<HTML><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10>Subj:	<B> Traveller-digest V1999 #1507</FONT><FONT  SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10></B><BR>
Date:	12/16/99 8:43:45 AM Pacific Standard Time<BR>
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Traveller-digest    Thursday, December 16 1999    Volume 1999 : Number 1507<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: Dino Killers Revisited<BR>
Re: Traveller-digest V1999 #1501<BR>
Re: laws, shmaws! space belongs to the People!<BR>
Re: Cutlass<BR>
Re: They're coming! (again)<BR>
Re: Silly Traveller<BR>
Re: Starship re-payments<BR>
OT Suggestions<BR>
Re: Velocity/Vector<BR>
Clarification - Convention Alert - Toronto Con.<BR>
Re: Dino Killers Revisited<BR>
Re: Hack, Cough, Die and Imp Intelligence.<BR>
Re: Mailing Info<BR>
Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
Re: Re-introduction<BR>
Re: OT Suggestions<BR>
Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
New Sayat Battery-Powered Novelty<BR>
Re: Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
Re: Exploding suppressors...<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 03:59:50 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Dino Killers Revisited<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> <serious Query, not flamebait><BR>
> Having just rewatched TLC's Asteroid Impact, the following occured to me...<BR>
><BR>
> Options for a dino-killer type imminent impact:<BR>
> Shatter<BR>
> Divert<BR>
><BR>
> Shattering keeps getting trounced here based upon 100 impacts of 100m is no<BR>
> better than 1 impact of 1500m of rock.<BR>
><BR>
> Diverting is energy intensive.<BR>
><BR>
> Would not shattering, especially at times from impact on the order of 5-10<BR>
> weeks, if done with sufficient force, scatter most off a direct impact? And<BR>
> if sufficient force is used, would one not be able, especially with<BR>
> TTL10-12 capabilites, to deliver sufficient force repeatedly enough to<BR>
> reduce the impacts below the atmosphereic deep penetration thresholds?<BR>
<BR>
You have to keep in mind the fact that the gravity well of the planet<BR>
acts like a "funnel, and will "focus" the spread out stuff so as to<BR>
result in more of it hitting the target than you'd otherwise think.<BR>
<BR>
Also, depending on the size of the rock, 5-10 weeks out is kinda hard<BR>
to pull off. For an object moving at 30 km/sec (earth's orbital<BR>
velocity) 5 weeks is 90 million km (.6 AU). 10 weeks is 180 million km<BR>
(1.2 AU).<BR>
<BR>
That's a *long* ways off to detect a body only a few km across. And<BR>
since it'd take weeks (or at least *a* week, if you use jump) to get to<BR>
where you can *try* to break it up, you have to detect it even<BR>
*farther* away.<BR>
<BR>
Now add in the fact that it'll take *weeks* of observation to pin down<BR>
the body's orbit well enough to determine if it'll hit or miss.<BR>
<BR>
This is why Spacewatch *desperately* needs more telescopes and<BR>
observing time. So they can locate potential hazards far enough in<BR>
advance that something can be done. <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: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 07:38:05 EST<BR>
From: Kagehira@aol.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Traveller-digest V1999 #1501<BR>
<BR>
In a message dated 12/15/99 5:59:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, <BR>
owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<< <BR>
 <BR>
 Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 16:22:40 -0800 (PST)<BR>
 From: Glenn Goffin <gmgoffin@yahoo.com><BR>
 Subject: Re: Velocity/Vector<BR>
 <BR>
 >From: Charles Collin <charles@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca><BR>
 <BR>
 >Just to throw my two cents in here I use a system <BR>
 >where emergence from jump causes one's vector <BR>
 >direction to be randomized.  <BR>
 <BR>
 This might be contradicted by Amber Zone: A Dagger at<BR>
 Efate, but I'm not sure.<BR>
 <BR>
 - --Glenn >><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
See Jumpspace article Jtas #24 (online at members.aol.com/kagekiha/traveller).<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Bryan<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 12:51:22 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: laws, shmaws! space belongs to the People!<BR>
<BR>
Kyle Schuant <kyle3054@yahoo.com> wrote:<BR>
>Some wise man wrote:>>And once in space,  you fall<BR>
>under UN rules preventing anyone but a<BR>
>soverign<BR>
>nation that is a member of the UN from exploiting any<BR>
