an indie band who has trouble with women and earning
respect.

Its the same type hes been spinning (albeit to diminishing box-office
returns) from the breakout hits Superbad and Juno to Nick and Norahs
Infinite Playlist, Year One and Youth in Revolt. Hes still wispy. He
still favours a glorified bowl-cut, sloppy jeans and T-shirts. His voice
still maintains that trademark near-adolescent croak.

Except there's another side to Scott Pilgrim. To win over his new
sweetheart, he must defeat her seven evil exes in elaborately staged,
video-game-inspired combat. Think mixed martial arts accompanied by
swordplay.

The hardest part was all the physical stuff that I had no experience
doing. The harnesses and, just exertion. I was not used to it at all,
Cera says, sitting outside a soundstage at Universal Studios in [
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/michael-cera-bam-kapow-its-supernerd/article1664725/#
]Los Angeles[Image] in green corduroys and a black shirt that emphasizes
his small frame.

I just hope people will buy it, he adds, and I dont distract them from
enjoying the movie.

Not likely.

The training will help. Cera and co-stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead and
Jason Schwartzman spent three months on kung fu basics and intense cardio
before getting tips from the same fight co-ordinator who worked on Percy
Jackson & the Olympians.

But the moves only count for so much. What really gives this alt-hero his
punch is a sense of irony.

To plug the film at Comic-Con the fan convention in San Diego where
blockbuster franchises are made (or at least hyped) the slight Cera
sported a Captain America costume a little poke at both his own unlikely
superhero status and two of the exes he fights in Scott Pilgrim: Chris
Evans, starring in the upcoming film Captain America: The First Avenger,
and Brandon Routh, whos played Superman.

And despite the promotional machine there are Scott Pilgrim plush toys
and action figures, as well as an old-school video game the project is
steeped in indie cool. Beck wrote the songs for Scott Pilgrims band Sex
Bob-Omb. Sloan bassist Chris Murphy was the films musical coach. Metric
and Broken Social Scene are on the soundtrack.

Plus, of course, theres that source material. Created by cartoonist Bryan
Lee OMalley, a London, Ont., kid who spent his early twenties in Toronto,
the Scott Pilgrim series combines action with Japanese pop-cultural
influences, garage-band emo and romance. Local fans lined up for hours to
get signed copies of the sixth and final volume in the series last month.

Cera was a fan himself well before English director Edgar Wright (Shawn of
the Dead, Hot Fuzz) tapped him to play the slacker hero.

Especially being from Canada, you know? They've [the Pilgrim series] got
Shoppers Drug Mart and [
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/michael-cera-bam-kapow-its-supernerd/article1664725/#
]Tim Hortons[Image] in them, he says, I connected with them, for sure.

The movie certainly approximates O'Malley's unique sensibility which
makes for a whole lot of wild noise and visuals. It also plays up its
local elements. Shot last year in Toronto, clubs such as Sneaky Dees make
an appearance, as do Honest Eds and Casa Loma.

Toronto Tourism is even getting in on the action with a website, Toronto
Loves Scott Pilgrim, that includes clips from the films stars Alison Pill
(also from Toronto), Jason Schwartzman and Cera on why they love the city.

Mind you, for Cera, the movies long production period was less a
homecoming than a revelation.

I didn't know the city well because my parents house is an hour and a
half away. I hadnt worked there since I was 12, the 22-year-old actor
says. It was great filming in Toronto for seven months. I'd go home on
the weekends and my family came to the set. I walked around all the time.

Michael's all into wandering and driving himself to work, kind of just
always on his own, doing his own thing, says Winstead, who plays Ceras
love interest Ramona Flowers, an American girl with a gig as an Amazon.ca
delivery girl and a romantic history as colourful as her hair. He set

[scifinoir2] Re: Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

When my very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows XP was stolen I replaced it with a 
very reliable Sony Vaio with Windows 7.  One of the consequences of upgrading 
to a new operating system is that my old palm pilot software won't work with 
the new windows 7 operating system and Palm, unlike every other software 
manufacturer I deal with, does not offer a patch for Windows 7.

~(no)rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson  wrote:
>
> 
> I hear you. I have two laptops, both running XP. I don't want to spend the 
> money now to replace them just to get Windows 7. They're an IBM T41 and T42, 
> and run XP great, but would drag a bit with 7. 
> I have a desktop running 7, but I loaded VMWare to it, and then loaded a XP 
> into that VMWare session. Why? So I can do test and support for the many 
> cases where XP is still dominant. Most non-IT people I know with home PCs 
> have told me repeatedly they're happy with XP, and won't get a new OS until 
> they have to buy a new machine. 
> As for Apple, it truly is a different experience. Ducats prevent me from 
> going that route, but I am looking forward to it... 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Martin Baxter"  
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:41:49 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm 
> looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady 
> friends of mine who have Macs. 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... > wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the 
> corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers, 
> requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years 
> doing it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP. 
> There's a lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate world 
> to ensure that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often a major 
> expense in upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater needs for 
> RAM, CPU power, and hard drive space. For the home user, there's the money to 
> buy a new OS, the always scary prospect of upgrading a machine's OS 
> --somethign I never do, preferring a wipe/new install--and the time and 
> effort needed to learn about using and troubleshooting a new OS at home. And 
> again, if the home user has a PC that's as relatively young as five years 
> old, it may be fine for the old OS, but must be upgraded or replaced to give 
> the most robust experience on the new OS. 
> I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have to 
> do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at 
> trying to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be 
> perfectly happy using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least 
> they're still sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" < adrianne.bren...@... > 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM 
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows 
> XP 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook 
> from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it. 
> 
> 
> They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it, 
> they MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative. 
> 
> 
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~ 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com 
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon 
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath 
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@... > wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
> infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
> from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
> find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds 
> at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct 
> one to Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. 
> But XP is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I 
> see no reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our 
> money, for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real 
> financial struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're 
> trying to do here. 
> 
> ---

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

Sorry to go on, I love Amber so much. To clarify one thing. Amber does have 
science as we know it, in that it has standard laws that allow solid matter to 
exist, fire to burn, etc. But magic--which can be seen as a violation or 
twisting of standard laws--doesn't easily work in Amber. Many of the royal 
family are true magic workers, but it's harder in Amber. And the higher 
sciences like electronics, gunpowder, etc., don't function there either. So 
everyone walks around armed with swords and knives. It's not a stale place, 
just a place of constant beauty and power. One reason the members of the family 
literally walk away from Amber is because it's difficult to even manipulate 
Shadow near the capital city. So they walk in a straight line away from Amber, 
and as they get farther away from this anchor of Order, it becomes easier to 
bend reality to their wills. 

Also, The Courts of Chaos can be thought as the only other "real" world. 
Everything in between--including our Earth and all possible realities--are 
simply Shadows of those two realities. 

The Amber novels are one of the true discoveries of my life when I started 
reading a lot more scifi and fantasy. In terms of their influence, my love for 
them, and the wonder of a completely new and original world they opened for me, 
I put them up there with Donaldson's Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Piers 
Anthony's first Xanth novels, Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books, McCaffrey's 
Dragonriders of Pern, and Jack Chalker's Well of Souls books. 


- Original Message - 
From: "Keith Johnson"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:02:14 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky 







You bet. If you want to ease into Zelazny to see if you like him, check out one 
of his books of short stories, such as "The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His 
Mouth". You get the full flavor of his writing style. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Short_story_collections_by_Roger_Zelazny 


Or check out the first of the Amber novels to see if you like it. It takes 
Amber a while for you to get what's going on, but it's awesome. It's about a 
royal family that lives and rules in a reality called Amber, considered the one 
"true" reality, of which all other realites, including our Earth are just 
reflections--"Shadows". The members of this family have the ability to "Walk in 
Shadow", meaning they can move through adjacent parallel realities. Amber is a 
land where no science as we know it works, a place of constancy and stability, 
and can be thought of as the endpoint and anchor of Order. As a member of the 
family moves through Shadow, he/she can in time walk further "away" from Amber, 
into realities where things like science (guns, electronics, etc) start 
working. As there are an infinite number of alternate realities, a walker can 
literally find any universe he/she wants and live there. A family member can 
find a reality, for example, where he has a counterpart that rules all of 
Earth, then kill that doppelganger and take his place. They can envision an 
Earth where giant space fleets have conquered the galaxy, and go 
there--whatever they want. The members tend to walk in one direction, then 
shift reality around them bit by bit. For example, you might start walking down 
the street of your city, and shift things so that it's fall instead of late 
summer, then shift it so that it's snowing instead of just cold, then shift to 
a city where there are fewer people on the streets, etc. The more subtle the 
shifts, the easier it is to move through Shadow. For example, you could start 
out in a modern Boston and desire to go to a Boston circa 1766 populated by 
purple simians, but the jump from now to then would be tougher than slowly 
walking through Shadow to that reality. 

In time, if the person so chooses, he/she can walk so far "away" from Amber, 
that they start approaching realities where true magic works. They enter realms 
where faerie walk the Earth, where the stars literally dance in the heavens, 
where everyone in the world uses incantations like we use speech, where trees 
talk and water sings, etc. In short, the Order that is Amber is being left 
behind toward the other pole of reality, anchored in a place called The Courts 
of Chaos. Magic is seen as something wild and unsteady, and as one gets closer 
to Chaos, magic and magical creatures become the rule. At the Courts, all laws 
as we know them don't really exist, and reality can be bent by one's will. 

The first Amber novels deal with Corwin, a scion of the family royal who wants 
to rule Amber,and gets involved in murder, battles, and struggles with the 
royal family of the Courts of Chaos. See, as cool as it is to be able to rule 
any reality you want, since everyone knows Amber is the "real" reality, then 
any alternate one is always thought of as a pale imitation. Even if one were to 
rule a very close reality with nigh perf

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

You bet. If you want to ease into Zelazny to see if you like him, check out one 
of his books of short stories, such as "The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His 
Mouth". You get the full flavor of his writing style. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Short_story_collections_by_Roger_Zelazny 

Or check out the first of the Amber novels to see if you like it. It takes 
Amber a while for you to get what's going on, but it's awesome. It's about a 
royal family that lives and rules in a reality called Amber, considered the one 
"true" reality, of which all other realites, including our Earth are just 
reflections--"Shadows". The members of this family have the ability to "Walk in 
Shadow", meaning they can move through adjacent parallel realities. Amber is a 
land where no science as we know it works, a place of constancy and stability, 
and can be thought of as the endpoint and anchor of Order. As a member of the 
family moves through Shadow, he/she can in time walk further "away" from Amber, 
into realities where things like science (guns, electronics, etc) start 
working. As there are an infinite number of alternate realities, a walker can 
literally find any universe he/she wants and live there. A family member can 
find a reality, for example, where he has a counterpart that rules all of 
Earth, then kill that doppelganger and take his place. They can envision an 
Earth where giant space fleets have conquered the galaxy, and go 
there--whatever they want. The members tend to walk in one direction, then 
shift reality around them bit by bit. For example, you might start walking down 
the street of your city, and shift things so that it's fall instead of late 
summer, then shift it so that it's snowing instead of just cold, then shift to 
a city where there are fewer people on the streets, etc. The more subtle the 
shifts, the easier it is to move through Shadow. For example, you could start 
out in a modern Boston and desire to go to a Boston circa 1766 populated by 
purple simians, but the jump from now to then would be tougher than slowly 
walking through Shadow to that reality. 

In time, if the person so chooses, he/she can walk so far "away" from Amber, 
that they start approaching realities where true magic works. They enter realms 
where faerie walk the Earth, where the stars literally dance in the heavens, 
where everyone in the world uses incantations like we use speech, where trees 
talk and water sings, etc. In short, the Order that is Amber is being left 
behind toward the other pole of reality, anchored in a place called The Courts 
of Chaos. Magic is seen as something wild and unsteady, and as one gets closer 
to Chaos, magic and magical creatures become the rule. At the Courts, all laws 
as we know them don't really exist, and reality can be bent by one's will. 

The first Amber novels deal with Corwin, a scion of the family royal who wants 
to rule Amber,and gets involved in murder, battles, and struggles with the 
royal family of the Courts of Chaos. See, as cool as it is to be able to rule 
any reality you want, since everyone knows Amber is the "real" reality, then 
any alternate one is always thought of as a pale imitation. Even if one were to 
rule a very close reality with nigh perfect duplicates of Amber itself, it'd be 
seen as a poor substitute. It's a fascinating series dealing with magic, war, 
internecine battles, the nature of reality, greed and lust for power. 

Highly, highly recommend it. 

