Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!arc!steve From: steve@arc.UUCP (Steve Savitzky) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: squEEK Message-ID: <720@arc.UUCP> Date: 15 Dec 89 22:56:27 GMT References: <383@unicorn.WWU.EDU>,<8912141136.AA10440@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM> Reply-To: steve@arc.UUCP (Steve Savitzky) Distribution: alt Organization: Advansoft Research Corp, Santa Clara, CA Lines: 24 The medium-size teddybear has been sitting in a Very Dull Corner somewhere near the door. It is filled with glittery and expensive toys with which, however, the bear is not permitted to play; he can only do Very Dull Things with them. Startled by the Tabbifli's abrupt disappearance the bear utters a plaintive squeak. "Poor critter; I hope she can find her way back." Leaning against Fast Eddie's piano, a guitar's strings resonate as the jam session thunders around it. "Blast it, nobody around to play me when I really need it." As the banjo player fades away, there is a sound like little bells, harmonics on silk-and-steel, or a guitar trying not to cry. Back in his Very Dull Corner, the teddybear resumes his task of pushing a brightly-colored ball up a steep hill with his nose. -- \ Steve Savitzky \ ADVANsoft Research Corp \ REAL hackers use an AXE! \ steve@arc.UUCP \ 4301 Great America Pkwy \ #include \ arc!steve@apple.COM \ Santa Clara, CA 95954 \ 408-727-3357 \__________________________________________________________________________ Path: mit-eddie!bbn!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM!jane From: jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM (Jane Beckman x2637) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Heroines Message-ID: <8912151708.AA05668@fsdcupt.csd.mot.COM> Date: 16 Dec 89 01:08:30 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Lines: 43 Jilara frowns meditatively, and sighs heavily. "I think some folks here are reading a little more into one of our friends' postings than is necessary. I know you can get a little freaky in our society, where being a strong---dare I say, heroic---woman is...difficult. Before anyone says anything more to Alaric, I want to point out that he should be commended for wanting to DO SOMETHING, because there are plenty of folks in our society who don't and won't. Maybe he didn't phrase it as well as he might have. But don't blame the poor guy. Society trains us to expect certain things from men, and women, and we're all products of it. And this crime hit hard on it, because the guy was blaming WOMEN for everything. Of course a man is going to react as a MAN protecting WOMEN. I pointed out to him that some of us women protect men, and women, equally. We all should be helping each other, as fellow human beings. Kids, asians, blacks, whites, space aliens, beasties, and whatever. Fellow SENTIENT BEINGS. However, I want to tell you a little story, to go with a toast." She tosses a dollar to Callahan and collects her glass of Oban. "I told folks that I reinact the Civil War. Not as a man, but as one of the women who were out in the field. There were a lot of them, small-town girls, usually, who tagged along with brothers, or husbands, or fathers. Or Sanitary Commission women. Forget what you heard about Clara Barton, who created a lot of her own legend, it turns out. Or Mary Walker, who did the same. The women who weren't into creating their own legends for personal glory, but who quietly did their jobs and made a major difference. They wrote them out of the history books, but they were there, the nurses, matrons, daughters of the regiments. Five that I know of received the Kearney Cross for bravery under fire. They did things that were acts of incredible heroism, things most of the men would never have dared. They were there, against army regs, at the front of the lines, saving lives, performing acts of daring-do, AS WOMEN. Not women disguised as men, but as WOMEN. I therefore, in the spirit of Anne Etheridge, who said she considered it her duty to 'set an example of courage for the men,' propose a toast, to cover all ages and all situations. TO HEROINES! We need them, too!" And with a smile and a deadly aim, she hurls her glass into the fire. ---Jilara the Exile (I hope.) "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant (alternate identity may be jane@fsdcupt.csd.mot.com---don't you love computers with identity crises?) Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpfcso!daq From: daq@hpfcso.HP.COM (Doug Quarnstrom) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: The Cynic Message-ID: <9060003@hpfcso.HP.COM> Date: 15 Dec 89 20:33:38 GMT References: <9060002@hpfcso.HP.COM> Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA Lines: 37 ---------- Since someone was interested in reading the Cynic's message, here it is: I am known as the Cynic. I heard about this place; a place where one can come to discuss ideas with people who will not flame merely because the ideas are different. I wonder if it is true. Is there a place in this bar for a devil's advocate? Is it possible to empathise and disagree simultaneously? Can one represent opposing viewpoints without flaming? Is there enough common humanity between the empathic people of this bar and a man who has grown to have little but contempt for humanity to make meaningful communication possible? I will leave with a toast: A toast to pride I drink a toast dignity. A toast to cool, calculated self-reliance And cold, hard chains for empathy. I drink to independence and survival I drink no toast to luxury. I empty the glass to realism That leaves no room for sympathy. And as I taste the last libation I bow my head in resignation. The Cynic Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!snorkelwacker!usc!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpfcso!daq From: daq@hpfcso.HP.COM (Doug Quarnstrom) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A little bit of Pain Message-ID: <9060004@hpfcso.HP.COM> Date: 15 Dec 89 23:44:27 GMT References: <383@unicorn.WWU.EDU> Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA Lines: 91 The Cynic, enters the bar and corsses the room. He slips a paper onto the table near the Tabbifli. It says this: >The Tabbifli nearly died, today. Not good. >Not a physical death, but a spritual one.... Always the worst. >hair, and sad grey eyes. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater with grey >roses, she looks much like any other 19 year old female - with the exception >of the eyes. Grey roses. I like the touch. > 'Yes, I nearly killed the Tabbifli. It was a case of trying to >destroy one part of me to keep it from feeling the pain of the rest... the >fact that it would have killed my entire self did not matter much at that >point. Fortunately,' she stops here to take a breath, and to pull back the >tears, 'I had Taldin.. and Steve.. and Moonchilde.. and Luru.. and GEM all >with me, and they, one way or another, made me realize that the Tabbifli >is very loved, and would be missed. While I do not much care if I am hurt, >I cannot willingly cause the pain of another....' Wanting to spare others pain has kept me going at times too. I recognize the feeling and I salute your strength. > 'You see, things are not always wonderful. I have a father that has >decided that I am a pretty young female - and has tried what many males try >and do with pretty young females. My step-father has done the same. I have If this means what I think, then it is Evil. I cannot comment on your pain. It is outside the realm of my experience. >failed one of my classes in school - and there is no way that I will be >allowed to return - the fact that I am a first quarter freshthing should >make no difference, in my father's opinion - I should still be getting >above average grades. So I will have that possibility taken away. My >net access may very well go with it - although I will fight to find some >way to remain attached to the net. Some money was stolen from me by Good luck on staying attached to the net. You know, I don't want to insult you, but perhaps the members of the callahans could take a collection to help you. What good is all of this sentimentality and empathy if it cannot take action to help a member? >also fought with my father - he is angry because I do not pay enough >attention to him, that I have not called him - as if I have had time with >finals! As if he *ever* tried to call me... but it seems that I must pay >*all* attention to him, or else he feels that I am uncaring, and thoughtless >of him.. and tells me so. I am still amazed that he has not hit me. He >tells me to trust him, and then, when I am happy, he does some little, >spiteful thing that upsets everything.. he is suicidal, and expects *me* to >be able to help him - and gets angry that I cannot, because I *do not* >understand what he is going through.' Yes, it is difficult for women to understand possessive men. They are possesive to replace the emptiness in their lives. Possessing a woman gives them a sense of worth. > 'Most of this I could have handled - or have been handling, as >the case may be - if it had been separate. As it is, *everything* >descended upon me at once, and I could not handle it. The Tabbifli >took the worst of it, I fear.... ' That which does not kill you only makes you stronger. > Melissa Kell > 25411 212th Place SE (For those with my school address, > Maple Valley, WA 98038 it will be forwarded) > USA If I do not hear back on the net, perhaps I will write. I am curious how this will turn out. > With that, Melissa picks up her wine, and moves to an empty >chair by the fireplace, curls up, and stares into the fire, silently >disallowing the tears to fall.... Cry Melissa. It empties the pain from your soul. >(oh, yes.. would it be possible for someone to mail me callahans over the >break? from 12/15/89 to 1/7/90... otherwise i won't get it.) What? The whole thing? That would be a good deal of mail. ---------- The Cynic Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ucdavis!pollux!ez000691 From: ez000691@pollux Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Riddle Night! Summary: answers Keywords: not long-winded Message-ID: <6294@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> Date: 16 Dec 89 05:55:49 GMT References: <6218@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> Sender: uucp@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu Reply-To: ez000691@pollux (Shadow) Followup-To: alt.callahans Organization: University of California, Davis Lines: 104 I figure y'all had long enough, and the answers have stopped trickling in by now, so here are the results of last week's Riddle Night competition: First with his answers by nearly 24 hours, with a 100% success rate, including the category sweeps, and your next Riddle Master (for which I am heartily thankful: Mike Grimm . Full congratulations, and a $28 case of Tullamore Dew. And now, the solutions...(I've stuck in a ^L for those of you behind on your reading who still want to tackle these on your own) >I. >Honest, skinny; scrys >Duck; movie, either >Glade, umm...; split, disembark >Seat, ancient; Prefect >Short nightgown; regret, slim >Can; Peter, spy; Rhett quotes U.S. Presidents Frank, lean; pierce: Franklin Pierce Mallard; film, or: Millard Filmore Grove, err...; cleave, land: Grover Cleveland Chair, old; Ford: Gerald Ford Teddy, rue, svelte: Teddy Roosevelt John; Quince, see; "a damn"s: John Quincy Adams >II. >Myself, ill; like, ogle, relocate >Dent; ocean; scribe >Agent, honey; Cock, offspring >Get gas; anthem start; tiller >Bear, tra; thousand; lima >Rock, presently; free; joker Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers I, sick; as, eye, move: Isaac Asimov Arthur; sea; clerk: Arthur C. Clarke Spy, dear; Robin, son: Spider Robinson Fill up; "Oh, say"; farmer: Philip Jose Farmer Ursa, la; K; legume: Ursula K. Leguin Ore, soon; scot; card: Orson Scott Card Mea culpa: I'd forgotten not only that this category had already been done in "Pyotr's Story", but also that Isaac Asimov had been used. >III. >Tap; wise man, change a tire >Chops, joint; vehicles, atop >Firestarter, Smothers art; deck it >Top off; daybreak, a color >Doris, tape; permit, she, he >Horse feed, tumbled, be obligated; carpenter, awfully Talk Show Hosts Pat; sage, jack: Pat Sajak Jaw, knee; cars, on: Johnny Carson Arson, yo; hall: Arsenio Hall Fill; dawn, a hue: Phil Donahue Day, vid; let, her, man: David Letterman Hay, rolled, owe; reeve, very: Geraldo Rivera Almost everybody figured out who #6 was, though no one actually got "reeve" -- or at least no one sent in "reeve" -- next time I suggest that people be re- quired to state exactly how they arrived at a particular answer. So there. >IV. >Accompany; season, workers >Chicken, pumpernickle; tenpins, creek >Too, sketched; urge, sheep, countenance >Check; pismire, sole >Publishes; curve, climb, we >Make fast, buddy; belonging to; one, waters down Shakespeare Characters Join; fall, staff: John Falstaff Hen, rye; bowling, brook: Henry Bolingbroke And, drew; egg, ewe, cheek: Andrew Aguecheek Mark; ant, only: Mark Antony Prints; S, scale, us: Prince Escalus Tie, man; of; a, thins: Timon of Athens This was the tough category, apparently, although a lot of people got #4. Mike even named the plays the characters were drawn from! I actually ended up being pretty lenient with things like Jose O. Farmer, and Ursula M. Leguin, and of course Mark Anthony...all in all, the damned thing was too easy. Mr. Grimm, we shall expect more from you! Other scores: Score: Participant: =============================================================================== 25 Robert Stockton 24 Ken Olum (assisted by Lois Lew, Tom Lehmann, Judy Anderson, and Andy Latto) 22 Marc Shapiro 19 Malinda Mitchell 17 gary@sun.msc.clarkson.edu Thanks, everyone! Shadow -- From the only slightly twisted mind of... "In case we decide to ez000691@pollux.ucdavis.edu surrender to them, Number One." Path: mit-eddie!wuarchive!usc!chaph.usc.edu!girtab.usc.edu!mermelst From: mermelst@girtab.usc.edu (Lois Mermelstein) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Another Toast (won't I ever get change?) Message-ID: <7055@chaph.usc.edu> Date: 16 Dec 89 08:29:16 GMT References: <0ZStmYa00V4C05h0o8@andrew.cmu.edu> <7215@pt.cs.cmu.edu> Sender: news@chaph.usc.edu Reply-To: mermelst@girtab.usc.edu (Lois Mermelstein) Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 21 I also know what you guys mean about intimidating people. However, I *don't* do it on purpose, except on idiotic computer and/or car salesmen. But it seems to happen anyway, especially at parties or other social occasions, especially when it gets out that I'm in electrical engineering (and now that I'm doing a masters in the stuff, it's just that much worse). The reactions are mostly "oh, you must be incredibly smart", "oh, I could never handle all that math" and variations on the theme, followed (usually) by a hasty exit for someone presumed to be on a more equal intellectual level. Just once I'd like to go to a party and *not* have this happen. No wonder many other women avoid technical subjects. So... To sexism! and superficial judgements! and lack of self-worth (both mine and others)! and the continuing search for a soulmate, as well. (I know that's a lot of toasts, and I'm not sure I even ordered a drink first, but that's the beauty of an electronic bar.) Lois Mermelstein -- mermelst@usc.edu EE grad student, at least for now Path: mit-eddie!bu-cs!austin From: austin@bucsf.bu.edu (Austin Ziegler) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Story to be written (read on and see) Message-ID: <44784@bu-cs.BU.EDU> Date: 16 Dec 89 13:11:34 GMT Sender: daemon@bu-cs.BU.EDU Distribution: alt Organization: Boston University College of Engineering Lines: 26 I plan on writing a story involving many people from alt.callahans. If at all possible, I would like the following people to send me some information: Shadow, Jilara, Tabbifli, Taldin, Alaric, Gilly, Greywolf, the Phoenix, Omaha, Luru, GEM, and maniac. If you are someone who I talk with regularly (email or IRC) and I've left you out, please let me know. The story will be written with a fantasy point of view, but it will deal with empaths (I think). The information I need is: Preferred name for the story (this applies to Omaha, Luru, GEM, maniac, and Gilly only--everyone else in the list seems to have a fantasy-appropriate name. your real name is acceptable), preferred abilities that you imagine a fantasy counterpart to you would have, basic personality information, and any other notes (like physical description in the fantasy-world) that you think I could use. I don't know how much I will use, but I will try. If possible, can I have all of the responses by Tuesday, December 19? If you cannot get them to me by then, I understand, but I will find it difficult to work you in. If you don't want to be part of the story, let me know. Magyk (austin@bucsf.bu.edu,@bucsb.bu.edu,engc8vc@buacca.bu.edu) 700 Commonwealth Box 2094, Boston, MA 02215 "The Lord bless you and keep you/and lift His countenace upon you/and give you peace/the Lord make his face to shine upon you/and be gracious unto you./Amen." --The Lord Bless You and Keep You, a traditional benediction Path: mit-eddie!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hplred!egly From: egly@hplred.HP.COM (Diana Egly) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Message-ID: <20940015@hplred.HP.COM> Date: 15 Dec 89 15:44:12 GMT References: <1989Dec9.054205.15710@agate.berkeley.edu> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 19 I have also given some thought to the problem Polymath raises. While acknowledging the need for a polite "fast eddie" (and Polymath words it well) I would hope that we remember what Callahan's does with obnoxious drunks and apply similar standards to obnoxious netters. I, for one, assume that those who enjoy instigating flame wars are rather like the children I know who hurt so much, and need so much attention, that they do anything to get it -- and don't care how severe the punishment is as long as they get noticed. I would hope that we can avoid flaming anyone no matter how obnoxious they get, and reserve asking people to leave (and ingnoring them in general) for people who intentionally inflict injury on already hurting people. How will we reach a conlcusion that someone should be asked to leave? We need to establish a mechanism to act on this as well as to come to agreement on what we want to do? Who (or what) will be fast eddie? Diana egly@hplabs Path: mit-eddie!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hplred!egly From: egly@hplred.HP.COM (Diana Egly) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Rescuers and Real Men (was Re: The victims in Montreal) Message-ID: <20940016@hplred.HP.COM> Date: 15 Dec 89 16:21:33 GMT References: <1989Dec14.203633.17168@athena.mit.edu> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 27 Friends, please don't conclude what you would do in a stressful situation (like a gun man holding a gun on people in the same room as you are in) UNLESS you've been in the situation and have had your reactions tested. What you do in such a circumstance and what you always thought you'd do are often at odds. People who've been through something like this have