>resources.>><BR>
><BR>
>Well, I'd be inclined to hop on that ship, land on<BR>
>that asteroid, start hauling it back to earth and say,<BR>
>"sue me, Secretary General. Come and get me!" And moon<BR>
>him from orbit.<BR>
<BR>
I thought the UN had a rule against soverign nations<BR>
exploiting space (presumably to stop the USA and Soviet Union<BR>
having a war over who owned the Moon whilst the rest of the<BR>
planet had no access to space at all)<BR>
<BR>
The implication was that private individuals could do what they want.<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: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:09:51 EST<BR>
From: Kagehira@aol.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Cutlass<BR>
<BR>
In a message dated 12/15/99 8:00:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, <BR>
owner-traveller-digest@lists.imagiconline.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<< <BR>
 Pikes are (1) for grabbing the other ship's gunwales<BR>
 and (2) holding off charging enemy sailor coming over<BR>
 your gunwales.  There aren't any gunwales on<BR>
 starships, so these don't get used in the Far Future.<BR>
 <BR>
 - --Glenn<BR>
 ___________________________________ >><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Except for laser pikes, good for shipboard use against BD while limiting <BR>
colateral damage :)<BR>
<BR>
Bryan<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 04:32:41 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: They're coming! (again)<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>> Very cool, more than a little rough, with some missing links, but very<BR>
>> cool!  I don't think I'd ever considered "War of the Worlds" as a RPG<BR>
>> setting, but it would make a killer setting.<BR>
><BR>
> We thought this too. But we wanted to run a modern game, so we generated<BR>
> modern characters (mine was based on military chopper pilot I once knew) and<BR>
> started playing. The GM threw in a real interesting twist though.<BR>
><BR>
> We decided to start in London, to keep some of the feel of the original<BR>
> WotW.<BR>
><BR>
> As the war started, imagine our surprise when the characters ran into a<BR>
> burning _SHADO_ mobile in the main street !<BR>
><BR>
> Remember them ?<BR>
<BR>
Yep. One of the first things I programmed when I was learning BASIC on<BR>
an HP-3000 timesharing system, accessed via 110 bps *teletype*<BR>
terminals was to recreate the teleprinter output they had at the start<BR>
of each episode of UFO.<BR>
<BR>
It was actually better than most US SF on the tube at the time!<BR>
<BR>
And for that matter, SHADO and the rest would make a nice campaign all<BR>
by themselves! I daresay you could even turn it into the basis for an<BR>
alternate history of the Traveller universe!<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: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 13:25:52 +0000<BR>
From: Timothy.Collinson@solent.ac.uk<BR>
Subject: Re: Silly Traveller<BR>
<BR>
> SethKimmel wrote:<BR>
>> supposedly I'm a Cohen (I find it hard to believe<BR>
>> the genealogy is still<BR>
>> uninterrupted from Aaron...), so I can open it...:-)<BR>
>><BR>
> hehehe willing to bet your life on it?:)<BR>
> My middle name is Aaron, but I wouldn't touch the thing.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Leonard wrote:<BR>
>Well, I think *intent* may be a factor here also.<BR>
<BR>
>"Black magic is a matter of symbolism and intent."<BR>
>    - Master Sorceror Sean O'Lochlainn<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Hmmm, I'm not sure about that.  IIRC the character in the Bible who touched<BR>
the Ark of the Covenant was 'merely' trying to stop it falling when the<BR>
carriers stumbled wasn't he?  Presumably he'd have not had any evil designs<BR>
on the thing itself and was genuinely trying to help.<BR>
<BR>
Oh no!  I've just realized that this is Leonard I'm arguing with!  My<BR>
apologies, I should be struck down myself for even thinking about<BR>
disagreeing...<BR>
<BR>
:-)<BR>
<BR>
tc<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 13:34:22 +0000<BR>
From: Phil Kitching <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Starship re-payments<BR>
<BR>
"Jason T. Barnabas" <cybernaut@netzero.net> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>I did the calculation using RATE with the following:<BR>
>New ship cost: 240 Mcr<BR>
>Down payment:  48 Mcr<BR>
>Loan financed:  192 Mcr<BR>
>Monthly payments: 1 Mcr<BR>
><BR>
>So, translating that to MSeXcel:<BR>
>Nper = 40*12<BR>
>Pmt = -1000000<BR>
>Pv = 192000000<BR>