- Original Message - 
From: "angelababycat"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 9:14:51 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky 

Yes, I really appreciate good writing (like so many of us, I have 200 pages of 
a novel I'll probably never finish writing shoved in a closet). So I'll check 
out Lord of Light. If it's not already in the pile of sci-fi books I got from 
the library. Thanks. 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Martin Baxter  wrote: 
> 
> (seconding the Wise Man's words) 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Keith Johnson wrote: 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > I think a lot of Niven's stuff is like that. He is still primarily a hard 
> > scifi guy, and sometimes characterizations aren't as strong as you may 
> > like. 
> > at least, that's my memory of him. I haven't read one of his books in at 
> > least a decade. 
> > Now if you want good characters and prose that flows like poetry, full of 
> > sardonic wit and cleverness, try Roger Zelazny's stuff. His Amber 
> > chronicles--a kind of scifi/fantasy mix--are great. His book "Lord of 
> > Light" 
> > is one of the best reads of my life. It deals with a planet settled by 
> > humans in which an elite class has given themselves super powers, and rules 
> > the populace posing as the Hindi gods. This thing has demons, zombies, 
> > existential questions, and action. It is really, really good. 
> > 
> > 
> > - Original Message - 
> > From: "angelababycat"  
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Black star wars blacksplotation parody staring lando

Loved it

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:43 PM, Angela Robinson
wrote:

>
>
> This is cute...and I wonder where I can get a FemTrooper outfit too:
>
> Here's the trailer for *Blackstar Warrior*, a mysterious
> blaxploitation-inspired Lando film that never hit theaters. The teaser
> includes sexy Stormtroopers and a funky soundtrack perfect for cruising down
> the Kessel Run. Also, watch the hilariously straight-faced mockumentary
> about the project.
>
>
>
>
> http://m.io9.com/5607587/a-preview-for-blackstar-warrior-the-lost-star-wars-film-starring-lando-calrissian
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 




-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

2010-08-11 Thread angelababycat

Yes, I really appreciate good writing (like so many of us, I have 200 pages of 
a novel I'll probably never finish writing shoved in a closet).  So I'll check 
out Lord of Light.  If it's not already in the pile of sci-fi books I got from 
the library.  Thanks.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin Baxter  wrote:
>
> (seconding the Wise Man's words)
> 
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > I think a lot of Niven's stuff is like that. He is still primarily a hard
> > scifi guy, and sometimes characterizations aren't as strong as you may like.
> > at least, that's my memory of him. I haven't read one of his books in at
> > least a decade.
> > Now if you want good characters and prose that flows like poetry, full of
> > sardonic wit and cleverness, try Roger Zelazny's stuff. His Amber
> > chronicles--a kind of scifi/fantasy mix--are great. His book "Lord of Light"
> > is one of the best reads of my life. It deals with a planet settled by
> > humans in which an elite class has given themselves super powers, and rules
> > the populace posing as the Hindi gods. This thing has demons, zombies,
> > existential questions, and action. It is really, really good.
> >
> >
> > - Original Message -
> > From: "angelababycat" 
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:21:21 PM
> > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky
> >
> >
> >
> > Not too scifi heavy, but just didn't flow. I also didn't connect with the
> > main characters so I didn't care who decided to get on the space ship or
> > not. By the time they were in the ship and approached by those 5 lights or
> > whatever (around page 60), I was a little confused and disinterested. In
> > contrast, I'm already half way through Pebbles.
> >
> > Did I give up too soon on Ringworld?
> >
> > Angela
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith
> > Johnson  wrote:
> > >
> > > Was Ringworld too scifi heavy for you? What didn't you like about it?
> > >
> > > - Original Message -
> > > From: "angelababycat" 
> > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:17:28 PM
> > > Subject: [scifinoir2] From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic
> > classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the first
> > 60 pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late
> > works like Foundation, etc.?
> > >
> > > Angela
> > >
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com  ,
> > "angelababycat"  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the
> > first sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt
> > good. I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to
> > start.
> > > >
> > > > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of
> > suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just
> > pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me
> > Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still haven't
> > recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that one...
> > > >
> > > > Anyone read any of these?
> > > >
> > > > Angela
> > > >
> > > > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious:
> > > >
> > > > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started in
> > Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her
> > early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first race
> > of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe, forming the
> > League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world
> > collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870 and
> > concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen" in
> > the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the Ekumen.
> > Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and its
> > citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities or
> > sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that
> > civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect being
> > that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however, arcane
> > rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to
> > survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political faction is
> > in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country, for
> > instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for him, but
> > the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another he has
> > trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of Districts
> > support him and which want to use him to gain political power. The struggle
> >

[scifinoir2] 'Spider-Man' musical set to open

http://jam.canoe.ca/Theatre/2010/08/10/14980436-wenn-story.html





'Spider-Man' musical set to open 

By REUTERS







NEW YORK (Reuters) - The long-awaited Spider-Man musical with music by U2
members Bono and The Edge, will open on Broadway in December, the show's
producers saidTuesday, after being caught in financial problems. 

"Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark," which has been in the making for several
years and was originally due to open earlier this year, will begin preview
performances on November 14 with opening night set for December 21, the
show's producer Michael Cohl said in a statement. 

Inspired by the Marvel Comics hero that has also been turned into a series
of Hollywood films, the musical will spin a new take on the story of
teenage science geek Peter Parker, who is bitten by a genetically-altered
spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to the ceiling, the producer
said. 

The musical is expected to the most expensive in Broadway history, with
local media reporting it to cost up to US$50 million to stage. 

The title character will be played by actor and singer Reeve Carney, who
fronts rock band Carney and appeared in the film, "Snow Falling on
Cedars." 

Jennifer Damiano of the Broadway musical "Next to Normal" has replaced
Evan Rachel Wood to play Mary Jane Watson, and Patrick Page from "The Lion
King" replaces Alan Cumming to play Normon Osborn/The Green Goblin.

[scifinoir2] Re: Is Being a Geek a Personality Trait or Way of Life

No, we're a geeky/nerdful lot, my family. Descended from a long line of
geeks/nerds, if truth be told. I cannot say outright we've any 'dum-dums'
ancestrally or in the extended family. Ruthless, arrogant bastards, yes;
but no idiots. :-)


Brent


Martin Baxter  writes:
  


>Brent, to answer, I think it's a personality trait. Growing up, very few
>of my friends or family were inclined in that direction. Now, save for my
>niece, nephews and a few younger cousins, most of my family are D-U-M
>DUM. I had to have been born with it.
>
>On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 4:29 PM, brent wodehouse <[
>mailto:brent_wodeho...@thefence.us ]brent_wodeho...@thefence.us> wrote:
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>[
>http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/08/is-being-a-geek-a-personality-trait-or-way-of-life/
>]http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/08/is-being-a-geek-a-personality-trait-or-way-of-life/
>
>Is Being a Geek a Personality Trait or Way of Life?
>
>By [ [ http://www.wired.com/geekdad/author/cebsilver/
>]http://www.wired.com/geekdad/author/cebsilver/ ]Curtis Silver
>
>August 9, 2010
>
>I have a confession to make to you, dear readers. While I am a geek by
>most qualifying standards of the definition, my children so far do not
>share similar interests.
>
>Some progress has been made on the older one as he enjoys Anime, but
>thats just because its less to read than a novel for which he has little
>interest. The middle one - he likes Star Wars but that is about it. Hes a
>sportsman at heart, playing football and baseball. While I did play
>baseball myself for many years, the geek side eventually won out over
>that. The youngest, my daughter, is my final hope in raising a true geek.
>
>Not withstanding, whatever they choose to do that makes them happy, makes
>me happy and I will not take that away from them because of my own selfish
>motives.
>
>It leads me to think though, what makes a geek? That is, when is that
>personality trait truly indoctrinated in the brain? When did I become a
>geek and set upon my own path in geekdom? While I do tend to think I
>embody the true sense of being a geekdad, I have to wonder what we are
>doing to raise the next generation of geeks to replace us and when in
>their lives does that training begin and stop.
>
>I suppose its sort of like Jedi training, perhaps it never stops. For
>myself, my father was an engineer, a total math and logic geek. I started
>out early with logic puzzles and Lego blocks. Of course I was into Star
>Wars, Star Trek and my fathers expansive science fiction book collection.
>To that end, anything geeky you can think of, comics and so on, I was into
>and throughly enjoyed.
>
>So in searching my memory, when was the day that the switch in my
>personality clicked and I was destined to be a geek for life? I dont
>think I can pinpoint the day, or the year, but when I [
>[
>http://www.livescience.com/culture/children-personality-adults-100804.html
>]http://www.livescience.com/culture/children-personality-adults-100804.html
>]read an article that claims that age seven is the cutoff for personality
>development I almost have to agree.
>
>The study shows that as early as first grade the personality traits
>exhibited by children are precursors to adult personality traits. Clearly
>this doesnt mean the age appropriate behavior, like whining about having
>to go to bed and believing there are monsters in the closet. Which there
>are of course, but as long as you keep the closet doors closed and dont
>look at them they cant get out. Unless they are [
>[ http://terrortube.com/images/articles/aliens_3.jpg
>]http://terrortube.com/images/articles/aliens_3.jpg ]Aliens or [
>[ http://astro.ic.ac.uk/%7Emortlock/remnants/2009/3006/morlocks.jpg
>]http://astro.ic.ac.uk/%7Emortlock/remnants/2009/3006/morlocks.jpg
>]Morlocks, in which case you are screwed.
>
>We remain recognizably the same person, said study author Christopher
>Nave, a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Riverside.
>This speaks to the importance of understanding personality because it
>does follow us wherever we go across time and contexts.
>
>The study looked at about 2,400 ethnically diverse children in grade
>school  in Hawaii. I find this statistic of the study to be very
>interesting. Why Hawaii? In the 1960s when the study began  how racially
>diverse was Hawaii? Frankly, I dont think race is as important as
>environment. More on that in a moment. The researchers compared
>personality ratings of the children with video taped interviews 40 years
>later. While not looking at geek as a specific personality trait, some
>of the traits they did study do carry into certain geek behaviors.
>
>They looked at both sides of the following personality traits;
>talkativeness (verbal fluency), adaptability (coping with new situations),
>impulsiveness and self-minimizing behavior (humility.) What they found,
>and what is going to be argued when this study is published in an upcoming
>issue of the journal [
>[ http://www.sagepub.co

Re: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

Me either, especially with diabetes on the rise in America. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:04:49 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels 
using light 

A coworker had one that you put a piece of paper under your tongue for a 
minute. It seemed to work well. I'm not sure why they haven't caught on. 

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 

I heard about this tech a good five years ago. I'd have thought it'd be ready 
for primetime by now. In fact, my wife was even asking at the drug store if 
they had the "painless" glucose meters, thinking they already had the 
light-passed devices. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf" < hellomahog...@gmail.com > 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 

Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:02:28 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using 
light 

Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light 

By Darren Quick 

21:06 August 10, 2010 

3 Pictures 
MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by shining 
near-infrare...

MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by shining 
near-infrared light on the skin (Image: Patrick Gillooly) Image Gallery (3 
images) 

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For most sufferers of type 1 diabetes pricking their fingers several times a 
day to draw blood for testing is an annoying (and often painful), but necessary 
part of life. It is essential to keep an eye on blood glucose levels because 
too much sugar can damage organs, while too little deprives the body of 
necessary fuel. To minimize that pain and inconvenience, researchers at MIT’s 
Spectroscopy Laboratory are working on a noninvasive way to measure blood 
glucose levels using light. 

First envisioned by Michael Feld, the late MIT professor of physics and former 
director of the Spectroscopy Laboratory, the technique uses Raman spectroscopy, 
a method that identifies chemical compounds based on the frequency of 
vibrations of the bonds holding the molecule together. The technique can reveal 
glucose levels by simply scanning a patient’s arm or finger with near-infrared 
light, eliminating the need to draw blood. 

Spectroscopy Lab graduate students Ishan Barman and Chae-Ryon Kong are 
developing a small Raman spectroscopy machine, about the size of a laptop 
computer, that could be used in a doctor’s office or a patient’s home. Such a 
device could one day help some of the nearly 1 million people in the United 
States, and millions more around the world, who suffer from type 1 diabetes. 

Researchers in the Spectroscopy Lab have been developing this technology for 
about 15 years. One of the major obstacles they have faced is that 
near-infrared light penetrates only about half a millimeter below the skin, so 
it measures the amount of glucose in the fluid that bathes skin cells (known as 
interstitial fluid), not the amount in the blood. To overcome this, the team 
came up with an algorithm that relates the two concentrations, allowing them to 
predict blood glucose levels from the glucose concentration in interstitial 
fluid. 

However, this calibration becomes more difficult immediately after the patient 
eats or drinks something sugary, because blood glucose soars rapidly, while it 
takes five to 10 minutes to see a corresponding surge in the interstitial fluid 
glucose levels. Therefore, interstitial fluid measurements do not give an 
accurate picture of what’s happening in the bloodstream. 

To address that lag time, Barman and Kong developed a new calibration method, 
called Dynamic Concentration Correction (DCC), which incorporates the rate at 
which glucose diffuses from the blood into the interstitial fluid. In a study 
of 10 healthy volunteers, the researchers used DCC-calibrated Raman 
spectroscopy to significantly boost the accuracy of blood glucose measurements 
— an average improvement of 15 percent, and up to 30 percent in some subjects. 

Barman and Kong plan to launch a clinical study to test the DCC algorithm in 
healthy volunteers this fall. 

The researchers described the new calibration method and results in the July 15 
issue of the journal Analytical Chemistry . 

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! 
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/ 

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of b

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Vista was the worst OS Microsoft has put out in decades, with the possible 
exception of the horrid Windows Millennium. Both are buggy, hard to 
troubleshoot, and just plain unstable. I bypassed both, sticking with Win2K 
until XP, then XP until 7... 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:36:17 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 

Makes me angry as well, Keith. Just a few minutes ago, my niece, running Vista 
on her laptop, had lost all sound on her system, and we had to puzzle out how 
to reset the drivers. I've never had that issue using XP. 

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 

No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds at 
their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one to 
Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP is 
the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no reason 
to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, for 
people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial struggle, 
XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do here. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter" < martinbaxt...@gmail.com > 
To: "SciFiNoir2" < scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 

Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows 
XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put 
together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't 
die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP 
users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade? 

