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Traveller-digest      Monday, December 6 1999      Volume 1999 : Number 1448<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
(R)1996. Traveller is a registered trademark of FarFuture Enterprises.<BR>
All rights reserved.<BR>
<BR>
The following topics are covered in this digest:<BR>
<BR>
SPOILERS: MTJ4 "Lords of Thunder"<BR>
Re: Why Visit Other Worlds?<BR>
Re: Sci fi films<BR>
Re: Re CGI scripts<BR>
Re: 3D Star Maps<BR>
Re: 3D star maps<BR>
Re: Sci fi films<BR>
Re: Australia reclassified to type 3 Government<BR>
Re: GT: Trade routes question<BR>
Re: IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED...<BR>
Language mix-ups<BR>
Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
Re: 3D star maps<BR>
Re: 3D star maps<BR>
Re: OT: Must buy game (No go on Nova)<BR>
Re: Sci fi films<BR>
Re: 3D Star Mapping<BR>
Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
Re: Morons with wrenches [was sci-fi films]<BR>
RE: Jump Grids<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 23:46:25 -0800<BR>
From: shudson@lightspeed.bc.ca (Steven Hudson)<BR>
Subject: SPOILERS: MTJ4 "Lords of Thunder"<BR>
<BR>
>From: Richard Hough <corvus@telus.net><BR>
>Subject: Re: Different Technologies<BR>
...<BR>
>>   They got to their moon using their own tech first, then fought high-<BR>
>>tech sophonts. Per MTJ4 (?), their may have been archeological material<BR>
>>on Kirur itself to aid them, but that could be argued for any species.<BR>
><BR>
>I dug my copy of MTJ4 out to check. The timeline does not go into <BR>
>detail, but when the Droashav invaded the Kirur system, the K'Kree <BR>
>could not have been above TL 7. After defeating the Droashav on <BR>
<BR>
  It looks (pps. 62, 64) as though the K'kree were a lot closer to<BR>
"sharp stick" tech when they had their guests over to dinner.<BR>
<BR>
...<BR>
>Kirur, the K'Kree then attacked the main base on Kirrixur using TL 9 <BR>
<BR>
Per MTJ4, ~20,000 years separate Acts One & Two. Persistent, aren't they?<BR>
<BR>
  Mind you, a half-ton of beef with a sharp stick is worrying enough, <BR>
until you realize that they travel in groups :)<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 23:54:33 -0800<BR>
From: shudson@lightspeed.bc.ca (Steven Hudson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Why Visit Other Worlds?<BR>
<BR>
>From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
...<BR>
>Much simpler to geneer beetles. Specifically, go for a version of the<BR>
>bombardier beetle that has a *much* harder/denser shell, and that<BR>
>produces nitric acid and hydrazine in seperate storage sacs (hey, the<BR>
>*real* ones produce something like 60-80% *hydrogen peroxide* in sacs,<BR>
>given that, the other isn't really all that much harder). <BR>
<BR>
  Great - now put the design sequences in the Fowl, Feathers, & Steel<BR>
book, and you can start drawing GW munchkin (yes, specifying does seem<BR>
oxymoronic :> ) Tyranid players into Traveller :)<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 21:05:36 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Sci fi films<BR>
<BR>
On 5 Dec 99, at 23:59, Glenn M. Goffin wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> > From: "Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
> <BR>
> > Think of it this way. Imperial ships are clean because they have lots of<BR>
> > crew and troops on board. When not busy, they polish, they shine, they<BR>
> > are kept busy by officers.<BR>
> <BR>
> "If it moves, salute it.  If it doesn't move, clean it and paint it."<BR>
<BR>
So, is a sergeant a moving or non-moving object?<BR>
(Hint: there is no right answer).<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
Wellington, New Zealand<BR>
<BR>
A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 21:05:36 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Re CGI scripts<BR>
<BR>
On 5 Dec 99, at 18:45, Leonard Erickson wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> In mail you write:<BR>
> <BR>
> > Never underestimate the ignorance of NT Weenies. At this point, I'm<BR>
> > kinda surprised that they even allowed him to connect with a Mac, since<BR>
> > they don't work with the Internet and all that...<BR>
> <BR>
