Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!apple!arc!steve From: steve@arc.UUCP (Steve Savitzky) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream (++n-tet) Message-ID: <805@arc.UUCP> Date: 5 Feb 90 06:25:04 GMT References: <90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> Sender: news@arc.UUCP Organization: Advansoft Research Corp, Santa Clara, CA Lines: 73 The medium-sized teddybear gathers up a few toys and pops in. Its usually Very Dull Corner has been "interesting" lately (in the sense of the ancient Chinese curse). There is a loud noise and the teddybear vanishes. Friday afternoon turns to Sunday night before the bear can re-appear. When it does, it does so in the form of Steve, who staggers in through the back door. In one hand he is holding a guitar case with a half- Garfield sticking out of it. In the other hand is an enormous cardboard box (with a carrying handle). A large cat is sitting on his shoulder. "I think we're going to need a pitcher", he says to Mike, who starts filling one. Making his way to the table where a Virtual N-tet is forming around a short girl with purple socks, he proceeds to extract from the box a synthesizer, a music stand, a guitar stand, assorted cables, and a notebook. "I hope you can play this thing -- I mostly use it for transcription, 'cause I gave up on piano about 25 years ago. It *does* make a Mac sound a lot better, though. Or maybe someone will bring in a wind controller. Meanwhile, we'll see what we can improvise. How about it, Snuggles, think you can handle this thing?" The sentient electronics inside the guitar answers, "You expect me to talk to that antique just because you're too cheap to buy a MIDI guitar controller? Well, I'll fake it for you, but just this once." "I mostly write filk," Steve says, "and I can't carry a tune in a paper bag, but let's see what we can do." He launches into something that sounds like "House Carpenter" in 2/4, then switches into 5/8-time, becoming a duet. The cat and he sing alternate verses in different melodies, that harmonize on the final verse. The voices are rather rough around the edges. "That's called _Demon_Lover_, and it premiers for real at Consonance a month from today, if the Cat can goad me into practising it some more. Consonance, for you filkers out there, is the new West Coast filk convertion that replaced Bayfilk: first weekend in March. Consonance: March 2-4, Radisson Hotel, San Jose; Membership $25 until 2-1-90; Address: Consonance, c/o Wail Songs, Box 29888, Oakland, CA 94604; (415)763-6415. There will be babysitting! And before I forget, there will be filking at BayCon, too: BayCon: May 25-28, Red Lion Inn, San Jose; Membership $30 until 3-1, $35 to 5-1; address: BayCon '90, Box 70393, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. He looks somewhat apologetically at Oktave, and says, "I'm afraid I *do* play guitar, and I *don't* play canasta, but can I hang around anyway?" He turns back to the synthesizer and does a slightly shaky version of Amazing Grace in what sound like tuned atomic bomb explosions. The cat, meanwhile, pounces over to Jilara and purrs, "Remember, I'm just a phone call away if you need me." She then proceeds to Mike, who pours her a saucer of milk in exchange for a dollar bill which he extracts from where it was tucked under her collar. After finishing the milk she transforms briefly to human form, becoming a very large lady with reddish-brown hair and grey eyes with golden highlights. Stepping up to the chalk line she says "Life is a rose garden--you have to keep planting roses until you get one that blooms." She flings the saucer, frisbee-like, into the fireplace. She then goes back to Steve, and joins him on a number of the filksongs which he comes out with whenever things seem to be quieting down. They finally pack up and leave, as filkers do, not too long before morning. Path: mit-eddie!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!clotho!flynn From: flynn@clotho.acm.rpi.edu (Kevin Lincoln Flynn) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Cynic on Beauty and Pain Message-ID: <-K4|{^@rpi.edu> Date: 5 Feb 90 07:03:33 GMT References: <9060014@hpfcso.HP.COM> Reply-To: flynn%acm@rpi.edu (Kevin Lincoln Flynn) Organization: The Voice of Fate Lines: 61 In article <9060014@hpfcso.HP.COM> daq@hpfcso.HP.COM (Doug Quarnstrom) writes: >The Cynic again enters the bar and crosses to the makeshift >bulletin board to tack up another message. > >Anyone reading the paper sees the following: > > On Beauty and Pain > >Nearly three decades of life have left me with a curious >reaction to beauty. I thought that I would mention it >and see if anyone else understands or agrees with my >impressions. > >Imagine, if you will, gazing at the most beautiful scene >you can imagine. Imagine a wonderful sunset, or the >face of a lover. Imagine a snow covered field on a >moonlit night. What is your reaction? Is it joy or >euphoria. Is it comfort, a warm sense of well being? >My reactions to such a scenes tend to include a very >strong overtone of pain and melancholy. Sometimes >I almost cannot bear the aching in my chest when >beholding a particular sublime image. The door opens to show twilight and snow. Flynn steps inside, stamping his boots and shaking the snow off of his cloak. As he unfastens the belt from which his scabbard hangs, the peice of