More at: 
http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1

-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik 

-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] James Dyson Award National Winners announced

This is so cool! And here I thought Mr. Dyson was just the dude who designed 
the wild vacuum cleaner "that doesn't suck". I was really interested in the 
innovative Parquinho playground equipment. I have a good friend with an 
autistic child, and she's had to learn and struggle a lot to deal with the 
differences in how he processes sensory, tactile, and social input. A firm 
pressure really does calm such children. Ever heard of Temple Grandin? She's an 
autistic person who went on to get a PHd and who designs humane structures for 
slaughterhouses. She relates to the cattle and other animals because her 
sensory interpretations are in many ways like those of the animals, based more 
on visceral reactions to sound, pressure, and light than on the verbal clues, 
gestures, and facial expressions the rest of us use. She noticed that one part 
of the path to the slaughterhouse where the cattle were gently restrained 
actually seemed to calm them down. So, she designed a device for her own home 
based on that. It's a full body device into which she slips, which then applies 
a firm but gentle pressure across her body. It's akin to being 
hugged--something that all animals respond to well. My friend explained to me 
that's why, when autistic children sometimes have outbursts--based on them 
being over stimulated by noises, light, or crowds--parents often just grab the 
kids and hold them firmly. It's a way of shielding them bodily from the stimuli 
their systems simply can't handle. It's why some autistic children in severe 
cases will sit in a corner and wrap their arms around themselves and gently 
rock. They're trying to enfold themselves protectively from the hurtful stimuli 
of the world. This playground equipment seems based on that same concept. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:01:21 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] James Dyson Award National Winners announced 






James Dyson Award National Winners announced 



By Paul Ridden 

04:13 August 11, 2010 


34 Pictures 
James Dyson Award National Winners announced


James Dyson Award National Winners announced Image Gallery (34 images) 


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The first stage in judging the James Dyson Award 2010 has been completed and 
the national shortlists have been posted. From these, 20 projects will be 
chosen to go onto the next stage later this month. The overall international 
winner will be crowned in October. Read on for a look at some of those now 
being scrutinized by the judges. 

Designers from 18 countries have entered projects in this year's James Dyson 
Award . Up for grabs is GBP10,000 (about US$15,775) in prize money for the 
international winner plus a visit to one of the Dyson research & development 
centers and, of course, a trophy. The university department to which the 
winning designer or team belongs, if appropriate, will also receive GBP10,000. 
This year's challenge was simply to design something that solves a problem. 

The first judging stage has now been completed and national shortlists drawn 
up. Up to ten entries from each of the 18 countries are now through to the next 
round, which will see those whittled down to just 20. Sadly, the Treadway 
Mobility personal transport solution didn't make the cut but Sea Kettle and the 
Copenhagen Wheel are through. 


Other shortlisted U.S. project include a modular activity frame designed with 
autistic kids in mind, a public bicycle security system and a car stereo that 
includes docking for cell phones and aims to make cell phone driving 
distractions a thing of the past. 

Just to the north, Canada's hopes are resting on projects like the Sense Fire 
Prevention System which detects different gases and odors and warns home-owners 
of potential risks or a wireless car key system where drivers can use a cell 
phone or dedicated mobile device to unlock a door. 


Amongst the projects on Australia's shortlist are a wireless speaker system for 
use in public areas such as pubs to provide clear audio for televised sports 
viewing, a monitoring device for those suffering from type 2 diabetes and the 
bumpfree dynamic speedbump. Projects from Europe 


The UK will be represented by, amongst others, Move-it – as set of wheels onto 
which users attach various self-adhesive cardboard sections and end up with a 
custom box trolley. There's also a filtration and UV sterilization water bottle 
and a compact urban bicycle . 


The French are counting on projects

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Depends on the sound device. I have problems with my sound everyday when I'm
online because of a problem with flash. (usually closing the browser will
fix it.)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:36 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> Makes me angry as well, Keith. Just a few minutes ago, my niece, running
> Vista on her laptop, had lost all sound on her system, and we had to puzzle
> out how to reset the drivers. I've never had that issue using XP.
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson 
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy
>> with infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it
>> back from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and
>> hard to find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data
>> abounds at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to
>> direct one to Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's
>> great. But XP is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better,
>> even--and I see no reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have
>> to watch our money, for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a
>> real financial struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what
>> they're trying to do here.
>>
>>
>> - Original Message -
>> From: "Martin Baxter" 
>> To: "SciFiNoir2" 
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP
>>
>>
>>
>> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
>> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
>> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
>> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
>> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
>> upgrade?
>>
>> More at:
>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>
>
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 
>



-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

A coworker had one that you put a piece of paper under your tongue for a
minute. It seemed to work well. I'm not sure why they haven't caught on.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I heard about this tech a good five years ago. I'd have thought it'd be
> ready for primetime by now. In fact, my wife was even asking at the drug
> store if they had the "painless" glucose meters, thinking they already had
> the light-passed devices.
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Mr. Worf" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:02:28 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels
> using light
>
>
>
> Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light
>
> By Darren Quick 
>
> *21:06 August 10, 2010*
>
> 3 
> Pictures
>   [image: MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose
> levels by shining 
> near-infrare...]
>
> MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by
> shining near-infrared light on the skin (Image: Patrick Gillooly)
> *Image 
> Gallery(3
>  images)
> *
>  High-Tech Diabetes 
> Meter-
> www.SimpleWins.com/Contour_USB
> The First Glucose Meter With Plug And Play technology. Learn More!
> Compare Insulin 
> Pumps-
> www.myOmniPod.com
> Tired of Insulin Pumps with Tubing? Try the Tubeless Pump Today
> Compare Glucose 
> Monitors-
> www.DexCom.com

Re: [scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain

Probably were, Keith. If they aren't, then I'm getting extra security.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> Funny, but the pics of kids near fiery scenes seem to be Photoshopped...
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Mr. Worf" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:30:53 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
>
> **
>
> *
> *
>
> *
> *
>
> *
>
>
>
> *
>
>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>
>   
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain

Funny, but the pics of kids near fiery scenes seem to be Photoshopped... 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:30:53 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain 



































































-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! 
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology le ts washers and dryers chat to technicians over the phone

R2D2 has been born! :)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> Mr Worf, I overheard this a few weeks ago, when I was at LL Gregg buying my
> mother a TV for her birthday. Sounds amazing,
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:03 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dryers chat to technicians
>> over the phone
>>
>> By Darren Quick 
>>
>> *19:55 August 10, 2010*
>>[image: Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to
>> technicians over the 
>> phone]
>>
>> Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to technicians
>> over the phone
>>   Washer Mold 
>> Problems?-
>> ConsumerProtectionAttorney.org/
>> Call Us At 800-920-4321. You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
>> 2010 Top Washer & 
>> Dryers-
>> www.KitchenKool.com/Washer_Dryer
>> Highest Rated - Top Performing: Tips & Guide to Find Selection Now!
>> Top 10 Washing 
>> Machines-
>> US.AppliancePrices.net

Re: [scifinoir2] LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology le ts washers and dryers chat to technicians over the phone

R2D2 has been born! :)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> Mr Worf, I overheard this a few weeks ago, when I was at LL Gregg buying my
> mother a TV for her birthday. Sounds amazing,
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:03 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dryers chat to technicians
>> over the phone
>>
>> By Darren Quick 
>>
>> *19:55 August 10, 2010*
>>[image: Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to
>> technicians over the 
>> phone]
>>
>> Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to technicians
>> over the phone
>>   Washer Mold 
>> Problems?-
>> ConsumerProtectionAttorney.org/
>> Call Us At 800-920-4321. You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
>> 2010 Top Washer & 
>> Dryers-
>> www.KitchenKool.com/Washer_Dryer
>> Highest Rated - Top Performing: Tips & Guide to Find Selection Now!
>> Top 10 Washing 
>> Machines-
>> US.AppliancePrices.net

Re: [scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain

I'm adopting that little darling in the Santa cap! [?]

Martin (getting up there in years, needs to start training heirs -- all the
better if they're pre-eviled)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:30 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
> *
>
> **
>
> *
> *
>
> *
> *
>
> *
>
>
>
> *
>
>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
<<327.gif>>

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Makes me angry as well, Keith. Just a few minutes ago, my niece, running
Vista on her laptop, had lost all sound on her system, and we had to puzzle
out how to reset the drivers. I've never had that issue using XP.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy
> with infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it
> back from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and
> hard to find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data
> abounds at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to
> direct one to Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's
> great. But XP is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better,
> even--and I see no reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have
> to watch our money, for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a
> real financial struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what
> they're trying to do here.
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Martin Baxter" 
> To: "SciFiNoir2" 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP
>
>
>
> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
> upgrade?
>
> More at:
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP


I hear you. I have two laptops, both running XP. I don't want to spend the 
money now to replace them just to get Windows 7. They're an IBM T41 and T42, 
and run XP great, but would drag a bit with 7. 
I have a desktop running 7, but I loaded VMWare to it, and then loaded a XP 
into that VMWare session. Why? So I can do test and support for the many cases 
where XP is still dominant. Most non-IT people I know with home PCs have told 
me repeatedly they're happy with XP, and won't get a new OS until they have to 
buy a new machine. 
As for Apple, it truly is a different experience. Ducats prevent me from going 
that route, but I am looking forward to it... 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:41:49 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm 
looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady friends 
of mine who have Macs. 


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 









I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the 
corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers, 
requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years doing 
it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP. There's a 
lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate world to ensure 
that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often a major expense in 
upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater needs for RAM, CPU power, 
and hard drive space. For the home user, there's the money to buy a new OS, the 
always scary prospect of upgrading a machine's OS --somethign I never do, 
preferring a wipe/new install--and the time and effort needed to learn about 
using and troubleshooting a new OS at home. And again, if the home user has a 
PC that's as relatively young as five years old, it may be fine for the old OS, 
but must be upgraded or replaced to give the most robust experience on the new 
OS. 
I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have to 
do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at trying 
to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be perfectly happy 
using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least they're still 
sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux. 




- Original Message - 
From: "Adrianne Brennan" < adrianne.bren...@gmail.com > 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook from 
Verizon last fall and it has XP on it. 


They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it, they 
MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative. 


~ "Where love and magic meet" ~ 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com 
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon 
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath 
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html 



On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 






No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds at 
their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one to 
Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP is 
the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no reason 
to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, for 
people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial struggle, 
XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do here. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter" < martinbaxt...@gmail.com > 
To: "SciFiNoir2" < scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows 
XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put 
together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't 
die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP 
users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade? 

More at: 
http://www.p

Re: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

I heard about this tech a good five years ago. I'd have thought it'd be ready 
for primetime by now. In fact, my wife was even asking at the drug store if 
they had the "painless" glucose meters, thinking they already had the 
light-passed devices. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Mr. Worf"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:02:28 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using 
light 

Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light 

By Darren Quick 

21:06 August 10, 2010 

3 Pictures 
MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by shining 
near-infrare...

MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by shining 
near-infrared light on the skin (Image: Patrick Gillooly) Image Gallery (3 
images) 

High-Tech Diabetes Meter - www.SimpleWins.com/Contour_USB 
The First Glucose Meter With Plug And Play technology. Learn More! 

Compare Insulin Pumps - www.myOmniPod.com 
Tired of Insulin Pumps with Tubing? Try the Tubeless Pump Today 

Compare Glucose Monitors - www.DexCom.com 
Want to see the difference between top-brand glucose monitors? 

Type 1 Diabetes - www.DefendAgainstDiabetes.com 
How are you going to deal with your new diagnosis? 
Ads by Google 

For most sufferers of type 1 diabetes pricking their fingers several times a 
day to draw blood for testing is an annoying (and often painful), but necessary 
part of life. It is essential to keep an eye on blood glucose levels because 
too much sugar can damage organs, while too little deprives the body of 
necessary fuel. To minimize that pain and inconvenience, researchers at MIT’s 
Spectroscopy Laboratory are working on a noninvasive way to measure blood 
glucose levels using light. 

First envisioned by Michael Feld, the late MIT professor of physics and former 
director of the Spectroscopy Laboratory, the technique uses Raman spectroscopy, 
a method that identifies chemical compounds based on the frequency of 
vibrations of the bonds holding the molecule together. The technique can reveal 
glucose levels by simply scanning a patient’s arm or finger with near-infrared 
light, eliminating the need to draw blood. 

Spectroscopy Lab graduate students Ishan Barman and Chae-Ryon Kong are 
developing a small Raman spectroscopy machine, about the size of a laptop 
computer, that could be used in a doctor’s office or a patient’s home. Such a 
device could one day help some of the nearly 1 million people in the United 
States, and millions more around the world, who suffer from type 1 diabetes. 

Researchers in the Spectroscopy Lab have been developing this technology for 
about 15 years. One of the major obstacles they have faced is that 
near-infrared light penetrates only about half a millimeter below the skin, so 
it measures the amount of glucose in the fluid that bathes skin cells (known as 
interstitial fluid), not the amount in the blood. To overcome this, the team 
came up with an algorithm that relates the two concentrations, allowing them to 
predict blood glucose levels from the glucose concentration in interstitial 
fluid. 

However, this calibration becomes more difficult immediately after the patient 
eats or drinks something sugary, because blood glucose soars rapidly, while it 
takes five to 10 minutes to see a corresponding surge in the interstitial fluid 
glucose levels. Therefore, interstitial fluid measurements do not give an 
accurate picture of what’s happening in the bloodstream. 

To address that lag time, Barman and Kong developed a new calibration method, 
called Dynamic Concentration Correction (DCC), which incorporates the rate at 
which glucose diffuses from the blood into the interstitial fluid. In a study 
of 10 healthy volunteers, the researchers used DCC-calibrated Raman 
spectroscopy to significantly boost the accuracy of blood glucose measurements 
— an average improvement of 15 percent, and up to 30 percent in some subjects. 

Barman and Kong plan to launch a clinical study to test the DCC algorithm in 
healthy volunteers this fall. 

The researchers described the new calibration method and results in the July 15 
issue of the journal Analytical Chemistry . 

