On (14 Feb 96) Jon Helis wrote to Barton Paul Levenson...
JH> The 1973 Michael Crichton film "Westworld" dealt with this issue
JH> in a very interesting way.
JH>
JH> Anyone who's seen it care to discuss it?
Sure. My main complaint with the idea (android sex partners) is
actually the same complaint I have with *most* depictions of androids
and robots in fiction. You can't convince me that something with
access hatches and little "doors" for repairs and maintenance is going
to look (or feel!) like real human flesh. Especially when it uses
pulleys and gears to move its limbs.
It seems to me that anything intended to simulate human appearance,
motion and feel is going to have to be designed very much like a
human. Which means: artificial muscles over synthetic bones--not
metallic frameworks with a plastic "skin" molded around them.
So you'd end up with cybernetic limbs or robots that have a very human
skeletal structure (albeit metal or plastic or ceramic) overlaid by a
very human musculature beneath a flexible "skin" with no rigid access
hatches or ports. Any repairs would probably require *cutting* into
the skin and muscle, just like repairs on humans--and then replacing
or sealing the openings afterward.
This assumes that the cybernetic limb or robot is supposed to pass for
a human under normal social (or sexual) circumstances. If it need
only pass for human at a distance, or is out of reach (like Disneyland
animatronics), then obviously you can lower your standards.
Steve Austin's bionic limbs and Commander Data's android body can
*either* be quite obviously artificial--including the easy-open
ports--or they can be realistic enough for close contact without being
detectable. But not both.
--- PPoint 1.78
* Origin: Folcroft Sanitarium (hsmith@cure.com) (1:105/302.47)
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Msg : 11 of 195
From : Mark Jones 1:105/302.47 .pä 21 .åâ 96 23:36
To : ROBERT LIDGREN
Subj : TERAFORMING
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
On (19 Feb 96) ROBERT LIDGREN wrote to ALL...
RL> Here's a question for readers of SF out there. Have you read any
RL> good books or short stories containing the process of
RL> TERRAFORMING? The process was used in a Star Trek movie but I
RL> want to explore the idea further in fiction.
No specific recommendations, but check out the "hard" SF
writers--especially Poul Anderson, Hal Clement, Larry Niven, etc.
--- PPoint 1.78
* Origin: Folcroft Sanitarium (hsmith@cure.com) (1:105/302.47)
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Msg : 12 of 195
From : Aaron Turon 1:137/2 .ķá 24 .åâ 96 06:48
To : Barton Paul Levenson
Subj : What I want to talk about
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
I'd like to talk about STAR TREK Cya! ;)
--- Opus-CBCS 1.73a
* Origin: Chipper Clipper * Scott me up beamy! * 941-745-56 (1:137/2.0)
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Msg : 13 of 195
From : Frank Swarbrick 1:104/825 .˙ō 23 .åâ 96 23:46
To : All
Subj : X-Files: Pusher!!
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
.TID: WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 92-0022
What an awesome episode!! We expect that the conspiracy arc episodes
are going to be great, but when an episode like "Pusher" airs it just
renews hope for the entire show. Now, unlike some people, I haven't
really been down on season three. It's had some really good episodes.
But this one seemed extra special for some reason.
I loved the fact that Scully and Mulder we're really partners on this
show. So often one or the other is off on their own little tangent.
But on this one they were together almost the whole time. And the
UST! Sheesh! They really love teasing us. Eyes, eyes, and then
hands. Yow!
I also have a special love for episodes when they work with other
agents and parts of the bureau, and "Pusher" had plenty of that. Not
to mention Skinner. (Who should be back in the hospital after what
happened to him. How'd he get out so fast?)
Not to mention the bad guy. Absolutely menacing. He reminded me some
of the guy in "2Shy," but this one was much better.
Well, there was a lot more that was great about it as well, but I'm a
terrible reviewer so I'll have to stop now. But suffice it to say,
The X-Files still has what it takes! It had it's faults, sure, but
enough people talk about those, so I'll leave you to it.
Frank
... I Want To Believe -- The X-Files
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12
* Origin: The Bailey Information Exchange BBS, 28.8k v.fc (1:104/825.0)
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Msg : 14 of 195
From : Oai Luong 1:109/611 .cę 25 .åâ 96 17:25
To : Barton Paul Levenson
Subj : Re: Star Trek
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
BP>> I don't remember sending the message you cite, though I'm glad to
BP>> have your opinion.
Well I was reading messages and I saw what you guys where saying so I
decided to join in.
Oai Luong
.NOTE: IceEdit 1.60 E17688
--- QuickBBS 2.80 GoldBase (Zeta-1)
* Origin: AD Message BBS/10th Year Online! (703)241-1826 (1:109/611@FIDONET)
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Msg : 15 of 195
From : Don Bach 1:3632/65 .ķá 24 .åâ 96 18:12
To : Phill Ash
Subj : STAR TREK SEXISM
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
I'm not sure how this evolved under the indicated subject line, but here
goes....
