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Date:	12/13/99 3:19:39 AM Pacific Standard Time<BR>
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Traveller-digest     Monday, December 13 1999     Volume 1999 : Number 1485<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>
Re: electronic warfare<BR>
Re Infantry<BR>
ADMIN: list archives<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Institutional Memory<BR>
Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire<BR>
RE: Re Wager<BR>
SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Game Handouts<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Superpowers<BR>
RE: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
Re: Superpowers<BR>
Re: Munchkins<BR>
Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire<BR>
Re: Deserts<BR>
Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
Re: Elmore Artwork in T4<BR>
Silly Traveller<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 21:39:11 -0500<BR>
From: Ethan Henry <egh@klg.com><BR>
Subject: Re: electronic warfare<BR>
<BR>
"Jason T. Barnabas" <cybernaut@netzero.net> wrote:<BR>
> With all the modern technology available, I'm surprised<BR>
> that someone hasn't integrated a computer with voice<BR>
> recognition software.  You talk to in the mic just like<BR>
> normal, the computer digitally records your words and<BR>
> sends it out at say 56 K.  <BR>
<BR>
56K??? I think the person using such a system would be <BR>
easy enough to track from the gigantic piece of wire they'll<BR>
be lugging around.<BR>
<BR>
The average digital cell phone transmits at between 8 and 13<BR>
kbps - it takes a _lot_ of bandwidth to transmit high bit-rates<BR>
over the air. Remember that any piece of copper has as much<BR>
bandwidth as the rest of the universe combined and there's<BR>
a hell of a lot more competition for wireless bandwidth.<BR>
(Assuming you're the sole user of the piece of wire).<BR>
<BR>
At any rate, your suggestion is a good one, which<BR>
is why modern CDMA cell phone technology (used by Sprint<BR>
in the US and Bell & Clearnet in Canada, among others) is<BR>
derived from military technology, spread spectrum (and a<BR>
bunch of other things, but there's a lot of similarity<BR>
between spread spectum and code division multiplexing).<BR>
<BR>
Better yet, you can record voice as low as 4k per second <BR>
(and still understand it) and transmit at higher rates,<BR>
making the burst pretty short.<BR>
<BR>
The best part about CDMA transmission is that they look<BR>
just like noise - *mathematically*. An observer without<BR>
a connection into the transmission system (ie. either the<BR>
base or handset) can't tell whether it's a cell phone<BR>
or a leaky microwave. (Well, they probably could, but it<BR>
would be a lot easier to trick than the typical analog<BR>
AMPS-type cell phone, which can be monitored with a $20<BR>
piece of hardware from Radio Shack).<BR>
<BR>
> Even with a redundant copy to<BR>
> verify from, a two minute report would take less than a<BR>
> 10th of a second to transmit.  While there would be a lag<BR>
> time of the same length as the time it takes you to say<BR>
> your piece, I would imagine that the safety factor would<BR>
> more than make up for the annoyance factor.  Well, it<BR>
> would for me anyhow.<BR>
<BR>
Hm, well, again, you could cut the transmission time to<BR>
one half or one third of the original, but you'd need to<BR>
suck up a few gigahertz of bandwidth to do it in a tenth<BR>
of a second. That would probably stand out pretty obviously.<BR>
<BR>
The best part is that this is all derived from Shannon's<BR>
law which limits information transfer rates - something<BR>
that the Third Imperium is unlikely to circumvent. (Although<BR>
finding a way around Shannon's law would be pretty cool...<BR>
compressing the sum of human knowledge into two bytes :)<BR>
<BR>
Ethan, behind on digests<BR>
- --<BR>
Ethan Henry                                        egh@klg.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 18:26:19 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: Re Infantry<BR>
<BR>
>On 9 Dec 99, at 15:39, Douglas E. Berry wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>> The basic load for an Imperial Army infantryman comes in at about 40lbs.<BR>
>> The basic weapon (4mm Gauss Rifle) has fairly heavy ammo, and they were<BR>
>> Combat Enviroment Suits. --<BR>
><BR>
>What exactly do you mean by basic load? In NZ we have no such beast.<BR>
><BR>
Basic load: The basic field issue load-out for combat.<BR>
<BR>
Typical (based upon my limited experience with infantry, and the Soldier's<BR>
Manual of Common Tasks, aka Smart Book):<BR>
<BR>
1 kg load bearing equipment (Belt, suspenders, and pouches)<BR>