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! 
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] James Dyson Award National Winners announced

James Dyson Award National Winners announced

By Paul Ridden 

*04:13 August 11, 2010*

34 
Pictures
  [image: James Dyson Award National Winners
announced]

James Dyson Award National Winners announced
*Image 
Gallery(34
images)
*
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Sales-
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Buy a New or Used Ultra Motor A2B Electric Bike!
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3 Wheeled 
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Re: [scifinoir2] Maia Campbell Before The Drugs

You can say that again, brother. (shuddering)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:05 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> This is sad...
> Maia Campbell Before The Drugs [PHOTOS]
>  
> Previous
>  Click
> for 
> More
> Post by Shamika Sanders in 
> Gossip
> & News  on Aug 10, 2010 at
> 4:28 pm
> View Photos
>
> This photo recently surfaced of Maia Campbell when she was booked for
> (whatever) crime it was this time. Maia Campbell was once the star of the
> T.V show “In The House,” and teenage movie ‘Trippin.”
>
> It’s rumored that Maia was recently arrested for prostitution after her run
> in with drugs.
>
> Maia Campbell had the potential to be a major black actress in Hollywood,
> check out her pics before the drugs. She was truly beautiful…
>
> [image: 
> maiacampbell467-e128169858]
>
> Maia Campbell In Rehab After “Cracked Out” Video Surfaces On 
> Web
>
> Reason #2071 Not To Do Crack: It Turns Sitcom Stars To Crazy 
> Prostitutes
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] 12 Signs You Kid Will Become a Super Villain

*
*

**

*
*

*
*

*



*




-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology le ts washers and dryers chat to technicians over the phone

R2D2 has been born! :)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> Mr Worf, I overheard this a few weeks ago, when I was at LL Gregg buying my
> mother a TV for her birthday. Sounds amazing,
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:03 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dryers chat to technicians
>> over the phone
>>
>> By Darren Quick 
>>
>> *19:55 August 10, 2010*
>>[image: Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to
>> technicians over the 
>> phone]
>>
>> Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to technicians
>> over the phone
>>   Washer Mold 
>> Problems?-
>> ConsumerProtectionAttorney.org/
>> Call Us At 800-920-4321. You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
>> 2010 Top Washer & 
>> Dryers-
>> www.KitchenKool.com/Washer_Dryer
>> Highest Rated - Top Performing: Tips & Guide to Find Selection Now!
>> Top 10 Washing 
>> Machines-
>> US.AppliancePrices.net

Re: [scifinoir2] Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale

That look, slightly less techy, was supposed to have been a "coming thing".

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:22 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> What would be cool is if they caught on as a fashion statement.
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:32 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I'll be needing about fifteen of these, for the ladies in my life... [?]
>>
>> Martin (piggus-doggus male)
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:07 AM, Mr. Worf wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale posted on *2010-08-09* 23:57
>>> EDT
>>> Base price for costumes exceed US$6,000
>>> --
>>>
>>> Japanese 
>>> cosplayretailer
>>> COSPATIOis
>>>  currently
>>> selling  limited-edition licensed
>>> costumes based on the plugsuits worn by characters Asuka 
>>> Langleyand Rei
>>> Ayanami  in the TV anime Neon
>>> Genesis 
>>> Evangelion.
>>> The costumes are made to order and cost 553,350 yen (about US$6,428) within
>>> a standard realm of measurements: height of 150-170 cm (4'11" to 5'7"), bust
>>> of 75-96 cm (29.5" to 38"), waist of 56-75 cm (22" to 29.5"), hips of 82-98
>>> cm (32" to 38.5"). Customers outside of these measurements may have to pay a
>>> higher price.
>>>
>>> To order, customers must fill out a form and either bring it to one of
>>> COSPATIO's six participating store locations, or mail the form in and
>>> pay for the costumes to be delivered. However, the retailer warns that the
>>> costumes are tight and recommends that customers have the costumes fitted.
>>>
>>> Neon Genesis Evangelion originally launched as a television anime and
>>> manga in 1995, after which it spawned two movies: Neon Genesis Evangelion:
>>> Death and 
>>> Rebirthand 
>>> Neon
>>> Genesis Evangelion: The End of 
>>> Evangelion.
>>> The 
>>> franchisehas
>>>  since launched numerous manga and video game adaptations. In 2007, the
>>> first of four remake films, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangelion
>>> Shin Gekijōban: 
>>> Jo
>>> ) , was released in Japan. Evangelion cosplay is popular in Japan, and
>>> racer versions of the plugsuits were 
>>> usedto
>>>  promote an
>>> Evangelion race car team. One Japanese politician 
>>> cosplayedas
>>> Evangelion's Gendo Ikari for a fundraising event this past June.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>>> Mahogany at:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
<<327.gif>>

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

(seconding the Wise Man's words)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I think a lot of Niven's stuff is like that. He is still primarily a hard
> scifi guy, and sometimes characterizations aren't as strong as you may like.
> at least, that's my memory of him. I haven't read one of his books in at
> least a decade.
> Now if you want good characters and prose that flows like poetry, full of
> sardonic wit and cleverness, try Roger Zelazny's stuff. His Amber
> chronicles--a kind of scifi/fantasy mix--are great. His book "Lord of Light"
> is one of the best reads of my life. It deals with a planet settled by
> humans in which an elite class has given themselves super powers, and rules
> the populace posing as the Hindi gods. This thing has demons, zombies,
> existential questions, and action. It is really, really good.
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "angelababycat" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:21:21 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky
>
>
>
> Not too scifi heavy, but just didn't flow. I also didn't connect with the
> main characters so I didn't care who decided to get on the space ship or
> not. By the time they were in the ship and approached by those 5 lights or
> whatever (around page 60), I was a little confused and disinterested. In
> contrast, I'm already half way through Pebbles.
>
> Did I give up too soon on Ringworld?
>
> Angela
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith
> Johnson  wrote:
> >
> > Was Ringworld too scifi heavy for you? What didn't you like about it?
> >
> > - Original Message -
> > From: "angelababycat" 
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:17:28 PM
> > Subject: [scifinoir2] From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic
> classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the first
> 60 pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late
> works like Foundation, etc.?
> >
> > Angela
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com  ,
> "angelababycat"  wrote:
> > >
> > > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the
> first sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt
> good. I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to
> start.
> > >
> > > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of
> suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just
> pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me
> Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still haven't
> recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that one...
> > >
> > > Anyone read any of these?
> > >
> > > Angela
> > >
> > > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious:
> > >
> > > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started in
> Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her
> early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first race
> of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe, forming the
> League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world
> collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870 and
> concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen" in
> the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the Ekumen.
> Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and its
> citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities or
> sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that
> civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect being
> that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however, arcane
> rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to
> survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political faction is
> in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country, for
> instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for him, but
> the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another he has
> trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of Districts
> support him and which want to use him to gain political power. The struggle
> of Genly Ai as he tries to understand the ways of these people and survive
> on this hostile planet gives Le Guin the chance to explore what life would
> be like without the dualities, such as summer and winter or male and female,
> that form our way of thinking: the book's title comes from a Gethen poem,
> which begins, "Light is The Left Hand of Darkness â€¦ "
> > >
> >
>
>
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtub

Re: [scifinoir2] LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology le ts washers and dryers chat to technicians over the phone

Mr Worf, I overheard this a few weeks ago, when I was at LL Gregg buying my
mother a TV for her birthday. Sounds amazing,

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:03 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dryers chat to technicians
> over the phone
>
> By Darren Quick 
>
> *19:55 August 10, 2010*
>[image: Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to
> technicians over the 
> phone]
>
> Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to technicians
> over the phone
>   Washer Mold 
> Problems?-
> ConsumerProtectionAttorney.org/
> Call Us At 800-920-4321. You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
> 2010 Top Washer & 
> Dryers-
> www.KitchenKool.com/Washer_Dryer
> Highest Rated - Top Performing: Tips & Guide to Find Selection Now!
> Top 10 Washing 
> Machines-
> US.AppliancePrices.net
> Blowout Sale On Washing Machines Free

Re: [scifinoir2] Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale

What would be cool is if they caught on as a fashion statement.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:32 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> I'll be needing about fifteen of these, for the ladies in my life... [?]
>
> Martin (piggus-doggus male)
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:07 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale posted on *2010-08-09* 23:57
>> EDT
>> Base price for costumes exceed US$6,000
>> --
>>
>> Japanese 
>> cosplayretailer
>> COSPATIOis 
>> currently
>> selling  limited-edition licensed
>> costumes based on the plugsuits worn by characters Asuka 
>> Langleyand Rei
>> Ayanami  in the TV anime Neon
>> Genesis 
>> Evangelion.
>> The costumes are made to order and cost 553,350 yen (about US$6,428) within
>> a standard realm of measurements: height of 150-170 cm (4'11" to 5'7"), bust
>> of 75-96 cm (29.5" to 38"), waist of 56-75 cm (22" to 29.5"), hips of 82-98
>> cm (32" to 38.5"). Customers outside of these measurements may have to pay a
>> higher price.
>>
>> To order, customers must fill out a form and either bring it to one of
>> COSPATIO's six participating store locations, or mail the form in and pay
>> for the costumes to be delivered. However, the retailer warns that the
>> costumes are tight and recommends that customers have the costumes fitted.
>>
>> Neon Genesis Evangelion originally launched as a television anime and
>> manga in 1995, after which it spawned two movies: Neon Genesis Evangelion:
>> Death and 
>> Rebirthand 
>> Neon
>> Genesis Evangelion: The End of 
>> Evangelion.
>> The 
>> franchisehas 
>> since launched numerous manga and video game adaptations. In 2007, the
>> first of four remake films, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangelion
>> Shin Gekijōban: 
>> Jo
>> ) , was released in Japan. Evangelion cosplay is popular in Japan, and
>> racer versions of the plugsuits were 
>> usedto
>>  promote an
>> Evangelion race car team. One Japanese politician 
>> cosplayedas
>> Evangelion's Gendo Ikari for a fundraising event this past June.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>> Mahogany at:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>
>
>
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 
>



-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
<<327.gif>>

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Great foresight!

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:48 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> I thought I'd toss that in just in case they tried to use it as an excuse.
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:43 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I doubt that these sorts have thought so far as to consider the economy.
>> Just their own bottom lines.
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:27 PM, Mr. Worf wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm surprised that they didn't mention Sp3 at all in the article. Is it
>>> because there are still a lot of people that didn't upgrade to sp3?
>>>
>>> I can understand M$'s point of view on this but I still think that their
>>> actions are a bad choice. You cannot force people to upgrade if they are
>>> happy with what they have. (even if it isn't the best) Upgrading for
>>> upgrading's sake is not the plan. M$ has already mentioned that Windows 8 is
>>> coming out in another year or two so why bother?
>>>
>>> I think that they are pushing the upgrade in hopes to not only pull in
>>> another billion but to force the people that may have a hacked copy to
>>> possibly pay this time. Yea...Right.
>>>
>>> Another thing is that in these tough economic times there just aren't a
>>> lot of people that can justify upgrading their OS just to make M$ happy.
>>> Like Keith mentioned it will require ram and hard drive upgrades. Possibly
>>> video card upgrades too. Great for the tech resellers but this will not
>>> jumpstart the economy.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Martin Baxter >> > wrote:
>>>


 Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
 Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
 and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
 that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
 putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
 upgrade?

 More at:
 http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1

 --
 "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody
 hell wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik



>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>>> Mahogany at:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

I thought I'd toss that in just in case they tried to use it as an excuse.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:43 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> I doubt that these sorts have thought so far as to consider the economy.
> Just their own bottom lines.
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:27 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I'm surprised that they didn't mention Sp3 at all in the article. Is it
>> because there are still a lot of people that didn't upgrade to sp3?
>>
>> I can understand M$'s point of view on this but I still think that their
>> actions are a bad choice. You cannot force people to upgrade if they are
>> happy with what they have. (even if it isn't the best) Upgrading for
>> upgrading's sake is not the plan. M$ has already mentioned that Windows 8 is
>> coming out in another year or two so why bother?
>>
>> I think that they are pushing the upgrade in hopes to not only pull in
>> another billion but to force the people that may have a hacked copy to
>> possibly pay this time. Yea...Right.
>>
>> Another thing is that in these tough economic times there just aren't a
>> lot of people that can justify upgrading their OS just to make M$ happy.
>> Like Keith mentioned it will require ram and hard drive upgrades. Possibly
>> video card upgrades too. Great for the tech resellers but this will not
>> jumpstart the economy.
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Martin Baxter 
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
>>> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
>>> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
>>> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
>>> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
>>> upgrade?
>>>
>>> More at:
>>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>>>
>>> --
>>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody
>>> hell wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>> Mahogany at:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>
>
>
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 
>



-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

I'm passing this to a LOT of my family members on my late dad's side, where
the Big D is almost a given. Love to know how I've missed it so far.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 5:02 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light
>
> By Darren Quick 
>
> *21:06 August 10, 2010*
>
> 3 
> Pictures
>   [image: MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose
> levels by shining 
> near-infrare...]
>
> MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by
> shining near-infrared light on the skin (Image: Patrick Gillooly)
> *Image 
> Gallery(3
>  images)
> *
>  High-Tech Diabetes 
> Meter-
> www.SimpleWins.com/Contour_USB
> The First Glucose Meter With Plug And Play technology. Learn More!
> Compare Insulin 
> Pumps-
> www.myOmniPod.com
> Tired of Insulin Pumps with Tubing? Try the Tubeless Pump Today
> Compare Glucose 
> Monitors-
> www.DexCom.com
> Want to see the difference between top-brand glucose monitors?
> Type 1 
> Diabetes

Re: [scifinoir2] Movie Review - Ip Man 2

Must... go... to... rehinge... my... jaw... [?][?][?][?]

