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Traveller-digest    Wednesday, December 29 1999    Volume 1999 : Number 1599<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: Re Heraldry<BR>
Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
Re: Purina etc.<BR>
Coffee and Weasels - Was: Chow chow chow<BR>
Re: Re Image Formats<BR>
Re: Re Image Formats<BR>
Re: Keyboard Kills Since 20 Oct 99<BR>
Re: Keyboard Kills Since 20 Oct 99<BR>
Re: Keyboard Kills<BR>
Re: Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
[none]<BR>
Re: Drawing Program - longish<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
Re:  free trader<BR>
Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 23:30:37 EST<BR>
From: JFZeigler@aol.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Re Heraldry<BR>
<BR>
In a message dated 12/28/99 5:29:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, aramis@gci.net <BR>
writes:<BR>
<BR>
> Ob Trav: How many of you assume some form of heraldry in the 3I? Is it<BR>
>  standardized? How high a rank before one is awarded a device?<BR>
<BR>
I've been speculating about an Imperial College of Arms.  Functions include<BR>
registering devices, but also taking care of the business of tracking who<BR>
has a claim to what title.  They do genealogical work, vet prospective<BR>
heirs to make sure they don't fail to be worthy of noble rank in some<BR>
respect, administer the oath of fealty to the Emperor in cases where the<BR>
noble can't make it to Capital for investment. . .<BR>
<BR>
Gotta figure the Emperor can't actually do all that himself.<BR>
<BR>
- ----------<BR>
Jon F. Zeigler: Mathematician, computer geek, amateur historian, freelance<BR>
writer, occasional scribbler of bad poetry<BR>
"For any statement, no matter how innocuous, there exists a nonempty<BR>
set of people who will take offense at it."<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 22:45:08 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
<BR>
Leonard Erickson wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> In mail you write:<BR>
> <BR>
> >>Actually Eris has inflicted^h^h^h^h treated us to several of these<BR>
> >>already. This will only give him ideas. <sigh> maybe if we rip out all<BR>
> >>the passenger cabins and replace them with cargo hold...;-)<BR>
> ><BR>
> > Then I'll just use "101 Cargos" to plague you. <g><BR>
> ><BR>
> > Eris<BR>
> <BR>
>                                   /\<BR>
>                                 /    \<BR>
>                               /        \<BR>
>                             /            \<BR>
>                           /                \<BR>
>                         /         *          \<BR>
>                       /         * *            \<BR>
>                     /         *   *              \<BR>
>                   /         *     *                \<BR>
>                 /\         *************            /\<BR>
>               /    \              *               /    \<BR>
>             /        \            *             /        \<BR>
>           /            \          *           /            \<BR>
>         /                \                  /                \<BR>
>       /           *        \              /        *           \<BR>
>     /           * *          \          /        * *             \<BR>
>   /           *   *            \      /        *   *               \<BR>
> /           *     *              \  /        *     *                 \<BR>
> \          *************          /\        *************            /<BR>
>   \               *             /    \             *               /<BR>
>     \             *           /        \           *             /<BR>
>       \           *         /            \         *           /<BR>
>         \                 /                \                 /<BR>
>           \             /    <explosive>     \             /<BR>
>             \         /                        \         /<BR>
>               \     /                            \     /<BR>
>                 \ /                                \ /<BR>
>                   \ <corrosive>      <biohazard>   /<BR>
>                     \                            /<BR>
>                       \                        /<BR>
>                         \     <radiation>    /<BR>
>                           \                /<BR>
>                             \            /<BR>
>                               \        /<BR>
>                                 \    /<BR>