2 kg field pack<BR>
2-4 kg battle rifle or assault rifle (empty)<BR>
1 kg bayonet<BR>
1 kg Entrenching tool<BR>
1 kg medical supplies<BR>
2 kg change of uniform<BR>
4 kg MOPP gear, not including L4 suit (Includes boots, gloves, and mask)<BR>
2 kg MOPP Coverall (The L4 suit)<BR>
1-5 kg Basic load of ammunition: (US ARMY: 4-7 clips of ammo, plus 2-8<BR>
grenades)<BR>
0.5 kg Flashlight<BR>
0.5 kg Poncho<BR>
1 kg Shelter half<BR>
0.5 kg underwear (Socks, shorts, shirts) for 3-7 changes)<BR>
2-4 kg Rations, MRE<BR>
4.2 kg water (4 L in two canteens)<BR>
- ---<BR>
25-35 kg total, for moving out on foot.<BR>
<BR>
Patrol BL (based off of SMART book and what I've seen of the US Army in<BR>
Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, and Germany from news footage):<BR>
1 kg load bearing equipment (Belt, suspenders, and pouches)<BR>
2-4 kg battle rifle or assault rifle (empty)<BR>
1 kg bayonet<BR>
1 kg Entrenching tool<BR>
1 kg medical supplies<BR>
2 kg MOPP mask<BR>
1-5 kg Basic load of ammunition: (US ARMY: 4-7 clips of ammo, plus 2-8<BR>
grenades)<BR>
0.5 kg Flashlight<BR>
0.5 kg Poncho<BR>
4.2 kg water (4 L in two canteens)<BR>
- -----<BR>
14-20 kg total daily carry.<BR>
<BR>
Almost every soldier in the field carrys the basic load. (Some officers<BR>
don't, but they also tend to be REMFs.)<BR>
<BR>
E-tools, if clean, also make decent skillets. They serve as a (poor)<BR>
shovel, axe, and single-leg camp-stool; they fold to 10cm x 20cm x 5 cm.<BR>
<BR>
Commo, medic, and Squad Support Weapon people carry more. Most infantry<BR>
also carry ammo for the SSW trooper. Light Foot Arty (Mortars) also have<BR>
much higher basic loads. The NZA might not call it a basic load, but I<BR>
guarantee the regulars have a basic load under some identity. It's contents<BR>
may differ. Specific weights may vary. But there is in almost every modern<BR>
army a basic soldier's rerquired carry for the field, and that is the basic<BR>
load.<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, 13 Dec 1999 14:48:14 EST<BR>
From: "Andrew Long" <andrewlong@hotmail.com><BR>
Subject: ADMIN: list archives<BR>
<BR>
I just tried to go to the list archives at MPGN.COM, but was bounced with <BR>
'anonymous login not allowed'. Does anyone know if the archives have moved?<BR>
<BR>
Or to put it another way, how can I get to the archives these days?<BR>
<BR>
regards, Andy<BR>
<BR>
- ---------------------------------------------------------<BR>
Andy Long		Email:	andrewlong@hotmail.com<BR>
- ---------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
______________________________________________________<BR>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com<BR>
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------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:08:52<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
At 06:06 AM 12/11/1999 -0700, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>Please define "pretty f*****g cold". I'm going to be spending a week<BR>
>in Vegas this coming March, and wouldn't mind knowing what kind of weather<BR>
>to expect. :)<BR>
<BR>
7th Inning of a Giants game in July.  They used to give medals to anyone<BR>
who stayed to the end of an extra-inning night game.<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:11:39<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Institutional Memory<BR>
<BR>
At 09:17 PM 12/10/1999 -0800, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>I can't remember what I had for breakfast.  Give us a clue.<BR>
<BR>
Roast Penguin.<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:28:04<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
<BR>
At 07:08 PM 12/11/1999 -0500, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>cities, at least in the USA don't have ordinances against openly carrying<BR>
>swords (course here in Florida, you can wear a revolver openly on your hip<BR>
>and not be arrested as well.  Just don't pull the trigger.).<BR>
<BR>
Oddly enough, Jesse deGraf and I have just returned from visiting Mark Cook<BR>
in Oregon, where we had the pleasure of attending a full-auto shoot at his<BR>
gun club.  Coming from California with a fairly strict level of gun<BR>
control, going 450 miles to find privately owned .50 calibre machine guns a<BR>
shock.  A *pleasant* shock, but a shock.  <BR>
<BR>
ObTrav: Different law levels can mean wide differences in cultures, and<BR>
attitudes about other cultures.  Those who live in low law level<BR>
environments might find higher law levels distasteful or even threatening.<BR>
- -- <BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:37:29<BR>
From: "Douglas E. Berry" <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com><BR>
