Actually, Heinlein didn't invent the phrase, its known use for a LONG time, and was often also written as tinstaafl, (there is no such..), but Heinlein used the bastardized version for the official motto of the Luna colony. I'd not ever seen it just tns, but i have seen it as tafl (leaving off the extra a for a) so removing the modifier is or ain't isn't too inapropriate for a lettered shortening. It happens in acronym making.
As for the bet, it was actually Harlan Ellison that made the bet originally, at a writers retreat, and then others got in on the action. The lot of them there (Ellison, Hubbard, Heinlein, Leguin, and Card, i know were there, i forget the other notables listed, ill dig out the essay Ellison wrote about it) spent several hours brainstorming a religion, and playing ideas off each other. While L.Ron sat there taking notes. On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 3:15 PM, Terry Blanton <[email protected]> wrote: > UR right. It's impossible to pronounce without the 'A'. > > Terry (who grew up saying "ain't" but got over it) > > PS Forgive me Mr. Heinlein. You know, there is an anecdote that > $cientology resulted from a bet between RAH and LRH. Heinlein bet > Hubbard that he could not create a religion that the IRS would > recognize. I wonder if Heinlein paid up? Hail Xenu! > > On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 3:25 PM, Stephen A. Lawrence <[email protected]> wrote: >> I see a nit!! >> >> It was actually "TANSTAAFL" (which is more pronounceable) and it stands >> for "There Ain't No .... " and so forth. At least, that's what it was >> in Mistress. (Didn't recall that the slogan appeared in Stranger.) >> >> But, don't take my word for it -- let's ask Google. >> >> Search for TNSTAAFL: 16,100 hits >> >> Search for TANSTAAFL: 216,000 hits >> >> So the websites of the world vote 13 to 1 in favor of TANSTAAFL. >> >> >> Terry Blanton wrote: >>> Yep, Robert Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land". Also mentioned in >>> "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". >>> >>> Terry >>> >>> On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 10:33 PM, thomas malloy <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> OrionWorks wrote: >>>> >>>>>> From Terry: >>>>> >>>>>> Watch the spin and you will see a beat frequency between the camera >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> TNSTAAFL >>>>>> >>>>>> Yup, I noticed that too, bro. Especially in the beginning. However, in >>>>>> the last segment the wheel RPM "appeared" (at least to me) to have >>>>>> stabilized somewhat. Perhaps that was an optical illusion. >>>>>> >>>>>> BTW: TNSTAAFL: Please translate. >>>>>> >>>> There is no such thing as a free lunch >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> --- Get FREE High Speed Internet from USFamily.Net! -- >>>> http://www.usfamily.net/mkt-freepromo.html --- >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> > >
