Re:
I just picked up KSR's 2312 and Jack Campbell's The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knights (sequel series to the Lost Fleet series). Haven't started reading them. I was re-reading Sword of Shanarra as MTV is threatening a new series al a Game of Thrones. It's turning into a slog (seemed much better when I was a kid!) Damon. On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 1:46 AM, Doug Pensinger wrote: > Yea, what's the deal? Anyone home? Anyone read anything > good/interesting? I recently listened to For Whom the Bell Tolls and am > now listening to a book called The Mongoliad, Greg Bear being one of > several co-authors. The Hemingway was very stark and depressing and a bit > obsessed with death but very good all the same. The Bear (et al) is an > action packed thriller set during the Mongolian invasion of Europe. I'm > also reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs > which is interesting and a bit of an eye opener. > > Doug > > > On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 1:03 PM, Dan Minette wrote: > >> Hi Debbi, >> >> I don't think you've been deleted. But we've been real quiet. >> >> Dan M. >> >> >> ___ >> http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com >> >> > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Troll on the list needs to learn manners...
At least in my defense I won't bother replying to him. Damon. On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 11:30 PM, Warren Adams-Ockrassa wrote: > On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:12:03 -0500, Damon Agretto > wrote: >> >> My question for the list is: if John comes across as a troll, why are >> people responding to him? By doing so, you give him exactly what he >> wants. By getting a rise out of others, he makes you dance to his >> tune. If you really think he has nothing worthwhile to add to the >> conversation, don't reply to his goads! > > > ..he says, even though it's an indirect means of poking the troll. > ;) > > -- > Warren > > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Troll on the list needs to learn manners...
My question for the list is: if John comes across as a troll, why are people responding to him? By doing so, you give him exactly what he wants. By getting a rise out of others, he makes you dance to his tune. If you really think he has nothing worthwhile to add to the conversation, don't reply to his goads! Damon. ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Existence
Already have my copy on pre-order on Amazon! Damon. On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 11:02 AM, Charlie Bell wrote: > > On 14/05/2012, at 12:26 AM, William Goodall wrote: > >> The new Brin novel Existence comes out in June. A topic! > > So, will they add a stupid apostrophe in the non-US versions? > > Ex'stence, maybe… > > Suppose I should get my amazon order sorted out! > > Charlie > > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Electronic interface options
Personally I started using FB as I find it superior to twitter for the "microblogging" activity, as I often felt I needed more than 160 characters to talk about what I wanted to talk about. It's a great way to stir up conversations, or even to track what I'm doing with my various project. Also David participates there, and actually occasionally talks about science and fiction (and sometimes even science fiction!). That can't be a bad thing... Damon. > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Various Items
I'm receiving. Currently re-reading the Mars trilogy. I didn't see anything on Brin's facebook feed about a new book, but I'm looking forward to such a thing... Damon. On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Mauro Diotallevi wrote: > [tap tap tap] Is this thing on? I haven't received any message since > the end of April. Did the list fold? Is everyone on vacation? Or is > everyone just having trouble thinking of things to talk about? > > If the lack of list activity is because no one could think of anything > to talk about... > > Does anyone want to chime in on the budget "negotiations" currently > going in Washington DC? > > Who would like to talk about X-Men: First Class? > > Cars 2 vs. The Critics: Did the science fiction spy elements cause > critics to miss the boat on this one? (I personally loved this movie, > which took a critical drubbing.) > > Did anyone else read the article in Discover magazine about using dirt > to soak up CO2? > http://discovermagazine.com/2011/may/06-could-dirt-help-heal-the-climate > > David Brin says he has finished a "major novel." Speculation? > Rumors? Inside info? > > Discuss! > > -- > Mauro Diotallevi > "The number you have dialed is imaginary. Please rotate your phone 90 > degrees and try again." > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Wikileaks
I don't know; I think it still remains to be seen if the good outweighs the bad. While so far the damage to the US appears to be fairly light, I have to wonder about the damage done to US allies and other countries across the globe. I'm sure the Yemeni president (who has been allegedly lying to his parliament) probably looks at this a bit different, and the dynamic of the Iranian nuclear weapons issue might change with the revelations that many of the Arab states are largely aligned with Israel on this. Also, I have to wonder -- given current events -- how China's revelation to North Korea might pan out. While I'm optimistic and hope that goes for the best (and I think it likely will), I can also see it going for the worse too. Also there might be other revelations that come about that have yet to be revealed. Not to mention potential trust issues US allies might have because we're not able to safeguard their dirty laundry sufficiently... Damon. On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 3:12 PM, Wayne Eddy wrote: > It is interesting to hear that there is overwhelming sentiment against > Wikileaks in the US. > > From the comments I have read on newspaper articles about Wikileaks here in > Australia, I would think a majority of people here (maybe about 75%) are > supportive. > > Personally, I think there is good and bad in what Julian Assange and his > team are doing, but that the good definitely outweighs the bad. > > Regards, > > Wayne Eddy. > > > On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 2:51 PM, Doug Pensinger wrote: > >> There seems to be overwhelming sentiment against Wikileaks' release of >> confidential documents and I was wondering how people here (some of >> whom may have read Brin's Transparent Society) felt about it. >> >> I'm generally for transparency and haven't heard of anything yet that >> is beyond mildly embarrassing to the U. S. government. I do think >> where the safety of our troops is concerned confidentially is >> important, but that government secrets should have a relatively short >> shelf life in all cases. >> >> Doug >> >> ___ >> http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com >> >> > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Starting Engineer's Salaries
I played Evony for a while, until other powers decided to farm the crap out of my cities, and my alliance disintegrated while I watched. That pretty much killed any enjoyment I had from the game... On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Rceeberger wrote: > > On 10/22/2010 8:13:45 AM, Charlie Bell (char...@culturelist.org) wrote: > > On 22/10/2010, at 1:41 PM, Rceeberger wrote: > > > > > > One at a time please. > > > > > > > > > > > > Xponent > > > Insert GOATSE Here Maru > > > Rob > > > > LOL!!! Rob, I've missed you. > > > I've been here...I read the conversations and more or less keep up. > I just havent had much worth adding recently. > Mostly I spend my online time playing Evony, where I am the host of > Bavaria, a top 10 alliance on SS51. > We use Skype in Bavaria so I can be found there pretty much every night > under Xponent. > Drop by and chat sometime if any of you get a spare few. > > Xponent > Addictive Gaming Maru > rob > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Down with the government
I don't know if the Tea Party is a manufactured political movement, but one thing I feel certain about, it's titular head Sarah Palin is exploiting it for all it's worth. I can't imagine she would do anything that would not ultimately benefit her bank account. One thing about the Tea Party: if it was REALLY about small(er)government, local issues decided by local governments, etc. I could get behind it. But it seems to me that much of the anti-intellectualism of the Republicans migrated here. Damon. ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Is anybody home?