>                                   \/<BR>
> <BR>
> How's that for a cargo?<BR>
<BR>
Highly amusing.<BR>
<BR>
Personally, though, I'd choose available cargoes from my 1993 edition of<BR>
the Emergency Response Guidebook.  Pick four or five materials,<BR>
including some with really unpleasant-sounding names such as Methyl<BR>
Isocyanate [ID#2480] and Trifluorochloromethane [ID# 1022], then throw<BR>
in a seemingly-innocuous material such as Aluminum Powder (uncoated)<BR>
[ID#1396].  Naturally, since all of these items are considered<BR>
"hazardous cargo", there is a Cr 500/dton shipping bonus for carrying<BR>
these materials.<BR>
<BR>
Note that the Emergency Response Guide [Guide #40 in the 1993 ERG] for<BR>
aluminum powder (uncoated) lists the following potential hazards:<BR>
<BR>
May ignite itself if exposed to air;<BR>
May re-ignite after fire is extinguished;<BR>
Violent reaction with water produces flammable gas;<BR>
May be poisonous if inhaled<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
AuricTech Shipyards Journeyman Gearhead<BR>
"Gold-Plated [tm] solutions for copper-plated problems!" (r)<BR>
Keeper of the TML Keyboard Casualty List<BR>
<BR>
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/9776<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 15:50:12 +1100<BR>
From: "Jim & Peta Lawrie" <jimpeta@primus.com.au><BR>
Subject: Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
<BR>
>Note that the Emergency Response Guide [Guide #40 in the 1993 ERG] for<BR>
>aluminum powder (uncoated) lists the following potential hazards:<BR>
><BR>
>May ignite itself if exposed to air;<BR>
>May re-ignite after fire is extinguished;<BR>
>Violent reaction with water produces flammable gas;<BR>
>May be poisonous if inhaled<BR>
<BR>
Quick story: When I left school I worked at a printers, we had little<BR>
buckets of Aluminium Pigment and one of the guys flicked a smoldering<BR>
cigarette butt into an open one. Very Impressive!<BR>
    He sees this flare-like fire and thinks "I'd better put that out" so he<BR>
stamped on it with his work boot.<BR>
    It blew the the bucket to shreds and put him in hospital for about a<BR>
month, strangely enough, it didn't blow his foot off. Lady Luck smiles on<BR>
the truely stupid.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 22:49:20 -0600<BR>
From: Dan Roseberry <rosebee@troi.csw.net><BR>
Subject: Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
<BR>
Kiri comments<passages snippt><BR>
> Slender is nice on men too.<BR>
So, discriminating on the fat people, are we?<BR>
>>No, I don't think you want to see me in a sexy<BR>
skintight leotard either.<BR>
>Probably not. I was just thinking that I find it annoying that male<BR>
>NPCs/filler art are always average looking and almost always white<BR>
whereas<BR>
>most females in the average SF universe appear to be from the planet of<BR>
<BR>
>Barbie Cheesecake.<BR>
>I would like to see some good looking men<snippt><BR>
Two points. First, definitely not (unless your into Orca fat). Second,<BR>
(here's where the flames hit) why do we have to have cheese cake to<BR>
begin with? Most people do not make it on the cover of Cosmo or GQ and I<BR>
would wager that the same would be true in the Far Future. Your average<BR>
adventurer is gonna be just that. Average. If your going to push for a<BR>
TU that is more diverse, you shouldn't be stopping with the beautiful<BR>
people.<BR>
Throw out Barbie and Ken! I liked GI Joe anyway.<BR>
<BR>
Dan Roseberry (plop101) Fighting for the rights of oppressed uglies<BR>
everywhere.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 23:53:06 EST<BR>
From: Sethkimmel@aol.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Purina etc.<BR>
<BR>
In a message dated 12/28/99 12:10:57 AM Pacific Standard Time, <BR>
GypsyComet@aol.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<< They also make Purina Bachelor Chow, but they CALL it Macaroni & Cheese... <BR>
>><BR>
<BR>
I thought that was canned Chef Boyardee ravioli...:-). You can also use it as <BR>
mass driver projectiles!!! (and I now duck from starting the silly MDC thread <BR>
all over again...:-).<BR>
<BR>
BTW: I was looking at an old Bugs Bunny cartoon as I was channel surfing. It <BR>
was the one with Yosemite Sam and they each drew larger and larger revolvers <BR>
(9 shooter, 10 shooter, etc.) at each other. Until recently 5 or 6 shots was <BR>
all ya' got (except for certain .22's...). Now there are 7 and 8 shot <BR>