paper on the bulletin board catches his eye, and he reads as he sets down his blade and takes off his cloak. "Hmmmm..." He steps over to the bar and lays down a silver dollar. "Hi Mike. Good to be back.... something hot; a hot rum toddy, actually. That'll be nice. Oh, and a peice of paper, please." He takes the drink, and the sheet of paper, and moves to an empty table... setting down the drink, he reaches into a pocket and removes, believe it or not, a Speedball quill-type pen, and writes. After he finishes his drink, he leaves the glass on the bar and posts his peice of paper on the bulletin board next to the original note: "The most beautiful scene I can imagine. Wow. Yes, I understand your feeling of pain and melancholy. I won't try to describe what my most beautiful scene is -- it varies too often, but always one thing is common.. it's not static. It's not dead. Anything that's beautiful to me is _alive_ in some way. A lovely person is one that I feel, one my mind can enjoy, as well as my eyes. (All of me enjoys Cathy, thanks... [ :) >-) ]) A beautiful song is one that is full of the emotion the composer put there. A beautiful scene - the snow- covered field on a moonlit night _is_ a favorite of mine - is one where what- ever it is that made it (God, Allah, the Is, whatever you choose to call him/ her/it) decided to focus a lot of the energy they put into this world. To me, the happiness at beholding beauty comes when I can feel that kind of energy as surely as I can feel my own self. The ache in my chest comes only when I try to contain it inside me, rather than letting it flow through me to others. - Kevin Lincoln Flynn" Kevin Lincoln Flynn flynn@acm.rpi.edu, userfwvl@mts.rpi.edu 113 9th Street H (518) 272-0048 W (518) 447-8561 Troy, NY 12180 ...Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours. Path: mit-eddie!mit-amt!snorkelwacker!apple!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!jarthur!estokien From: estokien@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Eric Stokien) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream Message-ID: <4150@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 5 Feb 90 16:58:14 GMT References: Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711 Lines: 19 Cyrano steps out of the chair he was sitting in, walks over to the little girl, makes a flourishing bow, and ends up changing to his alter ego and nearly falling over. He pulls an old Bb clarinet out of a slightly smelly case. "This won't do," he cries,"Mage, are you around?" "The mage poofs in, says "What is it?", but then seeing the sad, smelly clarinet answers his own question with an "Oh!" and quickly changes it to a shining silver plated jazz number. He fades out crying,"But when the clock strikes midnight...." Eric puts it to his lips and all of a sudden a quick Benny Goodman melody slips out. "Wow, I've always wanted to play like that!!!" "Quick, I've only got till midnight, I wonder if he allows renewals" He does a quick trill, moving to a high note that almost shatters peoples glasses and then cuts it off twirls around and sits in a chair at the table. His voice suddenly deep and throaty lets out a "Yeah". Eric "Fantasy is so much fun" Stokien Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!yale!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!elroy!cosc5sh From: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu (Unbeliever) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A Time Traveller's Return Message-ID: <5468.25cd7b52@elroy.uh.edu> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:10:41 GMT Organization: The Land Lines: 49 After about a month of silence, the Unbeliever rises to speak once more... "I seem to have become a time travellor in the classical Robinsonian manner. A month of time has just passed for everyone but me. I am the same person I was a month ago, but Callahan's (and the rest of the world) has aged a month without me. It's an odd feeling..." "After catching up with the current events here in the bar, I must admit to being a bit confused about the jam session that seems to be starting up, and are you guys in the corner getting ready to start a game of Canasta?" Unbeliever shakes his head. "This Place is changing, Mike..." "Let me tell you what >I'VE< been up to, while the world was changing around me..." "First of all, I have FINALLY become familiar with most of the legends about this place, as told by Jake to the great Spider Robinson. I have now read _Callahan's CrossTime Saloon_ and _Time Travellors Strictly Cash_, and met Lady Sally and the gang of _Callahan's Lady_ (God, what I wouldn't do to find a place such as hers). I still haven't procured a copy of the third book of Callahan's stories, but I'm working on it!" "Secondly, I've just spent a weekend camping at Big Bend (bet you guys never even saw me leave the bar! Neat the way that works). It was everything I had hoped it would be... I saw millions of stars (including my first shooting star) and incredible mountains on all sides. I hiked along the Rio Grande a short way, and watched a perfect sunrise. I also experienced COLD in a whole new way... All in all, it was quite an experience." "Other than reading books and camping, about the only thing I have done this month is keep up (barely) with my classes. Where does the time go?" "Finally, I once again toast the wonderful people who have made this incarnation of Callahan's what it is today." A glass appears in the Unbeliever's hand in a flash of White Gold Magic. "To Taldin, the blue Unicorn! To Jilara the Invincible! To Diana Egly, whose last message I finally received and replied to, and whom I hope to meet sometime soon! And to all the rest of you -- thanks for making this place a haven from the cold, cruel world outside. Back soon!" The Unbeliever races out the door to go catch lunch with some friends... Be True... -=*> Unbeliever <*=- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |InterNet: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu UUCP:...texbell!uhnix1!elroy.uh.edu!cosc5sh | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Path: mit-eddie!snorkelwacker!