Incidentially, if anyone wants to read up about my thoughts on some of the books I've read in the past few years (mainly because I'm bored at work), check out my blog at bookslikedust.blogspot.com. Damon. On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 8:35 AM, Damon Agretto wrote: > I just finished up Haldeman's Marsbound and Starbound several weeks ago. I > started reading Benford's The Martian Race, but set is aside for some pulpy > gaming supplements (Battletech's Masters & Minions if anyone wants to > know...) > > Damon. > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Is anybody home?
I just finished up Haldeman's Marsbound and Starbound several weeks ago. I started reading Benford's The Martian Race, but set is aside for some pulpy gaming supplements (Battletech's Masters & Minions if anyone wants to know...) Damon. ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Having kids makes you unhappy
I have 2 kids, and the things that depress me are things my kids have no influence on. If you don't like kids, then you should be able to justify to yourself why you don't want them IMHO. There are things my kids do and experience that makes me happy. Watching them grow up and experience the world through their eyes, in a way I can appreciate intellectually is a very special experience, with the added bonus of my genetic legacy living on through them. Damon. On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 1:19 PM, Dave Land wrote: > On Jul 7, 2010, at 9:41 AM, William T Goodall wrote: > > I'm glad I don't have any. >> > > Probably best you don't have any for your and for any children's sake, > then, eh? > > Evidently, there's more to life than pleasing yourself. > > Dave > > > > ___ > http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Apple's big announcement . . .
I should also add that I know it was a funny, but my statement should cover me for all Apple products... Damon. On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 5:00 PM, Damon Agretto wrote: > Hi! Some of you might remember me! > > After looking at this, color me unimpressed. I'm going to wait and see what > the competition does (probably cheaper for the same capability). > > Damon, posted from his Gphone... > > On Jan 27, 2010 2:08 AM, "Ronn! Blankenship" < > ronn_blankens...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > > http://comics.com/prickly_city/2010-01-26/ > > > > ___ > http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com > > ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Apple's big announcement . . .
Hi! Some of you might remember me! After looking at this, color me unimpressed. I'm going to wait and see what the competition does (probably cheaper for the same capability). Damon, posted from his Gphone... On Jan 27, 2010 2:08 AM, "Ronn! Blankenship" wrote: http://comics.com/prickly_city/2010-01-26/ ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: In despair for the state of SF
I'm sorry you read this turkey, but the KJA is a hack and has been for years... Damon. On Jul 4, 2009 4:19 AM, "Warren Ockrassa" wrote: A week or so back I finished _Hidden Empire_, the first book in Kevin J. Anderson's "Saga of Seven Suns": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saga_of_Seven_Suns I discovered this one late -- the series is out now in pulp, and I was unaware of it prior to that. I have some things I just need to vent. [spoilers -- ha, as if] What an unbelievable turd. While it's not unusual for a novelist to foreshadow, Anderson basically forecudgeled. His aliens are disinteresting in the extreme; the only marginally noteworthy society was the Green Priests and their symbiosis with their worldforest, and they were human. The obtuseness of his characters and societies is unforgivable. When you compress the core of a gas giant and turn it into a star, notice what appear to be diamondlike nodules shooting out from the new sun, and then see diamondlike ships attacking cloud-harvesters on other gas giants, you have to be a cretin of genuinely universal proportions to not understand what happened. Yet that's exactly what occurs: No one knows why the "hydrogues" are attacking cloud harvesters! The alien "allies" of Earth are anthropomorphic and capable of interbreeding with humans -- oh come on -- and have a history recitation that's millennia deep. Their leader even knows about the hydrogues, though it's a buried secret, yet he still manages somehow to be stunned and ignorant of their attacks, sources, reasoning, etc. Anderson has a husband/wife team of xenoarchaeologists who've uncovered both the wormhole tech used to create suns of gas giants, and teleportation tech used by a long-dead race called the Klikiss. Yup, just the two of them. Not a team, no student support, just a couple of kooks digging up fossil civilizations. And they reactivate a teleport panel using, essentially, camp-light batteries. Those must be some damn impressive batteries. One can only assume they're radically unlike the Li-ion cells in iPhones. And as for the cloud harvesters -- well, early in the narrative we have a captain of one of these things STEPPING OUTSIDE ONTO AN OBSERVATION DECK without breathing apparatus as his "skymine" sucks up free hydrogen. They even keep doves. Outside. In the atmosphere of the gas giant. While harvesting hydrogen. Almost every page contains a slap to the face of science and SF; it's not even fantasy. It's just a childish notion of magical settings placed for the convenience of plot and story, without any effort made to actually consider what's feasible and what is not. But what tweaked me most was the "interview" section at the end of the book, where Anderson says he wanted to write a "saga" that included everything he claims to love about SF. He mentions _Dune_ particularly -- no surprise since he worked with Brian Herbert on continuing Frank Herbert's exploration of that storyline. The only thing I can conclude is that Anderson never understood what Herbert accomplished with _Dune_, and more generally, he doesn't understand SF at all -- least of all what makes a good SF story. Any decent editor in the genre would have suggested two things to him: "Rethink. Redact." If this is the state SF is sliding into, particularly in the wake of the _Trek_ and _Transformers_ noise-machines, what the hell do we have left? -- Warren Ockrassa | @waxis Blog | http://indigestible.nightwares.com/ Books | http://books.nightwares.com/ Web | http://www.nightwares.com/ ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Straczynski Fan Update
I thought the movie was fine and fun. I never read the FF comics, so how relevant it was to the source is immaterial to me. Also, if you're going to see the movie expecting some sort of existential revelation of the human condition... I think if they would have portrayed Galactus true to the comic, it would have bombed and failed. Lets face it: how cool would a giant purple guy on the big screen be??? No, I think the portrayal presented in the movie was perfectly fine and reasonable for a movie. You have to understand, this movie was not done for hard-core FF fans, just as I have to understand that ANY historical movie is not meant for historians (ESPECIALLY 300...). Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." My blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/ Now Building: Tamiya's Sherman Firefly 1C in 1/48 scale - Original Message - From: "Robert Seeberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:04 PM Subject: Re: Straczynski Fan Update > - Original Message - > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Killer Bs Discussion" > Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:03 PM > Subject: Re: Straczynski Fan Update > > >>I saw the FF movie last friday, and heck if I didn't comment we'll see a >>Silver Surfer spin-off... >> > > Yes, but I suspect it will likely suck bugs. > The Surfer footage in the movie was very cool looking, but the movie bore > only-some- resemblance to the source material. The "ripped off > from the first Star Trek movie" version of Galactus played very weakly, > though I understand why they would cut out the Watcher. > IMO the movie was not strong enough to warrant a sequel of any kind, but I > suspect the studios will try and fail. > > > xponent > Not Impressed Enough Maru > rob > > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: > 269.9.1/857 - Release Date: 6/20/2007 2:18 PM > > ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin Interview in Discover Magazine