> Heck, my ISP (Uswest.com, I got them solely because they are the only<BR>
> local ISP I can pay easily, long story) supports Macs as well as PCs. But<BR>
> they only support Windows on the PC side. I wanted to set up OS/2. And<BR>
> their phone support is worthless. You hit a menu like this:<BR>
> <BR>
> 1. using Win95/98<BR>
> 2. using Win 3.1<BR>
> 3. Using Win NT<BR>
> 4. Using Mac<BR>
> <BR>
> and that's *it*. No "other".  <BR>
> <BR>
> I finally chose Win 3.1 (I think) and had to try to get across the idea<BR>
> that I was setting up something *else*, and that *all* I needed was the IP<BR>
> address of the DNS! *That* took awhile. Especially since I said "Domain<BR>
> Name Server" which apparently the CS rep didn't know meant "DNS". <sigh><BR>
<BR>
My, my you're well supported. The best (in other ways) ISP only <BR>
supports MS Windoze (that's it), and AFAIK the other reasonable ones <BR>
only support win and the Mac. Mind you at least my ISP has the DNS Ip <BR>
address on its tech support page.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- --<BR>
Rupert Boleyn <paradise.net.nz><BR>
Wellington, New Zealand<BR>
<BR>
A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 01:41:33 -0500<BR>
From: Glenn Grant <neo@total.net><BR>
Subject: Re: 3D Star Maps<BR>
<BR>
Kurtis posted:<BR>
<BR>
>Jump-1 Destinations, Corrected<BR>
(smip)<BR>
>Destinations Star Count  Percent<BR>
>- ------------ ----------- -------<BR>
>0            5153        51.90<BR>
>1            2706        27.25<BR>
[znip]<BR>
>...<BR>
>25           1            0.01<BR>
<BR>
Innarestin'.   Kurtis:  I *really* want to know which star this is that<BR>
appears at the bottom:   25 neighboring stars within a mere parsec radius!<BR>
Is there any way you can tell me it's name and/or Gliese catalogue number?<BR>
(I don't have the Hipparcos data.)<BR>
<BR>
An artifact?  A statistical blip?  Or is it just situated in a particularly<BR>
dense region?  Does it also have a high number of J-2 destinations, etc?<BR>
<BR>
Wonder what their night sky looks like...<BR>
<BR>
And it occurs to me that if Sol really *is* unusual for having no other<BR>
stars within 1pc, maybe this explains why we haven't seen any aliens<BR>
dropping by recently?  Our neighbors are limited to Jump 1 and we're just<BR>
too far off the mains to bother with!  ;)<BR>
<BR>
Best,<BR>
<BR>
  + GMG +<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
   ------------------------Glenn Grant------------------------<BR>
                         <neo@total.net><BR>
    "Sex times Technology equals The Future." -- J.G. Ballard<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 01:23:41 -0500<BR>
From: Glenn Grant <neo@total.net><BR>
Subject: Re: 3D star maps<BR>
<BR>
 "Kurtis Rodgers" <kurtis@fastlane.net> sez,<BR>
<BR>
>I have rebuilt my destination table overnight, increasing the sample data to<BR>
>all stars within 100 parsecs of Sol (23,073 stars).  I have some tests I<BR>
>want to run against the new data before I make the mistake of posting any<BR>
>more invalid reports.  The expanded and corrected table indicates that 90%<BR>
>of the sample lacks *any* J1 destinations.  The maximum number of J1<BR>
>destinations in the sample is 7.<BR>
<BR>
Why are you expanding your sample?  You know that the data are only<BR>
considered "complete" out to a certain range (25pc or something); beyond<BR>
that, a lot of stars are excluded.  So by increasing the sample out to<BR>
100pc, you're totally skewing your results downward.<BR>
Best,<BR>
<BR>
+ GMG+<BR>
<BR>
   ------------------------Glenn Grant------------------------<BR>
                         <neo@total.net><BR>
      "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work.<BR>
        I want to achieve it by not dying." -- Woody Allen<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 02:59:52 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Sci fi films<BR>
<BR>
Rupert Boleyn wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> On 5 Dec 99, at 23:59, Glenn M. Goffin wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> > > From: "Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
> ><BR>
> > > Think of it this way. Imperial ships are clean because they have lots of<BR>
> > > crew and troops on board. When not busy, they polish, they shine, they<BR>
