Traveller-digest     Sunday, September 12 1999     Volume 1999 : Number 1093



(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.
All rights reserved.

The following topics are covered in this digest:

Re: re; Tanstaafl 
Re: WotC & Hasbro 
A Vargr question...
Re: WotC & Hasbro
Re: A Vargr question...
Re: WotC & Hasbro
Re: A Vargr question...
Re: Handling a new technology in a game
Re: Handling a new technology in a game
Re: Handling a new technology in a game 
Re: Question regarding software for Traveller gaming 
Pop II v. Pop I stellar systems
Re: WotC & Hasbro
RE: GIF's & copyright
Diaspora GAL file?
Re: Science Q: Star Position Accuracy
Re: Handling a new technology in a game
Re: WotC & Hasbro
Re: A Vargr question...
Re: A Vargr question...
Re: GIF's & copyright 
Re: Question regarding software for Traveller gaming 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 13:27:27 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: re; Tanstaafl 

> There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
> 
> First place I see it mentioned is in Heinlein's outstanding book, The Moon
> is a Harsh Mistress.  Where it is a common saying (indeed a description of
> the entire society) and  becomes the motto of the new nation (The Moon).  An
> excellent read and would make an outstanding mini campaign or just
> incidental place to visit.

You think Heinlien's Luna was cool, check out Roger MacBride Allen's version in
'The Farside Cannon' or the 'Shattered Sphere' novels.  Nifty cultural stuff
there...

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 13:36:18 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: WotC & Hasbro 

> >         ObTrav: If the citizens of the 3I had the lawsuit happy nature of
> >today, it would have collapsed under the weight of lawyers about year
> >400. So how do these issues get resolved.
> 
> It would have but for the Great Lawyer Hunt in 396.  No bag limit or size 
> limits and baiting and using Vargr was allowed!

Damn.  And me without my plasma rifle...

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 12:32:48 -0500
From: "Andrew Akins" <igor@truserve.com>
Subject: A Vargr question...

Hey all,

How do you think the Vargr react to culures/societies (suc as Earth, and
probibly other Solomani colonies) that have dogs for pets? To they empathize
with their "cousins", or are they to genetically far away to care?

One of the cultures in my campaign was seeded by an old Solomani mission,
and they have dogs among them...just wondering what the Vargr reaction might
be...

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Andrew Akins                                                       |
| Home: igor@truserve.com - http://www.truserve.com/~igor/           |
| Work: andya@cms-gt.com - http://www.cms-gt.com/                    |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| IMTU: tg++(**) tc+ ru+ ge 3i+ jt- st au ls+ kk++ hi+ as+ va+ dr++  |
|       so+ zh+ vi+ da+                                              |
| Geek: GCS d- s+:+ a- C++ W++ w+++(-)$ PS+ PE t- 5++ X+ R+++ tv+    |
|       b+++ DI+ D-- G e++ h---- r+++ y++++                          |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 12:05:58 -0600
From: cos 90 <cos90@powersurfr.com>
Subject: Re: WotC & Hasbro

>Again, Peter, you were clear about the information you needed, and very
>helpful. The issue I refered to in the original post refers to several of
>the bigger distributers, who had expressed an interest. At present the
>biggest issue I see people on this list posting about is that their FLGS
>can't get certain books, won't get certain books or doesn't know that
>products exist. If there is a lack of understanding at the retail point of
>sale as to what is on the market, it results in reduced opportunities to
>buy and sell. 

Thanks for the inside look at the manufacturing / distributing end of the
process. I'm reminded of a situation I encountered recently in a similar
vein. I run an online bookstore (sorry, computer stuff only, no game books).
One publisher recently contacted me wondering why I wasn't carrying his
books. He sent me a catalog and the contact info for the Canadian distributor
of his books.

Turns out the minimum ordering requirements set by the Canadian distributor
of this US publisher's books are such that I really can't afford to carry
them -- low discount compared to other suppliers, and a high minimum order
requirement, especially when you consider that they aren't one of the big
players in the market. And my US distributor (who carries just about
everybody)
doesn't carry their stuff. So, I'm not going to be carrying this publisher's
books in our online store. Sad, because they have a good product, perfect for
schools and colleges... 