Speaking of Brin, watching some of the documentaries on the ST:TMP Director's Cut, he talked about how SF can be "progressive" (IIRC how SF can show us what is POSSIBLE), as well as "cautionary" (how SF can warn us of what happens if we are not mindful). I'm coming to the end of the current book I'm reading, and I'd really like to explore these themes for my BLOG. Does anyone know if Brin posted these thoughts in essay form, so I can link back to it. I was poking around, but didn't turn up anything (addmittedly a cursory search...when your 17mo discovers screaming, and seems to want to do it constantly, you have other thoughts than looking for essays...) Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." My blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/ Now Building: Tamiya's Sherman Firefly 1C in 1/48 scale - Original Message - From: "Mauro Diotallevi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin List" Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 8:58 PM Subject: Brin Interview in Discover Magazine > Does anyone else here read Discover Magazine? > > I was flipping through the June 2007 issue and turned the page, and lo and > behold, there is a very strange full-page picture of David Brin looking at > me, along with about three pages of interview. > > The interview talks about Brin's success as a "prognosticator," his views > on > whether science helps us perceive better, the pace of change, and, of > course, privacy. There's nothing terribly new here, but it's interesting > nonetheless. > > And how to describe the picture... my wife looked at it and said she > thought the look on his face was saying, "What the heck happened to my > hair?" You have to see the picture to really understand. > > Discover has been posting pretty much everything from their magazine > recently at http://discovermagazine.com/ . The Brin Interview is not yet > posted there, but keep checking. Or stop by your local Borders or Barnes > and Noble and take a peek at page 65. > > -- > 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 > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.4/825 - Release Date: 5/30/2007 > 3:03 PM > > ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: fans-go-nuts-over-jerichos-cancellation
I have this feeling people are going nuts over nothing... BTW, when does the new season of Enterprise start? Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Tamiya's Jagdpanther in 1/48 scale - Original Message - From: "Robert G. Seeberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "brin-L" Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:46 PM Subject: fans-go-nuts-over-jerichos-cancellation > http://tvmakesyoustupid.com/2007/05/23/fans-go-nuts-over-jerichos-cancellation/ > > > > > > Fans of the CBS post-apocalypse drama Jericho upset about the untimely > cancellation of the series this year, which ended on a cliffhanger, are > sending nuts to the network in order to get them to renege. Thousands and > thousands of pounds of nuts! Says the ingenius fan campaign: > > Why nuts? In the final episode Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich) borrowed the > historic phrase "NUTS" in response to a final offer of surrender from a > hostile neighboring town. CBS decided to cancel the show, and fans are > uprising to save Jericho by sending, you got it, NUTS to CBS executives. > > To participate, spread the word, read more about it, or just to see the > awesome, awesome photo gallery of the massive shipments of nuts (mmm, > cashews), go here( http://www.nutsonline.com/jericho ). Awesome! > > > > And in the comments: > > Thanx for supporting the cause!! > > CBS - YOU'VE BEEN THUNDERSTUCK!! > > > > xponent > > Sabot Maru > > rob > > > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: > 269.7.6/813 - Release Date: 5/20/2007 7:54 AM > > ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Flatulence
Didn't Bush come out several months ago and finally admit tha Global Warming may be man-caused? ISTR a statement like that... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Tamiya's Jagdpanther in 1/48 scale ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: *Of course* it's all about talent . . .
Yes, how sad that the Musical-industrial Complex has taken over... Damon, does not listen to Pop... Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Tamiya's Jagdpanther in 1/48 scale - Original Message - From: "Ronn! Blankenship" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 9:22 PM Subject: *Of course* it's all about talent . . . > If you're a female singer, you'd better be sexy > > > She was an "amazing talent," a young singer with a wonderful voice > who wrote beautiful songs. But she was no beauty, plus flat-chested > and overweight to boot. > > Remembering the aspiring star, music executive Jody Gerson still > feels terrible about thinking: "She's never going to get signed, even > though she's fabulous." > > Gerson might feel even worse after Wednesday night's exit of the > matronly Melinda Doolittle from "American Idol." In today's music > industry, Plain Janes need not apply. Sex appeal was once considered > a bonus for a woman; now it's practically a requirement. > > <http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/18/music.sexysingers.ap/index.html> > > > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.4/811 - Release Date: 5/18/2007 > 3:50 PM > > ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Jericho
Well, I guess it really doesn't matter WHAT I think of the show...apparently it's going to be cancelled: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/guide.aspx?id=upfront The good news is that America's Funniest Home Videos will be renewed. Hey, I have a kid...I can TOTALLY win that thing! Damon. - Original Message - From: "jon louis mann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 6:24 PM Subject: Jericho > Yes, I've been watching it, and it's a pretty decent show. Not quite as > > SFinal as I'd like, but it has decent writing (which appears to be > designed to appeal to a fairly broad audience...the fact that it does > it > decently is remarkable in my book)... > Damon. > > the reason i like it is because it treats the terrorism threat as > something that can be exaggerated, fabricated, assimilated and even > co-opted by the very protagonist infidels the jihadists are attempting > to destroy. > another show i like is sleeper cell, much better in its portrayal of > jihadists than "24" which promotes hysteria, hate and fear. > jon louis > > > > Give > > spam the boot. Take control with tough spam protection in the all-new > Yahoo! Mail Beta. > http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_html.html > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.0/803 - Release Date: 5/13/2007 > 12:17 PM > > ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Sci-Fi Channel to add Anime Block
IIRC I watched mine in Sub format, and I almost never listen to commentaries (rather figure it out myself). With that in mind, the comment about commentaries has no point for me... Damon. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Sci-Fi Channel to add Anime Block
> Ack! They're licensing from Manga Entertainment? Call me crazy, but my > past impression of their localization has been that it was less than > stellar (the Evangelion movies being a particularly egregrious cause in > point). What was wrong with the Evangelion movies? Damon, has a vinyl statue of Rei on his desk... ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Railgun Weapon for the Navy