>Fv = 0<BR>
>Type = 1<BR>
>Guess = 4%/12<BR>
>so the entry was = 12 * RATE(40*12,-1000000,192000000,0,1,4%/12)<BR>
><BR>
>I came up with ~ 5.610%, although; when I used the value<BR>
>it generated to do a payment schedual, I came up with a<BR>
>final balance of $8,381,385.56 after the 480th $1,000,000<BR>
>payment.  Who wants a baloon payment of $9,381,385.56?<BR>
<BR>
That's because you're tripping over the "interest on the interest"<BR>
problem.<BR>
<BR>
With your calculation (finding the monthly rate), to convert into an<BR>
annual calculation, try this<BR>
<BR>
= ((1+ RATE(40*12 , -1, 192)) ^ 12) - 1<BR>
<BR>
which gives 5.719%<BR>
<BR>
However, if your repayment schedule assumes that at the beginning of<BR>
each year, the interest is added to your current debt which is then paid<BR>
off at a fixed amount per month, then the rate of 5.522% is correct.<BR>
<BR>
I can't remember which is the official definition of APR.<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: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:47:50 -0500<BR>
From: Kurt Feltenberger <kurt@blazenet.net><BR>
Subject: OT Suggestions<BR>
<BR>
Sorry for the off topic post, but this last has people who can help!<BR>
<BR>
I'll be migrating from Window to a new PowerMac G-4/400 next week and <BR>
wondered what the "must have" utilities and software were.  Other than the <BR>
Rob Prior Trav items over on BITS' site, what do you recommend?<BR>
<BR>
Feel free to reply off list to keep the noise down.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
Kurt Feltenberger<BR>
<BR>
"To our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations,<BR>
    may she always be in the right, but our country, right or wrong!"<BR>
      ~Stephen Decatur<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
mailto:kurt@blazenet.net<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 09:15:24 -0500<BR>
From: "Smith, Walter" <SmithW@hartwick.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: Velocity/Vector<BR>
<BR>
Kaghera wrote:<BR>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><BR>
>Just to throw my two cents in here I use a system <BR>
 >where emergence from jump causes one's vector <BR>
 >direction to be randomized.  <BR>
  <BR>
 This might be contradicted by Amber Zone: A Dagger at <BR>
 Efate, but I'm not sure. <BR>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><BR>
The mercenary cruiser in _A Dagger at Efate_ was under computer<BR>
control, it's ability to make minor coourse changes to avoid <BR>
being docked with implies (to me) the ability to make the course<BR>
changes needed to hit Efate. Probably not as well as a ship with<BR>
a human navigator could, else why have human navigators at all,<BR>
but enough to get there.<BR>
<BR>
Walt Smith<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 14:27:33 GMT<BR>
From: "Boris Cibic" <kafka47@hotmail.com><BR>
Subject: Clarification - Convention Alert - Toronto Con.<BR>
<BR>
Is anyone out there going to attend Pandemonium 17 - Canada's largest 2 day <BR>
gaming convention [Toronto January22-23].  If we get enough people perhasps <BR>
we could russle up an unofficial Traveller game there.  I can send details <BR>
via a scan or go to the Silver Snail's game floor and pick up a brochure.  <BR>
But, if enough people show interest I can present to organisers and they may <BR>
offer reduced entrance or something like that.  Currently, it is a steal for <BR>
$20 and $1 for enter auction...if people want to auction traveller stuff <BR>
they should see me first. ~:)<BR>
kafka47@hotmail.com<BR>
<BR>
______________________________________________________<BR>
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 07:52:48 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: Dino Killers Revisited<BR>
<BR>
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Josh W. Spencer wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> Only one small problem with that. It's called the Outer Space Treaty. It and<BR>
> the LTBT (and probably the CTBT) would have to be modified to specifically<BR>
> allow the deployment of nukes in cislunar space for asteroid defensive<BR>
> purposes.<BR>
<BR>
A piece of paper would stop them for all of about ten seconds, long<BR>
enough to turn on the shredder and feed it through.<BR>
<BR>
Who would stop the people with the nukes from using them?<BR>
<BR>
Remember, the only ecosystem we have, is hanging in the balance.<BR>
<BR>
Now, if you were referring to permanent deployment 'just in case' then<BR>
yes, the treaty would have to be modified. But Niven's Law says people<BR>