On the other hand, since they *aren't* a major player in the marketplace, the
distributor probably has to have minimums and low discounts just to get by
- -- they can't do it by volume like the big plaeyrs do, so I can understand
their
viewpoint.

Anyway, this all serves to illustrate that there is a lot that goes on behind
the scenes between the game publisher, the FLGS, and anyone part of the
process in between -- it isn't as simple as looks on the surface...

Meanwhile, if I want BITS stuff, I have two options: buy from BITS itself,
or buy from SJGames... (I have two BITS books -- great stuff!)

- -- g


     Glenn St-Germain § Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 
cos90@powersurfr.com § http://plaza.powersurfr.com/glenn
        "There is no longer any normal to be"
                                 -- Gary Numan

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 14:03:17 -0400
From: Michael Peters <travelleri@home.com>
Subject: Re: A Vargr question...

Andrew Akins wrote:
> 
> Hey all,
> 
> How do you think the Vargr react to culures/societies (suc as Earth, and
> probibly other Solomani colonies) that have dogs for pets? To they empathize
> with their "cousins", or are they to genetically far away to care?
> 
> One of the cultures in my campaign was seeded by an old Solomani mission,
> and they have dogs among them...just wondering what the Vargr reaction might
> be...
> 
Hi Andrew,

Personally I can't see the Vargr being much more concerned than we are
about monkeys and apes. After all the situations are similar. They would
probably be more concerned that humans would tend to associate them with
their genetic ancestors than they would feel an actual connection. 

Come to think of it they were uplifted how long ago 2 - 300000 years?
They might not even realize that they are related to the canines in the
human colony. I'm not sure that Canon has them realizing this even
though Imperial scientists have figured the connection out. Many Vargr
may not even acknowledge the connection, or even disagree with it. That
would make the "doggie" type slurs even more likely to bring forth a
negative reaction.


- -- 
Mike Peters
travelleri@home.com

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 14:45:57 -0400
From: "Terry Carlino" <carlino@home.com>
Subject: Re: WotC & Hasbro

>This is the 3rd or 4th time you have recommended suing someone in as
>many days. And though lawsuits are a legal and accepted manner of
>handling disputes, the fact that there are so many of them is one of the
>things wrong with this county. There has to be a better method of
>conflict resolution than physical violence or legal violence.

In Leonard's defense (I can't believe I'm saying this ;) ) When an
individual refuses to pay you for work that you've done, or purchases a
company with outstanding debts and refuses to honor them then an individual
(or company) has only a few choices. You can write off the debt (in the U.S.
at least). That means it's tax deductible.  You can forget about it and just
take a loss. You can get a great big gun and probably end up in jail. Or you
can take them to court and have the government you pay for help you collect
your outstanding debt.

When a great big company is exercising monopolistic practices that are
giving your competitors an unfair advantage (whatever that means). Or a
company, which sells to everyone else won't sell to you in such a way as to
drive you out of business, they might be engaged in illegal behavior. You
can sit quietly and let them roll over you or you can go to court. That's
why we have them.

>ObTrav: If the citizens of the 3I had the lawsuit happy nature of
>today, it would have collapsed under the weight of lawyers about year
>400. So how do these issues get resolved.

The good old fashioned way. The MegaCorp drives you out of business or buys
you out for .01 on the credit. If you're to big for that they start a trade
war and use interdiction and mercs to destroy you. Unless of course you've
given stock to an Imperial Noble, who will use influence with the government
to prevent that.  You know the usual methods existent in a corrupt society.
:)

- - --

Terry C

All that is Gold does not glitter
Not all who travel are lost

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 11:52:28 -0700
From: "Benyamene' ZeAbe' Akella" <xrp@sierratel.com>
Subject: Re: A Vargr question...

> They might not even realize that they are related to the canines in the
> human colony. I'm not sure that Canon has them realizing this even
> though Imperial scientists have figured the connection out. Many Vargr
> may not even acknowledge the connection, or even disagree with it. That
> would make the "doggie" type slurs even more likely to bring forth a
> negative reaction.

