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
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 >To: >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: 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. 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
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
Re: Political Dementia
> jon louis mann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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. 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.' * 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: > > > > > 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. 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: > > > > > > > > > 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. > >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
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
> Max Battcher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Deborah Harrell wrote: > > 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 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
Re: Political Dementia
At 03:55 PM Wednesday 5/30/2007, Deborah Harrell wrote: > > Max Battcher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Deborah Harrell wrote: > > > > > 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 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
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
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 . . . -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Political Dementia
- Original Message - From: "Ronn! Blankenship" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" 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
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 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 ___ 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 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
Re: Political Dementia
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... -- 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
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
> [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
