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Archive of:   sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
Archive desc: The Internet home for the Heinlein Forum
Archived by:  webnews@sff.net
Archive date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:52:38
============================================================

Article:    24253
From:       Ed Johnson 
Date:       Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:13:01 -0500
Subject:    Re: Reboot the Election
Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum

    Thoughts: "Those who dance appear insane to those who cannot hear the music." On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:05:29 -0800, "Lorrita Morgan" <lorrita_m@hotmail.com> wrote: >This is going to be an interesting four years. If they do succeed in >getting a "revote" can we write in Franz Kafka? (someone else must have >read that story that I can't find the bib data for.)
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24254 From: Filksinger Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 13:19:39 -0800 Subject: Re: Reboot the Election Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Ed Johnson wrote: > > Thoughts: > > "Those who dance appear insane to those who cannot hear the music." From another filker's sig: "What do you do when others around you can't hear the music in your head." Seems like the two could be put together for an interesting effect.:) -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24255 From: JT Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:24:00 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 11:34:04 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: >Thanks to those who have pledged so far. There is plenty of room for >more donations. I will likely close the "window for donations" at >something like 1/3. > For all that have pledged, thank you, I've gotten the checks and I deposited them today. If you were intending to pledge but have not, please do, as so far we have only covered $30 of the $100. I have a benefactor that is willing to help me split what's left, but I'd still rather that those of us that can give a bit, do. Since this is a trend (last year I had my first complete no-give after pledging, and, no, it wasn't any of you who've pledged at other times) I think next year I will switch to a mail&news account. That is only $40 and would still appropriately cover the HF's reduced load on the SFF Net server. We'd lose web space, which I know I can cover on what my personal domain has. Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone. I doubt I'll even make it to midnight, but heck, it's already 2005 somewhere already anyway. ;) JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24256 From: Filksinger Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:15:35 -0800 Subject: Longest Email Address Possible Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    filksinger@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijk.com Yes, it works, if you get it all on one line. No, there is no reasonable excuse for this monstrosity. That seems to be their biggest selling point. You can get your own free address at www.abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijk.com. No, I don't know why you would. But you can. -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24257 From: JT Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 22:47:26 -0500 Subject: Re: Longest Email Address Possible Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:15:35 -0800, Filksinger <filksinger@earthling.net> wrote: >No, I don't know why you would. But you can. Why wouldn't you make up a sentence that contains the same number of characters and register that? Sheesh. I guess whatever they want to do with their domain fee is their right. JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article 24258 Article no longer available ------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24259 From: Filksinger Date: Sun, 02 Jan 2005 15:02:08 -0800 Subject: Re: Longest Email Address Possible Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    JT wrote: > On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:15:35 -0800, Filksinger > <filksinger@earthling.net> wrote: > > >>No, I don't know why you would. But you can. > > > Why wouldn't you make up a sentence that contains the same number of > characters and register that? Sheesh. I guess whatever they want to > do with their domain fee is their right. I think it was so that they could claim the longest alphabetical domain possible. -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24260 From: William Keaton" Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 11:03:12 -0500 Subject: Kelly Freas Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    For those of you who know who Kelly Freas is, I was saddened to hear that he passed on this past Sunday. For those of you who don't know who Kelly Freas is, go to your book shelf and start pulling down some of your favorite SF books. Look at the cover art, then look in the corner or on the inside of the book. Kelly Freas did more covers than you can possibly imagine. He was a talented and prolific artitst, and a heck of a guy. No, I didn't know him, just met him and talked to him at a couple of Worldcons. And I was surprised to see that he was a defining artist of the early Mad magazine, and was responsible for that magazine's defining character Alfred E. Neumann. WJaKe
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24261 From: JT Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 21:01:45 -0500 Subject: Re: Kelly Freas Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 11:03:12 -0500, "William Keaton" <wjake@verizon.net> wrote: >And I was surprised to see that he was a defining artist of the early Mad >magazine, and was responsible for that magazine's defining character Alfred >E. Neumann. > Yeah, that surprised me too, why the name was familiar, I guess. Also losing Will Eisner today is a big deal. That first generation of artists is just about gone, now. JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24262 From: Ed Johnson Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:53:26 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    JT: Frankly, I'm shocked by the non-response to your request to "pay the light bill". I guess that all of our libertarian brothers and sisters are waiting for someone else to provide them with a free lunch. Maybe the spirit of Robert Heinlein has died out here. Rather than change the service that you are paying for (I thought that we, all of us cobbers were paying for) you might consider just taking Heinlein's name off of this site. What would that entail? Ed J (one of sff.net's HF Founding Fathers) On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 19:24:00 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: >On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 11:34:04 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: > >>Thanks to those who have pledged so far. There is plenty of room for >>more donations. I will likely close the "window for donations" at >>something like 1/3. >> >For all that have pledged, thank you, I've gotten the checks and I >deposited them today. > >If you were intending to pledge but have not, please do, as so far we >have only covered $30 of the $100. I have a benefactor that is >willing to help me split what's left, but I'd still rather that those >of us that can give a bit, do. > >Since this is a trend (last year I had my first complete no-give after >pledging, and, no, it wasn't any of you who've pledged at other times) >I think next year I will switch to a mail&news account. That is only >$40 and would still appropriately cover the HF's reduced load on the >SFF Net server. We'd lose web space, which I know I can cover on what >my personal domain has. > >Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone. I doubt I'll even make it to >midnight, but heck, it's already 2005 somewhere already anyway. ;) > >JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24263 From: Ed Johnson Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:56:55 -0500 Subject: Re: Kelly Freas Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    JT: It was sad to hear of the passing of Kelly Freas on the news. Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986) was also one of my favorite SF artists. Ed J On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 21:01:45 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: >On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 11:03:12 -0500, "William Keaton" ><wjake@verizon.net> wrote: >>And I was surprised to see that he was a defining artist of the early Mad >>magazine, and was responsible for that magazine's defining character Alfred >>E. Neumann. >> >Yeah, that surprised me too, why the name was familiar, I guess. Also >losing Will Eisner today is a big deal. That first generation of >artists is just about gone, now. > > >JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24264 From: William Keaton" Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 01:05:01 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    "Ed Johnson" <eljohn2@comcast.spamthis.net > wrote in message news:ij1st01ta74ckmlrgvdpg1q2a96dpodai7@4ax.com... > JT: Frankly, I'm shocked by the non-response to your request to > "pay the light bill". I guess that all of our libertarian brothers > and sisters are waiting for someone else to provide them with a free > lunch. Maybe the spirit of Robert Heinlein has died out here. > Rather than change the service that you are paying for (I thought > that we, all of us cobbers were paying for) you might consider just > taking Heinlein's name off of this site. What would that entail? I know what it would result in: A coup. <g> We've always been the Heinlein Forum. I don't see any reason to change that, and changing the name is going to change the fact that we're having a little trouble with the annual pledge drive. And we are paying for it, but we can't all send in a bunch of little checks to sff.net so JT organizes things. He's good at that.<g> I think we know that this has been an interesting year for some of our members, moving, job changes, etc. Phases, folks, we all go through them. The HF goes on, through, hmmm, 5 different hosts,versions. Or is it 6? JT, what's the official count? WJaKe
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24265 From: Filksinger Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:27:41 -0800 Subject: Maybe They've Found Their Issue Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    OK, the Republicans may have found an issue that could get them a new election. Frankly, I don't think so, but they are investigating, and may file a lawsuit demanding a new election on this basis. The issue is that there are some polling places where votes were counted and there is no record of who did the voting. This is a common event in elections that draw a large turnout, and not unexpected. However, with only a very tiny fraction of a percent of votes separating the winner and the loser, it becomes significant. The number of votes found that aren't accounted for is about 0.001% of the votes in the election. One way this could happen is somebody comes in, verifies that they are registered, and fills in a ballot, but their name isn't marked off. Most of these ballots, however, are almost certainly "provisional" ballots. Somebody comes in, says, "I'm a registered voter", but they can't find his name on the list. Maybe the list is incomplete, maybe the voter is at the wrong poll, maybe he isn't registered, maybe he's trying to cheat. The voter is given a provisional ballot, that he fills out and puts in an envelope with his name on the outside, so he can be verified. 80% of these ballots end up being counted. Sometimes, however, empty envelopes are found afterwards, because somebody put the ballot into the box instead of the envelope. Other times, somebody makes a mistake and runs these ballots instead of having them verified. So, maybe they will decide to push for a new election on this basis. However, I really doubt it, by itself. However, they are also investigating vote fraud. Since there were bound to be some people who decided to vote using their recently deceased uncle's name, etc., they will find some fraud. So, once they are done totaling up the difference, they may decide to sue. I don't expect they will get a new election. I don't know if anybody cares anymore. I don't.:) But, just in case they get their new election, I'd hate to have people asking me, "Why? I thought this was settled months ago!" -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24266 From: JT@REM0VE.sff.net (John Tilden) Date: 7 Jan 2005 15:39:33 GMT Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    WJaKe, As far as direct lineage of the HF, It went through 3 or 4 phases on Prodigy, being as small as designated subject lines and as large as a dedicated Topic (I can't even remember what they were actually called anymore!). We had "parallel" groups variously on GEnie, AOL, and Delphi at the same time as Prodigy. I don't think we ever hit CompuServe but I never had an account there so I don't know for sure. But, we came to SFF Net first on 1/9/1997 and have been here continuously ever since. Everyone-- Now, a lot has happened with Internet services since then. For about $40 yearly we could get a domain and put up our own php bulletin board and easily host the discussions we've been having here. Likely we would significantly increase traffic. Switching to a mail/news account here still pays for the NNTP access, we would lose web page hosting which is definitely the least-used service of the HF, and possibly not worth the $60 portion we pay for it, especially when (see above) we could easily host a domain for that money elsewhere. However, we're definitely paid with SFF Net through early December 2005, so there's no rush to figure this out right away. I think that SFF Net does a great job of hosting genre discussion and keeping spam away from their boards, but because they successfully limit searching you don't get large amounts of eyeballs checking us out. Good or Bad? Your decision. Another option would be to move to the Heinlein Society boards and post there, but then we would be subject to THS rules/opinions on off-topicness, etc. THS didn't exist in 1997, and many of the things that the HF "does" fit with THS also. A dedicated endowment under THS in the name of the Forum might be one way to co-exist, just a possibility, but that would require definite contributions to set up an endowment--but Heinlein's Centennial is coming up and there's no time like the present. I owe the Heinlein Forum a lot, and I'm willing to keep putting in some work towards it always, but if people feel strongly about preserving it as an entity it just might be time to be a little more serious about it--meaning person(s) might want to spend some time organizing topics, questions to stimulate discussion, personal get-togethers, etc. It's definitely not a money issue right now. The fees are covered. I guess that's all what has been floating about in my head for some time now. your Historian, JusTin