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:15 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> Movie Review – Ip Man 2
>
> Life in a new big city can be difficult even for Ip Man. Ip Man 2 continues
> the story a few years after he moves to Hong Kong. (The war years were cut
> into a very brief montage.) Times were hard during the Japanese occupation
> for everyone but the city is starting to recover under British rule. The Ip
> family is expecting their second child and with very little money coming in,
> they must decide on tuition for their child’s education or paying rent.
> Pressed with a hard decision, Ip decides to open his martial art school.
>
> Ip finds an abandoned rooftop factory nearby and opens for business. A
> young man enters his establishment and challenges him to a fight betting him
> tuition money. Ip quickly bests him and the young man runs away. He returns
> sometime later with three more friends in tow. All three friends attack Ip,
> and Ip quickly takes care of them. Impressed by Ip’s skill, all four join
> Ip’s school.
>
> I didn’t think that it was possible but several of the fight scenes in this
> film top the first film! One of the best scenes in the film was between Ip
> Man (Donnie Yen) and Master Hung aka “Big Brother” (played by Sammo Hung
> Kam-Bo). After a series of incidents related to Ip’s first pupil, Ip is
> warned by Master Hung that he must prove himself against several other
> teachers on the Hong Kong Kung Fu console. The fight between Ip and Master
> Hung was delicious martial arts taking place on a large round table.
>
> If you love Kung Fu, I am sure that you will love this film!
>
> See the trailer here: http://www.azmovies.net/ip-man-2.html
>
> Pros: Great fight scenes. Good storyline.
>
> Cons: The subtitles that came with the film were awful, but it was an early
> release. The subplot about the British seemed a bit forced.
>
> 4 out of 5 stars
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
<<360.gif>>

[scifinoir2] Re: [BombcherryJuice] WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets

The funny thing was it was business as usual 10 seconds later.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 AM,  wrote:

>
>
> Lmao
>
> Gm ya'll
>
> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
> --
> *From: * ctool...@yahoo.com
> *Sender: * bombcherryju...@yahoogroups.com
> *Date: *Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:17:53 +
> *To: *
> *ReplyTo: * bombcherryju...@yahoogroups.com
> *Subject: *Re: [BombcherryJuice] WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee
> Over McNuggets
>
>
>
> Yeah - I saw that. The woman was determined that NOTHING was gonna come
> between her and her nuggets (LOL). I wonder if she was high and thought it
> was 6:30PM instead of 6:30AM.
>
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> --
> *From: * "Mr. Worf" 
> *Sender: * bombcherryju...@yahoogroups.com
> *Date: *Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:00:00 -0700
> *To: *bombcherryjuice
> *ReplyTo: * bombcherryju...@yahoogroups.com
> *Subject: *[BombcherryJuice] WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee
> Over McNuggets
>
>
>
> WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets
>  
> Previous
>  Click
> for 
> More
> Post by The Urban 
> Dailyin Gossip
> & News  on Aug 10, 2010 at
> 3:35 pm
> View Photos
>
> [image: McDonalds Drive-Thru Attack]
>
> A Toledo, OH woman became so enraged that she couldn’t get Chicken
> McNuggets from a local McDonalds at 6:30AM that she attacked the drive-thru
> window attendant and broke the window.
>
> We don’t know about you guys, but McDonalds’ chicken McNuggets aren’t *
> that* good…
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>
>
> 
>



-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] Maia Campbell Before The Drugs

This is sad...
Maia Campbell Before The Drugs [PHOTOS]
 
Previous
Click
for 
More
Post by Shamika Sanders
in Gossip
& News  on Aug 10, 2010 at
4:28 pm
View Photos 

This photo recently surfaced of Maia Campbell when she was booked for
(whatever) crime it was this time. Maia Campbell was once the star of the
T.V show “In The House,” and teenage movie ‘Trippin.”

It’s rumored that Maia was recently arrested for prostitution after her run
in with drugs.

Maia Campbell had the potential to be a major black actress in Hollywood,
check out her pics before the drugs. She was truly beautiful…

[image: 
maiacampbell467-e128169858]

Maia Campbell In Rehab After “Cracked Out” Video Surfaces On
Web

Reason #2071 Not To Do Crack: It Turns Sitcom Stars To Crazy
Prostitutes


-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

I doubt that these sorts have thought so far as to consider the economy.
Just their own bottom lines.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:27 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> I'm surprised that they didn't mention Sp3 at all in the article. Is it
> because there are still a lot of people that didn't upgrade to sp3?
>
> I can understand M$'s point of view on this but I still think that their
> actions are a bad choice. You cannot force people to upgrade if they are
> happy with what they have. (even if it isn't the best) Upgrading for
> upgrading's sake is not the plan. M$ has already mentioned that Windows 8 is
> coming out in another year or two so why bother?
>
> I think that they are pushing the upgrade in hopes to not only pull in
> another billion but to force the people that may have a hacked copy to
> possibly pay this time. Yea...Right.
>
> Another thing is that in these tough economic times there just aren't a lot
> of people that can justify upgrading their OS just to make M$ happy. Like
> Keith mentioned it will require ram and hard drive upgrades. Possibly video
> card upgrades too. Great for the tech resellers but this will not jumpstart
> the economy.
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Martin Baxter 
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
>> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
>> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
>> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
>> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
>> upgrade?
>>
>> More at:
>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

I've been happy with XP ever since it first came out. The only reason I'm
looking to Apple is because of the considerable charms invoked by lady
friends of mine who have Macs.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the
> corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers,
> requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years
> doing it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP.
> There's a lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate
> world to ensure that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often
> a major expense in upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater
> needs for RAM, CPU power, and hard drive space.   For the home user, there's
> the money to buy a new OS, the always scary prospect of upgrading a
> machine's OS --somethign I never do, preferring a wipe/new install--and the
> time and effort needed to learn about using and troubleshooting a new OS at
> home. And again, if the home user has a PC that's as relatively young as
> five years old, it may be fine for the old OS, but must be upgraded or
> replaced to give the most robust experience on the new OS.
>  I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have
> to do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at
> trying to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be
> perfectly happy using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least
> they're still sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux.
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows
> XP
>
>
>
> Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook
> from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it.
>
> They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it,
> they MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative.
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson 
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy
>> with infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it
>> back from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and
>> hard to find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data
>> abounds at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to
>> direct one to Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's
>> great. But XP is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better,
>> even--and I see no reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have
>> to watch our money, for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a
>> real financial struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what
>> they're trying to do here.
>>
>> - Original Message -
>> From: "Martin Baxter" 
>> To: "SciFiNoir2" 
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP
>>
>>
>>
>> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
>> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
>> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
>> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
>> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
>> upgrade?
>>
>> More at:
>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] What Vs do you want to see?

Period-wise, I suspect that Connery's Bond and Coburn's Flint would be oil
and water, at each others' throats within minutes. Now, up against Pierce
Brosnan's Bond, the dynamic might be alot different, as Brosnan's Bond was
something of a freewheeling kid.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:29 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> I feel you on that. It would be interesting. I always thought of Flint
> being the cool hip intellectual American to the suave and refined Bond. It
> would have been great to see them against one another on screen.
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:37 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I was watching "Our Man Flint" yesterday, and I've been jonesing for a
>> Bond-Flint throwdown ever since.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:32 AM, Mr. Worf wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If you had your wish, what movie characters would you love to see in a
>>> fight?
>>>
>>> I thought these examples would help:
>>>
>>> Chun Lee vs Trinity
>>> Klingons vs Predators
>>> Hulk vs Superman
>>>
>>> Who would you choose?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>>> Mahogany at:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
>> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dr yers chat to technicians over the phone

LG’s SmartDiagnosis technology lets washers and dryers chat to technicians
over the phone

By Darren Quick 

*19:55 August 10, 2010*
   [image: Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to
technicians over the
phone]

Tell me where it hurts - LG's washers and dryers can 'talk' to technicians
over the phone
  Washer Mold 
Problems?-
ConsumerProtectionAttorney.org/
Call Us At 800-920-4321. You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
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Washers

[scifinoir2] Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

Non-invasive way to monitor blood glucose levels using light

By Darren Quick 

*21:06 August 10, 2010*

3 
Pictures
  [image: MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels
by shining 
near-infrare...]

MIT researchers have devised a way to measure blood glucose levels by
shining near-infrared light on the skin (Image: Patrick Gillooly)
*Image 
Gallery(3
images)
*
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Compare Glucose
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Want to see the difference between top-brand glucose monitors?
Type 1 
Diabetes

Re: [scifinoir2] What Vs do you want to see?

I feel you on that. It would be interesting. I always thought of Flint being
the cool hip intellectual American to the suave and refined Bond. It would
have been great to see them against one another on screen.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:37 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> I was watching "Our Man Flint" yesterday, and I've been jonesing for a
> Bond-Flint throwdown ever since.
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:32 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> If you had your wish, what movie characters would you love to see in a
>> fight?
>>
>> I thought these examples would help:
>>
>> Chun Lee vs Trinity
>> Klingons vs Predators
>> Hulk vs Superman
>>
>> Who would you choose?
>>
>> --
>> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
>> Mahogany at:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>>
>
>
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 
>



-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

I'm surprised that they didn't mention Sp3 at all in the article. Is it
because there are still a lot of people that didn't upgrade to sp3?

I can understand M$'s point of view on this but I still think that their
actions are a bad choice. You cannot force people to upgrade if they are
happy with what they have. (even if it isn't the best) Upgrading for
upgrading's sake is not the plan. M$ has already mentioned that Windows 8 is
coming out in another year or two so why bother?

I think that they are pushing the upgrade in hopes to not only pull in
another billion but to force the people that may have a hacked copy to
possibly pay this time. Yea...Right.

Another thing is that in these tough economic times there just aren't a lot
of people that can justify upgrading their OS just to make M$ happy. Like
Keith mentioned it will require ram and hard drive upgrades. Possibly video
card upgrades too. Great for the tech resellers but this will not jumpstart
the economy.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
> upgrade?
>
> More at:
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] Movie Review - Ip Man 2

Movie Review – Ip Man 2

Life in a new big city can be difficult even for Ip Man. Ip Man 2 continues
the story a few years after he moves to Hong Kong. (The war years were cut
into a very brief montage.) Times were hard during the Japanese occupation
for everyone but the city is starting to recover under British rule. The Ip
family is expecting their second child and with very little money coming in,
they must decide on tuition for their child’s education or paying rent.
Pressed with a hard decision, Ip decides to open his martial art school.

Ip finds an abandoned rooftop factory nearby and opens for business. A young
man enters his establishment and challenges him to a fight betting him
tuition money. Ip quickly bests him and the young man runs away. He returns
sometime later with three more friends in tow. All three friends attack Ip,
and Ip quickly takes care of them. Impressed by Ip’s skill, all four join
Ip’s school.

I didn’t think that it was possible but several of the fight scenes in this
film top the first film! One of the best scenes in the film was between Ip
Man (Donnie Yen) and Master Hung aka “Big Brother” (played by Sammo Hung
Kam-Bo). After a series of incidents related to Ip’s first pupil, Ip is
warned by Master Hung that he must prove himself against several other
teachers on the Hong Kong Kung Fu console. The fight between Ip and Master
Hung was delicious martial arts taking place on a large round table.

If you love Kung Fu, I am sure that you will love this film!

See the trailer here: http://www.azmovies.net/ip-man-2.html

Pros: Great fight scenes. Good storyline.

Cons: The subtitles that came with the film were awful, but it was an early
release. The subplot about the British seemed a bit forced.

4 out of 5 stars


-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

I agree. It cosst a *lot* of time and money to move to a new OS. On the 
corporate side, you can be talking hundreds or thousands of computers, 
requiring major rollout/upgrade projects. I know 'cause I spent ten years doing 
it for my last permanent job, from NT 4.0 and OS/2 to Win2003 and XP. There's a 
lot of software testing that must take place in the corporate world to ensure 
that critical software functions on new OS's. There's often a major expense in 
upgrading hardware to accommodate the new OS' greater needs for RAM, CPU power, 
and hard drive space. For the home user, there's the money to buy a new OS, the 
always scary prospect of upgrading a machine's OS --somethign I never do, 
preferring a wipe/new install--and the time and effort needed to learn about 
using and troubleshooting a new OS at home. And again, if the home user has a 
PC that's as relatively young as five years old, it may be fine for the old OS, 
but must be upgraded or replaced to give the most robust experience on the new 
OS. 
I've been in IT for over a decade, and learning this stuff is what I have to 
do, but I admit even my eyes glaze over and my head throbs sometimes at trying 
to learn the intricacies of a new OS. There are people who'd be perfectly happy 
using XP five years from now. I say let 'em, 'cause at least they're still 
sticking with Microsoft instead of bolting to Apple or Linux. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Adrianne Brennan"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:48:16 PM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook from 
Verizon last fall and it has XP on it. 


They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it, they 
MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative. 


~ "Where love and magic meet" ~ 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com 
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon 
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath 
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html 



On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 






No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds at 
their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one to 
Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP is 
the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no reason 
to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, for 
people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial struggle, 
XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do here. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter" < martinbaxt...@gmail.com > 
To: "SciFiNoir2" < scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows 
XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put 
together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't 
die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP 
users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade? 

More at: 
http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
 

-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

Then they need to stop putting out computers with it. I bought my netbook
from Verizon last fall and it has XP on it.

They have to realize that if they have a large customer base that uses it,
they MUST support it. Period. Or give us a better alternative.

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy
> with infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it
> back from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and
> hard to find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data
> abounds at their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to
> direct one to Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's
> great. But XP is the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better,
> even--and I see no reason to push people toward it. For those of us who have
> to watch our money, for people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a
> real financial struggle, XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what
> they're trying to do here.
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Martin Baxter" 
> To: "SciFiNoir2" 
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP
>
>
>
> Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of
> Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista
> and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system
> that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2,
> putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to
> upgrade?
>
> More at:
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
> 
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

I think a lot of Niven's stuff is like that. He is still primarily a hard scifi 
guy, and sometimes characterizations aren't as strong as you may like. at 
least, that's my memory of him. I haven't read one of his books in at least a 
decade. 
Now if you want good characters and prose that flows like poetry, full of 
sardonic wit and cleverness, try Roger Zelazny's stuff. His Amber chronicles--a 
kind of scifi/fantasy mix--are great. His book "Lord of Light" is one of the 
best reads of my life. It deals with a planet settled by humans in which an 
elite class has given themselves super powers, and rules the populace posing as 
the Hindi gods. This thing has demons, zombies, existential questions, and 
action. It is really, really good. 