Subject: Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire<BR>
<BR>
At 06:05 PM 12/10/1999 PST, you wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>> Favorite Star to put a colony world:<BR>
>>     Real Men - Beta Lyrae<BR>
>>     Real Roleplayers - Alpha Centauri<BR>
>>     Loonies - Cygnus X-1<BR>
>>     Munchkins - whereever gives them the most benefits<BR>
><BR>
>"What star does Krypton orbit?" :-)<BR>
<BR>
Oh, I'd give it to them.. since Kryptonians don't have powers under the<BR>
giant red sun....<BR>
- --<BR>
<BR>
Douglas E. Berry       gridlore@mindspring.com<BR>
http://gridlore.home.mindspring.com/index.html<BR>
<BR>
"I created the universe; give ME the gift certificate!!"<BR>
                   - Lisa Simpson, Overachiever<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 22:20:00 -0800<BR>
From: Jesse DeGraff <jdegraff@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: RE: Re Wager<BR>
<BR>
I've seen some of the Jovian ships, and really like the designs.  Traveller<BR>
comes first however, so it'll probably be awhile before I can ever do any :(<BR>
<BR>
Jesse<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- -----Original Message-----<BR>
From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
[mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com]On Behalf Of Frank Pitt<BR>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 1999 2:57 PM<BR>
To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Re Wager<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> >On 8 Dec 99, at 23:30, Chris Seamans wrote:<BR>
> ><BR>
> >> I'd wager money that most of the people on this list, even though they<BR>
> >> consider themselves roleplayers, aren't currently involved in a<BR>
campaign.<BR>
> >> That's not an attack on anybody, that's merely the reality of the<BR>
> >> situation.<BR>
><BR>
> Hmmm. Last friday, I wrapped a 6 month campaign, with weekly sessions of<BR>
~5<BR>
> hours. The group (with only minor changes) had been running without more<BR>
> than two weeks off at a shot, since about August 96, although we've<BR>
> switched systems every 3-6mo. I'll start up a new group around 2nd week of<BR>
> January.<BR>
><BR>
> I'd be willing to lay odds that the simple majority of the people on the<BR>
> list haven't been involved with playing TRAVELLER in the past 6 months.<BR>
> Then again, neither have I.<BR>
<BR>
Well, in my case, that depends on what you call "Traveller".<BR>
<BR>
I have rarely used Traveler rules for roleplaying , as I don't like using<BR>
rules for roleplaying even with goood rules, and in general Traveler rules<BR>
are not good for actual playing (though they're great as a basis for<BR>
character creation, ship design and wargaming )<BR>
<BR>
But I've used the Traveller universe conntinually, right now we're doing a<BR>
hybrid of Jovian Chronicles*  and T2300, as the Pluto research station<BR>
finally finish building the first stuterwarp craft, and take the untested<BR>
ship out into instellar space to avoid it being captured by an Earther<BR>
strike force...<BR>
<BR>
While at any time I  may not have played in the Traveller universe for last<BR>
two or three months, expand that to six months and I almost certainly have<BR>
donme something, if only a single convention scenario someone has asked me<BR>
to run.<BR>
<BR>
*something all Traveller players should read, if only for great looking<BR>
ships. Jesse, if you ever get the chance consider doing one of the Jovian<BR>
Chronicles ships, I suspect it would be damn dificult, they aren't<BR>
smooth-hulled like Traveller ships, more like Bab5 EarthForce ships.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:52:23 +1100<BR>
From: "Hughes, Michael" <Michael.Hughes@cbr.defence.gov.au><BR>
Subject: SEC: UNCLASSIFIED Game Handouts<BR>
<BR>
Sounds like a Space Opera campaign I was in years and years and years ago<BR>
(circa 1982) -- one adventure, we the players found a derelict ship. When we<BR>
found the ship's log entries, the GM played a tape he and his roommate (who<BR>
was not in the game) had prepared, complete with appripriate background<BR>
sound effects (think of the background sounds on the bridge in the original<BR>
Star Trek series) -- and the sounds of explosions and people screaming and<BR>
whatnot when the ship was being attacked... It added something to the<BR>
ambience.<BR>
Glenn St-Germain  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
One GM had me (the only player) sit in the middle of the lounge room with<BR>
four speakers staggered around me for a 'flashback' scene of a battle my<BR>
character was in twenty years before. With a small $50 mixing deck, he'd<BR>
merged one of the music scores from T2 with . . .<BR>
<BR>
A Medieval combat scene from a BBC sound effects library !<BR>