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!apple.com!zardoz From: zardoz@apple.com (The One Eyed Man) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream Message-ID: <6512@internal.Apple.COM> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:30:17 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 44 References:<90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> In article <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> allbery@NCoast.ORG (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > As quoted from <90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> by EMD101@psuvm.psu.edu: > +--------------- > | "Ideally this would be like a Team Banzai of music. About six members > | besides me, who play various permutations of flute/recorder, oboe, Horns, > | clarinets, bassoon, marimba, cello, piano, and other stuff. They can whistle > | and sing in a full set of ranges. Obviously not all at once. Maybe they > | write too, sheesh, it's not a dictatorship. > | > | "Naturally the Team members are witty and fun to be around, and like to > | discuss physics in their spare time, and eat pizza and play Canasta. How > | about it? Would anyone like to be a part of a Virtual n-tet? We could hang > | out in Callahan's and talk about the music we would play if we were a > | Real n-tet. It's a great idea!" > +--------------- > > "A virtual n-tet could never be as good as a real one... but I miss having the > time for instrumental music. In my time, I've worked with most of the brass > family, tenor saxophone, and a little clarinet... and I've been known to > whistle and even sing, although I'd sooner not inflict what passes for my > voice on others these days. The One Eyed Man looks up, interested. "I've been known to play a bit," he says, "synthesizer, psaltery, banjo, clarinet, guitar, fiddle, violin (yes, _I_ think they are really quite a bit different), 'cello, bagpipes, recorder, hammer dulcimer, silver flute, black flute, bones, spoons, pan pipes, oboe, bassoon, string bass..." he looks around, a bit embarrassed at the length of the list.. "and I write and sing," he says, sounding like there are still a few instruments left off... ************************************* * When you do it to me, it's discrimination * When I do it to you, it's AA ************************************* -- These are my ideas. Oy vey, are they mine. -- zardoz Path: mit-eddie!mintaka!yale!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!apple.com!zardoz From: zardoz@apple.com (The One Eyed Man) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream Message-ID: <6512@internal.Apple.COM> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:30:17 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 44 References:<90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> In article <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> allbery@NCoast.ORG (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > As quoted from <90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> by EMD101@psuvm.psu.edu: > +--------------- > | "Ideally this would be like a Team Banzai of music. About six members > | besides me, who play various permutations of flute/recorder, oboe, Horns, > | clarinets, bassoon, marimba, cello, piano, and other stuff. They can whistle > | and sing in a full set of ranges. Obviously not all at once. Maybe they > | write too, sheesh, it's not a dictatorship. > | > | "Naturally the Team members are witty and fun to be around, and like to > | discuss physics in their spare time, and eat pizza and play Canasta. How > | about it? Would anyone like to be a part of a Virtual n-tet? We could hang > | out in Callahan's and talk about the music we would play if we were a > | Real n-tet. It's a great idea!" > +--------------- > > "A virtual n-tet could never be as good as a real one... but I miss having the > time for instrumental music. In my time, I've worked with most of the brass > family, tenor saxophone, and a little clarinet... and I've been known to > whistle and even sing, although I'd sooner not inflict what passes for my > voice on others these days. The One Eyed Man looks up, interested. "I've been known to play a bit," he says, "synthesizer, psaltery, banjo, clarinet, guitar, fiddle, violin (yes, _I_ think they are really quite a bit different), 'cello, bagpipes, recorder, hammer dulcimer, silver flute, black flute, bones, spoons, pan pipes, oboe, bassoon, string bass..." he looks around, a bit embarrassed at the length of the list.. "and I write and sing," he says, sounding like there are still a few instruments left off... ************************************* * When you do it to me, it's discrimination * When I do it to you, it's AA ************************************* -- These are my ideas. Oy vey, are they mine. -- zardoz Path: mit-eddie!mit-amt!snorkelwacker!