Perhaps not all Vargr realize their lineage, as the are hardly a "unified"
culture, but at least some do. There are canonical(?) references to a
religion based on the belief that the Ancients favored them. And that they
were the origional Terran sophonts, removed from Earth to avoid
contaminating the other Ancient projects with humans. Some even think they
are destined for galactic supremacy. Others spend their time debating the
relative qualities of Frizbees vs. Balls.
////////////////////////////////////////
Akella 0609 C654474-6 S kk+ hi++ as+ va+ dr+ da+ so@ zh- vi++  A523
IMTU tc++ ?t4 ru@ 3i+(-) c+ jt au@ st- ls+ pi+ ta@ he+

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 12:01:52 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: Handling a new technology in a game

Eris Reddoch wrote:
> 
>
> <sigh>
> 
> I wouldn't point anything out to *those* players.  I would run
> them through a very short game where they all died...
> 
> Player 2: "You can't just say we are dead!"
> 
> GM:  "Sure I can, You're all dead and none of your efforts do more
> than make your death more painful."
>

Oh, Eris, you missed the really fun part.

Player 1: "I want a Zhodani warbot!!!!"

GM: "OK." <sigh>

Player 2: (recognizing the manic grin on the GM's face) "OH s***t!"

GM: "You hear a strange 'pop' of displaced air behind you. As you start to
spin around the whine of a plasma gun warming up reaches your ears. As you
turn completely around you see a squad of Zhodani commandos and two warbots
have teleported in behind you. What do you do?"

Player 1: "I draw my weapon and hose them down."

GM: "As your hand reaches the butt of your gun your muscles freeze in a
strange kind of paralysis. The muzzle of the plasma gun raises, points to your
chest and flashes. You're quite surprised, in the microsecond before you're
vaporized, to find all you felt was a mild tingle."

Player 1: "But, but, but..."

GM: "HEY! YOU'RE the one asked for a Zhodani warbot! Don't blame ME! All I did
was give you what you asked for!"

Player 2: Rolls up now-useless character sheet and accompanying notes, and
starts thwacking Player 1 on the head. "<Thwack> Dammit, you went <thwack> and
did it <thwack> AGAIN! <thwack>"

Player 1: "OW!"

In my experience, they've ALWAYS done it AGAIN...;-)

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 12:05:20 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: Handling a new technology in a game

Leonard Erickson wrote:
> 

> BTW, blowing up the system is overkill. I'd go more for something like
> "You were too busy arguing to notice the decompression warning. You all
> died when the promenade had a massive blowout due to shoody materials
> and poor maintenance."
> 
> And then, even if they insisted that their new characters be the heirs
> of the old ones, I can tell them that the ship and everything else is
> going to be tied up in litigation for the next 20 years or so. :-)

DON'T say that! Us heirs just got OUT of litigation over our ship...Don't give
Eris any '20 years' ideas!!! ;-)

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 15:20:02 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Handling a new technology in a game 

> Leonard Erickson wrote:
> > 
> 
> > BTW, blowing up the system is overkill. I'd go more for something like
> > "You were too busy arguing to notice the decompression warning. You all
> > died when the promenade had a massive blowout due to shoody materials
> > and poor maintenance."
> > 
> > And then, even if they insisted that their new characters be the heirs
> > of the old ones, I can tell them that the ship and everything else is
> > going to be tied up in litigation for the next 20 years or so. :-)
> 
> DON'T say that! Us heirs just got OUT of litigation over our ship...Don't give
> Eris any '20 years' ideas!!! ;-)

Damned straight.  We're having *enough* fun as it is without having to be 
saddled with l*wy*rs for the next 20 years...

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 15:25:31 -0400
From: "Keven R. Pittsinger" <jamstar@accesstoledo.com>
Subject: Re: Question regarding software for Traveller gaming 

> At 11:14 PM 11/09/1999 -0700, you wrote:
> >     As for data formats for characters, ships, etc. I would certainly
> >like to get your input on how best to approach these.  I would like to
> >focus on making them workable for Classic Traveller first with the
> >ability to adapt to other systems.  I would especially need help with
> >Gurps Traveller issues.
> 
>         I am currently creating a CT ship design program and am in the
> process of working out a abstracted file format that ought to be fairly
> portable.  Paul Schrif (hi Paul!) has provided some wonderful inspiration
> and concepts for a good way to do this.