<BR>
It was too cool. By the end, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing<BR>
on end. <BR>
<BR>
See kids, who needs your fancy computers and designer narcotics to have fun<BR>
. . .<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Michael <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 09:27:09 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com> wrote:<BR>
>At 22:12 -0500 11/12/99, Cynthia Higginbotham <cyhiggin@pipeline.com> wrote:<BR>
>> > >(My definition of "pretty f*****g cold": when it gets down to -40, as it<BR>
>> > >usually does at least once during the winter up here. That's *really*<BR>
>> > >f*****g cold!)<BR>
>> ><BR>
>> > -40 is just a bit chilly. When I was a lad in Saskatoon I just threw on<BR>
>> > another lawyer of clothing and skied to school. No problem as long as you<BR>
>> > dress and behave appropriately. Now -60 is cold.<BR>
>>Here in N'Awlins, people start whining about the cold and wearing<BR>
>>coats when it gets below +50F. I grew up in Michigan, and spent<BR>
>>several years in Connecticut--to me, that's still T-shirt weather.<BR>
>>(Yes, I know what all you people from Minnesota and parts north<BR>
>>are going to say ;-)<BR>
><BR>
>Interesting - I feel like a NASA Mars probe as until the last two <BR>
>posts in this I've been assuming that the thread was talking Celcius.<BR>
<BR>
Not surprising, since both scales record -40 at the same temperature.<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, 13 Dec 1999 09:30:05 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
"Eris Reddoch" <eris@pcola.gulf.net> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>Personally, I don't care whether it's F or C, if it's a negative<BR>
>number it's too cold for me.  I'm one of those people Cynthia was<BR>
>talking about...sweaters at 60F, thick coats at 50F, mittens,<BR>
>earmuffs and layered clothes at 40F, huddle around the stove at 30F,<BR>
>and if it gets colder than that it's time to migrate further south!<BR>
><BR>
>OTOH, we *do* need a couple of days below freezing to hold down the<BR>
>mosquitos.  Oh, let's say, a Wednesday and Thursday in the middle of<BR>
>January.  <g><BR>
<BR>
Why not a Saturday and Sunday, so you can avoid them with a long<BR>
weekend break?<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, 13 Dec 1999 09:57:45 GMT<BR>
From: "Jonathan Lupton" <jonathanlupton@hotmail.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Superpowers<BR>
<BR>
>The guide at the THORP plant said that they couldn't build a small coal-<BR>
>fired plant because the radioactivity released on burning would have set<BR>
>the sensors off.  The carbon itself shouldn't be radioactive (too many<BR>
>half-lives).<BR>
>--<BR>
>Martin Hardgrave<BR>
<BR>
Thats BNFL staff for you. Famous for talking bollocks (and other strange <BR>
mutations).<BR>
<BR>
Actually carbon is radioactive, this property is used when carbon dating an <BR>
item. You measure the ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12 the more carbon 14 you <BR>
have the newer it is. Carbon has a long half life (it decays slowly) but <BR>
would still set the sensors off at Sellafield. And you wouldn't want to be <BR>
there if it did!<BR>
<BR>
J.<BR>
<BR>
______________________________________________________<BR>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com<BR>
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------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 18:16:22 -0800<BR>
From: "Antony Farrell" <Skaran@bigpond.com><BR>
Subject: RE: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
<BR>
> -----Original Message-----<BR>
> From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
> [mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com]On Behalf Of Kelly<BR>
> St.Clair<BR>
> Sent: Saturday, 11 December 1999 1:13 AM<BR>
> To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
> Subject: Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served<BR>
> weapon<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
> On Fri, 10 Dec 1999 18:52:52 PST, shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard<BR>
> Erickson) wrote:<BR>
><BR>
> >I recall seeing a cartoon *somewhere* that had an officer "plastered"<BR>
> >to a jeep, with the remains of a basketball-sized paintball on his<BR>
> >chest. There was a tank on the opposite side of the panel. I think the<BR>
> >caption was "after testing, it was decided that paintball rounds for<BR>
> >tanks wouldn't work..."<BR>
><BR>
> Tank-scale (well, actually mecha-scale) paintball rounds appear in the<BR>
> anime MACROSS PLUS.  It's an amusing bit, too:  two rival "test pilots" in<BR>
> prototype giant robots/fighters are competing against each other in a<BR>