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24267 From: Ed Johnson Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 12:01:57 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    JT: I for one, have deeply appreciated all that you have done over the years for the Heinlein Forum, here and on the old Plodigy: as our historian and as someone not afraid to take a leadership role in getting this thing organized. I am certain that I am not alone is this appreciation. I have heard elsewhere that even five dollars is a strain on the budget for some people this year. That is about ten cents per week to support our open forum in it's current incarnation, here on sff.net. I would like to join with Jake Keaton in covering the remainder of this years bill. I like the Heinlein Forum's independence and don't think that we should shackle ourselves with anyone else's guidelines. Even an organization as benevolent as THS. Ed J On 7 Jan 2005 15:39:33 GMT, JT@REM0VE.sff.net (John Tilden) wrote: >WJaKe, >As far as direct lineage of the HF, It went through 3 or 4 phases on Prodigy, >being as small as designated subject lines and as large as a dedicated Topic >(I can't even remember what they were actually called anymore!). We had >"parallel" groups variously on GEnie, AOL, and Delphi at the same time as >Prodigy. I don't think we ever hit CompuServe but I never had an account >there so I don't know for sure. > >But, we came to SFF Net first on 1/9/1997 and have been here continuously >ever since. > >Everyone-- >Now, a lot has happened with Internet services since then. For about $40 >yearly we could get a domain and put up our own php bulletin board and easily >host the discussions we've been having here. Likely we would significantly >increase traffic. > >Switching to a mail/news account here still pays for the NNTP access, we >would lose web page hosting which is definitely the least-used service of >the HF, and possibly not worth the $60 portion we pay for it, especially >when (see above) we could easily host a domain for that money elsewhere. > >However, we're definitely paid with SFF Net through early December 2005, >so there's no rush to figure this out right away. > >I think that SFF Net does a great job of hosting genre discussion and keeping >spam away from their boards, but because they successfully limit searching >you don't get large amounts of eyeballs checking us out. Good or Bad? Your >decision. > >Another option would be to move to the Heinlein Society boards and post >there, but then we would be subject to THS rules/opinions on off-topicness, >etc. THS didn't exist in 1997, and many of the things that the HF "does" >fit with THS also. A dedicated endowment under THS in the name of the Forum >might be one way to co-exist, just a possibility, but that would require >definite contributions to set up an endowment--but Heinlein's Centennial >is coming up and there's no time like the present. > >I owe the Heinlein Forum a lot, and I'm willing to keep putting in some >work towards it always, but if people feel strongly about preserving it >as an entity it just might be time to be a little more serious about it--meaning >person(s) might want to spend some time organizing topics, questions to >stimulate discussion, personal get-togethers, etc. > >It's definitely not a money issue right now. The fees are covered. > >I guess that's all what has been floating about in my head for some time >now. > >your Historian, >JusTin
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24268 From: David M. Silver" Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:28:09 -0800 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    I didn't have any idea moving this forum to THS message boards was even a consideration. We'll give you a nest, of course, if you need one in a pinch, or otherwise; and anyone is free to use it otherwise -- it's not our intention that they be private boards in any sense: that's not what they are there for -- no passwords, no secret signs, no oaths of obligation. About the only time I, oh behalf of the board, ask Deb to yank a post over there (or would do it myself in her absence or inability) is when a nutcase shows up and posts something totally off-kilter or offensive -- although true spam (there's one close over there now that I just noticed, and two attempts to sell collector's books privately, but I think I'll leave them be for the time) might provoke the same response, about what your sysops here will remove. Regards, David In article <s9ftt0p168ot2h0mbnu2466n8ngj68t22n@4ax.com>, Ed Johnson <eljohn2@comcast.spamthis.net > wrote: > JT: I for one, have deeply appreciated all that you have done over > the years for the Heinlein Forum, here and on the old Plodigy: as > our historian and as someone not afraid to take a leadership role in > getting this thing organized. I am certain that I am not alone is > this appreciation. > I have heard elsewhere that even five dollars is a strain on the > budget for some people this year. That is about ten cents per week > to support our open forum in it's current incarnation, here on > sff.net. > I would like to join with Jake Keaton in covering the remainder > of this years bill. I like the Heinlein Forum's independence and > don't think that we should shackle ourselves with anyone else's > guidelines. Even an organization as benevolent as THS. > > Ed J > > > > On 7 Jan 2005 15:39:33 GMT, JT@REM0VE.sff.net (John Tilden) wrote: > > >WJaKe, > >As far as direct lineage of the HF, It went through 3 or 4 phases on > >Prodigy, > >being as small as designated subject lines and as large as a dedicated Topic > >(I can't even remember what they were actually called anymore!). We had > >"parallel" groups variously on GEnie, AOL, and Delphi at the same time as > >Prodigy. I don't think we ever hit CompuServe but I never had an account > >there so I don't know for sure. > > > >But, we came to SFF Net first on 1/9/1997 and have been here continuously > >ever since. > > > >Everyone-- > >Now, a lot has happened with Internet services since then. For about $40 > >yearly we could get a domain and put up our own php bulletin board and > >easily > >host the discussions we've been having here. Likely we would significantly > >increase traffic. > > > >Switching to a mail/news account here still pays for the NNTP access, we > >would lose web page hosting which is definitely the least-used service of > >the HF, and possibly not worth the $60 portion we pay for it, especially > >when (see above) we could easily host a domain for that money elsewhere. > > > >However, we're definitely paid with SFF Net through early December 2005, > >so there's no rush to figure this out right away. > > > >I think that SFF Net does a great job of hosting genre discussion and > >keeping > >spam away from their boards, but because they successfully limit searching > >you don't get large amounts of eyeballs checking us out. Good or Bad? Your > >decision. > > > >Another option would be to move to the Heinlein Society boards and post > >there, but then we would be subject to THS rules/opinions on off-topicness, > >etc. THS didn't exist in 1997, and many of the things that the HF "does" > >fit with THS also. A dedicated endowment under THS in the name of the Forum > >might be one way to co-exist, just a possibility, but that would require > >definite contributions to set up an endowment--but Heinlein's Centennial > >is coming up and there's no time like the present. > > > >I owe the Heinlein Forum a lot, and I'm willing to keep putting in some > >work towards it always, but if people feel strongly about preserving it > >as an entity it just might be time to be a little more serious about > >it--meaning > >person(s) might want to spend some time organizing topics, questions to > >stimulate discussion, personal get-togethers, etc. > > > >It's definitely not a money issue right now. The fees are covered. > > > >I guess that's all what has been floating about in my head for some time > >now. > > > >your Historian, > >JusTin -- David M. Silver http://www.heinleinsociety.org "The Lieutenant expects your names to shine!" Robert Anson Heinlein, USNA '29 Lt.(jg), USN, R'td