don't do giant projects until they have no other choice, so I don't see a<BR>
permanent deployment of asteroid hunter nukes until _after_ the first<BR>
dino-killer comes our way.<BR>
<BR>
Then, if we get it, the treaty's toast anyway. If we don't get it, the<BR>
treaty doesn't matter, as we'll have to be brushing up on our<BR>
flint-knapping skills.<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 07:57:44 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: Hack, Cough, Die and Imp Intelligence.<BR>
<BR>
On Wed, 15 Dec 1999, Charlie wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Hi Folks<BR>
>  I am working up a new campaign scenario and I would like some<BR>
> opinions. At TL13/14 could you brew up a chemical toxin that would<BR>
> trigger only if an individual had an elevated level of some trace<BR>
> mineral in their body. A example would be a group using lead in their<BR>
> water supply infrastructure or another group exposed to some<BR>
> industrial byproduct unique to a particular type of industry.  Thanks<BR>
> Charlie Moore<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
<BR>
Absolutely. It would be some sort of engineered protein with an exotic<BR>
metal complex necessary for enzymatic activity. The thing is harmless<BR>
unless they've got an elevated level of the metals in their system.<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:03:03 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: Mailing Info<BR>
<BR>
No.<BR>
<BR>
XTML was a short-lived schism of the main TML when a bunch of CT grognards<BR>
decided they didn't want to play with us TNE heathens anymore and formed<BR>
their own list, which soon consisted of about 80% crossposts from the main<BR>
list; traffic soon dwindled to pretty much nothing. It died along with the<BR>
unfortunate demise of GDW,  and was folded back into this list at the<BR>
time of the Ramshackle Edition (T4).<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Jim & Peta Lawrie wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>     Does the XTML list still function? Could someone tell me the procedure<BR>
> for joining that list as well? I'm a bit lost and I'm having troubles<BR>
> getting onto the majordomo site.<BR>
>     Jim L.<BR>
> <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 10:08:02 -0500<BR>
From: Ethan Henry <egh@klg.com><BR>
Subject: Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
<BR>
"Jason T. Barnabas" <cybernaut@netzero.net> wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Michel Vaillancourt <misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca> wrote:<BR>
> >I personally don't understand the modern requirement for the US<BR>
> >2nd Amendment, but then I am a Canuck.  That isn't flame-bait, its just me.<BR>
<BR>
Me too.<BR>
<BR>
> Look at it this way.  Have you ever heard of criminals that<BR>
> couldn't get pretty much whatever type of weapon they<BR>
> wanted?  Criminals will always have weapons, usually<BR>
> superior to those available to most public servants short<BR>
> of SWAT teams.<BR>
<BR>
Really? Huh. I've never seen that happen in Canada. Honestly.<BR>
Taking a extremely unscientific sample (me reading the Toronto<BR>
Sun over lunch once in a while) relatively few crimes around<BR>
here are committed with guns. The last crime involving a gun<BR>
(earlier this week) involved a _replica_ handgun.<BR>
<BR>
Other notable crimes of late:<BR>
<BR>
 - a six (? I forget the age) year old girl was discovered <BR>
   dismembered, in several bags, near a local lake shore<BR>
 - Paul Bernardo (not so recent), another sex-related killing<BR>
 - A teenanger was swarmed by a group of teens and killed over a<BR>
   dispute about cigarettes<BR>
 - A man who worked as a household cleaner/personal servant was<BR>
   arrested for taking picture of his female employeers nude and <BR>
   stealing their belongings<BR>
<BR>
Now, one may conclude that either I or the Toronto Sun are obsessed with sex<BR>
but the Sun loves gun violence just as much, believe me. I have little to<BR>
worry about with regard to guns in Toronto (or so I perceive anyway). I <BR>
live near one of the worse parts of town (Parkdale) and the biggest threat<BR>
there? Stepping on a used needle or being accosted by someone leaving the<BR>
mental health center. "Packin' heat" may work in Florida, but I don't see<BR>
it helping house, feed or cure anyone's sexual deviancies around here.<BR>
<BR>
>  So, if you removed the 2nd and<BR>
> allowed the gun-control advocates to have thier way, the<BR>
> only people who had guns would be the criminals.  Police<BR>