> training exercise, set in a mockup of a city.  Their rifles carry<BR>
> paintball<BR>
> loads.<BR>
><BR>
> At one point, an enemy mecha pops up with a friendly mecha held<BR>
> in front of<BR>
> it, human-shield style.  The disciplined mecha-jock only hits the enemy's<BR>
> head, while the "maverick" sprays paintballs over both enemy and<BR>
> hostage...<BR>
>  Oops.<BR>
><BR>
> (To quote another movie that came out about the same time, on this side of<BR>
> the Pacific:  "Take the hostage out of the equation.")<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
> In the film Kelly's Heroes the Sherman tank of Oddball has had cusom paint<BR>
rounds made for it by the tank crew.<BR>
Antony<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 10:25:51 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Superpowers<BR>
<BR>
"Jonathan Lupton" <jonathanlupton@hotmail.com> wrote:<BR>
>>The guide at the THORP plant said that they couldn't build a small coal-<BR>
>>fired plant because the radioactivity released on burning would have set<BR>
>>the sensors off.  The carbon itself shouldn't be radioactive (too many<BR>
>>half-lives).<BR>
>>--<BR>
>>Martin Hardgrave<BR>
><BR>
>Thats BNFL staff for you. Famous for talking bollocks (and other strange <BR>
>mutations).<BR>
><BR>
>Actually carbon is radioactive, this property is used when carbon dating an <BR>
>item. You measure the ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12 the more carbon 14 you <BR>
>have the newer it is. Carbon has a long half life (it decays slowly) but <BR>
>would still set the sensors off at Sellafield. And you wouldn't want to be <BR>
>there if it did!<BR>
<BR>
Um, Carbon-14 has a 5700 year half life. Since the coal deposits are over<BR>
100 million years old (460 million comes to mind) there is no problem<BR>
from that cause.<BR>
<BR>
IIRC, carbon 14 dating assumes that the living matter is continually<BR>
absorbing carbon 14 from the environment. A process that stops as soon as<BR>
the thing dies.<BR>
<BR>
The above does not imply that I know what the source of carbon 14 in the<BR>
environment is.<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: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 23:40:49 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Munchkins<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Elves in Traveller is an interesting concept<BR>
> along with Asimovs law applying to psionics and magic<BR>
><BR>
> then theres the misguided Hiver archaeologist who when examining <BR>
> the wreckage of a RoM ship, found a copy of the necronomicon<BR>
> and a Macarena video. after thorough study he determined the video<BR>
> was some kind of summoning ritual.<BR>
<BR>
Well, if Magic works in your Traveller universe, might I suggest the<BR>
following (if only to teach players that Some Things Are Better Left Alone)?<BR>
<BR>
"Summon Demon" is a 1st level spell. "Control Demon" should be *much*<BR>
higher level.<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, 12 Dec 1999 23:46:34 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: The Rise and Supposed Decline of the RPG Empire<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 06:05 PM 12/10/1999 PST, you wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>>> Favorite Star to put a colony world:<BR>
>>>     Real Men - Beta Lyrae<BR>
>>>     Real Roleplayers - Alpha Centauri<BR>
>>>     Loonies - Cygnus X-1<BR>
>>>     Munchkins - whereever gives them the most benefits<BR>
>><BR>
>>"What star does Krypton orbit?" :-)<BR>
><BR>
> Oh, I'd give it to them.. since Kryptonians don't have powers under the<BR>
> giant red sun....<BR>
<BR>
Yeah, but aside from exporting Kryptonian merc units, can you imagine<BR>
what the (old-style DC) Kryptonian technology could do for your<BR>
players. <BR>
<BR>
I have this image of some PC ship equipped with a long range Phantom<BR>
Zone projector in a turret. <BR>
<BR>
Boy, talk about your surprised pirates!<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, 12 Dec 1999 23:50:17 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Deserts<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 22:12 -0500 11/12/99, Cynthia Higginbotham <cyhiggin@pipeline.com> wrote:<BR>
>> > >(My definition of "pretty f*****g cold": when it gets down to -40, as it<BR>
>> > >usually does at least once during the winter up here. That's *really*<BR>
>> > >f*****g cold!)<BR>
>> ><BR>
>> > -40 is just a bit chilly. When I was a lad in Saskatoon I just threw on<BR>
>> > another lawyer of clothing and skied to school. No problem as long as you<BR>
>> > dress and behave appropriately. Now -60 is cold.<BR>
>>Here in N'Awlins, people start whining about the cold and wearing<BR>