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!elroy!cosc5sh From: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu (Unbeliever) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A Time Traveller's Return Message-ID: <5468.25cd7b52@elroy.uh.edu> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:10:41 GMT Organization: The Land Lines: 49 After about a month of silence, the Unbeliever rises to speak once more... "I seem to have become a time travellor in the classical Robinsonian manner. A month of time has just passed for everyone but me. I am the same person I was a month ago, but Callahan's (and the rest of the world) has aged a month without me. It's an odd feeling..." "After catching up with the current events here in the bar, I must admit to being a bit confused about the jam session that seems to be starting up, and are you guys in the corner getting ready to start a game of Canasta?" Unbeliever shakes his head. "This Place is changing, Mike..." "Let me tell you what >I'VE< been up to, while the world was changing around me..." "First of all, I have FINALLY become familiar with most of the legends about this place, as told by Jake to the great Spider Robinson. I have now read _Callahan's CrossTime Saloon_ and _Time Travellors Strictly Cash_, and met Lady Sally and the gang of _Callahan's Lady_ (God, what I wouldn't do to find a place such as hers). I still haven't procured a copy of the third book of Callahan's stories, but I'm working on it!" "Secondly, I've just spent a weekend camping at Big Bend (bet you guys never even saw me leave the bar! Neat the way that works). It was everything I had hoped it would be... I saw millions of stars (including my first shooting star) and incredible mountains on all sides. I hiked along the Rio Grande a short way, and watched a perfect sunrise. I also experienced COLD in a whole new way... All in all, it was quite an experience." "Other than reading books and camping, about the only thing I have done this month is keep up (barely) with my classes. Where does the time go?" "Finally, I once again toast the wonderful people who have made this incarnation of Callahan's what it is today." A glass appears in the Unbeliever's hand in a flash of White Gold Magic. "To Taldin, the blue Unicorn! To Jilara the Invincible! To Diana Egly, whose last message I finally received and replied to, and whom I hope to meet sometime soon! And to all the rest of you -- thanks for making this place a haven from the cold, cruel world outside. Back soon!" The Unbeliever races out the door to go catch lunch with some friends... Be True... -=*> Unbeliever <*=- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |InterNet: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu UUCP:...texbell!uhnix1!elroy.uh.edu!cosc5sh | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Path: mit-eddie!mit-amt!snorkelwacker!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!apple.com!zardoz From: zardoz@apple.com (The One Eyed Man) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream Message-ID: <6512@internal.Apple.COM> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:30:17 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 44 References:<90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> In article <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> allbery@NCoast.ORG (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > As quoted from <90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> by EMD101@psuvm.psu.edu: > +--------------- > | "Ideally this would be like a Team Banzai of music. About six members > | besides me, who play various permutations of flute/recorder, oboe, Horns, > | clarinets, bassoon, marimba, cello, piano, and other stuff. They can whistle > | and sing in a full set of ranges. Obviously not all at once. Maybe they > | write too, sheesh, it's not a dictatorship. > | > | "Naturally the Team members are witty and fun to be around, and like to > | discuss physics in their spare time, and eat pizza and play Canasta. How > | about it? Would anyone like to be a part of a Virtual n-tet? We could hang > | out in Callahan's and talk about the music we would play if we were a > | Real n-tet. It's a great idea!" > +--------------- > > "A virtual n-tet could never be as good as a real one... but I miss having the > time for instrumental music. In my time, I've worked with most of the brass > family, tenor saxophone, and a little clarinet... and I've been known to > whistle and even sing, although I'd sooner not inflict what passes for my > voice on others these days. The One Eyed Man looks up, interested. "I've been known to play a bit," he says, "synthesizer, psaltery, banjo, clarinet, guitar, fiddle, violin (yes, _I_ think they are really quite a bit different), 'cello, bagpipes, recorder, hammer dulcimer, silver flute, black flute, bones, spoons, pan pipes, oboe, bassoon, string bass..." he looks around, a bit embarrassed at the length of the list.. "and I write and sing," he says, sounding like there are still a few instruments left off... ************************************* * When you do it to me, it's discrimination * When I do it to you, it's AA ************************************* -- These are my ideas. Oy vey, are they mine. -- zardoz Path: mit-eddie!