I'd be interested in seeing how much energy this thing delivers to the target at 250mi compared to a Tomahawk. The advantage of putting a warhead on a missile is that it will do as much damage at point-blank range as at maximum range, because it is not dependent on kinetic energy to deliver its mission. This is one of the reasons why HEAT rounds were popular between WWII and the '80s: armor penetration was the same at ANY range (plus they were more powerful than KEPs) Another problem I'd like to see addressed is that fast moving rounds could pass completely through a target (depending on density) without hitting something critical. Plenty of WWI biplanes came back riddled with holes but no critical components damanged. Similarly, Marine M26 Pershings in Korea were punching holes right through T-34s, but not knocking them out. Once they dropped the SABOT rounds and switched to back to AP rounds (which would explode inside the vehicle) they were able to get more satisfactory results. The British also had a similar problem with the 17lber until they redesigned the fuse to explode sooner (i.e. the round passed completely through the target before it exploded). Damon. - Original Message - From: "Jim Sharkey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 9:28 PM Subject: RE: Railgun Weapon for the Navy > > Robert G. Seeberger wrote: >>Normally, new weaponry tends to make defense more expensive. But >>the Navy likes to say its new railgun delivers the punch of a >>missile at bullet prices. > > I'v eheard about this several times. Every time I do, I keep > expecting to hear the Quake III announcer saying "HEAD SHOT" :-) > > Jim > > ___ > Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com > The most personalized portal on the Web! > > > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Script Completed for 'Star Trek XI'
I have hopes for this restarting the franchise. After the mediocraty that was Enterprise (well, save the last season and a few select eps), I think the series needs something that'll get the blood going again...and a creative staff that cares about the franchise (and not just the money...). Damon. - Original Message - From: "Gary Nunn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin Mail List" Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 9:33 PM Subject: Script Completed for 'Star Trek XI' > > Script Completed for 'Star Trek XI' > > Director J.J. Abrams has confirmed that the script for Star Trek XI has > been completed, that it will concern Capt. Kirk and Spock as very young > men, > that shooting > > http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2007-01-11/#3 > > > ___ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: "Someone Must Tell Them"
You know, this thread has been going for so long, and apparently I must have missed a number of emails, so that I have NO idea how the discussion of Roman/Parthian/Persian/Imperial Arab history came about. I wanted to comment earlier but...eh... Damon. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Wealthy couples travel to U.S. to choose baby's sex
How many pregnancies are planned, and how many are "accidental?" I guess it would all depend on the technology. But whether people plan their pregnancies around the tax season or their new-age hippie health classes is irrelevant to the question: creating a system of artificial iron wombs eliminates the emotional effects for a woman of having a baby growing inside of them. Some may be totally skeeved by this idea; my fiancee (we have a baby, BTW -- she's 6mo old, 7 in early August) however commented that she misses things like the kicks, the movement, etc. Of course I cannot relate to that on any level; being a male I have nothing in my life experiences to compare it to. And to get proper feedback, that question should be postulated to both pre-pregnancy, and post-birth women. I also think the idea of iron wombs cheapens the enture reproductive process. That is my purely emotional hippie liberal opinion... Damon. Some people have c-sections because they can schedule them round their yoga, or because they need to fit childbirth into a certain period of the financial year for tax or government incentive reasons, or to replace the uncertain risks of childbirth with the calculated risks of an operation. Given reliable artificial womb technology financially on a par with or not substantially more than the cost of childbirth, the risks and convenience mean that it would be taken up. How many, not sure, but it would be widespread. Wonder if there are any surveys on this. Charlie ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Physics Prof Finds Thermate in WTC Physical Samples
To veer slightly pedantic, ISTR I-beams are actually extruded... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Alan's Panzer IIC -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.5/376 - Release Date: 6/26/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Roots of human family tree are shallow
Apart from Vikings in Newfoundland and Greenland in the 8th/9th century... There was a scholarly discussion about this on one of my history groups just last week. One of the conclusions they came to is that there is no strong evidence to suggest either interbreeding with the Inuit or not. So I think this is very much a "perhaps...but.." Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Alan's Panzer IIC -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.5/376 - Release Date: 6/26/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Physics Prof Finds Thermate in WTC Physical Samples
Why would we assume the building MUST collapse in one direction (the point of failure)? This assumes the failure was in the essential superstructure that brought it down; on an externally supported building (IIRC much of the structural strength came from the external walls, rather than the internal structure, which I believe was innovative at the time). However, the "Pancake" theory does not support an external failure to satisfy it's conclusions; instead the falling mass of debris compromised internal support mechanisms. Indeed, if a falling mass of debris impacts previously uncompromised floors, the support structure may very well draw the walls *in*. Therefore, the strength of the external walls may very well served to channel the debris internally. I think the idea of "jets" is inconsistent with the idea of thermite cutting steel; It might be with *explosives,* but thermite burns extremely vigorously, not explodes... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Alan's Panzer IIC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.5/376 - Release Date: 6/26/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: When BatLeths Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have BatLeths
You guys and your swords. I'll take a pollaxe... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.7.4/351 - Release Date: 5/29/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Online games (was: Xbox 360)
Well with the expression of interest in gaming that was put forth on the console side of things, I figured it was just as well to see what games that you all play online. Only World of Warcraft at the time. Most of my RW friends play on it, so it was a natural... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.4/332 - Release Date: 5/4/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Xbox 360
Actually in BA I chose a Spitfire based on the recommendations of a Cockney eight-year-old or so who was wrong, ultimately, but quite authoritative. I switched eventually to a Corsair and spent most of the game time in "blackout" as I over-gee'd the stick. Sigh. Spitfire too little, Corsair too much. Something tweenish next time. FW-190A-8 is the magic answer. Small, fairly fast, maneuverable, and armed with FOUR 20mm cannons and a pair of 13mm machine guns...*drool* Note that I am utterly unfamiliar with the game. Mainly speaking from RW knowledge... Of course, I'd want to fly a Regia Aeronautica bf.109G just because I'm a stickler for the underdog... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.4/332 - Release Date: 5/4/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: three paradigm shifts?
So how do you explain cats? Intelligence and inherent laziness obviously selected itself in cat evolution. In some circles, cats taking on us as their "masters" can be seen as a stoke of genius that outstrips the greatest of human achievements! Damon ;) -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.1/313 - Release Date: 4/15/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tales From Earthsea.........Anime!!!!!
I think SR would be really neat in Linklater's style of "animation". Its a very neat way to both break from reality and yet stay firmly grounded in reality. I think that would do a lot to hinder my enjoyment. Dunno, I personally like anime (at least for one reason) for its artistic stylings. Something done in rotoscope (or its 21st C equivalent) always seemed a bit like "cheating!" :) Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tales From Earthsea.........Anime!!!!!