> > > are kept busy by officers.<BR>
> ><BR>
> > "If it moves, salute it.  If it doesn't move, clean it and paint it."<BR>
> <BR>
> So, is a sergeant a moving or non-moving object?<BR>
> (Hint: there is no right answer).<BR>
<BR>
The right answer is:<BR>
<BR>
Neither.  A sergeant is an omnipresent force, the magnitude and<BR>
proximity of which is directly proportional to the degree to which the<BR>
unfortunate private has screwed up; as such, sergeants are neither<BR>
saluted nor painted.<BR>
<BR>
Y'know, that whole exchange might be an amusing color quote for GT:<BR>
Ground Forces....<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead<BR>
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)<BR>
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 03:29:01 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Australia reclassified to type 3 Government<BR>
<BR>
Antony Farrell wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> The Imperial Interstellar Scout Service has reclassified the governments of<BR>
> Australia and all Australian territories to type 3 (Self-Perpetuating<BR>
> Oligarchy) following the release of section 165-55 of the Goods and Services<BR>
> Tax legislation.<BR>
> <BR>
> "The taxation commissioner may:<BR>
> [a] Treat a particular event that actually happened as not having happened<BR>
> and;<BR>
> [b] treat a particular event that did not actually happen as having<BR>
> happened, and, where appropriate treat that event as<BR>
> [I] having happened at a particular time, and;<BR>
> [II] having involved particular action by a particular entity [whether or<BR>
> not the event involved any action by that entity],<BR>
> [c] treat a particular event that happened as;<BR>
> [I] having happened at a time different from the time it actually happened,<BR>
> or<BR>
> [II] having involved particular action by a particular entity [whether or<BR>
> not the event involved any action by that entity].<BR>
> <BR>
> An IISS spokesman indicated that this was necessary "type 3 government is<BR>
> defined as "Rule by a restricted minority, with little or no input from the<BR>
> masses, in this case it seems that the politicians also have not taken any<BR>
> input from reality."<BR>
> <BR>
> Also entities beware, you are now covered by Australian legislation and may<BR>
> be taxed for anything you do or don't do.<BR>
<BR>
Well, I may be putting myself at risk here, but...<BR>
<BR>
I'll _gladly_ pay both US and Australian taxes on income gained under<BR>
the following conditions:<BR>
<BR>
1.  That the Australian tax commissioner declares that, any contrary<BR>
evidence notwithstanding, I am the sole winner of the most recent<BR>
PowerBall multi-state lottery drawing that exceeded USD 100 million, and<BR>
that, therefore, the agencies that administer the PowerBall lottery must<BR>
pay me the prize money, as a lump sum, subject to all US and Australian<BR>
income taxes.<BR>
<BR>
2.  That any monetary gain that I enjoy due to subsequent investment of<BR>
that portion of the lottery prize money remaining after US and<BR>
Australian taxes imposed on the original winnings is subject only to<BR>
taxation by the United States Federal government, and the state and<BR>
local governments in whose jurisdiction I reside.<BR>
<BR>
After all, if the Australian tax commissioner can rewrite history to<BR>
suit that office's needs, then let the commissioner spread the benefits<BR>
around!  If the Australian tax commissioner's office lives up to its<BR>
obligations under the terms stated above, then I certainly will live up<BR>
to mine.  And all that revenue for Australia would come from Americans<BR>
playing an American lottery.  Sweet, isn't it?<BR>
<BR>
Heck, I'll even make that agreement for _every_ time the PowerBall goes<BR>
over USD 100 million!  Think of all the revenue for the Australian<BR>
government, simply by invoking the tax commissioner's authority to<BR>
rewrite history!<BR>
<BR>
Laissez les bon temps rouler!<BR>
<BR>
(Of course, should the Australian tax commissioner decline my generous<BR>
offer, I am at little risk.  After all, while the commissioner's office<BR>
may attempt to _assess_ taxes on me as if I had, indeed, won said<BR>