revolvers on the market. I thought that this was a great sneaky trick for a <BR>
GM to pull on his/her players. Tell them that they are facing a person with a <BR>
revolver. As the firefight gets underway, SOMEBODY is bound to count shots. <BR>
Imagine their surprise when they rush an empty weapon, and find out the hard <BR>
way it's not...:-). It's VERY satisfying to burn munchkins this way...:-)<BR>
<BR>
Seth<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 21:05:38 -0800<BR>
From: Kristian Miller <travellerne@3rd-imperium.com><BR>
Subject: Coffee and Weasels - Was: Chow chow chow<BR>
<BR>
Kiri Aradia Morgan wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> On Tue, 28 Dec 1999 GDWGAMES@aol.com wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> > Isn't there some kind of gourmet coffee where the bean has to pass through<BR>
> > the digestive tract of a small mammal?<BR>
> ><BR>
> I had never heard of that.  I hope I haven't been drinking it.  (Kiri chan<BR>
> spends too much money on fancy coffee.)<BR>
<BR>
Kiri,<BR>
<BR>
Don't worry.  The coffee is from South America and costs on the order of <BR>
$100 per pound--not something you find in your local grocery.  <BR>
Apparently, the coffee has a "richer" taste.   Here's what Dave Barry <BR>
had to say about it:<BR>
<BR>
Then I thought: What kind of world is this when you worry that people<BR>
might <BR>
be ripping you off by selling you coffee that was NOT pooped out by a<BR>
weasel?<BR>
                                -Dave Barry, Columnist<BR>
<BR>
Kristian<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 18:25:05 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Re Image Formats<BR>
<BR>
> >They also have the ability to "rasterize" an image for "quicker"<BR>
> >display. Basicly, it's an interlace option. Every 8th(?) line is<BR>
> >displayed. Then the "4th" lines "halfway" between them. Then the<BR>
> >"second" lines, and finally the last pass fills in the remaining lines.<BR>
><BR>
> I'm sure you can interlace JPEGs these days. At least, I'm pretty sure<BR>
Corel<BR>
> 8 has an option on the save window.<BR>
<BR>
Both "raterized" and "interlaced"  actually mean something completely<BR>
different from what  you are both describing, which is "progressive<BR>
decoding/encoding"<BR>
<BR>
The original JPEG format did this by default, it was designed for the<BR>
purpose.<BR>
I think GIF can now do this as well.<BR>
<BR>
Rasterized means any image that is displayed line by line (so BMP is a<BR>
raster format)<BR>
<BR>
Interlaced is as described above, but can't be done while downloading unless<BR>
you also use a progressively encoded format. Interlaced mode is used to make<BR>
it _look_  better in certain display formats, not display while downloading<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 18:49:06 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Re Image Formats<BR>
<BR>
> >I never use it, as jpg is so much better for most pictures.<BR>
> ><BR>
> >Those that recommend GIF for line drawings miss the point, any line<BR>
drawing<BR>
> >is better rendered using a vector format anyway.<BR>
> ><BR>
> GIF and PNG both are there to fill a gap that is not filled: downloadable<BR>
> display graphics.<BR>
<BR>
JPG was designed for that gap, GIF and PNG were not.<BR>
<BR>
> For web pages, GIFs are often far more flexible than JPG's. GIF's can be<BR>
> made in 1, 2, 4, or 8 bit, in a variety of sizes.<BR>
<BR>
JPG's are actually far more flexible than GIF, irrelevant of where they are<BR>
used. Size can be any size, bit depth can be anything from 2 to 32, and<BR>
compression can be trinmed to what ever level desired, including none.<BR>
<BR>
The benefits that GIF"s have over JPGs for web use are support for<BR>
"see-thru" colours and animation, and they use "lossless" compression. But<BR>
of course they are only "lossless" if the original picture is one of the<BR>
limited number of supported formats. If it isn't, and most non-digital<BR>
photographs aren't, then saving a picture as a GIF will cause you to lose<BR>
definition.<BR>
<BR>
> They are generally fairly low in overhead.<BR>
<BR>
JPEG really has no more overhead than GIF, except that a heavily compressed<BR>
one might take a little longer to save and display. OTOH, a non-compresed<BR>
one should display faster, as it is basically a straight bitmap.<BR>
<BR>
> They include a pallate of colors, and so are flexible.<BR>
<BR>
Don't see why that makes it flexible, JPG's display whatever colour is in<BR>