Agree. It doesn't have to be a Japanese story, but it does have to have that look and feel. Howl's Moving Castle is anime, Ice Age isn't. But I do agree that Startide is far more likely to work as an animated or largely animated feature. (Might work in the Babe style, mind...) I don't think the "Ghibli" style would work for SR, IMHO. At least not for me. However, I wouldn't mind the Otomo or Oshii style (Akira and Ghost in the Shell respectively), which tends to be a bit more sober and realistic. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tales From Earthsea.........Anime!!!!!
Brin should be shopping his wares at Pixar or Dreamworks. Can you anime fans imagine how much better The Postman would have been as an Anime OVA? If it was from those two studios, it wouldn't really be anime then, would it? I think anime, in the English speaking world, has a far more specific definition than it does in Japan. I would argue, then, that a movie made domestically could never be anime, since it wouldn't have the little cultural quirks and background what is called "anime" in the US posesses, and makes it endearing... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tales From Earthsea.........Anime!!!!!
HOLY F&^%$# S^&*% Damon. As reported yesterday the Studio Ghibli website has relaunched, their new URL is http://www.ghibli.jp/. Via the revamp, the studio has revealed their next animation film project will be "Gedo Senki" (with English subtitle "TALES from EARTHSEA") directed by Goro Miyazaki (Hayao Miyazaki's son). The new movie is adapted from American writer Ursula K Le Guin's "A Wizard of Earthsea". The planned theatrical release in Japan is July, 2006. Additionally on the new site you can view a production and director's diary. Readers may recall on September 20th ANS was the first English news source to report on this possibility. A blog entry of an anonymous editor working for a publisher in Tokyo then predicted the next film animation work to be tackled by Studio Ghibli would be based on the Earthsea series of novels by American fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin. When presented with only a last (family) name we incorrectly assumed Hayao Miyazaki would be directing although at the time he was the only publicly known Miyazkai directing films at the studio. The Japanese editor reportedly first learned of this news when a film rights option was being sought by the book's Japanese publisher Iwanami Shoten. The America-based Sci-Fi Channel adapted Le Guin's Earthsea series to TV in 2004 in it's "Legend of Earthsea" miniseries. The author has expressed her disapproval of the faithfulness to the original works of the above TV version. Hayao Miyazaki, has in the past admitted being an admirer of Le Guin's writings. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: EE's BRDM-1 Recce Vehicle -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: A real outtake from EARTH:
13th Century English church is going solar Thankfully they said it shouldn't spoil the architecture. While I'm all for environmental solutions, I obviously have an interest in past-preservation too. The idea of a medieval church with its roof covered in solar panels just doesn't seem right... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Skybow's Tiger Late -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.1/292 - Release Date: 3/24/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Is it just me....
At 08:45 PM 3/19/2006, you wrote: Is it just me or does anyone else see that the major reason there is an insurgency in Iraq is our (the U.S.) pressence? Everyone seems to agree that Al Qaida is provoking the sectarian violence, and that they consider the U.S., not Iraq, their enemy. If we leave, they loose most of their purpose there and maybe the insurgency goes away. Of course. But then we're in a double-edged sword here too: As long as we're there, there will be an insurgency, but we have to stay there to help maintain order... However, I doubt pulling up stakes and heading home will mean an end to the insurgency either; the current Iraq government doesn't seem to have a whole lot of legitimacy, and I think if we left, the attacks will continue to discredit the government, which I think is perceived as being a US puppet... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Skybow's Tiger Late -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.2.5/284 - Release Date: 3/17/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Olympos...
Not yet, but it is on my to-read stack. Read Ilium. Both on my to-read stack. How was Illium? Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Skybow's Tiger Late -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.1/279 - Release Date: 3/10/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Stop AOL from ruining email
You know, with as many issues as I've seen with AOL at work, I'd just say "the heck with 'em" and tell people to get a REAL email service... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: AER's ASU-57 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.0.0/267 - Release Date: 2/22/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Cold Pictures and more
We've taken care of Ethan many times already and he's very easy to take care of. He has a smile for just about everyone and rarely cries. I really think that Granparenting is one of lifes big payoffs! May be. My dad is enjoying our offspring...6 weeks old on Fri and counting... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: AER's ASU-57 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.11/264 - Release Date: 2/17/2006 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: My annual Xmas tirade... Was RE: An armed society ...
Reading Gary's rant, and Jim's reply, offers quite a bit of food for thought for me. By this time next month (if all goes according to plan) I should be the proud father of a brand new baby girl. The rampant consumerism of Christmas (I think I would've enjoyed Christmas much more as it used to be...not a religious holiday per se, but as an excuse to drink...curses to the Puritans!) is something I never really had to deal with before, but it may come-to-pass now. How will I react to my little girl needing that thing "she just must have?" I would like to think I would handle it in a way that was educational for her, to help her build ethics, but who knows? I think in a culture such as ours, one of relative wealth and affluence, materialism is a natural outgrowth. Jim's point about working class families is a good one, and I'd bet in very poor areas the contrast is even more stark. I also think people live increasingly busy lives these days, in an attempt to satisfy their own ambitions, and to fill every waking moment of their kids' lives with activities (what ever happened to giving them a piece of paper and a box of crayons? Or kicking them and their friends out into the back yard during the summer? Not an option in some areas, but definitely in mine...). This year on Black Friday, I went over to my friends' houses for an all-day orgy of gaming...from 10am to 12 midnight it was nothing but Settlers of Catan, a new game called (IIRC) Dungeoneer, and of course D&D (which included my one friend's son). I felt that was time better spent than sitting in the Wal-mart parking lot at 5am, any time... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Bandai's Pz.H auf GWII (105mm) "Wespe" -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.11/191 - Release Date: 12/2/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Battlestar Galactica renewed
I love the new BSG. I really do. It has complex character development and a storyline that is mercifully bereft of the "reset button" at episode's end. But damn, would it be so hard to not have dumpsters in the background when shooting dialogue in some "alien" world's back alley? There's a lot of bits in the show like that that break suspension of disbelief. If you know your firearms, it happens every ep... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Bandai's Pz.H auf GWII (105mm) "Wespe" -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.8/183 - Release Date: 11/25/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Major Internet Disruption
Hm. That might explain a few odd things I've seen this week. Thanks for the info! I didn't; World of Warcraft ran just fine for me... ;) Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Bandai's Pz.H auf GWII (105mm) "Wespe" -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.361 / Virus Database: 267.12.4/146 - Release Date: 10/21/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Help!: fleas, dogs & spiders
Never understood why some people are afraid of spiders... The problem we have around here are those big black ants. Sometimes they get in the house through the venting, but a paper dowel and a little squishy between my fingers takes care of that. Those guys are the only insects I don't catch and release outside (yes, I catch spiders and take them out to the porch and into some bushes there adjacent). Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Tamiya's Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.8/114 - Release Date: 9/28/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Katrina: Republican Political Tool(AreYouLonesomeTonightEdition)