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24269 From: Ed Johnson Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 20:55:29 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    David: I want to express my thanks for your offer. I cannot speak for anyone other than myself; but thanks nonetheless. We seem to be doing well at sff.net for the next year, so there shouldn't be any immediate need to take you up on your generous offer of the use of your `boards. I was just sort of shocked to find out that there was so feeble a response to help pay the annual bill. Ed J On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:28:09 -0800, "David M. Silver" <ag.plusone@verizon.net> wrote: >I didn't have any idea moving this forum to THS message boards was even >a consideration. We'll give you a nest, of course, if you need one in a >pinch, or otherwise; and anyone is free to use it otherwise -- it's not >our intention that they be private boards in any sense: that's not what >they are there for -- no passwords, no secret signs, no oaths of >obligation. About the only time I, oh behalf of the board, ask Deb to >yank a post over there (or would do it myself in her absence or >inability) is when a nutcase shows up and posts something totally >off-kilter or offensive -- although true spam (there's one close over >there now that I just noticed, and two attempts to sell collector's >books privately, but I think I'll leave them be for the time) might >provoke the same response, about what your sysops here will remove. > >Regards, > >David > > >In article <s9ftt0p168ot2h0mbnu2466n8ngj68t22n@4ax.com>, > Ed Johnson <eljohn2@comcast.spamthis.net > wrote: > >> JT: I for one, have deeply appreciated all that you have done over >> the years for the Heinlein Forum, here and on the old Plodigy: as >> our historian and as someone not afraid to take a leadership role in >> getting this thing organized. I am certain that I am not alone is >> this appreciation. >> I have heard elsewhere that even five dollars is a strain on the >> budget for some people this year. That is about ten cents per week >> to support our open forum in it's current incarnation, here on >> sff.net. >> I would like to join with Jake Keaton in covering the remainder >> of this years bill. I like the Heinlein Forum's independence and >> don't think that we should shackle ourselves with anyone else's >> guidelines. Even an organization as benevolent as THS. >> >> Ed J >> >> >> >> On 7 Jan 2005 15:39:33 GMT, JT@REM0VE.sff.net (John Tilden) wrote: >> >> >WJaKe, >> >As far as direct lineage of the HF, It went through 3 or 4 phases on >> >Prodigy, >> >being as small as designated subject lines and as large as a dedicated Topic >> >(I can't even remember what they were actually called anymore!). We had >> >"parallel" groups variously on GEnie, AOL, and Delphi at the same time as >> >Prodigy. I don't think we ever hit CompuServe but I never had an account >> >there so I don't know for sure. >> > >> >But, we came to SFF Net first on 1/9/1997 and have been here continuously >> >ever since. >> > >> >Everyone-- >> >Now, a lot has happened with Internet services since then. For about $40 >> >yearly we could get a domain and put up our own php bulletin board and >> >easily >> >host the discussions we've been having here. Likely we would significantly >> >increase traffic. >> > >> >Switching to a mail/news account here still pays for the NNTP access, we >> >would lose web page hosting which is definitely the least-used service of >> >the HF, and possibly not worth the $60 portion we pay for it, especially >> >when (see above) we could easily host a domain for that money elsewhere. >> > >> >However, we're definitely paid with SFF Net through early December 2005, >> >so there's no rush to figure this out right away. >> > >> >I think that SFF Net does a great job of hosting genre discussion and >> >keeping >> >spam away from their boards, but because they successfully limit searching >> >you don't get large amounts of eyeballs checking us out. Good or Bad? Your >> >decision. >> > >> >Another option would be to move to the Heinlein Society boards and post >> >there, but then we would be subject to THS rules/opinions on off-topicness, >> >etc. THS didn't exist in 1997, and many of the things that the HF "does" >> >fit with THS also. A dedicated endowment under THS in the name of the Forum >> >might be one way to co-exist, just a possibility, but that would require >> >definite contributions to set up an endowment--but Heinlein's Centennial >> >is coming up and there's no time like the present. >> > >> >I owe the Heinlein Forum a lot, and I'm willing to keep putting in some >> >work towards it always, but if people feel strongly about preserving it >> >as an entity it just might be time to be a little more serious about >> >it--meaning >> >person(s) might want to spend some time organizing topics, questions to >> >stimulate discussion, personal get-togethers, etc. >> > >> >It's definitely not a money issue right now. The fees are covered. >> > >> >I guess that's all what has been floating about in my head for some time >> >now. >> > >> >your Historian, >> >JusTin
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24270 From: Ed Johnson Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 21:05:47 -0500 Subject: Re: Tsunami (was Re: Martian Car Wash) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Filksinger: The local (NJ) news reported that the Tsunami 'struck' the Jersey shore 32 hours after the earthquake that caused it; traveling around the world from near Indonesia. It went unnoticed as it had attenuated to about nine inches in height by the time it reached Atlantic City, New Jersey. As a follow up on our earlier discussion of an early warning system: it seems that one will be established in the wake of this recent tragedy. Ed On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 21:47:59 -0800, Filksinger <filksinger@earthling.net> wrote: > > >Ed Johnson wrote: >> Filksinger: Do you think that some of those killed in the Tsunami >> could have been saved by an early warning system? Tens of thousands >> of people were killed more than an hour after the 8.9 (later >> upgraded to: Richter 9.0) quake was recorded at stations around the >> world.Pleanty of time to have reached some number of vacationers on >> the beach. I tuned into the news late and heard that tidal waves had >> killed thousands near India. My first thought was that a meteor had >> impacted the water. The repeat broadcast then mentioned the huge >> underwater earthquake. >> >> Ed J > >An early warning system would be bound to have saved _some_ people, but >how many is a big question. People in the area really had no idea what >to do about the tsunami. There hasn't been a significant tsunami that >hit land in the Indian Ocean in 100 years. > >The early warning system here in the Pacific Northwest has saved lives, >but we have two advantages. The first is we have a history of >earthquakes and tsunamis, so anybody who lives on the coast presumably >knows about the threat. The second is that our terrain makes a very big >difference. We have a very rugged coastline. The distance from sea level >to too high for even that tsunami to hurt is often measured in tens of feet. > >However, I would love to see a decent worldwide system. It might help >the US a lot, too. As I understand it, the Pacific is the only ocean >with a good warning system for most of its coastline. The Atlantic could >use one, too, as well as the Indian and Mediterranean. Some scientists >are actually predicting that the Atlantic may, in the next 100 years or >so, have a tsunami which will reach as much as 50 meters when it hits >Florida, and 100 meters in parts of Africa. The Indian Ocean tsunami was >only 15 meters, for comparison.