> cannot protect us and never could.  The only way for<BR>
> people to be safe is for them to protect themselves.<BR>
<BR>
Uh-huh.<BR>
<BR>
<snip><BR>
> he commented that the only people being molested by<BR>
> criminals were tourists.  <BR>
<BR>
Oh, yay. Great fix. In a state that takes in a large part of <BR>
its revenue from tourism, start shooting the tourists. Does this<BR>
not seem a little counter-productive to you?<BR>
<BR>
Anyway, the "criminals will have guns anyway" argument doesn't<BR>
hold with me. Maybe it's a Canadian thing.<BR>
- --<BR>
Ethan Henry                                        egh@klg.com<BR>
Java Evangelist, KL Group                   http://www.klg.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 10:22:13 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Charles Collin <charles@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca><BR>
Subject: Re: Re-introduction<BR>
<BR>
(Re-re-introduction?)<BR>
<BR>
Welcome back Ross!  Hope them Californians are treating you well. <BR>
Remember that unlike in Quebec, honking and giving the finger to a group<BR>
of kids who've cut you off is NOT advisable! :-) (In Quebec it's<BR>
practically a legal requirement to 'flip the bird' at bad motorists)<BR>
<BR>
Charles C. (known to you as Chuck)<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:23:17 -0700 (MST)<BR>
From: Bruce Johnson <johnson@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU><BR>
Subject: Re: OT Suggestions<BR>
<BR>
My first suggestion is going to sound heretical...<BR>
<BR>
Get RealPC or Virtual PC, install DOS and then you can run Galactic...It<BR>
moves quite nicely on my ol' 233mhz 604 mac. A G4/400 will probably run<BR>
about as fast as a 200-233 mhz Pentium with slow disk access (the achilles<BR>
heel of the PC emulators out there)<BR>
<BR>
As far as Mac Trav utilities, aside from Rob's stuff, there's not much.<BR>
<BR>
But there's a lot of non-trav related stuff that'll maske your life<BR>
easier.<BR>
<BR>
First, go get FinderPop. The Mac has much more customizable context menus<BR>
(like right clicking in Windows), but you have to press the control key<BR>
when you click. FinderPop (pintware, send enough to the author to cover<BR>
the cost of a pint ;-) has a setting that lets you click and hold, and<BR>
then the menu pops up. Still only need one button!<BR>
<BR>
If you get something like a trackball, you can assign the right key the<BR>
context menu key combo. But I like FinderPop a LOT, so much so that I find<BR>
myself holding the left mouse button down at work, vainly waiting for the<BR>
context menu to pop up on my PC.<BR>
<BR>
There's a new book out from O'Reilley, a cross platform Windows <-> Mac<BR>
book out it might be worth a browse, of you're moving over.<BR>
<BR>
You're going to _hate_ that stupid hockey-puck mouse (I know, I'm a<BR>
MacEvangelist, bleed in six colors sort of guy, and _I_ hate that stupid<BR>
hockey-puck mouse!) <BR>
<BR>
Get a MacWarehouse catalog, there's a company, I believe it's MacAlly,<BR>
that makes replacement plastic sides for the puck mouse that turn it into<BR>
a more normal mouse shape, for about $9. The part just pop off and on, so<BR>
no warrantee problems. Otherwise, so far as I've seen just about any USB<BR>
mouse or trackball works, (even if they have PeeCee only drivers, plug 'em<BR>
in...the Mac driver generally works), ditto for keyboards.<BR>
<BR>
Final bit of general advice: if in doubt, try dragging the file onto the<BR>
application, drag'n'drop is a LOT more pervasive in the MacOS than it is<BR>
in Windows.<BR>
<BR>
Welcome to the Light Side of the Force ;-)<BR>
<BR>
Bruce Johnson<BR>
University of Arizona<BR>
College of Pharmacy<BR>
Information Technology Group<BR>
<BR>
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Kurt Feltenberger wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Sorry for the off topic post, but this last has people who can help!<BR>
> <BR>
> I'll be migrating from Window to a new PowerMac G-4/400 next week and <BR>
> wondered what the "must have" utilities and software were.  Other than the <BR>
> Rob Prior Trav items over on BITS' site, what do you recommend?<BR>
> <BR>
> Feel free to reply off list to keep the noise down.<BR>
> <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 16:25:03 +0000<BR>
From: "Carlos Alos-Ferrer" <carlos.alos-ferrer@univie.ac.at><BR>
Subject: Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
<BR>
> Anyway, the "criminals will have guns anyway" argument doesn't<BR>
> hold with me. Maybe it's a Canadian thing.<BR>
> Ethan Henry                                        egh@klg.com<BR>