Pftt You actually think people use PCs in 3056? In 3056 people are their own computers after Thinc/Geneontek developed the whole body logic protien matrix. That is why people in the future are so fat. The more body mass, the more computing power. Huh. And here I thought everyone drove around in Battlemechs... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.1/104 - Release Date: 9/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Evil religious sects
Religion needs to be banned. I wonder how much of this actually is about religion, and how much is about tribal "nationalism..." Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.21/96 - Release Date: 9/10/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Our commander in chief
You and me and Damon seem to be the only ones who care about the actual people. Thanks for noticin.' Every day at work I try to throw a bit of money in the collection jug. I was just paid today, and sometime this weekend I'm going to go over my finances and see how much I'll donate. I'm getting some bonus pay next check, so I'm probably going to throw some of that in too... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/89 - Release Date: 9/2/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The Doom That Came To N'Warlins - II
I'm going to see the Red Cross now and give them some money. And I'm going to hope that some of my fellow citizens find some relief from their hardships. The company I work for (T-mobile) has started organizing an employee relief fund, matching 100% employee contributions. I plan on writing a check this Fri (payday). I think I speak for a lot of Americans when I say I was totally unprepared for the scale of this thing. Note that I have heard several countries have pledged support in the clean-up. And I'm grateful... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.17/84 - Release Date: 8/29/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Physics question
Minimum speed of time is the opposite: all possible acceleration, that is, light speed.Intuitively, this should make time stand still, and it does. And faster still would be going backwards in time (tachyons, anyone?). Speaking of which, if this were possible, HOW exactly would time go backwards? Would time flow backwards ONLY for the internal time reference (I assume; i.e. nuclear decay would go backwards, etc), or would you actually be able to see the universe go "backwards" in time in the same way we can now see the universe go forwards? Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.13/78 - Release Date: 8/19/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: FLCL and Paranoia Agent
But have you been watching Justice League Unlimited, Zatch Bell, and One Piece? JLU can be surprisingly good and complex. Lots of great superhero speculation. Not crazy about the animation style, but the scripting is usually solid. Zatch Bell interests me in the least, and I really don't like One Piece (dissappointed they show this so much...) Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.10/73 - Release Date: 8/15/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: FLCL and Paranoia Agent
FLCL: IMHO I just don't understand. Not in a "creative avant garde" mode, but I just don't see the artistic background. Not because I don't get anime (my anime collection outnumbers my traditional movie collection), but because it seems the show was made for someone with ADD. I also I dislike the animation style. Paranoia Agent is really good; good music, intruging plot, etc. I don't see it often enough to get into it though... My current fave was Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone COmplex. Great show, great animation (some of the fight scenes are quite impressive from a technical standpoint). In terms of music/anime melding Serial Experiment Lain turned me onto a British group called Boa. Their debut full length CD is in my short-stack. Samurai Champloo is another great one (done by the same people as Cowboy Beebop? Mugen does have a passing resemblance to Spike...), just wish it was longer. Inuyasha could be more interesting, if it delved more into Japanese mythology, and less into the emotional life of teen-aged Japanese girls. Damon, watching... -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.10/73 - Release Date: 8/15/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Shuttle Likely Grounded Again
Can't find a link on-line yet, but the lead story on the evening network news was that the photos of the external tank yesterday showed that a piece of foam broke off (but did not hit the orbiter), so it appears that it will be back to the drawing board for the engineers and that the fleet will have to be grounded indefinitely after this flight until the problem is fixed . . . Perhaps it's time to cut our losses and look at developing other surface to orbit vehicles...? Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: MTG fans: Yer missin out
The first unofficial MTG tourney to be held in NW AZ is less than 12 hours away. Pass... Damon, got trapped in collectable games, learned his lesson, and now has deep philosophical opposition to the concept... Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Is it just me?
I had no problems accessing CNN, BBC, and a handful of other regular websites from my Blackberry, but a few were inaccessabile. Regular net seems OK, though... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.9.0/50 - Release Date: 7/16/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Half-Blood Prince (No spoilers)
Isn't this book something like 600pgs or so? And people are ALREADY done?!?! I read The Postman in about 8.5 hours, but that was doing nothing except reading (with bathroom breaks and lunch). I can't imagine having the time to sit and read a book of that length in one day... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.16/50 - Release Date: 7/15/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Plot Holes: War of the worlds - SPOILERS
Ok, I could buy that, but why didn't they just stay the first time instead of burying ships and leaving? Maybe they were prepositioning equipment in the same way the US has prepositioned equipment in places like Diego Garcia. It's all about the contingency plans; we don't know what sort of "operations" are going on in other theaters, etc. or the political, economic, or environmental situation on Mars (though we could make some good guesses...)... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.1/28 - Release Date: 6/24/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Religion and social capital
One instance would be an anecdote. Establishing a pattern of behaviour from many instances isn't. If religion is so good why is it so bad? Pulling news articles off the Internet is still anecdotical, since such methodology by its nature cannot represent a significant portion of the population, and besides the fact, is already negatively biased. Your methodology is flawed, and structured to fit into a preconceived notion, rather than used to draw conclusions from. Damon. ---- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.0/27 - Release Date: 6/23/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brain Areas Shut Off During Female Orgasm
This doesn't seem to apply to high school cheerleaders. Nah. Their sense is still primitive and underdeveloped, with the idea of a big, strong man being more important for her future brood than one with actual brains... Damon, but the idea is the same... Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Religious zealot slaughters children
The question is whether we continue to support the annoying tendency of certain posters to assert that it was this insane individual's religious zealotry that caused him to kill his children, when it is at least as likely that his insanity drove him to both his religious zealotry and the murder of his children. Yeah, cause we all REALLY know it was Dungeons & Dragons that drove him to do it... Damon. ---- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Your credit card payment just doubled
I was totally unaware of this. I have a little less than $4K in CC debt, though one is at a very low interest rate and is in process to be paid off in the next 3 months or so. The other's not so easy. Found out my fiancee is pregnant, so this definitely puts a wrench into things. Hopefully I can generate the cash in time before the minimums go up, so I can keep the max amount of cash on-hand to "prepare..." Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: What Is Your Worldview?
Comrades, I scored a Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker score is: -44 points of 170 possible, -25% Talk about a biased "test." Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Esci's BMP-1 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.3.2 - Release Date: 5/31/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Will someone, anyone please explain to me..........