2 questions.

1.  What language & platform is it for?

2.  You *EVER* gonna post your move on CATN2???  We've been waiting for you
for a couple days now...

Keven

- -- 
tc++ tm+ tn t4- to ru++ ge+ 3i c+ jt au st- ls pi+ ta+ he+ so- vi zh sy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Science-Fiction Adventure
                                                     In Reavers' Deep

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 19:53:18 +0100
From: "Dr. Nik" <sharik@barrayar.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Pop II v. Pop I stellar systems

>Pop II stars would only be of use for refueling, as they are first
>generation stars with maybe a sprinkling of second generation. That
>means too things. First, the are most around 15 billion years old.

Depends on what value you support for the Hubble parameter and how long
it took galaxies to form in the first place, but I'd agree they're in
the 12-15 x 10^9 years bracket.

>Secondly they are *exclusively* hydrogen and helium. No heavier
>elements at all.
>
If you accept a sprinking of second-generation pop II stars then you
have to also accept a possibility of rocky worlds, for the following
reasons:

a) We are looking at them several billion years ago, at which point they
are still pristine H/He stars. Right now they're going to be more metal-
heavy simply due to the normal processes of stellar evolution -
remember, as soon as a star starts burning He in its core (the red giant
phase) you start getting metals appearing (a metal being defined
astronomically as anything that isn't H/He). If you're looking at a Pop
II star from nearby it _will_ have a metal content.

b) A large enough Pop II star will evolve normally until it tries to
fuse iron in the core and a supernova will occur. It is in these
supernovae that the elements heavier than iron are formed.

>Thus anything with even Sol's mass will have gone thru the redgiant
>stage and wound up as a white dwarf. And any planets will be gas giants.

c) Just because a star has passed through the red giant stage does not
preclude it from having rocky planets. It's arguable whether Mars will
survive Sol going through its red giant phase. Terra will probably be
vapourised, but not necessarilly Mars. The more interesting question
might be 'is the outflow of matter during the plaentary nebula phase
sufficient to dislodge any rocky worlds?

I agree that Pop II stars with rocky planets would be uncommon, but I
don't think they'll be impossible. They would, however, probably only be
found orbiting second-generation Pop II stars in globular clusters where
matter from supernovae have been more gravitationally constrained to
remain in the 'local' area of the cluster.

Pop II stars with Jupiter/Saturn type (predominantly H) gas giants are
probably just as common as Pop I stars with these planets, as would be
brown dwarfs and large Jupiter-type bodies, as these are negligible in
their metal content and so would form in the the stellar disks of either
type.

Now there's a campaign concept - mis-jump to a globular cluster and see
what's out there.

Nik
- --------------------------------------------------------------
     Nik Whitehead C885587-B S zh++ as+ da+ kk-- A 224
sharik@barrayar.demon.co.uk    http://www.barrayar.demon.co.uk
           Having the moral high ground is good.
   Having the moral high ground and a meson gun is better.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 12:28:54 -0700
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@pharmacy.arizona.edu>
Subject: Re: WotC & Hasbro

rboleyn@paradise.net.nz wrote:
> 
> On 12 Sep 99, at 8:21, Thom Jones-Low wrote:
> 
> >  ObTrav: If the citizens of the 3I had the lawsuit happy nature of
> > today, it would have collapsed under the weight of lawyers about year 400.
> > So how do these issues get resolved.

snip

> That's why nobles held court - so they could hear
> the complaints of their subjects and judge those of the commoners
> (the knights and up got judged by their peers, not their lords).

Uhh, that's also why we CALL them 'courts'.

Basically only four conflict resoluton modes exist:

1)Violence
2)Negotiation
3)Trial
4)Arbitration

Violence generally gets you arrested unless you're a state. If you piss off
the Imperium even that isn't a protection.

If Negotiation had worked, suing someone wouldn't be necessary, would it?

In our society, there's no general structure for arbitration established, so
we're left with Trial, hence, lots of lawsuits.

