RE: Political Dementia
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ronn! Blankenship So I guess discussing vasectomies is right out? It will knot be tolerated. What vas deferens would it make if we did? - jmh CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or otherwise protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Horn, John wrote: [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ronn! Blankenship So I guess discussing vasectomies is right out? It will knot be tolerated. What vas deferens would it make if we did? Dunno. All I've gotta say is, when you're trying to wean yourself off the Vicodin afterwards, for pity's sake, TAKE TYLENOL! :P Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
At 10:15 AM Saturday 6/2/2007, Julia Thompson wrote: jon louis mann wrote: Well, Kirk would be pleased, wouldn't he? :) As he would with jon's response re: Aliens . . . that ranks up there with, Nothing says 'Aliens, land here!' like a 9' pyramid! Julia Message from UFO, Solve your own problems... jon ...but then again, I guess just aboutall debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) [You made me LOL in the computer lab, BTW.] Insert Old Submarine Joke Maru -- Ronn! :) i do not want to hear any seamen puns!!! usn musa maru So I guess discussing vasectomies is right out? Julia It will knot be tolerated. -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
i do not want to hear any seamen puns!!! usn musa maru So I guess discussing vasectomies is right out? Julia It will knot be tolerated. -- Ronn! :) my dad had one; didn't work, which is why i have a little brother. Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545433 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Mauro Diotallevi wrote: On 6/1/07, Robert Seeberger [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We send apprentices after fluorescent tube benders or skyhooks or a bucket of amps for grins. I've actually carried a bucket of amps before. Of course, they were not amperes, but small rf amplifiers like this little guy. http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/900mhz_500mw-3w_amplifiers.php Why they were unpackaged and in a large plastic bucket is another story... Sounds like one I'd be interested in. :) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
jon louis mann wrote: i do not want to hear any seamen puns!!! usn musa maru So I guess discussing vasectomies is right out? Julia It will knot be tolerated. -- Ronn! :) my dad had one; didn't work, which is why i have a little brother. Which is why they test awhile afterwards, to make sure it DOES work. (My friend D. told me about someone she knows who provides a sample every year, just to be sure) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
- Original Message - From: Ronn! Blankenship [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Killer Bs Discussion brin-l@mccmedia.com Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 1:39 AM Subject: Re: Political Dementia At 01:57 AM Friday 6/1/2007, Doug wrote: Ronn! wrote: Insert Old Submarine Joke Maru Con, Sonar, we have a hammerfor bearing 129, drawing right; turncount 197. Sonar, Con, what's a hammerfor? Doug Alternative: henweigh Maru I suppose it's only in the Air Force that the new guy gets detailed to bring back a bucket of prop wash . . . We send apprentices after fluorescent tube benders or skyhooks or a bucket of amps for grins. xponent Tapeworms Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
On 5/14/07, Robert G. Seeberger [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/05/13/pulp_affection/ True, the book isn't particularly well-written. I discovered it when I was 15, and although I was an omnivorous reader, even then I recognized that Hubbard was nowhere near as talented a stylist as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Dashiell Hammett, Philip K. Dick, or certain other pulp authors. That said, Battlefield is no worse than some of the lesser works of, say, science-fiction giant Robert Heinlein (who called it a terrific story). The first time I read this, I misread it as saying that _Battlefield_ is no worse than Heinlein. But then I reread and saw that he credited Heinlein as a science-fiction giant and said that _Battlefield_ was no worse than some of Heinlein's lesser stuff. And I found myself agreeing. Even though Heinlein wrote some of my very favorite books, he also wrote some that I really didn't enjoy much at all. And that got me thinking about other authors. I having trouble thinking of other authors who wrote some things as good as, say, _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ and _Starship Trooper_, and some as bad as _Farmer in the Sky_ -- and yes, I realize some people actually like that one, but I found it incredibly dull. Asimov doesn't seem to have as much range between his best and worst, nor does Clarke. Nor does Brin, Bear, or Benford -- hah, I managed to mention all three Killer B's in one post! Can anyone else thing of a prominent science fiction author with such a range between their best and their worst? -- Mauro Diotallevi Hey, Harry, you haven't done anything useful for a while -- you be the god of jello now. -- Patricia Wrede, 8/16/2006 on rasfc ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