- Original Message - 
From: "angelababycat"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:21:21 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky 






Not too scifi heavy, but just didn't flow. I also didn't connect with the main 
characters so I didn't care who decided to get on the space ship or not. By the 
time they were in the ship and approached by those 5 lights or whatever (around 
page 60), I was a little confused and disinterested. In contrast, I'm already 
half way through Pebbles. 

Did I give up too soon on Ringworld? 

Angela 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson  wrote: 
> 
> Was Ringworld too scifi heavy for you? What didn't you like about it? 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "angelababycat"  
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:17:28 PM 
> Subject: [scifinoir2] From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic 
> classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the first 60 
> pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late works 
> like Foundation, etc.? 
> 
> Angela 
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , "angelababycat"  wrote: 
> > 
> > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the first 
> > sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt 
> > good. I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to 
> > start. 
> > 
> > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of 
> > suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just 
> > pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me 
> > Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still haven't 
> > recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that one... 
> > 
> > Anyone read any of these? 
> > 
> > Angela 
> > 
> > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious: 
> > 
> > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started in 
> > Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her 
> > early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first race 
> > of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe, forming 
> > the League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world 
> > collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870 and 
> > concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen" in 
> > the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the 
> > Ekumen. Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and 
> > its citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities 
> > or sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that 
> > civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect being 
> > that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however, arcane 
> > rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to 
> > survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political faction 
> > is in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country, 
> > for instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for 
> > him, but the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another 
> > he has trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of 
> > Districts support him and which want to use him to gain political power. 
> > The struggle of Genly Ai as he tries to understand the ways of these people 
> > and survive on this hostile planet gives Le Guin the chance to explore what 
> > life would be like without the dualities, such as summer and winter or male 
> > and female, that form our way of thinking: the book's title comes from a 
> > Gethen poem, which begins, "Light is The Left Hand of Darkness â€¦ " 
> > 
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP

No, it's B.S. I've spent the last week fixing a lady's PC that was lousy with 
infections, so bad they'd turned off Windows Firewall. I had to roll it back 
from SP3 to SP2, then re-install SP3. I was amazed at how sparse and hard to 
find the SP2 resources were on Microsoft's site. Also, while XP data abounds at 
their site, there were obvious links all over the place trying to direct one to 
Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on the PC I'm using now, and it's great. But XP is 
the best OS they put out since Windows 2000--better, even--and I see no reason 
to push people toward it. For those of us who have to watch our money, for 
people for whom an upgrade to Windows 7 represents a real financial struggle, 
XP is a godsend. I find it appalling at what they're trying to do here. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter"  
To: "SciFiNoir2"  
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:58:45 PM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP 






Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows 
XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put 
together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't 
die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP 
users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade? 

More at: 
http://www.pcworld.com/article/202612/microsofts_notsosecret_plan_to_cripple_windows_xp.html?tk=nl_wbx_h_crawl1
 

-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell 
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

I'm not arguing, Adrianne. Leaves hope for 6'6" 168-pound geeks like me. [?]
[?]

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:22 PM, Adrianne Brennan <
adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Absolutely nothing. Didn't when he first became popular, didn't now.
>
> I think I prefer the geeks. As a kid I had crushes on chars like Egon and
> Spock. Now it's the Doctor. Go fig, right? :)
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> The Shwayz does nothing for you? I know straight guys who stopped what
>> they're doing when he stripped down in "Ghost".
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Adrianne Brennan <
>> adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hilariously, I don't find a single one of them attractive.
>>>
>>>
>>> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
>>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
>>> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
>>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
>>> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
>>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
>>> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
>>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:
>>>

 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

 These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But
 thanks for asking.
 By: Koryn Kennedy
 08/06/2010 02:03 pm

 Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
 without at least one shirtless 
 scene.
 The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
 through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
 shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
 hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
 godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
 and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.

 Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.

 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)

 Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
 under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
 whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
 crazy, hot guys.

 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)

 Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who
 turn into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
 shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
 shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
 chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.

 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)

 There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup
 dancers. Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their
 hips and they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick
 Swayze in the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family
 vacation ever.

 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)

 The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
 character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd 
 still
 eat dinner off those abs.

 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)

 According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback
 forces a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind
 of chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
 strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes 
 and
 sweats in the heat.

 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)

 If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
 Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
 only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.

 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)

 OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've
 seen a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a
 shirt. Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make
 a girl really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.

 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)

[scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

2010-08-11 Thread angelababycat

Not too scifi heavy, but just didn't flow.  I also didn't connect with the main 
characters so I didn't care who decided to get on the space ship or not.  By 
the time they were in the ship and approached by those 5 lights or whatever 
(around page 60), I was a little confused and disinterested.  In contrast, I'm 
already half way through Pebbles.

Did I give up too soon on Ringworld?

Angela

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson  wrote:
>
> Was Ringworld too scifi heavy for you? What didn't you like about it? 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "angelababycat"  
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:17:28 PM 
> Subject: [scifinoir2] From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic 
> classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the first 60 
> pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late works 
> like Foundation, etc.? 
> 
> Angela 
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , "angelababycat"  wrote: 
> > 
> > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the first 
> > sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt 
> > good. I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to 
> > start. 
> > 
> > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of 
> > suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just 
> > pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me 
> > Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still haven't 
> > recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that one... 
> > 
> > Anyone read any of these? 
> > 
> > Angela 
> > 
> > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious: 
> > 
> > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started in 
> > Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her 
> > early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first race 
> > of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe, forming 
> > the League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world 
> > collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870 and 
> > concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen" in 
> > the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the 
> > Ekumen. Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and 
> > its citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities 
> > or sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that 
> > civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect being 
> > that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however, arcane 
> > rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to 
> > survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political faction 
> > is in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country, 
> > for instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for 
> > him, but the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another 
> > he has trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of 
> > Districts support him and which want to use him to gain political power. 
> > The struggle of Genly Ai as he tries to understand the ways of these people 
> > and survive on this hostile planet gives Le Guin the chance to explore what 
> > life would be like without the dualities, such as summer and winter or male 
> > and female, that form our way of thinking: the book's title comes from a 
> > Gethen poem, which begins, "Light is The Left Hand of Darkness â¦ " 
> >
>

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

Absolutely nothing. Didn't when he first became popular, didn't now.

I think I prefer the geeks. As a kid I had crushes on chars like Egon and
Spock. Now it's the Doctor. Go fig, right? :)

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

>
>
> The Shwayz does nothing for you? I know straight guys who stopped what
> they're doing when he stripped down in "Ghost".
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Adrianne Brennan <
> adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Hilariously, I don't find a single one of them attractive.
>>
>>
>> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
>> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
>> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
>> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
>>>
>>> These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But
>>> thanks for asking.
>>> By: Koryn Kennedy
>>> 08/06/2010 02:03 pm
>>>
>>> Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
>>> without at least one shirtless 
>>> scene.
>>> The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
>>> through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
>>> shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
>>> hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
>>> godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
>>> and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.
>>>
>>> Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.
>>>
>>> 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)
>>>
>>> Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
>>> under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
>>> whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
>>> crazy, hot guys.
>>>
>>> 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)
>>>
>>> Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who
>>> turn into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
>>> shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
>>> shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
>>> chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.
>>>
>>> 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)
>>>
>>> There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers.
>>> Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and
>>> they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in
>>> the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever.
>>>
>>> 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)
>>>
>>> The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
>>> character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still
>>> eat dinner off those abs.
>>>
>>> 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)
>>>
>>> According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback
>>> forces a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind
>>> of chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
>>> strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and
>>> sweats in the heat.
>>>
>>> 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)
>>>
>>> If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
>>> Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
>>> only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.
>>>
>>> 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)
>>>
>>> OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've
>>> seen a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a
>>> shirt. Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make
>>> a girl really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.
>>>
>>> 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)
>>>
>>> The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene
>>> highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It
>>> also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks
>>> while *Danger Zone* plays in the background: ridiculously hot.
>>>
>>> 9. Ma

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

The Shwayz does nothing for you? I know straight guys who stopped what
they're doing when he stripped down in "Ghost".

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Adrianne Brennan <
adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hilariously, I don't find a single one of them attractive.
>
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
>>
>> These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But
>> thanks for asking.
>> By: Koryn Kennedy
>> 08/06/2010 02:03 pm
>>
>> Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
>> without at least one shirtless 
>> scene.
>> The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
>> through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
>> shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
>> hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
>> godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
>> and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.
>>
>> Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.
>>
>> 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)
>>
>> Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
>> under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
>> whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
>> crazy, hot guys.
>>
>> 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)
>>
>> Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who turn
>> into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
>> shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
>> shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
>> chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.
>>
>> 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)
>>
>> There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers.
>> Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and
>> they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in
>> the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever.
>>
>> 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)
>>
>> The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
>> character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still
>> eat dinner off those abs.
>>
>> 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)
>>
>> According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback forces
>> a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind of
>> chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
>> strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and
>> sweats in the heat.
>>
>> 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)
>>
>> If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
>> Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
>> only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.
>>
>> 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)
>>
>> OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've seen
>> a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a shirt.
>> Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make a girl
>> really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.
>>
>> 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)
>>
>> The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene
>> highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It
>> also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks
>> while *Danger Zone* plays in the background: ridiculously hot.
>>
>> 9. Marlon Wayans, *G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra* (2009)
>>
>> Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his
>> career—I'm immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar Wayans
>> stripped down to pump some iron, the latter had my complete attention.
>> Wayans, wow, who knew? Channing, been there, seen that.
>>
>> *
>> *
>>
>>
>>
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

And I should add that it wasn't in hopes of Demi following suit...

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:

> The Shwayz does nothing for you? I know straight guys who stopped what
> they're doing when he stripped down in "Ghost".
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:36 AM, Adrianne Brennan <
> adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Hilariously, I don't find a single one of them attractive.
>>
>>
>> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
>> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
>> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
>> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
>> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
>>>
>>> These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But
>>> thanks for asking.
>>> By: Koryn Kennedy
>>> 08/06/2010 02:03 pm
>>>
>>> Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
>>> without at least one shirtless 
>>> scene.
>>> The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
>>> through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
>>> shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
>>> hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
>>> godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
>>> and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.
>>>
>>> Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.
>>>
>>> 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)
>>>
>>> Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
>>> under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
>>> whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
>>> crazy, hot guys.
>>>
>>> 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)
>>>
>>> Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who
>>> turn into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
>>> shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
>>> shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
>>> chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.
>>>
>>> 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)
>>>
>>> There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers.
>>> Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and
>>> they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in
>>> the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever.
>>>
>>> 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)
>>>
>>> The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
>>> character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still
>>> eat dinner off those abs.
>>>
>>> 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)
>>>
>>> According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback
>>> forces a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind
>>> of chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
>>> strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and
>>> sweats in the heat.
>>>
>>> 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)
>>>
>>> If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
>>> Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
>>> only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.
>>>
>>> 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)
>>>
>>> OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've
>>> seen a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a
>>> shirt. Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make
>>> a girl really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.
>>>
>>> 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)
>>>
>>> The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene
>>> highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It
>>> also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks
>>> while *Danger Zone* plays in the background: ridiculously hot.
>>>
>>> 9. Marlon Wayans, *G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra* (2009)
>>>
>>> Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his
>>> career—I'm immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar Wayans
>>> stripped down to pump some iron, the latter had my complete attention.
>>> Wayans, wow, who knew? Channing, been there, seen that.
>>>
>>> *
>>> *
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>  
>>
>
>
>
> --
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

I was angry for about two hours, and then I realized that someone was at
least enjoying a book. That kind of theft, in my mind, can be forgiven.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:35 AM, angelababycat
wrote:

>
>
> What's important is that you're not still bitter about it.
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Martin
> Baxter  wrote:
> >
> > Angela, I've never read that. Picked it up at a library when I was ten,
> and
> > someone lifted the book from my pile, in order to steal it.
> >
> > On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 10:17 PM, angelababycat wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic
> > > classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the
> first
> > > 60 pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late
> > > works like Foundation, etc.?
> > >
> > > Angela
> > >
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > >  40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > "angelababycat"  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the
> first
> > > sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt
> good.
> > > I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to
> start.
> > > >
> > > > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of
> > > suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just
> > > pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me
> > > Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still
> haven't
> > > recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that
> one...
> > > >
> > > > Anyone read any of these?
> > > >
> > > > Angela
> > > >
> > > > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious:
> > > >
> > > > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started
> in
> > > Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her
> > > early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first
> race
> > > of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe,
> forming the
> > > League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world
> > > collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870
> and
> > > concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen"
> in
> > > the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the
> Ekumen.
> > > Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and its
> > > citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities
> or
> > > sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that
> > > civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect
> being
> > > that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however,
> arcane
> > > rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to
> > > survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political
> faction is
> > > in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country,
> for
> > > instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for
> him, but
> > > the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another he
> has
> > > trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of
> Districts
> > > support him and which want to use him to gain political power. The
> struggle
> > > of Genly Ai as he tries to understand the ways of these people and
> survive
> > > on this hostile planet gives Le Guin the chance to explore what life
> would
> > > be like without the dualities, such as summer and winter or male and
> female,
> > > that form our way of thinking: the book's title comes from a Gethen
> poem,
> > > which begins, "Light is The Left Hand of Darkness … "
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody
> hell
> > wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
> >
>
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] Re: From Ringword to A Pebble in the Sky

2010-08-11 Thread angelababycat

What's important is that you're not still bitter about it.