<BR>
And a European one, AFAIK. Although sometimes they don't need them.<BR>
Don't tell anybody <grin>, but banks here in Vienna are robbed the <BR>
following way (speaking from personal experience and extensive <BR>
questioning of natives afterwards).<BR>
<BR>
An individual just stands in the cue with the customers, waiting <BR>
patiently. When it is his turn, he *quietly* says "Ueberfall," that <BR>
is, "Robbery." The cashier has strict instructions never to risk <BR>
anything in such a case, so he simply gives the criminal the cash he <BR>
has available. Then the criminal *walks* away from the bank and <BR>
disappears. Sometimes, customers do not even notice that the bank has <BR>
been robbed, and I am pretty sure that none of those criminals has a <BR>
gun.<BR>
<BR>
Now drop your usual trigger-easy PCs on a planet where things go like <BR>
this, and have them wonder if they should rob a bank themselves... <BR>
<grin>.<BR>
<BR>
Btw, this is somewhat nasty, and I apologize for it,  but I asked <BR>
precisely that to a native austrian, i.e. if it wouldn't be a <BR>
temptation for some foreigners, let's say americans (or even <BR>
spaniards like me), to rob a bank if they knew this is the style <BR>
here. The answer was that that would never happen, because an <BR>
american could never correctly pronounce "Ueberfall," and hence the <BR>
cashier would never understand him...<BR>
<BR>
Sometimes I feel like I haven't changed countries, but planets.<BR>
<BR>
Carlos Alos-Ferrer<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 10:44:14 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Kenji Schwarz <schwarz@fas.harvard.edu><BR>
Subject: New Sayat Battery-Powered Novelty<BR>
<BR>
The Sayat Board for the Operationalization and Optimization of Munitions<BR>
(SayBOOM) has long been aware that quantities of a surplus military<BR>
novelty hardware, namely, the Pelvic Mount Plasma Projector, have been<BR>
circulating in notoriously primitive societies such as the Third Imperium,<BR>
the Solomani Confederation, etc. In order to improve the lamentable safety<BR>
record of this device in the hands of lower primates, and to foster<BR>
interstellar amity and wellbeing, SayBOOM hereby presents to you, backward<BR>
consumers and genetic errors, the support system for the PMPP which has<BR>
been suspected to exist for so long.<BR>
<BR>
Despite the best in experimental TL-F synaptic processing technology, the<BR>
PMPP in its robotically enhanced harness has an equivalent intelligence of<BR>
only UPP 4, requires explicit commands and has a limited vocabulary, and<BR>
is wholly unable to learn from experience.  It is also unarmored,<BR>
delicate, immobile, devoid of even the pretense of emotion, and virtually<BR>
insensate.  However, SayBOOM would like to point out that can boast<BR>
performance[1] and endurance considerably in excess of any competition.<BR>
<BR>
SayBOOM would also like to take this opportunity to remain wholly silent<BR>
on rumors of a much more advanced robotic intelligence incorporated into<BR>
the current service model of the PMPP, the Foe Recognition & Interdiction<BR>
Gestalt Intelligence Technology (FRIGIT). Claims of full neural<BR>
interfacing with the bearer through superior Sayat cybernetic technology<BR>
cannot possibly be commented upon at this time.<BR>
<BR>
URP: 10030-00-5B001-0041(7)  Cr317,292  10kg (empty), 11kg (loaded)<BR>
  Duration=42.7 kilowatt-hours, 12.2 hours normal operation  TL=15<BR>
  2/5 (unarmored)<BR>
  Basic visual and audio sensor<BR>
  High energy weapons-1<BR>
  Pelvic Mount Plasma Projector (loaded)<BR>
<BR>
PMPP:  A TL-C, 50 kilojoule plasma "frontarm".  <BR>
  Short range: 22.4m  <BR>
  Damage: 9  <BR>
  Laser sight, inertial compensator<BR>
  Box magazine holding 6 EPC cartridges.<BR>
  Recoil 2.8 (attached to robot) or 34.6 (detatched).<BR>
  Each 18.5x55.6mm ECP cartridge masses 120 grams and costs Cr1.25.<BR>
<BR>
Built using Book 8: Robots, plus FF&SII for the weapon design.  Yes, I'm<BR>
aware the tech in Book 8 is totally out of whack with regard to current<BR>
canon.  I'm not one of them damn WEIRDOS down the street at MIT.<BR>
<BR>
[1] By my understanding of FF&SII, each shot can blow down trees up to a<BR>
foot thick or punch through more than an inch of steel.<BR>
<BR>
Kenji Schwarz<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 10:50:23 -0500<BR>
From: Ethan Henry <egh@klg.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Re: guns with guns (and more guns)<BR>
<BR>
Ethan Henry wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> Anyway, the "criminals will have guns anyway" argument doesn't<BR>