On 31 May 2007 at 19:25, Mauro Diotallevi wrote: Can anyone else thing of a prominent science fiction author with such a range between their best and their worst? Ritchard Morgan, afaik. Brilliant Kovacs series. But Market Forces? Ugh :/ AndrewC Dawn Falcon ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Ronn! wrote: Insert Old Submarine Joke Maru Con, Sonar, we have a hammerfor bearing 129, drawing right; turncount 197. Sonar, Con, what's a hammerfor? Doug Alternative: henweigh Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Max Battcher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Deborah Harrell wrote: snip Maruusually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added.Double and triple entendres are additional admirable features- Considering the naval nature of Maru, I guess it makes it all the more appropriate that my first read yielded: ...are additional Admiral features... Well, Kirk would be pleased, wouldn't he? :) ...but then again, I guess just about all debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) [You made me LOL in the computer lab, BTW.] Debbi Virtual Keelhauling At No Additional Cost Maru ;) Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) Debbi Virtual Keelhauling At No Additional Cost Maru ;) It's peacoat, from the Dutch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefing_jacket Knowledge is Power Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
At 03:55 PM Wednesday 5/30/2007, Deborah Harrell wrote: Max Battcher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Deborah Harrell wrote: snip Maruusually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added.Double and triple entendres are additional admirable features- Considering the naval nature of Maru, I guess it makes it all the more appropriate that my first read yielded: ...are additional Admiral features... Well, Kirk would be pleased, wouldn't he? :) As he would with jon's response re: Aliens . . . ...but then again, I guess just about all debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) [You made me LOL in the computer lab, BTW.] Insert Old Submarine Joke Maru -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
At 08:45 PM Wednesday 5/30/2007, jon louis mann wrote: you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) Debbi That would be one possible response to someone discovering that he is wearing a smoking jacket . . . Getting Deeper Maru -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
Well, Kirk would be pleased, wouldn't he? :) As he would with jon's response re: Aliens . . . that ranks up there with, Nothing says 'Aliens, land here!' like a 9' pyramid! Julia Message from UFO, Solve your own problems... jon ...but then again, I guess just aboutall debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas* http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 Hmm, is that why seamen wore a 'peascoat'? (sp?) [You made me LOL in the computer lab, BTW.] Insert Old Submarine Joke Maru -- Ronn! :) i do not want to hear any seamen puns!!! usn musa maru Knowledge is Power Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=listsid=396545469 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
jon louis mann wrote: Maru is part of a Japanese ship's name, as in 'Kobayashi Maru.' On-List, it's used as part of a post signature title, and usually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added. Debbi Helpful Not Meddlesome Maru ;) thanks debbie, i vaguely recall something about a test given to cadet at the federation academy and you could pass unless you cheated? wikepedia says it is attached to a ship's name so it will return to port 'full circle'. On the Federation Academy thing, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobayashi_Maru It wasn't a matter of cheating or not, the test was to see how you did in a no-win situation. Kirk reprogrammed the simulator. Dang, I need to watch that movie again Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
jon louis mann [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snipped all but: by the way; what is maru? IIRC, Rob wrote a nice post about that when I was a List newbie and asked the same thing; I won't be anywhere near as thorough, but, in short: Maru is part of a Japanese ship's name, as in 'Kobayashi Maru.' On-List, it's used as part of a post signature title, and usually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added. If you look back at Rob's recent posts, you'll see. Double and triple entendres are additional admirable features, worth more points in the ongoing I'm terribly clever, don't you agree? games. evil grin Of course, some of us will toss in commentary about other, perhaps related threads in-passing, as it were, to show that while we didn't respond to a post or thread, we did read it, and thought our views ought to be expressed (rather like coffee?). The sub-Brin List, also known as The Culture,* uses ship name designations from Ian Banks series, frex 'GCU Stupendous,' or 'GSV Mettlesome.' *ducks and runs laughing! Debbi Helpful Not Meddlesome Maru;) You snooze, you lose. Get messages ASAP with AutoCheck in the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_html.html ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
On 5/16/07, Deborah Harrell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: jon louis mann [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snipped all but: by the way; what is maru? IIRC, Rob wrote a nice post about that when I was a List newbie and asked the same thing; I won't be anywhere near as thorough, but, in short: Maru is part of a Japanese ship's name, as in 'Kobayashi Maru.' On-List, it's used as part of a post signature title, and usually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added. If you look back at Rob's recent posts, you'll see. Double and triple entendres are additional admirable features, worth more points in the ongoing I'm terribly clever, don't you agree? games. evil grin Considering the naval nature of Maru, I guess it makes it all the more appropriate that my first read yielded: ...are additional Admiral features... I seriously never realized that the Brin-L was a secret naval warfare simulation... but then again, I guess just about all debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas*, not that anyone here is, of course. * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 -- --Max Battcher-- http://www.worldmaker.net/ You Sunk My Battleship Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