>>coats when it gets below +50F. I grew up in Michigan, and spent<BR>
>>several years in Connecticut--to me, that's still T-shirt weather.<BR>
>>(Yes, I know what all you people from Minnesota and parts north<BR>
>>are going to say ;-)<BR>
><BR>
> Interesting - I feel like a NASA Mars probe as until the last two <BR>
> posts in this I've been assuming that the thread was talking Celcius.<BR>
<BR>
Well, -40 F *is* -40 C. :-)<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, 12 Dec 1999 23:52:59 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball and morality (was Re: OT/Flamebait ...)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Eric Freitas wrote:<BR>
>> One night sticks in my mind in particular because of the distinctive<BR>
>> sound of an AK-47 going of in burst mode.  All I could think at the<BR>
>> times this happened was f****** idiots!<BR>
<BR>
> oh boy, I am glad I live in nice, peaceful, naive Australia. I had to<BR>
> got o Afirca to hear AK-47s, I most certainly would NOT like to hear<BR>
> them Down Under.  Not even used as fireworks: after all, what goes<BR>
> up, must come down (and with much the same velocity as wiith which it<BR>
> went up). Every year when the Arabs celebrate in Bahgdad, or the<BR>
> Afghanis in their hills, several people are killed by falling bullets.<BR>
<BR>
I recall several times celebrating New Years at my late friend's place.<BR>
He was a gunsmith, and a few years he'd comment on some of the more<BR>
distinctivesounding hardware being used in the neighborhood. At one<BR>
time he lived within hearing distance of someone who apparently owned<BR>
a BAR.<BR>
<BR>
We did use guns as noisemakers at his celebrations. Aimed at the nice<BR>
*soft* ground under the lawn. I recall a few years where I dug up some<BR>
of the spent rounds later. <BR>
<BR>
But heck, a .75 cal muzzle loading rifle makes quite a bang, and you<BR>
don't bee more than powder and wadding. Just be careful where you point<BR>
it.<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, 13 Dec 1999 00:02:07 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> You know... Paint Balls don't have to contain paint....<BR>
<BR>
Yeah, but nitro is liable to go off at the wrong time, and C4 won't<BR>
detonate. :-)<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, 13 Dec 1999 00:02:54 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Paintball is not a real gun, much less a light crew served weapon<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>> You know... Paint Balls don't have to contain paint....<BR>
><BR>
> But you'd want to handle them more carefully if they contained something<BR>
> dangerous !<BR>
<BR>
I already covered "explosives". <BR>
<BR>
But it just occured to me that some PC out the *has* to be carrying a<BR>
paintball gun with "napalm" ammo. Though I admit it'd be more likely in<BR>
a White Wolf type game. <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, 13 Dec 1999 00:11:21 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Elmore Artwork in T4<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> At 22:12 -0500 11/12/99, "Swordy \(Colin Michael\)"=20<BR>
> <swordworlder@clinic.net> wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>> > Anyone got an idea how much the original  of one of the Elmore B&W<BR>
>> > drawings from T4 would be worth?<BR>
>>I'll start the bidding off at =A312.50 ;-)<BR>
><BR>
> Splort!<BR>
<BR>
That's <currency symbol>12.50.<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, 13 Dec 1999 00:14:37 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Silly Traveller<BR>
<BR>
I just watched "Raiders of the Lost Ark" again last night. Anybody got<BR>
it on tape? If so, what's the serial number stenciled on the crate with<BR>
the Ark in that last scene? The *exact* text of the labeling would be<BR>
nice too. A GIF, or PNG (or even a JPG if all else fails) of *just* the<BR>
crate with the stencilling showing would be a nice bonus.<BR>
<BR>
Why? Well, I flashed on the salvage thread.<BR>
<BR>
...............<BR>
<BR>
The PCs have found an *old* Solomani ship, say from the period of the<BR>
original wars with the Ziru Sirka. It's obviously intended as a *fast*<BR>
secure courier. The crew is dead (some accident). And there's this old<BR>
(at least a century older than the ship) wooden crate in the hold. <BR>
<BR>
It's got something stenciled on it in what may be an old version of<BR>
Galanglic. It's rather cryptic.<BR>
<BR>
		TOP SECRET<BR>
		ARMY INTELLIGENCE<BR>
		9900xxxxxxxx<BR>
<BR>
.............<BR>
<BR>
Yes. *That* crate. :-)<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>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1485<BR>
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