PowerBall lottery, one _still_ cannot get blood from a turnip,<BR>
particularly a poor college-student turnip....)<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead<BR>
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)<BR>
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 20:26:25 +1100<BR>
From: David Healey <dhealey@giant.net.au><BR>
Subject: Re: GT: Trade routes question<BR>
<BR>
On 4/12/99 Terry Mixon writ :<BR>
<BR>
<<Snippage>><BR>
<BR>
>> What it sounds like it is saying is that if a minor route is<BR>
>> "needed", you should check and see if it is possible to get <BR>
>> things there faster by making the route a "stub" off of a <BR>
>> feeder or x-boat route, or even making a it a pair of stubs <BR>
>> joining to said feeder or X-boat route.<BR>
>> <BR>
>> Say a j1 to get to the "feeder" and another to get off of it. <BR>
> <BR>
>Agreed, and that is how I am doing it, but it was specific in <BR>
>saying use jump 2 unless you can save a jump or more on a feeder <BR>
>and above or along an x-boat route. The question still remains <BR>
>whether the minor routes can go along a feeder or major route <BR>
>that has a jump 3 leg. As I said, I rather expect the answer <BR>
>to be that it can but want opinions on whether the minor routes <BR>
>can use the j-3 legs or not.<BR>
<BR>
I tend to consider that once the Minor or Feeder Route has merged into a<BR>
Main Route, then it can take as long a jump as it likes.  The Main can<BR>
either be a 'real' Main (ie : a >= 10BTN) or one that has been upgraded due<BR>
to traffic volume.<BR>
<BR>
So, yes, it can take a J3 or higher provided it's part of a Feeder or Main<BR>
Route.<BR>
<BR>
Dave<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 20:26:34 +1100<BR>
From: David Healey <dhealey@giant.net.au><BR>
Subject: Re: IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED...<BR>
<BR>
On 5/12/99, Mick Bailey said :<BR>
<BR>
>>BTW...When does FOOTY season start?<BR>
><BR>
>For me, January 29th (Fremantle v Carlton)<BR>
><BR>
>CARN THE DOCKERS<BR>
<BR>
Chortle, chuckle.  No, he said Footy season.  Anyone playing Freo is in the<BR>
midst of  Duck Season.<BR>
<BR>
Dave<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 00:39:08 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: Language mix-ups<BR>
<BR>
>> The Chevy Nova did fine in Spanish speaking markets.<BR>
><BR>
>I don't have contradictory or supporting facts.<BR>
><BR>
Chevrolet did change the name for the spanish speaking markets after<BR>
difficulties in mexico, according to Chevrolet's PA person, during an<BR>
interview for a show on the history channel. Specifically, the problem was<BR>
with the Mexican market.<BR>
<BR>
William F. Hostman  |  "Smith & Wesson: THe original Point and Click<BR>
interface!"<BR>
Aramis 0602 C55A364-C S kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge-<BR>
533<BR>
Mailto:aramis@gci.net http://home.gci.net/~aramis mailto:wilh@alaska.com<BR>
ICQ:14640742          AIM:AKAramis	ARM 1.0: 3 R H++ P+<BR>
IMTU 1.0: tc tm++ tn- t4-- tt+ to- tg-- ru+ ge 3i+ c+ jt-() au+ st- ls<BR>
pi+() ta+ he+(-) kk+ as+ hi+ dr+ va++(--) so+ zh++ vi+ da++ sy- ge- pi+<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 10:01:29 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
<BR>
Black ICE <wombat@premier.net> asked:<BR>
>Leonard Erickson wrote:<BR>
>> <BR>
><<snip>><BR>
>> <BR>
>> AM/FM/PM are modulation types, though to most folks AM refers to<BR>
>> "commercial broadcast radio" (In the US, in the 560 to 1600 kHz range),<BR>
>> and FM refers to "commercial broadcast radio" (in the US in the 88 to<BR>
>> 108 MHz range).<BR>
><BR>
>BTW, what is "phase modulation" (I assume that's what "PM" stands for),<BR>
>and how does it work?  I understand amplitude and frequency modulation<BR>
>(comes from having a SIGINTer as a roommate a few years back), but phase<BR>
>modulation just doesn't ring any bells with me.<BR>
<BR>
It could also be Pulse Modulation (aka PCM - Pulse Code Modulation)<BR>
<BR>
I think that's a binary pulse/no pulse system.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Phil Kitching<BR>
- --<BR>
  http://www.btinternet.com/~salvo/<BR>
  Postmark Design Bureau, Emerging Technologies Division.<BR>
 "Microwaving half-baked ideas from across the Galaxy"<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 10:21:33 +0000<BR>