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24271 From: David M. Silver" Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 02:55:36 -0800 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Ed, I'm tip-toeing around the tulips here, so I have to be a little delicate and evasive in what I say: it occurs to me that infrequently THS through Dave Wright, or Geo, or Deb, or me, uses this forum -- and the old mostly unused people.robert-a-heinlein one for publicity. We try not to abuse it; and, frankly, don't always use it because we figure many interested in what we have to say lurk AFH which we use more often. But, ... and this is a big 'but,' if we regularly used it for announcements, the number of THS related posts would increase, and we'd be obliged IMO to take up a bit of the freight paying for its existence. We wouldn't want anything to do with its management, thank you very much. At best, it would be an analog to merely placing advertisements. In the past we've done that in regard to another place, so there is some precedent I could mention to the board, whose decisions bind me. I hated to see the renew thread go the way it went. But if you think our support, financial, would be helpful here next year, please let me know your feelings. Not just "you," but all of you reading. Evasively, David In article <6g31u0lm29ul7r81sam6o9m5qs446m446p@4ax.com>, Ed Johnson <eljohn2@comcast.spamthis.net > wrote: > David: I want to express my thanks for your offer. I cannot speak > for anyone other than myself; but thanks nonetheless. We seem to > be doing well at sff.net for the next year, so there shouldn't be > any immediate need to take you up on your generous offer of the use > of your `boards. I was just sort of shocked to find out that there > was so feeble a response to help pay the annual bill. > > Ed J > > > On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:28:09 -0800, "David M. Silver" > <ag.plusone@verizon.net> wrote: > > >I didn't have any idea moving this forum to THS message boards was even > >a consideration. We'll give you a nest, of course, if you need one in a > >pinch, or otherwise; and anyone is free to use it otherwise -- it's not > >our intention that they be private boards in any sense: that's not what > >they are there for -- no passwords, no secret signs, no oaths of > >obligation. About the only time I, oh behalf of the board, ask Deb to > >yank a post over there (or would do it myself in her absence or > >inability) is when a nutcase shows up and posts something totally > >off-kilter or offensive -- although true spam (there's one close over > >there now that I just noticed, and two attempts to sell collector's > >books privately, but I think I'll leave them be for the time) might > >provoke the same response, about what your sysops here will remove. > > > >Regards, > > > >David > > > > > >In article <s9ftt0p168ot2h0mbnu2466n8ngj68t22n@4ax.com>, > > Ed Johnson <eljohn2@comcast.spamthis.net > wrote: > > > >> JT: I for one, have deeply appreciated all that you have done over > >> the years for the Heinlein Forum, here and on the old Plodigy: as > >> our historian and as someone not afraid to take a leadership role in > >> getting this thing organized. I am certain that I am not alone is > >> this appreciation. > >> I have heard elsewhere that even five dollars is a strain on the > >> budget for some people this year. That is about ten cents per week > >> to support our open forum in it's current incarnation, here on > >> sff.net. > >> I would like to join with Jake Keaton in covering the remainder > >> of this years bill. I like the Heinlein Forum's independence and > >> don't think that we should shackle ourselves with anyone else's > >> guidelines. Even an organization as benevolent as THS. > >> > >> Ed J > >> > >> > >> > >> On 7 Jan 2005 15:39:33 GMT, JT@REM0VE.sff.net (John Tilden) wrote: > >> > >> >WJaKe, > >> >As far as direct lineage of the HF, It went through 3 or 4 phases on > >> >Prodigy, > >> >being as small as designated subject lines and as large as a dedicated > >> >Topic > >> >(I can't even remember what they were actually called anymore!). We had > >> >"parallel" groups variously on GEnie, AOL, and Delphi at the same time as > >> >Prodigy. I don't think we ever hit CompuServe but I never had an account > >> >there so I don't know for sure. > >> > > >> >But, we came to SFF Net first on 1/9/1997 and have been here continuously > >> >ever since. > >> > > >> >Everyone-- > >> >Now, a lot has happened with Internet services since then. For about $40 > >> >yearly we could get a domain and put up our own php bulletin board and > >> >easily > >> >host the discussions we've been having here. Likely we would > >> >significantly > >> >increase traffic. > >> > > >> >Switching to a mail/news account here still pays for the NNTP access, we > >> >would lose web page hosting which is definitely the least-used service of > >> >the HF, and possibly not worth the $60 portion we pay for it, especially > >> >when (see above) we could easily host a domain for that money elsewhere. > >> > > >> >However, we're definitely paid with SFF Net through early December 2005, > >> >so there's no rush to figure this out right away. > >> > > >> >I think that SFF Net does a great job of hosting genre discussion and > >> >keeping > >> >spam away from their boards, but because they successfully limit > >> >searching > >> >you don't get large amounts of eyeballs checking us out. Good or Bad? > >> >Your > >> >decision. > >> > > >> >Another option would be to move to the Heinlein Society boards and post > >> >there, but then we would be subject to THS rules/opinions on > >> >off-topicness, > >> >etc. THS didn't exist in 1997, and many of the things that the HF "does" > >> >fit with THS also. A dedicated endowment under THS in the name of the > >> >Forum > >> >might be one way to co-exist, just a possibility, but that would require > >> >definite contributions to set up an endowment--but Heinlein's Centennial > >> >is coming up and there's no time like the present. > >> > > >> >I owe the Heinlein Forum a lot, and I'm willing to keep putting in some > >> >work towards it always, but if people feel strongly about preserving it > >> >as an entity it just might be time to be a little more serious about > >> >it--meaning > >> >person(s) might want to spend some time organizing topics, questions to > >> >stimulate discussion, personal get-togethers, etc. > >> > > >> >It's definitely not a money issue right now. The fees are covered. > >> > > >> >I guess that's all what has been floating about in my head for some time > >> >now. > >> > > >> >your Historian, > >> >JusTin -- David M. Silver http://www.heinleinsociety.org "The Lieutenant expects your names to shine!" Robert Anson Heinlein, USNA '29 Lt.(jg), USN, R'td
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24272 From: Filksinger Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 04:36:49 -0800 Subject: New Privacy Tool Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    While this list was once very interested in privacy and encryption, I haven't posted anything on either in a while. Partially it was because I wasn't keeping up on it as thoroughly as I used to, true, but there was a bigger reason. The main reason was a lack of anything worthwhile to say. Most of the old anonymous services, such as Cypherpunk mail servers, seemed to be dead, dying, or compromised. The new ones were mostly either untrustworthy, short-lived, or commercial. The exceptions, if any, were either too little use or too much trouble. Thus, I've been keeping mum until something proved itself out. For some time now, little has. Tor (The Onion Router project) at http://tor.eff.org has changed that, at least to the point of making me want to write. It is, in fact, not an exception, in that it hasn't actually fully proved itself out yet, but I'm breaking that rule for it regardless. There are several reasons: 1. Free now and for the foreseeable future, using both definitions of "free software". 2. It is much more useful than almost any previous product. It will anonymize instant messaging, web browsing, web mail usage (though it does not protect the contents, it will prevent anyone from knowing who used the webmail to send it), and SSH, for instance. Virtually any product that supports SOCKS4a will work with Tor. (Note: SOCKS5 will only work with one known program, Safari for the Mac. All other programs will require SOCKS4a.) 3. The diversity of people already using Tor. There are hundreds of users (the exact number is unknown, because its anonymous, of course), but they include the US Navy for open-source intelligence gathering, US companies for market research, researching competition, etc., the German group "Diabetes People", and the EFF. The more diverse this group, the more effective the anonymity. For instance, the NSA can't put you on a watch list for looking at possible terrorist websites when they can't tell if you are you or a Navy intelligence gatherer. 