> hold with me. Maybe it's a Canadian thing.<BR>
<BR>
Damn! Forgot the ObTrav.<BR>
<BR>
ObTrav: The characters, as they are about to lift from the ground<BR>
(in their ship) are approached by a man (could be any person) <BR>
seeking passage off-world. He doesn't seem too interested in where <BR>
they're going (or may seem very interested in the destination,<BR>
regardless of where it is). He has cash in hand to pay for the passage<BR>
and no great cargo to speak of - just some hand luggage (unusual for<BR>
an interstellar trip).<BR>
<BR>
Possibilities:<BR>
<BR>
1. All is as it seems. The man is a business entrepreneur looking<BR>
for markets for his new series of media productions. His luggage<BR>
contains a few changes of clothes and a couple of media disks containing<BR>
samples of his shows/recordings/etc.<BR>
<BR>
2. The man is a paranoid schizophrenic who believes that he looks<BR>
identical to a man who the police are searching for in relation to <BR>
a rather recent gruesome killing. He has a faint resemblance to <BR>
the pictures of the alleged killer, but is unlike to be arrested on those<BR>
(or any) grounds. If they players start asking too many questions or <BR>
seem like they may suspect him of something he has a handgun and will <BR>
try to kill the PCs and take over the ship (perhaps in jump).<BR>
<BR>
3. The man has heard that there is a booming market in 'illicit activities'<BR>
(Hm, does that break the no-sex rule Kenji?) on the destination world. While<BR>
this may or may not be true, he is slightly edgy and will avoid question <BR>
about the purpose of his trip. He does have a handgun packed, but will not<BR>
use it under normal circumstances. About a week after arriving the local<BR>
authorities will be looking for him in conjunction with a criminal<BR>
investigation and he will try to make a hasty escape - perhaps with the PCs.<BR>
<BR>
4. The man is a wanted criminal for several sex-related killings. He is <BR>
dangerously insane. he will "hold off" for a few days, but towards the <BR>
end of jump will break down and try to attack and kill one of the PCs.<BR>
If successful, he will attempt to hide his crime in some grizzly way<BR>
(I don't have to spell it out, just pick something gruesome). He doesn't<BR>
have a gun, but has a large selection of extremely sharp knives in his<BR>
luggage.<BR>
<BR>
5. The man is a wanted criminal and the orbital naval authorities <BR>
will attempt to make an arrest. The man has a big gun and will try to <BR>
take the bridge and force the PCs to outrun/fight the naval ships<BR>
and jump to (temporary) saftey.<BR>
- --<BR>
Ethan Henry                                        egh@klg.com<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:24:46 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Exploding suppressors...<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Via electronic medium on 12/15/99 1:24 PM, shadow@krypton.rain.com wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>> OBtrav: Let the players learn this the hard way.<BR>
><BR>
> Any ideas on guidelines for play? How many rounds in how much time at so and<BR>
> so caliber = what percentage chance of boom, how big a boom, effects of<BR>
> boom?<BR>
<BR>
No idea regarding how many or how fast. But "How big a boom" and the<BR>
effects of a boom are fairly simple. <BR>
<BR>
You see, what goes wrong is that things heat up. As they do, they<BR>
*expand*. The proper functioning of a suppressor requires that the<BR>
bullet pass thru a bunch of washers that seperate a series of chambers.<BR>
There has to be a fairly close fit (ie not too much of a gap between<BR>
the bullet and the washers) or the suppressor doesn't suppress the<BR>
noise.<BR>
<BR>
Now, heat this assemblage up *and* subjection to all the vibration<BR>
inherent in full auto fire. How long before a bullet clips the edge of<BR>
a washer? <BR>
<BR>
When it does, it'll get deflected and almost certainly *jam* in the<BR>
next washer. Now the next round fires and you've got what is<BR>
effectively a *blocked barrel*!<BR>
<BR>
Luckily suppressers operate at lower pressure than the barrel. The<BR>
whole idea is for the expanding gases to expand into those chambers, so<BR>
that when the bullet clears the suppressor, the pressure is to low to<BR>
make a "bang", but instead makes a more subdued "pop". <BR>
<BR>
But you are still dealing with metal being ripped apart by pressure. <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 #1507<BR>
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