From: Ewan Quibell <E.D.Quibell@bton.ac.uk><BR>
Subject: Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
<BR>
Great explanations on this thread by Leonard and Luther.<BR>
<BR>
Black ICE wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> BTW, what is "phase modulation" (I assume that's what "PM" stands for),<BR>
> and how does it work?  I understand amplitude and frequency modulation<BR>
> (comes from having a SIGINTer as a roommate a few years back), but phase<BR>
> modulation just doesn't ring any bells with me.<BR>
<BR>
How to explain PM in a mail message ?<BR>
<BR>
AM the sine wave peaks and troughs get bigger and smaller.<BR>
FM the sine wave peaks and troughs get closer together and father apart.<BR>
<BR>
Now think of a sign wave going through cycles as above but with no AM or<BR>
FM modulation, a single tone.<BR>
<BR>
Phase modulation would have the above pattern change.<BR>
<BR>
Draw one sine wave, and then draw the inverse of the sine wave next to<BR>
it. So you would have a peak, a trough, a trough and then a peak. This<BR>
is a phase modulation.<BR>
<BR>
How do you detect it ? You either run another signal next to it which<BR>
doesn't change (a carrier signal) and look for phase variance by<BR>
comparing the two. Or you have a local ocolator which matches the<BR>
frequency of the wave and measure the phase variance compared to that.<BR>
<BR>
Hope this helps<BR>
<BR>
Ewan<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
   Ewan Quibell                       Their's not to make reply,<BR>
   Senior Communications Engineer     Their's not to reason why,<BR>
   Computer Centre                    Their's but to do and die:<BR>
   University of Brighton             Into the valley of Death<BR>
                                      Rode the six hundred.<BR>
   E.D.Quibell@brighton.ac.uk              Alfred, Lord Tennyson<BR>
<BR>
   #include<stddisclaimer.h><BR>
<BR>
   My spelling is entirely due to dyslexia, typos, and poetic license<BR>
<BR>
   University of Brighton - Sunday Times' University of the Year<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 02:23:11 -0800 (PST)<BR>
From: Terry Mixon <tlmixon@yahoo.com><BR>
Subject: Re: 3D star maps<BR>
<BR>
> This is no. of destinations within 1 parsec but more than 0.1<BR>
> parsecs. (This last restriction will hopefully stop binary <BR>
> companions showing as Jump-1 destinations.)<BR>
<BR>
You might want to reconsider. 0.1 parsec is a LONG distance. <BR>
Anthing more than 10 AU is probably too far for anthing other <BR>
than a jump, time wise. Even that is too far for slower ships.<BR>
10 AU will take 9 days for 1G, 6.3 for 2G, down to 3.7 for 6G.<BR>
For most ships, more than 10 AU means a jump. 0.1 parsec equals <BR>
20626.5 AU. <BR>
<BR>
0.000049 parsec is just a tad over 10 AU. <BR>
<BR>
Terry<BR>
__________________________________________________<BR>
Do You Yahoo!?<BR>
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.<BR>
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 02:55:33 -0800 (PST)<BR>
From: Terry Mixon <tlmixon@yahoo.com><BR>
Subject: Re: 3D star maps<BR>
<BR>
- --- Leonard Erickson <shadow@krypton.rain.com> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> .1 parsec is ~20,000 AU. Making it a distance properly covered by<BR>
> jump.<BR>
> Far companions (such as Proxima Centauri) deserve their own entry.<BR>
> :-)<BR>
> <BR>
> I'd be tempted to take it all the way down to .001. That's 200 AU<BR>
> (well, 203, but why quibble).<BR>
<BR>
Still too far. Depending on the speed the ships use, more than 7 <BR>
days travel time will make it a jump, and thus a worthwhile target.<BR>
<BR>
Terry<BR>
__________________________________________________<BR>
Do You Yahoo!?<BR>
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.<BR>
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 11:08:10 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: OT: Must buy game (No go on Nova)<BR>
<BR>
"Glenn M. Goffin" <gmgoffin@pacbell.net> wrote:<BR>
>> From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
>> Subject: Re: OT: Must buy game (No go on Nova)<BR>
><BR>
>> Nope. It's not Spanish for "no go". That would be "no va", and the accented<BR>