4. It is backed by the EFF, among others. No previous anonymity product has this trustworthy or reliable an organization supporting it. Trustworthy and reliable, in this sense, means I can trust them to try for real anonymity and rely on them to follow through on the project. Previous projects were supported by groups that you either couldn't fully trust or who only went so far, then gave it up. 5. While still technically in development, it appears to be well designed and solid. It is intended to not only anonymize traffic, but resist traffic analysis of most types. This is, of course, only my opinion, and I do not claim to be an expert. (Note that there are possible attacks that cannot be defeated by any reasonable method short of anonymizing most of the Internet or introducing deliberate random-length delays, but they are difficult because they require monitoring both the user and the web server. They are also harder to do the more people use the service.) 6. An additional cool feature: location-hidden services. This means that I can offer a service (a chat server, web pages) anonymously, too, with a .onion extension. Using Tor to connect to these anonymous servers gives both sides anonymity _and_ end-to-end encryption. Among other things, there are currently offered a gateway to the Panta anonymous email system and controversial web pages including the entire text of a 1973 book by the current head of the Libertarian party. (Interestingly enough, the book argues persuasively that he is currently wasting his life.:) Try it out, look around. Keep in mind that, as they point out repeatedly, the project is still in the beta stage, if not alpha. It should only get more trustworthy and bigger. -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24273 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:29:53 GMT Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Shwew JT! Now you've scared us! Don't move the HF! Really I guess it doesn't matter where it is as I'll be able to find it again somehow. If it would be better for us somewhere else...but I don't have any idea what the advantages would really be. As for having more organization, do you mean like having actual leadership and really working to get things done? (like blood drives and gatherings) I'm not sure that would go over very well here. I'm thinking people rather like having a place to yak with other cool people in their spare time, but wouldn't really like to HAVE to pay a yearly memebership or have official responsibilities etc. We're kinda a lax group. Now that said, I certainly wouldn't mind taking on more responsibility to the HF if something needed doing. And I think it might be kinda fun to actually do more stuff! But you know how actively I post around here...I'm so full of it! Les
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24274 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:33:07 GMT Subject: Re: Bread and Circuses (Or, Washington Gubernatorial Vote Counting) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 23:54:37 -0800, Filksinger <filksinger@earthling.net> wrote: >However, what I _really_ recommend is that Dino Rossi and Christine >Gregoire select the top 10 people from each of their camps, and lead a >fight to settle the matter. For weapons, I recommend fully loaded >fifty-round compressed air dart guns with curare darts at 10 paces. > What a marvelous idea! I for one am sick of all this crap. Can't wait to move outa WA! Les
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24275 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:44:35 GMT Subject: Re: Tsunami (was Re: Martian Car Wash) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Filksinger, Since you are an expert on the subject of tsuanmis, can I ask you a question? How far inland did this thing get? I'm sure it varied widely, but I'm just curious how far from the coast you have to be to stay safe from a tsunami. Which then again probably vaires due to it's size. Ah well, any insight would be helpful. Les
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24276 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:48:33 GMT Subject: Re: Kelly Freas Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Now I'm kicking myself for recently selling my two Kelly Freas signed pulps on ebay. Shoot! It is very sad to loose such a great artist. And I hadn't realized his connection with Mad magazine either. That's pretty darn cool! Les On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 11:03:12 -0500, "William Keaton" <wjake@verizon.net> wrote: >For those of you who know who Kelly Freas is, I was saddened to hear that he >passed on this past Sunday. > >For those of you who don't know who Kelly Freas is, go to your book shelf >and start pulling down some of your favorite SF books. Look at the cover >art, then look in the corner or on the inside of the book. Kelly Freas did >more covers than you can possibly imagine. He was a talented and prolific >artitst, and a heck of a guy. > >No, I didn't know him, just met him and talked to him at a couple of >Worldcons. > >And I was surprised to see that he was a defining artist of the early Mad >magazine, and was responsible for that magazine's defining character Alfred >E. Neumann. > >WJaKe > >
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24277 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:50:11 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Heck, just post more. What I think we honestly need are a few more earnest yet "contrary" personalities willing to post every couple of days, just to make it interesting. I don't mean people who'll say "black" just because you say "white", but someone who earnestly believes in an (American) Liberal platform would certainly have a decent debate with a few of us here. Or even a British person to talk about things from that societal viewpoint. Even just someone who was willing to post about what they've been reading lately would spark a few stream-of-consciousness threads. I'm just as guilty as the next on that as I have been doing a fair amount of reading in the last few months. Remember way back when we had ML, Becky-Trekkie and Jai, and Tomstaafl? No matter what the issue, you could count on thoughtful debate -from several sides. Becky-Trekkie & I could usually be counted on for the naive viewpoint, and I haven't talked to her in years, but I'm not -that- naive anymore. ;) Money is absolutely the smallest part of the equation. The troubling part is that it takes -weeks- for our regulars to even see notes, and that just means that it's not a terribly engaging place at the moment. I think dropping back to the mail/news account next year is probably in order, because the web page can find a home almost anywhere. And the honest truth is that we have enough SFF Net members around here that sff.discuss.heinlein-forum is never going to be deactivated, even if we don't maintain the account in the name of the HF. Thanks for all the emails and notes--how about posting a few notes to see if conversations spark? JT On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:29:53 GMT, les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) wrote: >Shwew JT! Now you've scared us! >Don't move the HF! Really I guess it doesn't matter where it is as >I'll be able to find it again somehow. If it would be better for us >somewhere else...but I don't have any idea what the advantages would >really be. >As for having more organization, do you mean like having actual >leadership and really working to get things done? (like blood drives >and gatherings) I'm not sure that would go over very well here. I'm >thinking people rather like having a place to yak with other cool >people in their spare time, but wouldn't really like to HAVE to pay a >yearly memebership or have official responsibilities etc. We're kinda >a lax group. Now that said, I certainly wouldn't mind taking on more >responsibility to the HF if something needed doing. And I think it >might be kinda fun to actually do more stuff! But you know how >actively I post around here...I'm so full of it! >Les
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24278 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:52:31 -0500 Subject: Re: New Privacy Tool Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Thanks, Filk. I'll try and remember to look this up over the next few weeks. JT On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 04:36:49 -0800, Filksinger <filksinger@earthling.net> wrote: > >Tor (The Onion Router project) at http://tor.eff.org has changed that, >at least to the point of making me want to write. It is, in fact, not an >exception, in that it hasn't actually fully proved itself out yet, but >I'm breaking that rule for it regardless. There are several reasons: >