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin Baxter  wrote:
>
> Angela, I've never read that. Picked it up at a library when I was ten, and
> someone lifted the book from my pile, in order to steal it.
> 
> On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 10:17 PM, angelababycat wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > So Niven's Ringworld really wasn't doing it for me. Moved on to a basic
> > classic: Asimov's first book, "A Pebble in the Sky." I read like the first
> > 60 pages just yesterday. How do folks think it will compare to his late
> > works like Foundation, etc.?
> >
> > Angela
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com ,
> > "angelababycat"  wrote:
> > >
> > > Just finished reading Le Guin's "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- the first
> > sci-fi novel I've made time to sit down and enjoy in a long time. Felt good.
> > I forgot how much I liked Le Guin's writing too. A great place to start.
> > >
> > > Next in the pile is "Ringworld" by Larry Niven. I have the list of
> > suggested reading from the group, but I was at the book store and just
> > pulled a few titles from what was in stock. And a librarian handed me
> > Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" last weekend, but I still haven't
> > recovered from seeing "The Road" on PPV so I don't know about that one...
> > >
> > > Anyone read any of these?
> > >
> > > Angela
> > >
> > > P.S. -- Here's Wikipedia's summary of Left Hand if anyone's curious:
> > >
> > > The basic principle of The Left Hand of Darkness is one that started in
> > Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel in 1966 and runs through several of her
> > early works: that of the interplanetary expansion started by the first race
> > of humanity on the planet Hain and expanded across the universe, forming the
> > League of All Worlds, eventually expanding to the eighty-three world
> > collective called the Ekumen. This novel takes place in the year 4870 and
> > concerns an envoy, Genly Ai, who is on a planet called Winter ("Gethen" in
> > the language of its own people) to convince the citizens to join the Ekumen.
> > Winter is, as its name indicates, a planet that is always cold, and its
> > citizens are neither female nor male: they only have gender identities or
> > sexual urges once a month. These conditions have affected the ways that
> > civilizations on Winter have developed, with the most notable effect being
> > that there has never been a war on the planet. There are, however, arcane
> > rules of politics and diplomacy that the envoy must learn in order to
> > survive. His fortune changes quickly, according to what political faction is
> > in power at the time in the country he is residing in: in one country, for
> > instance, the Prime Minister arranges an audience with the king for him, but
> > the next day the Prime Minister is exiled for treason; in another he has
> > trouble determining which factions among the thirty-three Heads of Districts
> > support him and which want to use him to gain political power. The struggle
> > of Genly Ai as he tries to understand the ways of these people and survive
> > on this hostile planet gives Le Guin the chance to explore what life would
> > be like without the dualities, such as summer and winter or male and female,
> > that form our way of thinking: the book's title comes from a Gethen poem,
> > which begins, "Light is The Left Hand of Darkness  "
> > >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
> wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

Hilariously, I don't find a single one of them attractive.


~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:

>
>
> 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
>
> These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But thanks
> for asking.
> By: Koryn Kennedy
> 08/06/2010 02:03 pm
>
> Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
> without at least one shirtless 
> scene.
> The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
> through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
> shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
> hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
> godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
> and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.
>
> Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.
>
> 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)
>
> Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
> under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
> whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
> crazy, hot guys.
>
> 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)
>
> Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who turn
> into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
> shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
> shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
> chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.
>
> 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)
>
> There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers.
> Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and
> they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in
> the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever.
>
> 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)
>
> The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
> character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still
> eat dinner off those abs.
>
> 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)
>
> According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback forces
> a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind of
> chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
> strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and
> sweats in the heat.
>
> 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)
>
> If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
> Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
> only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.
>
> 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)
>
> OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've seen
> a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a shirt.
> Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make a girl
> really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.
>
> 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)
>
> The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene
> highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It
> also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks
> while *Danger Zone* plays in the background: ridiculously hot.
>
> 9. Marlon Wayans, *G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra* (2009)
>
> Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his career—I'm
> immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar Wayans stripped down
> to pump some iron, the latter had my complete attention. Wayans, wow, who
> knew? Channing, been there, seen that.
>
> *
> *
>
>
>

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

You know what's funny? I didn't hit my physical stride until much later in 
life, around my mid-30's. (didn't get to play sports in school, didn't really 
start serious workout routines until much later). I got my first trainer in my 
30s, and started learning about really hitting muscles in a way to make them 
toned and leaned. Well, during that time, I would look at guys on TV and in the 
movies, and always wonder why I didn't look like them after hours of working 
out. Specifically, I could never understand why I looked pretty buff right 
after a workout session, but not quite as much after a few days of not hitting 
the gym. For some reason, I kept looking at these stars in roles where their 
physicality wasn't the focus, and kept saying "wow! That guy didn't even work 
out and he's still ripped. Why can't I do that?" i actually thought that Hugh 
Jackman, for example, in a rom-com where he did nothing physical, had *never* 
hit the gym! And I was really puzzling over that for Keith Hamilton Cobb (Tyr 
from "Andromeda") who had a stint as a brilliant chemist on "The Young and the 
Restless", where his sheer physicality overshadowed every other actor on the 
show. 
After weeks of my all but killing myself to get that 
body-so-ripped-you-don't-even-have-to-lift-weights-that-day, I mentioned this 
to my wife, who looked at me with affectionate amusement and said, 

"Keith, you do know those guys pump iron just before they go on set, don't you? 
You know they have personal trainers and weights in their trailers". 

"But he's a *chemist*!" I'd protest, "Why would Cobb have to lift weights to 
play a chemist?" She just laughed at me and told me to quit trying to kill 
myself! 

So now, while it's inarguable that the likes of Smith, Jai White, Pitt, etc., 
looked really muscled all the time, I no longer try to compare myself to their 
onscreen physiques. Amazing I didn't get that before. I think I'd naively 
placed all the vanity of being onscreen on women, assuming they did all the 
makeup, hair, implants and tucks, etc., but just assumed men didn't do as much 
to craft an image that's not quite real. 



- Original Message - 
From: "Martin Baxter"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:06:00 AM 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts 






rave, on behalf of all heterosexual men, I file a protest. I trust that my 
reasons are obvious... 


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn < ravena...@yahoo.com > wrote: 









9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts 



These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But thanks for 
asking. 


By: Koryn Kennedy 
08/06/2010 02:03 pm 



Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie without 
at least one shirtless scene . The kind of scene that makes sports flicks 
bearable, or the one you'll sit through action movies for, where the jack-up, 
super sexy lead rips off his shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some 
boots. These movie star hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics 
can't contain their godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned 
or ripped pecs and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous 
kind. 

Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts. 

1. Brad Pitt, Fight Club (1991) 



Ever since Thelma and Louise , Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs under 
wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the whacked-out, 
often shirtless Tyler Durden in Fight Club . Chicks love crazy, hot guys. 

2. Taylor Lautner, New Moon (2009) 



Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who turn into 
wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner shirtless, then 
Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless in the rain, and 
then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry chest, heaving and shirtless in 
the rain. Awesome movie. 

3. Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing (1987) 



There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers. Their 
bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and they 
understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in the most 
erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever. 

4. Christian Bale, American Psycho (2000) 



The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's character 
Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still eat dinner 
off those abs. 

5. Hugh Jackman, Australia (2008) 



According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback forces a 
guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind of chest 
that makes you want to be his shirt, just so that, before he strips it off, you 
can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and sweats in the heat. 

6. Bradley Cooper, The A-Team (2010) 



If you're not into action flicks

[scifinoir2] Holy-wood's next big hits

Christian-themed films are taking many approaches - and big box-office receipts.

http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20100806/ENTERTAINMENT03/8080307/-1/health/Holy-wood-s-next-big-hits

Hollywood has been talking about Christian movies since Mel Gibson's violently 
confrontational The Passion of the Christ proved a box-office hit. But the most 
influential modern mainstream Christian film may be not The Passion but The 
Blind Side. The 2009 film portrays a real family who lived their evangelical 
values, adopting a young man and nurturing his mind and character as well as 
his athletic talent. Oscar winner Sandra Bullock plays the family's driving 
force with a simple cross around her neck and an unshakable love for others she 
learned in the Bible.

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

Hmm, there's a decided lack of black men. This is one of the few times I'd say 
Will Smith's name should be on the list. There's also the likes of Snipes, Jai 
White, LL Cool J, and on and on.. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Kelwyn"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:00:02 AM 
Subject: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts 

9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts 

These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But thanks for 
asking. 

By: Koryn Kennedy 
08/06/2010 02:03 pm 

Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie without 
at least one shirtless scene . The kind of scene that makes sports flicks 
bearable, or the one you'll sit through action movies for, where the jack-up, 
super sexy lead rips off his shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some 
boots. These movie star hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics 
can't contain their godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned 
or ripped pecs and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous 
kind. 

Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts. 

1. Brad Pitt, Fight Club (1991) 

Ever since Thelma and Louise , Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs under 
wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the whacked-out, 
often shirtless Tyler Durden in Fight Club . Chicks love crazy, hot guys. 

2. Taylor Lautner, New Moon (2009) 

Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who turn into 
wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner shirtless, then 
Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless in the rain, and 
then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry chest, heaving and shirtless in 
the rain. Awesome movie. 

3. Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing (1987) 

There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers. Their 
bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and they 
understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in the most 
erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever. 

4. Christian Bale, American Psycho (2000) 

The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's character 
Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still eat dinner 
off those abs. 

5. Hugh Jackman, Australia (2008) 

According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback forces a 
guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind of chest 
that makes you want to be his shirt, just so that, before he strips it off, you 
can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and sweats in the heat. 

6. Bradley Cooper, The A-Team (2010) 

If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is Cooper 
and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the only male 
actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy. 

7. Bruce Lee, Enter the Dragon (1973) 

OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've seen a 
lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a shirt. Did 
he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make a girl really 
appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist. 

8. Tom Cruise, Top Gun (1986) 

The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene 
highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It also 
shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks while 
Danger Zone plays in the background: ridiculously hot. 

9. Marlon Wayans, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (2009) 

Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his career—I'm 
immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar Wayans stripped down to 
pump some iron, the latter had my complete attention. Wayans, wow, who knew? 
Channing, been there, seen that.

Re: [scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

rave, on behalf of all heterosexual men, I file a protest. I trust that my
reasons are obvious...

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:

>
>
> 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
>
> These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But thanks
> for asking.
> By: Koryn Kennedy
> 08/06/2010 02:03 pm
>
> Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire movie
> without at least one shirtless 
> scene.
> The kind of scene that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit
> through action movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his
> shirt to either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
> hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't contain their
> godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their toned or ripped pecs
> and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the most dangerous kind.
>
> Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.
>
> 1. Brad Pitt,* Fight Club* (1991)
>
> Ever since *Thelma and Louise*, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those abs
> under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as the
> whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in *Fight Club*. Chicks love
> crazy, hot guys.
>
> 2. Taylor Lautner,* New Moon* (2009)
>
> Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who turn
> into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is Lautner
> shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry and
> shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just Lautner's angry
> chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome movie.
>
> 3. Patrick Swayze, *Dirty Dancing* (1987)
>
> There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup dancers.
> Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move their hips and
> they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is Patrick Swayze in
> the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a family vacation ever.
>
> 4. Christian Bale, *American Psycho* (2000)
>
> The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire. Bale's
> character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So what? I'd still
> eat dinner off those abs.
>
> 5.* *Hugh Jackman, *Australia* (2008)
>
> According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback forces
> a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is the kind of
> chest that makes you want to *be* his shirt, just so that, before he
> strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while it flexes and
> sweats in the heat.
>
> 6. Bradley Cooper, *The A-Team* (2010)
>
> If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one is
> Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe the
> only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning" something sexy.
>
> 7. Bruce Lee, *Enter the Dragon* (1973)
>
> OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years I've seen
> a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee ever wearing a shirt.
> Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a body that can make a girl
> really appreciate the "skill" it takes to be a martial artist.
>
> 8. Tom Cruise, *Top Gun* (1986)
>
> The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The scene
> highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. It
> also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men, flexing their pecks
> while *Danger Zone* plays in the background: ridiculously hot.
>
> 9. Marlon Wayans, *G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra* (2009)
>
> Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his career—I'm
> immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar Wayans stripped down
> to pump some iron, the latter had my complete attention. Wayans, wow, who
> knew? Channing, been there, seen that.
>
> *
> *
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

[scifinoir2] 9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts

9 Movie Actors Too Sexy For Their Shirts
These famous sexy leading men don't need any help taking it off. But
thanks for asking.
By: Koryn Kennedy08/06/2010 02:03 pm
Some actors are just so hot they can't make it through an entire
movie without at least one shirtless scene
 . The kind of scene
that makes sports flicks bearable, or the one you'll sit through action
movies for, where the jack-up, super sexy lead rips off his shirt to
either kick someone's ass or knock some boots. These movie star
hotties don't really have a choice: mere mortal fabrics can't
contain their godly physiques. Besides, if they didn't reveal their
toned or ripped pecs and abs, there would be a lady riot, which is the
most dangerous kind.

Here are the nine hottest movies starring sexy dudes, sans shirts.

1. Brad Pitt, Fight Club (1991)



Ever since Thelma and Louise, Pitt hasn't been able to keep those
abs under wraps, but his physical perfection really hits its pinnacle as
the whacked-out, often shirtless Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Chicks love
crazy, hot guys.

2. Taylor Lautner, New Moon (2009)



Apparently this is about vampires and forbidden love and fratboys who
turn into wolves. I'll take your word for it. All I remember is
Lautner shirtless, then Lautner angry and shirtless, then Lautner angry
and shirtless in the rain, and then finally a close-up of just
Lautner's angry chest, heaving and shirtless in the rain. Awesome
movie.

3. Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing (1987)



There's a reason why pop princesses routinely marry their backup
dancers. Their bodies are made out of granite, they know how to move
their hips and they understand rhythm. The winning argument for this is
Patrick Swayze in the most erotically-charged Hollywood movie about a
family vacation ever.

4. Christian Bale, American Psycho (2000)



The movie is beyond gruesome, a dark, blood-splattered satire.
Bale's character Patrick Bateman is disturbing and misogynistic. So
what? I'd still eat dinner off those abs.