>> syllables are reversed, so it wouldn't even really sound the same. This is<BR>
>> a very popular urban legend, but its status as legend has been verified.<BR>
><BR>
>Written "Nova" still looks enough like "No va" to convey that meaning.  <BR>
><BR>
>> The Chevy Nova did fine in Spanish speaking markets.<BR>
><BR>
>I don't have contradictory or supporting facts.<BR>
<BR>
My guess is that if the car was well designed and worked, there wasn't a<BR>
problem,<BR>
indeed the memorable name might even have helped.<BR>
<BR>
On the other hand, if the Nova had serious reliability problems, the "no va"<BR>
tag would stick and the makers might as well give up.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Phil Kitching<BR>
- --<BR>
  http://www.btinternet.com/~salvo/<BR>
  Postmark Design Bureau, Emerging Technologies Division.<BR>
 "Microwaving half-baked ideas from across the Galaxy"<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 03:17:07<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Sci fi films<BR>
<BR>
At 11:59 PM 12/5/1999 -0800, you wrote:<BR>
>> From: "Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
><BR>
>> Think of it this way. Imperial ships are clean because they have lots of<BR>
>> crew and troops on board. When not busy, they polish, they shine, they are<BR>
>> kept busy by officers.<BR>
><BR>
>"If it moves, salute it.  If it doesn't move, clean it and paint it."<BR>
<BR>
Which has surprised a few slow moving Admirals...<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 07:52:42 -0400<BR>
From: Les_Howie@keane.com<BR>
Subject: Re: 3D Star Mapping<BR>
<BR>
Glenn Grant <neo@total.net> wrote<BR>
>I seem to recall reading (on the<BR>
>Starmap mailing list) that the Hipparcos data didn't include star names,<BR>
>just catalogue numbers - and not the same numbers used in Gliese, IIRC.<BR>
<BR>
No names, but it does carry some major catalog cross-identifications.<BR>
<BR>
Actually I have cross indexed the names from the Yale Bright Star<BR>
against the draper numbers in both the Yale and Hipparcos, giving<BR>
Bayer/Flamsteed name against Hip number, if anyone can use that data.<BR>
<BR>
Terry Mixon <tlmixon@yahoo.com> wrote<BR>
<BR>
>Do you have an address for this? (the Gleise) I could not locate the database<BR>
>online.<BR>
<BR>
The starting point for all 3D starmapping his<BR>
<BR>
http://www.clark.net/pub/nyrath/starmap.html<BR>
<BR>
His links include a number of general catalog repositories, as well as having<BR>
several<BR>
datasets downloadable directly.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 00:43:12 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Communications Engineering Technology<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Leonard Erickson wrote:<BR>
>> <BR>
> <<snip>><BR>
>> <BR>
>> AM/FM/PM are modulation types, though to most folks AM refers to<BR>
>> "commercial broadcast radio" (In the US, in the 560 to 1600 kHz range),<BR>
>> and FM refers to "commercial broadcast radio" (in the US in the 88 to<BR>
>> 108 MHz range).<BR>
><BR>
> BTW, what is "phase modulation" (I assume that's what "PM" stands for),<BR>
> and how does it work?  I understand amplitude and frequency modulation<BR>
> (comes from having a SIGINTer as a roommate a few years back), but phase<BR>
> modulation just doesn't ring any bells with me.<BR>
<BR>
PM can be Pulse Modulation also. :-)<BR>
<BR>
But phase modulation is fairly simple (in theory). 1200 bps modems<BR>
use it.<BR>
<BR>
You know what a sine wave looks like, right? Well, with phase<BR>
modulation you "displace" the wave "sideways". So instead of a peak,<BR>
you are crossing zero (that'd be a 90 degree phase change). <BR>
<BR>
It's a lot easier to explain when you can draw diagrams. <BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 23:39:49 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Morons with wrenches [was sci-fi films]<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Back when I was a security guard, I worked at one of the 10,000 small chip<BR>
> fab plants here in Silly Valley.  One evening, I smelled a *strong* acrid<BR>
> odor coming from the locked fab floor.  (Geniuses who owned the place<BR>
> decided the security didn't need a key.. )<BR>
><BR>