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24279 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:59:11 -0500 Subject: Recent Reading Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    With Christine, I've been reading the J.D. Robb series of ".... In Death" books. It's a near-time SF Mystery/Homicide genre. J.D. Robb is actually Nora Roberts, so that means the books have at least three or four sex scenes. They're pretty well-done, though, and there's a good cast of regulars, so it's been a nice diversion. There's about 15 or 16 of them, and we've been getting them out of the library to fill in the times around other books. I also had a friend mail me a copy of Robert J. Sawyer's "Hominids" as a Christmas present. It was unexpected, which made it all the more enjoyable. Liked it so much that I read the next two in the trilogy as well. The book posits an alternate universe where Neanderthals evolved instead of us, and then a portal gets opened between the two. There's some interesting research that's used as a stepping stone throughout the books, and I'd be curious if the more science literate among us (Hi Eli!) have read the book and have anything to say about the theories that drive all three books. I don't want to say more unless others have already read them (or go out and read them ;) JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24280 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 14:05:30 -0500 Subject: Sorta Personal: Dieting Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    She'll probably kill me for posting this here, but Christine & I are trying our first-ever "real" diet starting tomorrow. For various reasons we had the South Beach Diet recommended to us, we did some research, and we are trying it. If you're not familiar with the diet, the first two weeks are a big change for most people. Since I am picky and my kids are normal kids (meaning they are picky too), this will not be as easy as it was for my brother who had no one else to worry about meals for. Anyway, if any of you are currently starting or have been on a diet, please feel free to post words of encouragement. My goal is actually "only" 30-35 pounds, but it's weight I've basically never been without, so I doubt it will shed all that easily. I am also starting a very low-key exercise plan via a gym at my workplace. I plan to start slow and just try to make it a part of my workweek. Christine has been going to a gym for a while but the winter's been hard because the kids have been sick on-and-off. JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24281 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:39:54 GMT Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Ha ha! Yes, we do just need to post more. I always have the intention of doing so, but just don't get around to it. You know JP and I have web space too where you could host the web site if you wanted to. Although it'd be at www.vrolyk.org then which might seem weird! So now I'll go post a new thread...dare me to do it? Les On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:50:11 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: >Heck, just post more. What I think we honestly need are a few more >earnest yet "contrary" personalities willing to post every couple of >days, just to make it interesting. I don't mean people who'll say >"black" just because you say "white", but someone who earnestly >believes in an (American) Liberal platform would certainly have a >decent debate with a few of us here. Or even a British person to talk >about things from that societal viewpoint. > >Even just someone who was willing to post about what they've been >reading lately would spark a few stream-of-consciousness threads. I'm >just as guilty as the next on that as I have been doing a fair amount >of reading in the last few months. > >Remember way back when we had ML, Becky-Trekkie and Jai, and >Tomstaafl? No matter what the issue, you could count on thoughtful >debate -from several sides. Becky-Trekkie & I could usually be >counted on for the naive viewpoint, and I haven't talked to her in >years, but I'm not -that- naive anymore. ;) > >Money is absolutely the smallest part of the equation. The troubling >part is that it takes -weeks- for our regulars to even see notes, and >that just means that it's not a terribly engaging place at the moment. > >I think dropping back to the mail/news account next year is probably >in order, because the web page can find a home almost anywhere. And >the honest truth is that we have enough SFF Net members around here >that sff.discuss.heinlein-forum is never going to be deactivated, even >if we don't maintain the account in the name of the HF. > >Thanks for all the emails and notes--how about posting a few notes to >see if conversations spark? > >JT > > >On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:29:53 GMT, les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) wrote: > >>Shwew JT! Now you've scared us! >>Don't move the HF! Really I guess it doesn't matter where it is as >>I'll be able to find it again somehow. If it would be better for us >>somewhere else...but I don't have any idea what the advantages would >>really be. >>As for having more organization, do you mean like having actual >>leadership and really working to get things done? (like blood drives >>and gatherings) I'm not sure that would go over very well here. I'm >>thinking people rather like having a place to yak with other cool >>people in their spare time, but wouldn't really like to HAVE to pay a >>yearly memebership or have official responsibilities etc. We're kinda >>a lax group. Now that said, I certainly wouldn't mind taking on more >>responsibility to the HF if something needed doing. And I think it >>might be kinda fun to actually do more stuff! But you know how >>actively I post around here...I'm so full of it! >>Les >
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24282 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:45:19 GMT Subject: Re: Sorta Personal: Dieting Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Ew, know about the sick kids stuff and etc. It's not easy to get to the gym all the time. I was doing Curves for about 3 months and that worked really well for me. I would go in before JP went off to work in the morning. I liked it, but have now run out of steam for such things and have quit going. It would be nice to do it again in the future, but I don't think we'll be able to afford it on our new Army salary! As far as diets go, I'm a real proponant of Weight Watchers. It seems like a dorky program for old ladies, but it really teaches you to eat a more healthy diet. Which I think is better than radically changing your diet like the Atkins stuff does. It's hard to make big changes in how you eat and stick to them over the long term. But good luck with the South Beach and tell us more about how it works eh? Les On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 14:05:30 -0500, JT <JT@REM0VEsff.net> wrote: >She'll probably kill me for posting this here, but Christine & I are >trying our first-ever "real" diet starting tomorrow. For various >reasons we had the South Beach Diet recommended to us, we did some >research, and we are trying it. > >If you're not familiar with the diet, the first two weeks are a big >change for most people. Since I am picky and my kids are normal kids >(meaning they are picky too), this will not be as easy as it was for >my brother who had no one else to worry about meals for. > >Anyway, if any of you are currently starting or have been on a diet, >please feel free to post words of encouragement. My goal is actually >"only" 30-35 pounds, but it's weight I've basically never been >without, so I doubt it will shed all that easily. > >I am also starting a very low-key exercise plan via a gym at my >workplace. I plan to start slow and just try to make it a part of my >workweek. Christine has been going to a gym for a while but the >winter's been hard because the kids have been sick on-and-off. > >JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24283 From: les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:52:22 GMT Subject: Re: Recent Reading Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Well, I have nothing to add to your post JT as I haven't read those books. But as far as recent reading... I have been reading the Archangel series by Sharon Shinn. JP and I have read the first two books so far. And I think we both agree that they are alot of fun. Fairly heavy on romance I think, but it's got a really neat premise. Sean Stewart also came out with a new book recently which I really liked. Perfect Circle (had to check the shelf) I also stumbled upon a relatively new author that I thought was pretty fun, Karin Lowachee. She has 2 books that I know of, both good. Unfortunately, none of what I've read recently would spark any great debates! Unless you include non-fiction, in which case I am making my slow way through History of God by Karen Armstrong. I keep bugging JP with all my questions, but what a brilliant idea! I should post them here instead! Now to think of something... Les