the picture, assuming your display is of high enough bit depth.<BR>
<BR>
> They are bitmapped, and so can be displayed with minimal processor cycles.<BR>
<BR>
No more than JPEG. Remember, GIF is a compressed format too, and JPG is also<BR>
a bitmap format.<BR>
<BR>
> It takes about 2 times longer to display a .jpg as a .GIF on most machines<BR>
> I've worked with<BR>
<BR>
Then you have either a poor JPEG engine or poor machines.<BR>
<BR>
The difference in display should not be noticeable on any reasonable<BR>
machine.<BR>
<BR>
The most likely problem is that you are using a lower bit-depth display<BR>
driver than the JPEG, forcing the JPEG driver to dither the colours.<BR>
<BR>
Also you are likley comparing different quality pictures, the default<BR>
setting for JPEG is much higher resolution and bit-depth than the default<BR>
for GIF, you'd have to explicitly degrade the JPEG to get a fair comparison.<BR>
<BR>
> I've not seen ANY vector formats supported by stock<BR>
> browsers.[1] Heck, the only vector formats I've seen discussed that I can<BR>
> open are .ps and .pdf; both are slow.<BR>
<BR>
Well I'm not talking about browsers, if all you're worried about is<BR>
browsers, it really doesn't matter which format you use, pictures used in<BR>
web pages are usually such low resolution who cares what format they're in.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 18:55:03 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard Kills Since 20 Oct 99<BR>
<BR>
> >> 1.  Two TMLers, Kenji Schwarz and Doug Berry, have achieved Ace status<BR>
> >> (five kills each, within the surveyed time frame).<BR>
> ><BR>
> >"In the end, there can be only One..."<BR>
> ><BR>
> >En garde!<BR>
><BR>
> And despite the fact that I'm just wearing a t-shirt and jeans, I suddenly<BR>
> produce a katana from my patented Gridlore Technologies hyper-sheath<BR>
(Don't<BR>
> go to the Gathering without one!)<BR>
<BR>
You realize The Gathering is currently occurring in a field a hundred odd<BR>
miles north of me ?<BR>
It just said so on television, lots of long haired types with nose rings and<BR>
strange body paint by the look of things.<BR>
<BR>
Does a hyper-sheath allow Superman to have safe sex ?<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 18:57:44 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard Kills Since 20 Oct 99<BR>
<BR>
> I'm surprised that December, the last month in the<BR>
> study, has the most kills.  You'd think we'd have<BR>
> learned not to drink before reading.<BR>
<BR>
It's probably because most people do more drinking over the holiday periods<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 19:34:28 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard Kills<BR>
<BR>
> One thing I think we should take into account with the keyboard kills is<BR>
> the ease of making the target splork.  Jesse DeGraff, IIRC, is an easy<BR>
> mark :-).  While Mark Cook, at least by his own judgement, is really hard<BR>
> to get and should be worth more "points".  I myself rarely drink at the<BR>
> computer ("Don't use the keyboard as a coffee filter, dammit!" My sysadmin<BR>
> used to say), so I'd be hard to tackle as well. Perhaps we could have<BR>
> diminishing returns for multiple splorks from the same target?  Or we<BR>
> could make it like one of those Safari shows: <Aussie> Na' mates, wahtch<BR>
> as Oy stahlk the rare ex-ahrmy splorkah with a mix of anti-militahry<BR>
> ribbin' and a good-ol' inta-specees sex joke! </Aussie><BR>
><BR>
> You know, different points for different targets?<BR>
<BR>
DeathKeyboard 2000, maximum points for virgins and nuns !<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 19:46:14 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
<BR>
> >> Doesn't it run into the color on color problem or is<BR>
> >> sable not a color?<BR>
> >Sable is a *fur*.<BR>
><BR>
> I thought Sable was a wrestler. Oh well, live and learn...<BR>
<BR>
Nah, Sable is a mercenary.<BR>
<BR>
(Mike Grell's comic series from the eighties)<BR>
<BR>
> Next topic: Traveller Artists<BR>
> >Can we have some ethnically diverse GUYS in sexy outfits please?<BR>
> <snippage> I'll go for the sexy skintight leotard, ........<BR>
><BR>
> Shuddering Thought:   Norris in a sexy skintight leotard.<BR>
<BR>
Try another Grell series,  "Starslayer" for SF with guys in skin-tight<BR>
leotards.<BR>
Or "A Distant Soil"<BR>
<BR>
Another is "Warp", Chaos liked leotards, and he was mostly Black.<BR>
<BR>
Yet another are the Don McGregor series, "Black Panther" "Killraven" and<BR>