At 07:16 PM Wednesday 5/16/2007, Max Battcher wrote: On 5/16/07, Deborah Harrell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: jon louis mann [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snipped all but: by the way; what is maru? IIRC, Rob wrote a nice post about that when I was a List newbie and asked the same thing; I won't be anywhere near as thorough, but, in short: Maru is part of a Japanese ship's name, as in 'Kobayashi Maru.' On-List, it's used as part of a post signature title, and usually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added. If you look back at Rob's recent posts, you'll see. Double and triple entendres are additional admirable features, worth more points in the ongoing I'm terribly clever, don't you agree? games. evil grin Considering the naval nature of Maru, I guess it makes it all the more appropriate that my first read yielded: ...are additional Admiral features... I seriously never realized that the Brin-L was a secret naval warfare simulation... but then again, I guess just about all debate is when you are a Vice-Admiral of the Narrow Seas*, not that anyone here is, of course. * Just found it a perfect time to use an old insult: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1719448 -- --Max Battcher-- http://www.worldmaker.net/ You Sunk My Battleship Maru What was it doing under the table? While Looking Out For Number One Be Careful Not To Step In Number Two Maru -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
Maru is part of a Japanese ship's name, as in 'Kobayashi Maru.' On-List, it's used as part of a post signature title, and usually relates to the content of the post, with humor, silliness or even seriousness value-added. Debbi Helpful Not Meddlesome Maru ;) thanks debbie, i vaguely recall something about a test given to cadet at the federation academy and you could pass unless you cheated? wikepedia says it is attached to a ship's name so it will return to port 'full circle'. - Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Ronn! Blankenship wrote: Perhaps because with all the FUD over things like GM food and climate change in the news every day SF seems entirely too close to the frightening reality? The problem with sf is this: it either mutates into frightening reality or into escapist fantasy. Look at the 50s classics: some of them are our routine, some are so weird that nobody can take them as sf. Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Robert G. Seeberger wrote: Perhaps because with all the FUD over things like GM food and climate change in the news every day SF seems entirely too close to the frightening reality? I think that is likely true. But I think you also have to factor in the desire to not do too much thinking. That's not true. Have you ever taken a glance at the series that air in the children and teen channels? Some of them are even good sf. My favourite was Black Hole School :-) Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/05/13/pulp_affection/ When asked recently by a Fox News interviewer to name his favorite novel, Mitt Romney's answer, the 1982 science-fiction epic Battlefield Earth, raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. As if reassuring the general public about his Mormonism wasn't enough of a hurdle for the GOP presidential hopeful, now Romney was praising a book by...L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology? There must be something we can learn about Romney by examining this answer, wrote Slate's John Dickerson, capturing the sentiment of the pundit class. But after cracking a few jokes about the book's far-fetched plot -- in which a ragtag band of humans struggles to rid earth of its alien overlords -- and Hubbard's slipshod prose style, Dickerson shrugged his shoulders and lamely concluded: You simply need a deep level of weird to like 'Battlefield Earth.' Unlike the other pundits and bloggers who've weighed in on this topic, Dickerson admits that he hasn't actually finished the book. But some of us who have devoured the 1,000-plus pages of Battlefield Earth bristle at the notion that there's something inherently kooky about doing so. In fact, Battlefield Earth -- which touts the value of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, overcoming the circumstances of your birth thanks to education and diligent effort, and fighting for a cause you believe in no matter how daunting the odds -- is precisely the kind of all-American novel that most of our politicians only pretend to admire. Still, there's no denying it was a political gaffe. MSNBC talking-head Tucker Carlson told his viewers: I am concerned about what our potential president is putting into his brain. Voluntarily reading L. Ron Hubbard, as a novelist, I think it's a real red flag. The damage-control team mobilized, and Romney soon announced that Hubbard's book was merely his favorite science-fiction novel, while his favorite novel was Twain's Huckleberry Finn, just the kind of safe choice he no doubt wishes he'd started with. This prompted the Boston Herald headline, Mitt's new flip-flop is out of this world. And yet, Romney's favorite book doesn't suggest that he's a closet Scientologist. Battlefield Earth is straight-up pulp fiction, like the innumerable science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories and novellas that Hubbard -- employing red-blooded pseudonyms like Lieutenant Scott Morgan, Joe Blitz, and Winchester Remington Colt -- penned in the 1930s. Hubbard himself said that Battlefield had nothing to do with Scientology, the religion he developed out of Dianetics, a self-help technique he'd invented in the late '40s. This reader agrees: Unlike the symbolically loaded Narnia books of C.S. Lewis, for example, religious apologetics are nowhere in evidence in Battlefield. Instead, the book's plot concerns Jonnie Goodboy Tyler, a primitive tribesman who learns, after he's captured in the