In the 3I as in any feudal system, they go for Arbitration. That's a noble's
primary function in the 3I, since many of them are not only Imperial nobles
but rulers in their own right of their territories as well (from the long
standing 3I practice of ennobling the bastards in power when the place joined
the 3I, helping to ensure they're the bastards who _stay_ in power.)

Also, in general, people complaining about frivolous lawsuits are unaware that
the vast majority of them are not so frivolous, and the truly frivolus ones
are increasingly getting tossed out of court. 

Even the infamous 'lady spills coffee, gets 6 mill from McDonalds' isn't as
stupid as it seems. She was served coffee so hot it burned her badly enough to
need skin grafts. The coffee she was served was near boiling temperature, far
too hot to drink, in a tip-prone cup with an ill fitting lid.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:19:04 -0400
From: "Paul Schirf" <Paul@Schirf.com>
Subject: RE: GIF's & copyright

(1) They don't want $5000 per GIF - re-read the UniSys site.
(2) Microsoft HAS a license from Unisys - re-read their statements.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 16:27:30 -0500 (CDT)
From: jmaclean@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Diaspora GAL file?

Anyone know the location of a Galactic readable data
file for the Diaspora sector?


- ------------------
Jim MacLean
Economist, Traveller Fan
Co-Author GT: Far Trader

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:25:44 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Science Q: Star Position Accuracy

At 03:31 AM 9/12/99 PST, you wrote:
>>         Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear--I'm familiar with the
mathematical
>> underpinning. I'm trying to figure out how accurately, right now
>> (1999), a spacecraft with star trackers could determine its
position
>> at any given time within our solar system, strictly based on star
>> mapping. In other words, all I'm looking for is how well we know
the
>> position of various stars? I can find out the accuracies of the
star
>> trackers themselves. Together, the two will tell me how big the
error
>> volume is.
>
>Accurate enough to allow all the planetary missions so far. As far
as I
>know, that sort of star tracker setup *is* how the probes navigate. 
>
>But I think they use it for *orientation*, I doubt it's acuurate
enough
>for *positioning*. 

	Right. I got into an informal discussion the other day, and that's
why I'm trying to find some figures to back up my gut feel (very long
vectors combined with very small angular measurements equals very
large error margin).
- -- "Eternal Vigilance is the price of Liberty" used to mean
   the citizens had to watch the government--not the other way
   around.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:27:36 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: Handling a new technology in a game

At 05:09 AM 9/12/99 PST, you wrote:
>> Hell, the star in the system they are in would go nova in a
>> heartbeat if any players acted like that.  If I had players that
>> acted like that I'd go looking for some other people to play with.
>
>I recall a D&D game lo, these many years ago. The players had been
>getting annoying in some manner or other and finally they hit the
>limit. 
>
>Me: Suddenly, the corridor is hip deep in a strong smelling
yellowish
>    liquid... 

	Simpler solution: I don't play with people like that.
- -- "Eternal Vigilance is the price of Liberty" used to mean
   the citizens had to watch the government--not the other way
   around.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:30:34 -0600
From: "David J. Golden" <goldendj@pcisys.net>
Subject: Re: WotC & Hasbro

At 02:45 PM 9/12/99 -0400, you wrote:
>>This is the 3rd or 4th time you have recommended suing someone in
as
>>many days. And though lawsuits are a legal and accepted manner of
>>handling disputes, the fact that there are so many of them is one
of the
>>things wrong with this county. There has to be a better method of
>>conflict resolution than physical violence or legal violence.
>
>In Leonard's defense (I can't believe I'm saying this ;) ) When an
>individual refuses to pay you for work that you've done, or
purchases a
>company with outstanding debts and refuses to honor them then an
individual
>(or company) has only a few choices. You can write off the debt (in
the U.S.
>at least). That means it's tax deductible.  You can forget about it
and just

	IF! and ONLY IF! You reported the amount (*and paid tax on it*) as
income in an earlier year. Since I didn't, the money IG died owing me
is just gone.

- -- "Eternal Vigilance is the price of Liberty" used to mean
   the citizens had to watch the government--not the other way
   around.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 17:49:20 -0400
From: Michael Peters <travelleri@home.com>
Subject: Re: A Vargr question...