"Sabre"<BR>
just to alliterate with the beginning<BR>
<BR>
And then there's Boris why bother with the leotard Vallejo, though he<BR>
normally does Caucasians, I recall a few non-caucasian males in some of his<BR>
work.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 23:57:45 -0700<BR>
From: Joe Kirby <warlord@means.net><BR>
Subject: [none]<BR>
<BR>
unsubscribe<BR>
- -- <BR>
                  |  Your Independant Hand Technologies Consultant<BR>
   Joe Kirby      | Come Check out the New Revolution in Internet Business<BR>
warlord@means.net |       At http://www.handtech.com/jkirby <BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:07:15 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program - longish<BR>
<BR>
> I'm still trying to figure out how to *apply* my theoretical knowledge<BR>
> of OO to actual programs. With no success. I can't figure out where to<BR>
> *start*.<BR>
<BR>
OK Leonard,. seeing as I _teach_ OO analysis, design, and programming, as<BR>
well as several languages, (Jade, Java, C++, Visual Basic)  UML, & CORBA,<BR>
that sounds like a challenge !<BR>
<BR>
If you want to converse off list, I may be able to help you.<BR>
Jory, let me know if you wanna be CC'd (as long as Leonard doesn't mind )<BR>
<BR>
> Anybody know of a good book on OO prgramming in Turbo Pascal?<BR>
<BR>
Nope. But if you look for a book on OO programming in Delphi it should be<BR>
applicable.<BR>
My first commercial specially-commisoned OO program was written in Turbo<BR>
Pascal.way back in the late eighties.<BR>
<BR>
It's biggest drawback is that OO is only an "add-on" to Turbo Pascal, and<BR>
several OO concepts are not enforced by the compiler, but it's a great<BR>
compiler when it comes to efficiency<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:24:54 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
> My experience is that .jpg sucks for most pictures.<BR>
> Blonds usually look sun-burned, images blur together at<BR>
> the edges, etc.<BR>
<BR>
Sounds like your display driver, or a poor JPEG program, or just bad<BR>
original photography/digitization JPEG does not have these problems itself.<BR>
<BR>
>> > Those that recommend GIF for line drawings miss the point, any line<BR>
>> > drawing is better rendered using a vector format anyway.<BR>
><BR>
> Perhaps you could recommend a vector format that will<BR>
> display on most browers and I will be happy to try it out.<BR>
<BR>
Frankly, I don't use a browser to display high quality pictures, so no I<BR>
can't recomend one.<BR>
<BR>
However, commonly available vector formats are the Corel Draw Format (.cdf),<BR>
the Windows Metafile Format (.wmf) and the AutoCad format. (.dxf ?)<BR>
<BR>
There is also, for GIS work, things like GRASS<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:46:55 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
> Very big reason to, as it has a strong effect on later choices.<BR>
> Choosing a distribution affects the very layout of files on your<BR>
> filesystem, as they *are* different. It also affects what other<BR>
> software is installed besides the kernel itself, and how it's<BR>
> configured. Not only does this affect something as simple as figuring<BR>
> out where your log files are, it also impacts installing new<BR>
> software--files may not be where the author expected them, and<BR>
> third-party software the author relied on may not be present. GCC vs<BR>
> egcs and libc vs glibc both critically affect your ability to install<BR>
> precompiled binaries, as they are *not* completely compatible. Or do<BR>
> users now need to be able to compile all their own apps? Yes, various<BR>
> distribution formats are making this easier ... but still not as easy<BR>
> (for Joe Public) as inserting an AutoRun (*gag*) CD into WinXX.<BR>
<BR>
To be blunt, the only reason we have that problem is that people areen't<BR>
distributing things properly.<BR>
If they used the standard *nix ELF format, and the install standards from<BR>
Posix, this wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately it's hard to reprimand<BR>
programmers who are working for nothing <grin><BR>
<BR>
Seeing as most Linux apps do use the PKG format for installation, it is<BR>
pretty standard.<BR>
<BR>
> And every time somebody tries to propose setting "standards" for<BR>
> Linux, all hades breaks loose. Some have gotten through, but I<BR>
> remember some fairly upset letters to Linux Journal this past year<BR>
> after they ran an article about standards efforts<BR>