ruins of Denver by a fearsome alien named Terl (played in the 2000 movie version by a dreadlock-sporting John Travolta), that earth was conquered by Terl's race 1,000 years ago. Jonnie decides to teach himself all of humankind's forgotten science, then use the knowledge to defeat the aliens. By the end of the story, Jonnie has not only freed the earth but united the rest of the universe in the interstellar struggle against tyranny. True, the book isn't particularly well-written. I discovered it when I was 15, and although I was an omnivorous reader, even then I recognized that Hubbard was nowhere near as talented a stylist as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Dashiell Hammett, Philip K. Dick, or certain other pulp authors. That said, Battlefield is no worse than some of the lesser works of, say, science-fiction giant Robert Heinlein (who called it a terrific story). Battlefield falls in a well-established sub-genre of speculative fiction known as post-apocalyptic. These novels center on an alternate reality in which life as we know it has been dramatically altered -- by flood, fire, famine, or by nuclear war, environmental catastrophe, a pandemic, meteorites, or even alien invaders. Indeed, it could easily be argued that fans of post-apocalyptic fiction are big-thinking idealists: Readers of Battlefield Earth and its ilk aren't weird; they're worried about where our society is headed, and whether we have what it takes to defend our way of life. The real weirdos are those who never give a thought to such things. So what might Romney's bedside reading reveal about the former governor of Massachusetts? OK, maybe it indicates that he's an overgrown adolescent lost in fantasies about saving the world...or that his high school teacher should have introduced him to superior post-apocalyptic novels, like Nevil Shute's On the Beach, Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, or Walter M. Miller Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz. But it might also mean that Romney, despite
Re: Political Dementia
Hey! I read _Battlefield Earth_ when I was a teen too, and enjoyed it. I am no more a Scientologist because of it today than back then. The author of the article was right: the book was pure pulpy space opera... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Trumpeter's Marder I auf GW 38(h) Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld. Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Robert G. Seeberger wrote: Unlike the other pundits and bloggers who've weighed in on this topic, Dickerson admits that he hasn't actually finished the book. But some of us who have devoured the 1,000-plus pages of Battlefield Earth bristle at the notion that there's something inherently kooky about doing so. And some of us don't. But we'll cut plenty of slack for anyone who devoured it before high school graduation. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
Robert G. Seeberger wrote: Unlike the other pundits and bloggers who've weighed in on this topic, Dickerson admits that he hasn't actually finished the book. some of us who have devoured the 1,000-plus pages of Battlefield Earth bristle at the notion that there's something inherently kooky about doing so. And some of us don't. But we'll cut plenty of slack for anyone who devoured it before high school graduation. Julia i took a look at it as an adult but had to put it down after a few pages. back in the fifties when i was a kid i would read any science fiction i could get a hold of and a lot of it was pulp.i went through the entire sf section at the mchord air force base library from anderson to zelazny (they didn't stock l.ron). now there is so more really literate sf on the market than i can keep up with. i don't understand why all these fantasy series are more popular with adult audiences... Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. http://sims.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
On 5/14/2007 4:51:51 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey! I read _Battlefield Earth_ when I was a teen too, and enjoyed it. I am no more a Scientologist because of it today than back then. The author of the article was right: the book was pure pulpy space opera... Well, I agree, and I too read BE when I was young. (and liked it) But I think the point is that the book barely makes the threshold for memorability since it is pretty well crap from beginning to end, and would be completely forgotten if not for the efforts of those who purchase the same book over and over to achieve an end. You are aware of their system? And so, how old is Mitt Romney anyway? Don't you think he is old enough to have grown a sense of taste? And just where does the crap threshold lie? I'd mark it above BE. xponent Opinions Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
Too grownup for bad taste? When people go to see Delta Farce and British Twit movies? I giggle http://idiotgrrl.livejournal.com/ 'Earth is just a starter planet.' Stephen Colbert From: Robert G. Seeberger [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion brin-l@mccmedia.com To: brin-l@mccmedia.com Subject: Re: Political Dementia Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 19:50:24 -0500 On 5/14/2007 4:51:51 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey! I read _Battlefield Earth_ when I was a teen too, and enjoyed it. I am no more a Scientologist because of it today than back then. The author of the article was right: the book was pure pulpy space opera... Well, I agree, and I too read BE when I was young. (and liked it) But I think the point is that the book barely makes the threshold for memorability since it is pretty well crap from beginning to end, and would be completely forgotten if not for the efforts of those who purchase the same book over and over to achieve an end. You are aware of their system? And so, how old is Mitt Romney anyway? Don't you think he is old enough to have grown a sense of taste? And just where does the crap threshold lie? I'd mark it above BE. xponent Opinions Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