enough turmoil in the aftermath that they do not need others -- particularly others who have not had similar experiences -- judging their actions or inaction. Can we be a bit more gentle and a bit less judgemental? Remember that time after time when someone holds a gun on a group of people, no one acts the hero. Very few people ever do take heroic action in such situations. It seems to be part of our human heritage tthat most of us become immobilized by that level of threat. Maybe if it happens to you, you'll act differently. Maybe not. You can't know what you'll do in advance -- training up to face the specific situation helps. But how many of us here or how many enginneering students are trained to act with effective preventative violence when violence is threatened? (An aside -- there is someone reading alt.callahans who has been in a room where a gun man threatened the life of people in the room. If that person sees this, please remember that I do understand.) Diana egly@hplabs Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!jefyoung From: jefyoung@pawl.rpi.edu (Jeffrey Young) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: "..and I do appreciate you bein 'round.." Summary: A Farewell To Friends Keywords: Tabbifli and Omaha, Others Message-ID: Date: 16 Dec 89 21:30:21 GMT References: <1989Dec14.203633.17168@athena.mit.edu> <20940016@hplred.HP.COM> Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY Lines: 77 The Unicorn shimmers and becomes Jeff's form in this reality, head lowered and hat pulled down so you cannot see his eyes. He walks silently across the room and starts to ask Mike for something with alcohol in it, but changes his mind, as this occasion doesn't merit it-- and besides, he's under age. He asks instead for his usual Spiked Apple Juice, 'Apple juice with the bite of Orange Juice in it' , tossing a dollar on the bar, and steps up to the line. 'To those will no longer be with us.' >>>>>>>>>>CRASH<<<<<<<<<<<< Those empaths in the room who read the youth feel his deep sadness and sorrow inside. He looks up, and those close to him can see the hint of tears reflected in the firelight. 'These tears are not for me, my friends, but rather for those whom I have met over the past months here in the Place. It pains me to think that we will not be graced with the presence of some for the new year.' He pauses, and looks at the cushion where Tabbifli used to sit. ' I shall miss the Tabbi, I only knew her for the shortest time. She is the last of her kind, and I pray for her strength in the ordeal which is to come. Be sure to write her, and give her moral support.' He turns, and looks at Steve, who seems about ready to leave. 'Fellow Furry, would that you hadn't been lurking in the corner so much! You, who are so much like myself that I could swear you are my brother. I shall miss thee also.' He gives the one known as Omaha a strong hug. "Sometimes I hate college. You get packed off someplace often far away from home, with thousands of strange people who are just as afraid of you as you are of them. It takes you the better part of a semester to get past the masks they've thrown in front of their faces, and then the semester ends, leaving you without them for a month. You get back, and they decided sometimes that you were neat to have as a friend, but they'd like to get to work as far as classes go, because they did so poorly...or worse, they are gone, never to return, due to failing out, transfer, or (with a grim look at Tabbifli's cushion) parents." "I made some of the closest friends I know here, and one by one they are being taken away from me. I only wish I had known them sooner, perhaps could have spent a little more time with them.." "But still, anger is not to be felt for those who are gone, for they are alone once more, and there is often noone there to alleviate the lonliness. They are worse off then you who have been left behind. Their loss is greater. If there is no way you can prevent a friend from leaving, then your best bet is to say your goodbyes, and cry for their sake later on. Remember them, and write often and well." 'Where are my friends.. Where are my friends.. Familiar faces.. But I don't have them now.. Seem so far away.. Do they remember me.. 'Cause I'm still around..' (from Bill n' Ted's Excellent Adv.) "Good luck, wherever you may go, and may you return again..I'll try and be here.." Taldin chokes back a lump in his throat, sits back down at the table, and puts his head in his hands. "I'd better save this post before someone sees me crying at this terminal." -Taldin "REMEMBER WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE!" -- "You are blue, Unicorn.. the Blue of clear, cloudless days where everything seems like it's going right and nothing could go wrong.. and the Blue of despair and lonliness." jefyoung@pawl.rpi.edu