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!elroy!cosc5sh From: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu (Unbeliever) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A Time Traveller's Return Message-ID: <5468.25cd7b52@elroy.uh.edu> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:10:41 GMT Organization: The Land Lines: 49 After about a month of silence, the Unbeliever rises to speak once more... "I seem to have become a time travellor in the classical Robinsonian manner. A month of time has just passed for everyone but me. I am the same person I was a month ago, but Callahan's (and the rest of the world) has aged a month without me. It's an odd feeling..." "After catching up with the current events here in the bar, I must admit to being a bit confused about the jam session that seems to be starting up, and are you guys in the corner getting ready to start a game of Canasta?" Unbeliever shakes his head. "This Place is changing, Mike..." "Let me tell you what >I'VE< been up to, while the world was changing around me..." "First of all, I have FINALLY become familiar with most of the legends about this place, as told by Jake to the great Spider Robinson. I have now read _Callahan's CrossTime Saloon_ and _Time Travellors Strictly Cash_, and met Lady Sally and the gang of _Callahan's Lady_ (God, what I wouldn't do to find a place such as hers). I still haven't procured a copy of the third book of Callahan's stories, but I'm working on it!" "Secondly, I've just spent a weekend camping at Big Bend (bet you guys never even saw me leave the bar! Neat the way that works). It was everything I had hoped it would be... I saw millions of stars (including my first shooting star) and incredible mountains on all sides. I hiked along the Rio Grande a short way, and watched a perfect sunrise. I also experienced COLD in a whole new way... All in all, it was quite an experience." "Other than reading books and camping, about the only thing I have done this month is keep up (barely) with my classes. Where does the time go?" "Finally, I once again toast the wonderful people who have made this incarnation of Callahan's what it is today." A glass appears in the Unbeliever's hand in a flash of White Gold Magic. "To Taldin, the blue Unicorn! To Jilara the Invincible! To Diana Egly, whose last message I finally received and replied to, and whom I hope to meet sometime soon! And to all the rest of you -- thanks for making this place a haven from the cold, cruel world outside. Back soon!" The Unbeliever races out the door to go catch lunch with some friends... Be True... -=*> Unbeliever <*=- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |InterNet: cosc5sh@elroy.uh.edu UUCP:...texbell!uhnix1!elroy.uh.edu!cosc5sh | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Path: mit-eddie!rutgers!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!apple.com!zardoz From: zardoz@apple.com (The One Eyed Man) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: A Little Dream Message-ID: <6512@internal.Apple.COM> Date: 5 Feb 90 19:30:17 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 44 References:<90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> In article <1990Feb3.002442.14260@NCoast.ORG> allbery@NCoast.ORG (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > As quoted from <90031.214955EMD101@PSUVM.BITNET> by EMD101@psuvm.psu.edu: > +--------------- > | "Ideally this would be like a Team Banzai of music. About six members > | besides me, who play various permutations of flute/recorder, oboe, Horns, > | clarinets, bassoon, marimba, cello, piano, and other stuff. They can whistle > | and sing in a full set of ranges. Obviously not all at once. Maybe they > | write too, sheesh, it's not a dictatorship. > | > | "Naturally the Team members are witty and fun to be around, and like to > | discuss physics in their spare time, and eat pizza and play Canasta. How > | about it? Would anyone like to be a part of a Virtual n-tet? We could hang > | out in Callahan's and talk about the music we would play if we were a > | Real n-tet. It's a great idea!" > +--------------- > > "A virtual n-tet could never be as good as a real one... but I miss having the > time for instrumental music. In my time, I've worked with most of the brass > family, tenor saxophone, and a little clarinet... and I've been known to > whistle and even sing, although I'd sooner not inflict what passes for my > voice on others these days. The One Eyed Man looks up, interested. "I've been known to play a bit," he says, "synthesizer, psaltery, banjo, clarinet, guitar, fiddle, violin (yes, _I_ think they are really quite a bit different), 'cello, bagpipes, recorder, hammer dulcimer, silver flute, black flute, bones, spoons, pan pipes, oboe, bassoon, string bass..." he looks around, a bit embarrassed at the length of the list.. "and I write and sing," he says, sounding like there are still a few instruments left off... ************************************* * When you do it to me, it's discrimination * When I do it to you, it's AA ************************************* -- These are my ideas. Oy vey, are they mine. -- zardoz