Benyamene' ZeAbe' Akella wrote:
> 
> Perhaps not all Vargr realize their lineage, as the are hardly a "unified"
> culture, but at least some do. There are canonical(?) references to a
> religion based on the belief that the Ancients favored them. And that they
> were the origional Terran sophonts, removed from Earth to avoid
> contaminating the other Ancient projects with humans. Some even think they
> are destined for galactic supremacy. Others spend their time debating the
> relative qualities of Frizbees vs. Balls.
>

Right! Sorry my MT era knowledge is not what it should be and this
information came after I took a loong break form the game. I've been
making an effort to get the MT era books but haven't had time to read
all of them. Now that you've mentioned this I do recall running across
the references. 

Still, it doesn't invalidate my argument for the fact that "modern"
Vargr probably haven't any more sentimental attachment to canines than
we do for monkeys. Thinking on this again, those that do know that they
are decended from dogs may even purchase them for laboratory animals, to
expand their biological knowldge. Humm, a black market on cainine lab
subjects from Imperial space to Vargr space...


- -- 
Mike Peters
travelleri@home.com

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 20:47:01 -0300
From: Michel Vaillancourt <misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca>
Subject: Re: A Vargr question...

At 12:32 PM 12/09/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>How do you think the Vargr react to culures/societies (suc as Earth, and
>probibly other Solomani colonies) that have dogs for pets? To they empathize
>with their "cousins", or are they to genetically far away to care?
>
>One of the cultures in my campaign was seeded by an old Solomani mission,
>and they have dogs among them...just wondering what the Vargr reaction might
>be...
> Andrew Akins                                                       

        Hi, Andrew...

        About the same as a Human to someone who keeps an ape or monkey as a
pet.  In otherwords, it never crosses thier minds.

        --Michel
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	Michel R. Vaillancourt	misha@atlantic-online.ns.ca
				ICQ # 31172292
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	    NET-City Communications....
	         Providing "Solutions for the Common Company"
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	***REMEMBER - Always virus-check your emails ***
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 19:59:55 -0400
From: Jeff Zeitlin <jzeitlin@cyburban.com>
Subject: Re: GIF's & copyright 

On Sat, 11 Sep 1999 16:20:38 -0400 (EDT), "Keven R. Pittsinger"
<jamstar@accesstoledo.com> wrote:

>>     Just thought I should mention this. Apparently Unisys is threatening to 
>> sue anybody you uses GIFs on their web sites if it's not made by software 
>> that has licensed the format from them (and of course there is no list of 
>> official software that has purchased this license), so if you can't prove 
>> your site uses GIFs created by software that has been licensed you are open 
>> to a lawsuit (and you need to prove that all the Gif's where licensed).

>Whatta buncha wankers.

>When'd H & R Block (former owners of Compu$erve) let go of the copyright for 
>the format?

They didn't; the GIF format is in the public domain.  What isn't
in the public domain, and is causing all the problems, is the LZW
compression scheme that was incorporated into GIF to make GIF
files so compact without losing information (as contrasted with
JPEG, which is a 'lossy' format).  Unisys owns the patent - not
copyright - on LZW, and is trying to enforce their rights under
that patent.

- --
Jeff Zeitlin
jzeitlin@cyburban.com

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 20:53:06 -0300
From: Michel Vaillancourt <misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca>
Subject: Re: Question regarding software for Traveller gaming 

At 03:25 PM 12/09/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>>         I am currently creating a CT ship design program and am in the
>> process of working out a abstracted file format that ought to be fairly
>> portable.  Paul Schrif (hi Paul!) has provided some wonderful inspiration
>> and concepts for a good way to do this.
>
>2 questions.
>
>1.  What language & platform is it for?

        VB6, Win9x...  You'll need a copy of WINE.  Sorry...  I just don't
have time to worry about Java or C++.

>2.  You *EVER* gonna post your move on CATN2???  We've been waiting for you
for a couple days now...

        See my CATN2 posting.

>Keven
>

        --Michel
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	Michel R. Vaillancourt	misha@atlantic-online.ns.ca
				ICQ # 31172292
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-
	    NET-City Communications....
	         Providing "Solutions for the Common Company"
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------------------------------

End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1093
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