<BR>
No need for Linux specific standards, they should just follow existing  *nix<BR>
standards like Posix.<BR>
But again it's hard to.....<BR>
<BR>
> >The average user can't even manage this under Windows anyway.<BR>
><BR>
> Most users can, in fact, manage to install new software<BR>
<BR>
You obviously haven't dealt with with many users !<BR>
<BR>
>Otherwise  CompUSA would go out of business, as the only software anybody<BR>
would<BR>
> use it what comes preinstalled.<BR>
<BR>
Actually, I thought that everybody got their local guru to instal stuff for<BR>
them. It sure seems like that's the case round here !  I also know of lots<BR>
of people who buy the stuf and then it just sit's on their shelves gathering<BR>
dust because they can't install it.<BR>
<BR>
> OBTRAV: Yes, I promised one, and this one should be obvious ...<BR>
> installing new software into your Type/S had better be *much* easier<BR>
> in the future. You're certainly not going to take it all the way back<BR>
> to the original world of manufacture, nor will your average crew be<BR>
> able to write an entire flight control package from scratch. And a<BR>
> monolithic design like WinBlows (or Wince ...) certainly won't cut<BR>
> the mustard.<BR>
><BR>
> Think of all the fun you could have ... let your players hear about<BR>
> some new software gewgaw they might like. Maybe Planet X's forte is<BR>
> offensive software (not that kind, that's simply a matter of taste),<BR>
> and the crew thinks they can just plug in a new version of Predict to<BR>
> get an extra 20% of performance, while cutting usage by 10%. Only it<BR>
> just doesn't go that easy ... *Really* devious refs will let them<BR>
> THINK it went that easy ...<BR>
<BR>
Thing is, the sort of "standard" requireed for this sort of stuff already<BR>
exists, and is becoming more and more common in "industrial strength"<BR>
software. The standard is called CORBA, go have a read at www.omg.org<BR>
to see what a real solution to the problem is.<BR>
<BR>
Even Microsoft, who still want to push their DCOM standard have been forced<BR>
to make their DCOM servers CORBA compliant after pressure from companies<BR>
much more powerful than they are (such as banks)<BR>
<BR>
Combine this with platform independant languages such as Java, or similar,<BR>
and it's quite feasible that plug-in components are quite possible.<BR>
<BR>
It might be a nice idea to use CORBA IDL to describe various Traveller<BR>
software packages such as Predict. That's a project I might look at when I'm<BR>
bored in a hotel room some time.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:50:36 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Passengers From Hell<BR>
<BR>
On 28 Dec 99, at 22:45, Black ICE wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Note that the Emergency Response Guide [Guide #40 in the 1993 ERG] for<BR>
> aluminum powder (uncoated) lists the following potential hazards:<BR>
> <BR>
> May ignite itself if exposed to air;<BR>
> May re-ignite after fire is extinguished;<BR>
> Violent reaction with water produces flammable gas;<BR>
> May be poisonous if inhaled<BR>
<BR>
Does it list milk-powder? It makes a fairly decent bang if it's ignited <BR>
while suspended in air.<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: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 21:01:46 +1300<BR>
From: "Frank Pitt" <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
> As I understand it, folks that write programs that implement the GIF<BR>
> format need to get a licence.  I don't know if it costs anything, but<BR>
> there is some feeling against even a no-cost licence.  The other shoe, so<BR>
> to speak, is the rumored (or real) assersion that any GIF'ed file posted<BR>
> on the internet must have been produced by a licenced program or it's<BR>
> removal can be forced.<BR>
<BR>
Definitely not real, though just as definitely rumoured.<BR>
<BR>
Basically, even if it was legal to attempt such a thing,  it would be<BR>
impossible to prove, seeing as programs exist that let you edit the strings<BR>
in a GIF such as the one that states which editor created it.<BR>
I often change this to read something like Unisys Sucks! just for the hell<BR>
of it whenever I need to use GIF.<BR>
<BR>
> PNG is partly an effort to replace GIF with an open system without the<BR>
> baggage of GIF.  I don't know a lot about PNG's licencing status, but I<BR>
> suspect it's GPL.  Those that like it, seem to like it a lot..like Linux.<BR>
<BR>