...how and when has this list has ever participated in "carefull thought experiments about plausable tomorrows". I've been getting the fruit of this list for several months and all I ever see the members do is complain about today. If there is somebody, ANYBODY interested in extrapolating the factoids and blather into visions of (preferably positive) future visions, please post on this thread. I'd reccommend starting a new thread about it. Most of the SF I've been reading lately has been genre fiction, so while it's entertaining it's not anything I would call seriously thought provoking. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 267.3.2 - Release Date: 5/31/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Star Wars Episode 0
Whaddya think? Good or bad? 2nd source? This stuff always seems to crop up, and oftentimes it has little credibility or truth. Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.17 - Release Date: 5/25/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Revenge of the REAL George Lucas...
I think Mr. Card's main point was that Mormonism (as well as, I suppose, Islam, Christianity, et al) was at least intended to be taken seriously as a religion by Jos. Smith, while Jedism is just another sci-fi plot device gone horribly, horribly wrong. I think Orson missed the boat on the whole "Jedi religion thing..." -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.12 - Release Date: 5/17/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Revenge of the REAL George Lucas...
I believe this is spoiler free. But if you're utterly in the dark, read no more... IMHO, I agree the dialogue needs improvement, but I think it was better than Ep.II. There were some parts that were utterly forgettable, but the rest worked in its own way, even if it wasn't as quotable as the original trilogy. Thought the pacing was uneven. The 1st half was pretty much a "why is this significant?" but the second half really picked up and made up for the 1st. The Vader bit at the end was utterly unconvincing, and really broke the character. They should've used FAR less dialogue in this scene, and shown Vader's reactions indirectly. Would've been far more effective, IMHO. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.12 - Release Date: 5/17/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Star Trek signs off tonight....
The hot Vulcan was right - she was also right about the poor scripts for most of the first two seasons. So much potential, so much... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.9 - Release Date: 5/12/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: von Neumann machines
Yes, and yes. John von Neumann was a great mathematician. Moreover, his temperament was sociable and he was famous for getting along with people. Besides inventing game theory, the merge sort algorithm for computers and the like, he made a mathematical formulation for quantum mechanics. Is there a source on the net with regards to his game theory? Or a published source? Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.9 - Release Date: 5/12/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Lucas Film Business Model
I don't know if these figures are widely known, but I found them staggering... Cost of making STIII-ROTS - $115,000,000 Money spent *so far* on marketing STIII-ROTS - $100,000,000 Revenue to date on Star Wars Merchandise/Licencing - $9,000,000,000 9 Billion ? Which makes 10 Billion a distinct possibility by the end of the year. While these numbers justify every wise crack our Dr Brin has ever made about them being advertisements, it gives me a new respect for Lucas' ability to make money. And yet we STILL can't get a decent kit of the Falcon, and have to rely on one based on 30yo molds... Damon, who may invest $100 in upgrade parts to bring the Falcon up to par... -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.8 - Release Date: 5/10/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The American Political Landscape today
Take the test. http://typology.people-press.org/typology/ No surprise for me; I tested out as "Liberal." Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.8 - Release Date: 5/10/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Democrats Voted Out of Baptist Church
Had this particular ugly little trend begun in 2003, we might have a different president today. Things are looking up! Warren, you are just a font of positive thinking... Damon, a little more jaded... Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Ertl's TIE Fighter -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.7 - Release Date: 5/9/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Br!n: Re: more neocons
If anyone has pointers to decent numeric data, please let me know. What sort of numeric data are you looking for, though? Number of battles a year? Number of participants? Economic impact? The last two would be notoriously difficult to research, the former unreliable due to the custom of inflating numbers (or deflating, depending on what numbers you're looking for), and the latter unaccessable, at least not with any net sources. For the Black Death specifically, it might be useful to post your question to the Mediev-L discussion group (http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/mediev-l/mediev-l.html), populated by a number of professional medievalists. They might be able to answer your questions, or send you to sources that would have better info. Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.2 - Release Date: 5/2/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Br!n: Re: more neocons
BTW, a prediction I have not checked out is that there would have been far fewer wars than average in Europe in the decades following the Black Death. Somehow I doubt that. The Late Middle Ages was in part typified by the frequency, and the new brutality of war. In Western Europe alone we still had the 100 Years War, which reached its bloody climax in the 15th C, not to mention the War of the Roses, Burgundy vs. Switzerland, etc. I'd be interested in seeing this research, but one thing you would have to account for is the changing nature and attitude towards war that developed in the Late MA. Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.2 - Release Date: 5/2/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Guess Who?
Heh. The reviewer is a friend of mine... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Howcum (some) Texans are so happy?
Well, ignorance is bliss. ;) More seriously, it might have something to do with annual sunlight quantity. That's just a wild stab though. DUnno. I'm at the same latitude as Jersey City AND NYC, and I don't feel depressed! :) Damon, the drugs tell me so... -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Mr. Smith Goes to Hell
The pendulum's arc might well have maximized this last weekend. I can only hope. With statements from the Religious Right that the Republicans "owe them," that sort of thing keeps me up some nights... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Re: Six devastating issues
Ah. Not that widely apparently. ;) Well they said so on CNN today! I'm not sure how valid that claim is. If the chart here is of any value, China's economic growth has been on a more or less steady rise since 1998 or so: <http://www.chinability.com/GDP.htm> ...while oil prices have been radically up and down over the same period, which would seem to indicate no tie between oil prices and China's economy: <http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/chron.html> Also, IIRC Shanghai in particular was undergoing a massive boom in the last several years, but oil prices didn't spike then either. Well, Shanghai is only one part of China, and its conceivable India has something to do with this too (I think the CNN report claimed as much too). But basing the claim on oil use just on the increase of China's GDP may not be the whole factor. At what point in GDP growth do people switch from riding busses or bikes to owning their own cars? Someone else correct me, but I believe one of the biggest consumers of petroleum are domestic, privately owned vehicles (POVs). If millions of Chinese are now earning enough to trade in their Huffy's for Chengdu SUVs, then there's where the spike in demand would occur... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.7 - Release Date: 4/12/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Re: Six devastating issues
And, um, what has China to do with any of it anyway? It's been widely reported that the reason for high fuel costs is because of China's rapidly expanding economy. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.7 - Release Date: 4/12/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Brin: Re: a wee rant
Not over yet. I heard there are going to be TWO TV series coming out. We'll see how they do. I don't care what anyone says, SW makes a great RPG setting! Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Italeri's M8 Greyhound -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.7 - Release Date: 4/12/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: New Pope?