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24284 From: Eli Hestermann Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 17:52:58 -0500 Subject: Re: Recent Reading Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    JT wrote: >The book posits an alternate universe where Neanderthals evolved >instead of us, and then a portal gets opened between the two. There's >some interesting research that's used as a stepping stone throughout >the books, and I'd be curious if the more science literate among us >(Hi Eli!) have read the book and have anything to say about the >theories that drive all three books. I don't want to say more unless >others have already read them (or go out and read them ;) > > Hi! I haven't read them, but I doubt I'd be much more literate in this area than anyone else. I am planning to educate myself about human evolution. I got an Amazon gift certificate for Christmas, and one thing I'm getting with it is Jared Diamond's _The Third Chimpanzee_. I loved his _Guns, Germs and Steel_, and am also picking up his most recent offering about environmental catastrophes in human history. For any of you who haven't read Diamond's stuff, I highly recommend it. With all the reading I do for work, I don't have as much time as I'd like for "pleasure" reading. Dani gave me _America (the book)_ for Christmas, and it was a fun, light read. I would recommend looking for it at your library or borrowing from a friend, since this isn't really one I'd keep to reread. I recently finished Neal Stephenson's Baroque Trilogy, which was a lot of fun and quite possibly the first thing of his that had a decent ending instead of leaving you feeling like there's more story he didn't tell. Stephenson's my favorite current author. John Barnes (who posts on sff.people.flavius and sff.people.susan-shwartz) is another fave. His _Gaudameus_ (sp?) is also in the Amazon shopping cart. While I'm posting, I'll go on record as saying I didn't pledge for the HF this year. I have an sff.net account, and each year when it comes up for renewal in December I debate getting rid of it, because 90+% of what I use sff.net for I could do without the account (the remaining small percentage is infrequent reading of the flames group, which is only available to members). The end result of my struggle this year was that I kept the account another year, but couldn't bring myself to send more money for the HF. I know that's not really logical, but that's how it ended up. What I probably should do is just cancel my account and post more frequently here. That's more likely to happen, since I just dropped one of the high-traffic groups I read. -- Eli V. Hestermann ehestermann@charter.net "Vita brevis est, ars longa" - Seneca
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24285 From: Filksinger Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 15:03:41 -0800 Subject: Re: Tsunami (was Re: Martian Car Wash) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    Les Vrolyk wrote: > Filksinger, Since you are an expert on the subject of tsuanmis, can I > ask you a question? How far inland did this thing get? I'm sure it > varied widely, but I'm just curious how far from the coast you have > to be to stay safe from a tsunami. Which then again probably vaires > due to it's size. Ah well, any insight would be helpful. Les I'm a professional computer geek and an amateur science geek who reads too much and talks a good talk. I am _not_ an expert on tsunamis, or even close. I've even mostly lost track of my formerly favorite field, physics. Unless you live in a low-lying coastal area, the thing to check is your height above sea level. The Indian tsunami reached about 15 meters. So, if you are more than 15 meters above sea level, and not actually looking out your window directly at a beach facing the ocean, you are pretty safe from anything but the very largest tsunamis. If you are looking out over the ocean, you'll want to be out of range of the splash, and sure that your house isn't on something that will wash away. How much higher you want to be to avoid that splash if you live on a cliff over the ocean, I don't know. If you are in a low-lying coastal area, I have no clue. I could tell you how far the oceans would rise if the ice caps melt (an issue that helped settle for me that Rush Limbaugh wasn't worth listening to), because that water will just keep coming and coming until it fills any low area not protected by highlands on all sides. A tsunami, however, loses power over dry land according a large number of factors I know nothing about. -- Filksinger AKA David Nasset, Sr. Geek Prophet to the Technologically Declined
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24286 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 20:18:13 -0500 Subject: Re: If it's December, it must be time to renew the HF.... ;) Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:39:54 GMT, les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) wrote: >So now I'll go post a new thread...dare me to do it? >Les I double-dog dare you. :\ JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24287 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 20:22:13 -0500 Subject: Re: Recent Reading Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 17:52:58 -0500, Eli Hestermann <ehestermann@charter.net> wrote: >The end result of my struggle this year was that >I kept the account another year, but couldn't bring myself to send more >money for the HF. I know that's not really logical, but that's how it >ended up. What I probably should do is just cancel my account and post >more frequently here. That's more likely to happen, since I just dropped >one of the high-traffic groups I read. Actually, by sending in money for an account all by yourself, you're supporting SFF Net in a greater percentage than if you just kicked in a few bucks towards the HF. We just don't call you an official Patron. So kudos right now, Eli. ;) JT
------------------------------------------------------------ Article: 24288 From: JT Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 20:32:34 -0500 Subject: Re: Sorta Personal: Dieting Newsgroups: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum
    On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:45:19 GMT, les@vrolyk.org (Les Vrolyk) wrote: > But good luck >with the South Beach and tell us more about how it works eh? >Les > It all boils down to eating sensibly and getting rid of as many "processed" carbohydrates out of your diet as you can. The first two weeks you eliminate just about all Carbs, and that is supposed to reset your metabolism. Then, you add back in 'natural carbs' (like limited amounts of whole grain bread, fresh fruit but not processed juices, etc.) Continue with that until you've reached the weight you want. What we both like about it is that it's realistic. The doctor realizes there are days that you occasionally pig out, the holidays happen, etc. My brother followed it loosely, coupled with regular exercise, and he lost a lot of weight, and has kept it off for almost a year, which is one of the things that made me look seriously at it--we have very similar body types. So, on paper it makes sense. We'll see how these "drastic" two weeks go by. Try living with an Italian and both denying yourselves pasta for two weeks! (Especially since we're not making the kids do it, so it'll still be around.) I've already apologized to Christine in advance for being an @ss for the next 14 days. ;) Hey, even if you can't get to the gym you should still be able to go for walks. But I know that's easier said than done. JT
------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ Archive of: sff.discuss.heinlein-forum Archive desc: The Internet home for the Heinlein Forum Archived by: webnews@sff.net Archive date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:52:38 First article in this archive: 24253 Last article in this archive: 24288 Oldest article in this archive: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:13:01 -0500 Newest article in this archive: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 04:20:41 GMT

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