It was created by a CompuServe working group including people like Michael<BR>
Abrash, and it's a "royalty free" format. It can;t be GPL, because it's not<BR>
source code, though there are several GPL implementations of PNG-capable<BR>
graphic programs.<BR>
<BR>
> If all the browsers and paint/drawing programs would support it we could<BR>
> move on to it, but...<BR>
<BR>
All the programs that count support it. <grin><BR>
<BR>
And the W3C  ( the organizatio that controls HTML standards and such,  has<BR>
strong support for PNG, and it was almost a reqyuirement for all browsers<BR>
that want to claim HTML4.0 compatibility to support PNG.<BR>
<BR>
Frankie<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 23:07:30 -0900<BR>
From: Peter Newman <pnewman@gci.net><BR>
Subject: Re:  free trader<BR>
<BR>
> Erwin Fritz <efritz@GLJA.com><BR>
<BR>
> My players are about to encounter a modified<BR>
> version of the standard free trader <BR>
> Well, I discovered that the standard blueprint is about twice the size<BR>
> it should be. I'm assuming that two deckplan squares is one displacement<BR>
> ton, so the free trader should have about 400 squares.<BR>
<BR>
Assuming you are using the CT Sup 7 Traders & Gunboats as<BR>
"the standard", then yes there are 2 squares to a DT.<BR>
<BR>
"Since the square grid used for deck plans is 1.5m<BR>
[5 ft for the metric impaired or for GT], a ceiling height<BR>
of 3m [10 ft] means that two floor squares, extended floor to<BR>
ceiling equals four 1.5 m cubes or about 14 cubic meters<BR>
(1.5 x1.5 x4 = 13.5 cubic meters), or one ton. If a 100 ton <BR>
ship was mapped as a one level square, it would have two<BR>
hundred grid squares within." - Traders & Gunboats p. 5.<BR>
<BR>
> The blueprint I'm<BR>
> using for a template has at least twice that many.<BR>
> Does anyone know where I can find a blueprint for the free trader that<BR>
> fits the canon description and size?<BR>
<BR>
Are you talking about the free trader, or the Far Trader?<BR>
<BR>
The blueprints for the type A free trader in DGP's Starship<BR>
Operators Handbook have about 750 deck squares, so it is indeed<BR>
almost twice as large as it should be. I am not aware of <BR>
another good source for Type A deck plans. <BR>
<BR>
The OP Judges Guild CT supplement Starships & Spacecraft had <BR>
25 mm scale plans for a type A (they are a little _small_, <BR>
having about 370 depicted squares) but it is long OP and <BR>
Judges Guild   www.judgesguild.com    does not have it.<BR>
Perhaps someone, (after obtaining permission & with a <BR>
scanner), could get you a copy of this one. Basically it is a <BR>
cigar shaped 2 deck plan with the bridge & the crew<BR>
staterooms on the front of deck two and the passenger area <BR>
of the front of deck one. The back of both decks is a 2<BR>
level (6m) high cargo area, fuel, & engine room.<BR>
<BR>
The blueprints for the Empress Marava Class Far Trader in Sup <BR>
7 are twice as big as they should be. To find better plans<BR>
of an A2 you want the TNE adventure The Gilded Lily which<BR>
has proper scale deckplans of an A2.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 03:19:53 -0500<BR>
From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Drawing Program<BR>
<BR>
From: Frank Pitt <frankie@mundens.gen.nz><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<concerning Win95 installations><BR>
<BR>
> You obviously haven't dealt with with many users !<BR>
<BR>
He may not, but I do, as I do freelance computer troubleshooting in the<BR>
largely computer illiterate neighorhood I live in. It has been my experience<BR>
that once people get the ability to move their mouse down pat, and some<BR>
inkling of what their system will run, they have no problem installing the<BR>
average piece of software for Windows.<BR>
<BR>
> Actually, I thought that everybody got their local guru to instal stuff<BR>
for<BR>
> them. It sure seems like that's the case round here !  I also know of<BR>
>lots of people who buy the stuf and then it just sit's on their shelves<BR>
>gathering dust because they can't install it.<BR>
<BR>
Not the case 'round here, at all. While I've seen people do some amazingly<BR>
bizarre things and heard them say some pretty whacky stuff, I've never heard<BR>
anybody complain that the half-dozen clicks that it takes to install a<BR>
Win95/Win98 program is too difficult.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
End of Traveller-digest V1999 #1599<BR>
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