I believe that USA vs. England in 1775 and again in 1812 would both qualify as well? Perhaps. There's more mitigating circumstances, though. In 1775, while the US was independently pursuing war for a time, in the end the French alliance was important. In 1812 the British had much (MUCH) bigger fish to fry... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: 4/7/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Black holes 'do not exist'
I love how the 'net works... We discussed this on my gaming list. My reaction was that the Nature article sounded a bit suspect, like the author was talking in circles, making the conclusions sound more profound when it seemed to me to be a simple change of perspective. I read the article and couldn't grasp the math -- of course I'm just a layman and have NO training in astrophysics beyond a general interest. I'd love to hear the reactions of people more in-the-know to this. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: 4/7/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: New Pope?
Oddly enough, no, I don't think so. Historians who focus on the military stuff understand military affairs better and understand that wars are not _just_ decided by who has the bigger economy. Those who don't look at military stuff tend, in my opinion (Damon, for example, may disagree) to vastly underrate the role of contingency in military outcomes. Perfect example: France vs. Germany 1940. You might be able to make the same argument of Athens vs. Sparta... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: 4/7/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The party with the best record of serving Republican economic values
-->Reading Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind before watching the DVD later this month. Sweet! If I was still employed I would've bought the DVD by now... Damon. ---- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.3 - Release Date: 4/5/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Woobs (was: Tits (a womans perspective))
http://www.nice-tits.org/ I feel cheated... Damon :P Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.3 - Release Date: 4/5/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Babble theory, and comments
On the Pope's death; I have always wondered how, if he is the true successor to Christ, he does not end up being resurrected bodily, as the Bible says His followers will do greater works than He (Jesus), and "By their fruits ye shall know them". Seems to me that if he is not healed or raised from the dead, this Roman cult cannot really claim to be the true successors to Christ. He's not the successor of Christ. He's the successor of John, in whom Christ gave his "authority" to create a church. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.1 - Release Date: 4/1/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Good News from The Vatican
I was going to simply let this go by without giving it the dignity of a response, but after all this time you all know me better than that . . . Call it for what it is: trolling. Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.8.6 - Release Date: 3/30/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Amazing-but-True Facts
Is this one of those "guess which ones are bogus" type posts? Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.296 / Virus Database: 266.8.6 - Release Date: 3/30/2005 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: cool list of scientific quandaries.
11 The Wow signal I thought this was later refuted as being the signal from a Pulsar, which had previously been unknown? Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tits (a womans perspective)
Well, my fiancee is a DD and she keeps complaining she wants reduction surgery! I, of course, said it would be a bad idea... Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: PKD (spoiler space)
And here I thought we were going to discuss machine guns... I've read only 2 PKD novels in my career (both were for an SF Lit class I took at PSU): A Scanner Darkly, and The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Neither I thought much of. Dunno, but Phillip isn't for me in the same way as I'm not a huge Asimov fan... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: US Hostage a little stiff...
> Still, unlike Bush I can see a few good things he > has done in the > military so he is not an unmitigated disaster. Just curious what good things? Damon. = ---- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Revell Germany's M60A3 __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: And yet Congress applauds.
Only about half of America's high school students think newspapers should be allowed to publish freely, without government approval of their stories. And a third say the free speech guarantees of the First Amendment go "too far." I don't know if what HS students say WRT Free Speech should be taken with anything other than a grain of salt. With age comes maturity, and a desire to become involved. I'm sure most HS students have priorities other than the pending Constitutional Collapse of the US. If they asked this question of college students, and the results were the same, I'd be much more worried... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Battlestar Galactica renewed
I don't recall that in the original series there was much emphasis being made on the idea of the Cylons being created by humans? Is that just my fuzzy old memory, or is this whole "Terminator" kind of theme peculiar to the new series? I think in the old series the Cylons were the robotic soldiers of a dead race. IIRC the "original" Cylons were lizards or something... Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Battlestar Galactica renewed
I think it is a reasonable space drive, hyper jumps of some unknow but limited range, but don't see how the fleet is being tracked. I have missed a number of episodes and may have missed the technobabble.. The fleet ISN'T being tracked, as far as we know (or, the evidence doesn't point that way). It WAS being tracked in the 1st regular season episode, but the nixed that pretty well. So far the Cylons are trying to find the fleet the old fashioned, hard way...by sending scouts out to look for them. Of course, there's that little "secret" so maybe they ARE, but aren't attacking...yet. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Battlestar Galactica renewed
Call me an old fart, but when I was growing up, series used to produce 26-30 episodes a year. Now we' re happy with 13, and they probably won't be in consecutive weeks. Yeah, but the series started mid-season. Normal seasons include 24 episodes. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Battlestar Galactica renewed
> (Of course the lightspeed stuff is another > matter...) Which of course one should be willing to suspend in order to enjoy SF. I personally like how they're handling this aspect. Different enough from most other SF shows that have been on TV or the movies. Nothing original (and fans of Anime have seen this before), but no less plausable than warpspeed and the like... Damon. = ---- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: Revell Germany's M60A3 __ Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! - Try it today! http://my.yahoo.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: US has more nuclear weapons in Europe than thought
I must confess to abject ignorance and confusion here: Could someone please explain exactly how, when the mainland nuclear forces of the US were sufficient to mutually deter Soviet Russia, that same nuclear force must be also stationed in Europe? I mean, if Russia couldn't knock out our nukes, then how is it realistic to think that terrorists have a decent chance of doing the same thing and take measures like diversifying against it? It seems a bit useless, and needlessly dangerous to stash so many nukes in Europe as well. More than likely these nuclear weapons are of a different type, usually referred to as Tactical Nuclear Weapons (compared to the ones stateside, which were strategic). The main differences are in employment and yield. Typically tactical nukes will have a lower yield (in the low Kt range), have different delivery systems (such as through rockets, artillery shells, bombs...at one point land mines and recoiless rifles!), and are meant to be used against different targets (such as troop concentrations, assembly areas, bottlenecks, logistics nexii, etc). The US in the post-Vietnam era changed their nuclear policy with regards to a potential conflict with the Soviet Union. After the deployment of Soviet nukes, US policy was to fight a conventional war for as long as possible before resorting to nuclear weapons. The post-Vietnam doctrine was one called Flexible Response. Basically, it gave the battlefield commanders greater discretion over when and how to deploy tac nukes in a potential war with the Soviets. Ultimately, this too served as a nuclear deterrence, since the Soviets could never be sure if NATO would strike at their troop concentrations prior to an invasion. As far as needless and useless? I don't know. Damon. -------- Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Enterprise Cancelled
In contrast with the first one, which didn'thave any action, either . . . I dunno why this one gets so much flak. I personally liked it. Damon. Damon Agretto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html Now Building: UM's PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf. C ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