At 05:38 PM Monday 5/14/2007, jon louis mann wrote: i don't understand why all these fantasy series are more popular with adult audiences... Perhaps because with all the FUD over things like GM food and climate change in the news every day SF seems entirely too close to the frightening reality? -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
- Original Message - From: PAT MATHEWS [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: brin-l@mccmedia.com Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 7:58 PM Subject: Re: Political Dementia Too grownup for bad taste? When people go to see Delta Farce and British Twit movies? I giggle I giggle too! I didn't know those were your favorites. G xponent Slapstuck Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
On 5/14/2007 8:28:59 PM, Ronn! Blankenship ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: At 05:38 PM Monday 5/14/2007, jon louis mann wrote: i don't understand why all these fantasy series are more popular with adult audiences... Perhaps because with all the FUD over things like GM food and climate change in the news every day SF seems entirely too close to the frightening reality? I think that is likely true. But I think you also have to factor in the desire to not do too much thinking. That mode is ever present to some degree, but I think we are in one of those periods where it has been more dominant. Take the lack of interest (with the recent exception of federal elections) in politics as an example. Maybe it is that people don't want to be bothered with subjects that require the level of thought that might be considered work. I don't believe that what I'm saying applies to everyone or even necessarily a majority, but enough people that one can identify the trend. Of course my opinions are colored somewhat due to constant exposure to construction workers and other blue collar sorts. It is an odd occasion when I find myself in a discussion with a co-worker outside of the modern equivelents of neolithic conversational topics (hunting, fishing, guns, television, and cars). It is an odd sort of orthodoxy. xponent Catholic Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
jon louis mann wrote: Robert G. Seeberger wrote: Unlike the other pundits and bloggers who've weighed in on this topic, Dickerson admits that he hasn't actually finished the book. some of us who have devoured the 1,000-plus pages of Battlefield Earth bristle at the notion that there's something inherently kooky about doing so. And some of us don't. But we'll cut plenty of slack for anyone who devoured it before high school graduation. Julia i took a look at it as an adult but had to put it down after a few pages. back in the fifties when i was a kid i would read any science fiction i could get a hold of and a lot of it was pulp.i went through the entire sf section at the mchord air force base library from anderson to zelazny (they didn't stock l.ron). now there is so more really literate sf on the market than i can keep up with. i don't understand why all these fantasy series are more popular with adult audiences... BE had the virtue of having short enough chapters for me to read on my bus ride. That may have been the ONLY virtue it had at the time. (I wasn't getting enough sleep at the time, so the quality of writing didn't bother me as much as it might have otherwise.) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
BE had the virtue of having short enough chapters for me to read on my bus ride. That may have been the ONLY virtue it had at the time. (I wasn't getting enough sleep at the time, so the quality of writing didn't bother me as much as it might have otherwise.) Julia for me it was the thin plot and cardboard characters. i liked the movie even less and couldn't watch it when it was on cable. i did like the lensman series when i was a kid. didn't l. ron once say something like the best way to make money was not to write pulp sf for pennies a word, but to start a religion? Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection. http://new.toolbar.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/norton/index.php ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Political Dementia
i don't understand why all these fantasy series are more popular with adult audiences... --jon louis Perhaps because with all the FUD over things like GM food and climate change in the news every day SF seems entirely too close to the frightening reality? -- Ronn! :) I think that is likely true. But I think you also have to factor in the desire to not do too much thinking. That mode is ever present to some degree, but I think we are in one of those periods where it has been more dominant. Take the lack of interest (with the recent exception of federal elections) in politics as an example. Maybe it is that people don't want to be bothered with subjects that require the level of thought that might be considered work. I don't believe that what I'm saying applies to everyone or even necessarily a majority, but enough people that one can identify the trend. Of course my opinions are colored somewhat due to constant exposure to construction workers and other blue collar sorts. It is an odd occasion when I find myself in a discussion with a co-worker outside of the modern equivelents of neolithic conversational topics (hunting, fishing, guns, television, and cars). It is an odd sort of orthodoxy. xponent Catholic Maru you both may be right. however, even if the lowest common denominator does apply, at least people are starting to develop a sense of wonder, and consider what if this goes on... by the way; what is maru? jon louis Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