BPL> Consider the upper classes in the Roman Republic
BPL> and the early Empire.
BPL> Generally two parents, plus professional tutors,
BPL> servants and slaves.
PA> The upper-class, yes. But have you noticed that remarkably
PA> little is heard of middle & lower-class Romans...
No middle class - that is a product of the Industrial Revolution. The lower
class *IS* the servants and slaves.
PA> ... the Roman Empire
PA> poisoned its collective self by running all of their cities'
PA> irrigation through LEAD PIPES!!!
We are just now learning from history. There are many lead pipes carrying
domestic water in the U.S. There is also a lot of lead-based solder used on
other metal piping. Copper is also a dangerous element.
EPA is currently requiring in-home testing of copper and lead levels to
determine the current level of danger.
A utopian future (ala ST) has us learning from our past mistakes. We certainly
aren't doing it presently.
Don
--- Maximus 3.01
* Origin: No Regrets, Clinton, MS (601)924-8247 9P-5A (1:3632/65)
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Msg : 16 of 195
From : Owen E. Oulton 1:243/45 .cę 25 .åâ 96 02:12
To : Brion Lienhart
Subj : Gen - X movie
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
BL> Enh, it was ok. That was Colm Meany playing Banshee
BL> wasn't it? The beard and different hair kind of threw
BL> me off.
Colm Meany? No, this guy was younger, skinnier, and had a much heavier accent.
The name of the actor is Jeremy Ratchford.
CFN, O
--- Maximus 2.01wb
* Origin: Pandora's Box, Ottawa, Ont. 613-829-1209 (1:243/45)
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Msg : 17 of 195
From : Pavel Viaznikov 2:5020/185.9 .cę 25 .åâ 96 01:10
To : Frank Glover
Subj : Alien threats?
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
.RFC-Path:
apex!apexua!f200.n464!f400.n5020!f35.n5020!f144.n5020!f269.n5020!f185.n5020!not-
for-mail
Good day/night/mornung/etc., Frank!
Sunday February 18 1996 14:02, Frank Glover wrote to Tommy Kellerman:
FG> Evolution favors a `will to live' in virtually all species, really.
- With certain reservations: like when at times a switch clicks and voila! you
have lemmings and whales marching into death.
FG> But by potential threat, I mean what we will *eventually* be able to do.
FG> ("Commander Xartech, they already possess thermonuclear weapons,
FG> and speculate on wormholes, tachyons and nanotechnology. We must destroy
FG> them before they develop [technology unknown to us].") This was the
- That's right. Let anybody imagine what *our* race (represented by politicians
and the military) would do if we once found out a, say, big ant-hill with them
ants assembling a Polaris of their own?
FG> Someone out there who knew we were here, *with* hostile intentions
FG> would almost certainly have taken some open action by now. (Of course we
FG> could get into ideas about subtle, covert takeovers, but for now I think
FG> that's *truly* crossing the paranoia line.)
- Remember the short story titled "Okkam's scalpel"? A clever specialist in
medical dummies there made an imitation body of an alien, to prove to a #1 Boss
that Earth is being slowly de-terraformed in order to make it suitable for the
extraterrestials (from human point of view, polluted). Later, the dummy-maker
and his brother start thinking that their version could after all be true.
So there are such ideas, and they *are* paranoid, but that's what a SF writer
needs for an interesting story!
FG> But as you say, I truly do hope and expect that our first contacts will
FG> FG> be peaceful ones.
- I also hope so - on the other hand, even the very best intentions of those
alien beings could finally result in serious troubles for us. History shows
that
when different civilizations made a contact, it usually led to assimilation or
destruction of a weaker (not necessarily inferior) culture. Also - do you
remember the Cold War? The USSR hoped to impose socialism onto the whole world,
and not everybody enjoyed the idea. But believe me, the bigger part of the
Soviet people believed that socialism is better... no, they believed that
capitalism is worse than socialism, even though they could see drawbacks of our
(socialist) system. So they meant good. Now, suppose your aliens want to
improve
our society as *they* think would be good for us. No hostile intentions - only
kind fraternal help. Would you gladly and willingly accept that help? Or would
you consider such help as a threat to us?
Best regards,
Pavel.
--- ifmail v.2.8
* Origin: - De: Spiritus vini, tinctura aqua 40% (2:5020/185.9)
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Msg : 18 of 195
From : Bill Clements 1:18/230 .ķá 24 .åâ 96 02:14
To : Robert Lidgren
Subj : TERAFORMING
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
From the desk of a cynical old man...
On (19 Feb 96) ROBERT LIDGREN wrote to ALL...
RL> Here's a question for readers of SF out there. Have you
RL> read any good books or short stories containing the process
RL> of TERRAFORMING?
'SURFACE ACTION' (C)opyright 1990 by David Drake touches briefly
on the mechanics and then deals with living in the resultant
environment. 'THE JUNGLE' (C)opyright 1991 by David Drake is the
sequel; no terraforming but lots of action. The theme of these
two works is that of water-world of Venus, circa 1940's Science
Fiction.