5. Hugh Jackman, Australia (2008)



According to this film, being a roughneck in the Australian outback
forces a guy to strip off his shirt constantly. Jackman's chest is
the kind of chest that makes you want to be his shirt, just so that,
before he strips it off, you can spend all day stretched across it while
it flexes and sweats in the heat.

6. Bradley Cooper, The A-Team (2010)



If you're not into action flicks the only reason to watch this one
is Cooper and his multiple topless tanning scenes. In fact, Cooper maybe
the only male actor who can make the phrase "topless tanning"
something sexy.

7. Bruce Lee, Enter the Dragon (1973)



OK, I haven't actually seen this whole movie, but over the years
I've seen a lot of clips, photos and posters and not once is Lee
ever wearing a shirt. Did he even own shirts? Does it matter? This is a
body that can make a girl really appreciate the "skill" it takes
to be a martial artist.

8. Tom Cruise, Top Gun (1986)



The volleyball scene. Some people think it pointless. It's not. The
scene highlights the ferocious competition between Tom Cruise and Val
Kilmer. It also shows an abundance of half naked, muscle-bound men,
flexing their pecks while Danger Zone plays in the background:
ridiculously hot.

9. Marlon Wayans, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (2009)



Maybe Tatum Channing has taken his shirt off way too much in his
careerI'm immune to his perfect musculature. When he and costar
Wayans stripped down to pump some iron, the latter had my complete
attention. Wayans, wow, who knew? Channing, been there, seen that.

Re: [scifinoir2] A letter from a freed man to his former slave owner

Read this a few days ago, and LOVED IT. :D :D

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 10:52 AM, Kelwyn  wrote:

> http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/10/a-letter-from-a-free.html
>
> My favorite part: we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to
> send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and
> forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I
> served you faithfully for 32 years, and Mandy 20 years. At 25 dollars a
> month for me, and 2 dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to
> $11,608. Please send the money by Adam's Express, in care of V. Winters
> Esq., Dayton, Ohio.
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo!
> Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Re: [scifinoir2] What Vs do you want to see?

I was watching "Our Man Flint" yesterday, and I've been jonesing for a
Bond-Flint throwdown ever since.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:32 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> If you had your wish, what movie characters would you love to see in a
> fight?
>
> I thought these examples would help:
>
> Chun Lee vs Trinity
> Klingons vs Predators
> Hulk vs Superman
>
> Who would you choose?
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] The most frightening ads

I'm seeing nothing, Mr Worf.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 4:00 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> It should be called the most disturbing ads!
>
> The most frightening ads (23 Photos)
>
> 23 images...
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
> [image: The most frightening ads (23 Photos)]
>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] 18 Cool Inventions From the Past

I definitely want that all-terrain car!

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 12:49 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **
> *18 Cool Inventions From the Past*
>
>
>  Bike Tyre Used As Swimming Aid (Germany, 1925)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> A group of youngsters tied a bike tyre around the body as a swimming aid.
> One Wheel Motorcycle (1931)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> One wheel motorcycle (invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine). Maximum
> speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph).
> Amphibious Bike �Cyclomer� (Paris, 1932)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> The Cyclomer, a bicycle on land and water can ride with a load of 120
> pounds.
> All Terrain Car (England, 1936)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> All terrain car able to descend slopes up to 65 degrees.
> Radio Pram (USA, 1921)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Pram provided with a radio, including antenna and loudspeaker, to keep the
> baby quiet.
> Radio hat (USA, 1931)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Portable radio in a straw hat, made by an American inventor.
> Bulletproof Glass (New York, 1931)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Bulletproof glass, demonstration by the best rifle man of the New York
> police, 1931.
> Extensible Caravan (France, 1934)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Extensible caravan, built by a French engineer.
> Piano For The Bedridden (UK, 1935)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Piano especially designed for people who are confined to bed.
> Glasses For Reading In Bed (England, 1936)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Hamblin glasses. A pair of spectacles especially designed for reading in
> bed.
> Electrically Heated Jacket (USA, 1932)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Electrically heated vest, developed for the traffic police in the United
> States. The power is supplied by electric contacts in the street.
> Car With Shovel For Pedestrians (Paris, 1924)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Kind of shovel on a car. Purpose: reducing the number of casualties among
> pedestrians.
> Early GPS (1932)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Sort of TomTom, early tripmaster. Works using rolling key map. The map
> passes the screen in a tempo that depends on the speed of the car.
> Folding Emergency Bridge (Netherlands, 1926)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Folding bridge for emergencies, invented by L. Deth can easily be
> transported on a handcart.
> Faxed Newspaper (1938)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> In 1938 the first wireless newspaper was sent from WOR radiostation in New
> York. Photo shows children reading the children�s page of a Missouri paper.
> Face Protection From Snowstorms (Canada, 1939)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Used to protect ones face from snowstorms. Canada, Montreal, 1939.
> Gas War Resistant Pram (England, Hextable, 1938)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>Revolver Camera (New York, 1938)
>
>  [image: 
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
>
> Colt 38 carrying a small camera that automatically takes a picture when you
> pull the trigger. At the left: six pictures taken by the camera.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a st

Re: [scifinoir2] WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets

"We don’t know about you guys, but McDonalds’ chicken McNuggets aren’t *that
* good…"

Have to agree with that.

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:00 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets
>  
> Previous
>  Click
> for 
> More
> Post by The Urban 
> Dailyin Gossip
> & News  on Aug 10, 2010 at
> 3:35 pm
> View Photos
>
> [image: McDonalds Drive-Thru Attack]
>
> A Toledo, OH woman became so enraged that she couldn’t get Chicken
> McNuggets from a local McDonalds at 6:30AM that she attacked the drive-thru
> window attendant and broke the window.
>
> We don’t know about you guys, but McDonalds’ chicken McNuggets aren’t *
> that* good…
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik

Re: [scifinoir2] Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale

I'll be needing about fifteen of these, for the ladies in my life... [?]

Martin (piggus-doggus male)

On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:07 AM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale posted on *2010-08-09* 23:57
> EDT
> Base price for costumes exceed US$6,000
> --
>
> Japanese 
> cosplayretailer
> COSPATIOis 
> currently
> selling  limited-edition licensed
> costumes based on the plugsuits worn by characters Asuka 
> Langleyand Rei
> Ayanami  in the TV anime Neon
> Genesis 
> Evangelion.
> The costumes are made to order and cost 553,350 yen (about US$6,428) within
> a standard realm of measurements: height of 150-170 cm (4'11" to 5'7"), bust
> of 75-96 cm (29.5" to 38"), waist of 56-75 cm (22" to 29.5"), hips of 82-98
> cm (32" to 38.5"). Customers outside of these measurements may have to pay a
> higher price.
>
> To order, customers must fill out a form and either bring it to one of
> COSPATIO's six participating store locations, or mail the form in and pay
> for the costumes to be delivered. However, the retailer warns that the
> costumes are tight and recommends that customers have the costumes fitted.
>
> Neon Genesis Evangelion originally launched as a television anime and
> manga in 1995, after which it spawned two movies: Neon Genesis Evangelion:
> Death and 
> Rebirthand Neon
> Genesis Evangelion: The End of 
> Evangelion.
> The 
> franchisehas 
> since launched numerous manga and video game adaptations. In 2007, the
> first of four remake films, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangelion
> Shin Gekijōban: 
> Jo
> ) , was released in Japan. Evangelion cosplay is popular in Japan, and
> racer versions of the plugsuits were 
> usedto
>  promote an
> Evangelion race car team. One Japanese politician 
> cosplayedas
> Evangelion's Gendo Ikari for a fundraising event this past June.
>
>
> --
> Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>  
>



-- 
"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell
wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
<<327.gif>>

Re: [scifinoir2] Robots get emotional

That link I gave you yesterday looks like a fair start toward that, Mr Worf.

On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:36 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> I think that the robot army taking over will be a long way off. They may
> never become sentient just really smart. Some sort of emulation would have
> to occur down the line that would be similar to an actual brain. (It will be
> an emulation of neurons or some other process.)
>
> On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 3:18 PM, Martin Baxter wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Aw, HAY-ULL yeah! Used to like the idea of them, until I opened my eyes to
>> the ramifications of the advances in technology. We already lean on
>> machinery too much. If they get the will, already having the way... [?][?]
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:15 PM, Mr. Worf wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm starting to think that you are anti-robot. Is that true? :)
>>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 3:09 PM, Martin Baxter 
>>> wrote:
>>>


 And we want these guys carrying guns? I don't think so...


 On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:05 PM, Mr. Worf wrote:

>
>
> Robots get emotional
>
> By Darren Quick 
>
> *21:00 August 9, 2010*
>[image: Dr Canamero with a sad 
> robot]
>
> Dr Canamero with a sad robot
>   iRobot® Official 
> Site-
> www.iRobot.com
> Carpet & Floor Cleaning is a Breeze with the Amazing iRobot Vacuum!
> Drobo S Storage 
> Device-
> www.BuyDrobo.com/Drobo-S
> 1-10TB eSATA & USB External Storage Orders Ship Same Day - CALL NOW!
> Robotic Surgery for 
> PCa?-
> www.InternationalHIFU.com

[scifinoir2] Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale

 Custom-Fitted Evangelion Plugsuits for Sale posted on *2010-08-09* 23:57
EDT
Base price for costumes exceed US$6,000
--

Japanese 
cosplayretailer
COSPATIO is
currently
selling  limited-edition licensed
costumes based on the plugsuits worn by characters Asuka
Langleyand Rei
Ayanami  in the TV anime Neon
Genesis 
Evangelion.
The costumes are made to order and cost 553,350 yen (about US$6,428) within
a standard realm of measurements: height of 150-170 cm (4'11" to 5'7"), bust
of 75-96 cm (29.5" to 38"), waist of 56-75 cm (22" to 29.5"), hips of 82-98
cm (32" to 38.5"). Customers outside of these measurements may have to pay a
higher price.

To order, customers must fill out a form and either bring it to one of
COSPATIO's six participating store locations, or mail the form in and pay
for the costumes to be delivered. However, the retailer warns that the
costumes are tight and recommends that customers have the costumes fitted.

Neon Genesis Evangelion originally launched as a television anime and manga
in 1995, after which it spawned two movies: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death
and Rebirth and
Neon
Genesis Evangelion: The End of
Evangelion.
The franchisehas
since launched numerous manga and video game adaptations. In 2007, the
first of four remake films, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (Evangelion
Shin Gekijōban:
Jo
) , was released in Japan. Evangelion cosplay is popular in Japan, and racer
versions of the plugsuits were
usedto
promote an
Evangelion race car team. One Japanese politician
cosplayedas
Evangelion's Gendo Ikari for a fundraising event this past June.


-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets

WTF?: Woman Beats Down McDonalds Employee Over McNuggets
 
Previous
Click
for 
More
Post by The Urban
Dailyin Gossip
& News  on Aug 10, 2010 at
3:35 pm
View Photos 

[image: McDonalds Drive-Thru Attack]

A Toledo, OH woman became so enraged that she couldn’t get Chicken McNuggets
from a local McDonalds at 6:30AM that she attacked the drive-thru window
attendant and broke the window.

We don’t know about you guys, but McDonalds’ chicken McNuggets aren’t
*that*good…

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] 18 Cool Inventions From the Past

**
*18 Cool Inventions From the Past*


 Bike Tyre Used As Swimming Aid (Germany, 1925)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

A group of youngsters tied a bike tyre around the body as a swimming aid.
One Wheel Motorcycle (1931)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

One wheel motorcycle (invented by Italian M. Goventosa de Udine). Maximum
speed: 150 kilometers per hour ( 93 Mph).
Amphibious Bike �Cyclomer� (Paris, 1932)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

The Cyclomer, a bicycle on land and water can ride with a load of 120
pounds.
All Terrain Car (England, 1936)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

All terrain car able to descend slopes up to 65 degrees.
Radio Pram (USA, 1921)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Pram provided with a radio, including antenna and loudspeaker, to keep the
baby quiet.
Radio hat (USA, 1931)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Portable radio in a straw hat, made by an American inventor.
Bulletproof Glass (New York, 1931)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Bulletproof glass, demonstration by the best rifle man of the New York
police, 1931.
Extensible Caravan (France, 1934)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Extensible caravan, built by a French engineer.
Piano For The Bedridden (UK, 1935)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Piano especially designed for people who are confined to bed.
Glasses For Reading In Bed (England, 1936)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Hamblin glasses. A pair of spectacles especially designed for reading in
bed.
Electrically Heated Jacket (USA, 1932)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Electrically heated vest, developed for the traffic police in the United
States. The power is supplied by electric contacts in the street.
Car With Shovel For Pedestrians (Paris, 1924)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Kind of shovel on a car. Purpose: reducing the number of casualties among
pedestrians.
Early GPS (1932)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Sort of TomTom, early tripmaster. Works using rolling key map. The map
passes the screen in a tempo that depends on the speed of the car.
Folding Emergency Bridge (Netherlands, 1926)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Folding bridge for emergencies, invented by L. Deth can easily be
transported on a handcart.
Faxed Newspaper (1938)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

In 1938 the first wireless newspaper was sent from WOR radiostation in New
York. Photo shows children reading the children�s page of a Missouri paper.
Face Protection From Snowstorms (Canada, 1939)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Used to protect ones face from snowstorms. Canada, Montreal, 1939.
Gas War Resistant Pram (England, Hextable, 1938)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]
   Revolver Camera (New York, 1938)

 [image: 
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GizmosNGadgets/]

Colt 38 carrying a small camera that automatically takes a picture when you
pull the trigger. At the left: six pictures taken by the camera.













-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] What Vs do you want to see?

If you had your wish, what movie characters would you love to see in a
fight?

I thought these examples would help:

Chun Lee vs Trinity
Klingons vs Predators
Hulk vs Superman

Who would you choose?

-- 
Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] The most frightening ads