> Assuming the worst, I hit the alarm and start clearing the building.  By<BR>
> this time there is a visible haze in the air.  I get to one office, where<BR>
> this woman is sitting talking on the phone.  "Ma'am, we have to evacuate<BR>
> the building."<BR>
><BR>
> Icy stare.  "I'm on the phone with *Europe.*<BR>
><BR>
> All this while alarms blare, fire engines are pulling up.. dogs and cats,<BR>
> living in sin.<BR>
><BR>
> I reach over her desk and hang up.  "It'll be there tomorrow.  This<BR>
> building I'm not so sure about.  Are we going to walk, or be dragged out?"<BR>
><BR>
> Needless to say they fired me soon after.  It wasn't a fire, just our AC<BR>
> pulling in fumes from an idling train nearby.<BR>
<BR>
When we had drills (and some actual alarms) you did one of two things:<BR>
<BR>
A. If the machine would finish the current "cycle" on its own, then you<BR>
   just walked away.<BR>
<BR>
B. For systems that'd keep right on cycling until they ran out of stuff<BR>
   in the "input", you might take a moment to move something so it'd<BR>
   "run out" quickly and shut down.<BR>
<BR>
And in Clean rooms, you'd use the emergency exits, even if that meant<BR>
that everyone in the room would have to change to a new bunny suit<BR>
before returning after the drill. <BR>
<BR>
Given that we *did* have a few nasties, this was a good thing and well<BR>
worth any ruined product. One of the more memorable incidents was when<BR>
something went wrong in the acid etch lab and the "scrubber" on the<BR>
exhaust failed. We started getting NOx fumes dumped into the outside<BR>
air (bad) and sucked into the air intakes for the rest of the plant<BR>
(*really* bad!). <BR>
<BR>
Another bad one was when something went wrong and they managed to spill<BR>
a few cubic meters of TCE. Seems some idiot was filling a tank from a<BR>
supply line (we had all sorts of things piped *all* over the plant) and<BR>
stepped away for a "second". His supervisor sounded the alarm when he<BR>
saw liquid running under the door of the room....<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Leonard Erickson (aka Shadow)<BR>
 shadow@krypton.rain.com        <--preferred<BR>
leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com     <--last resort<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 12:10:18 -0000 <BR>
From: "Trevor, Peter" <Peter.Trevor@rb.cwplc.com><BR>
Subject: RE: Jump Grids<BR>
<BR>
William F. Hostman wrote:<BR>
> > > > Lanthanum Hull grids - didn't they originally appear in<BR>
> > > > SOpM and were canonised in TNE and T4?<BR>
> > > ><BR>
> > > > Dom<BR>
> > ><BR>
> > > Actually, if you look at the rules section in Regency<BR>
> > > Sourcebook, no. RSB's Author used coils.<BR>
> > ><BR>
> > > But there is a non-dgp reference to hull grids; I just<BR>
> > > can't remeber where.<BR>
> ><BR>
> > Wasn't that in T4?  Both where said to exist if you wanted<BR>
> > them.<BR>
><BR>
> No, I'm thinking of a CT or MT source. I know that the tug in<BR>
> Supp 9 uses a "Net" to haul cargo. The net is not essential<BR>
> except for jump. This *IMPLIES* a grid of some kind, but is<BR>
> nowhere near explicit.<BR>
<BR>
CT used jump coils to produce a spherical jump field  around  the<BR>
ship.  IIRC it was said (in the controversial A4: Leviathan) that<BR>
objects like antenea that weren't retracted  were  liable  to  be<BR>
sheared off.  In S9 the jump tug uses a net  wrapped  around  the<BR>
external cargo to extend the jump field beyond its normal sphere.<BR>
Evidently this  net  had  jump  field  repulsion  characteristics<BR>
similar to MT's jump grid idea.<BR>
<BR>
Thus in CT a grid was only required in exceptional cases  as  the<BR>
non-grid field is a sphere.<BR>
<BR>
(Additional: I remember reading somewhere that  the  CT  rational<BR>
for the 100d jump limit was that gravity distorted  this  sphere.<BR>
An extreme example would be a ship on the ground  activating  its<BR>
j-drive: the field created would be pulled into a splitter  shape<BR>
taking the j-drive, some hull plating, and part  of  the  landing<BR>
pad ... but leaving most of the ship behind!)<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Regards PLST<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1448<BR>
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