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Traveller-digest    Thursday, December 30 1999    Volume 1999 : Number 1608<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: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
Character Generation Program for Palm Pilot?<BR>
Re: Keyboard kills and misc.<BR>
Re: Hiding education :was Geographical idiocy<BR>
Re: Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
Re: Re A/UX<BR>
Re: Gunnery<BR>
Re: T4: Marine Officer developement<BR>
Re:  AuricTech Large Freightliner for T4 (longish)<BR>
Re: Ethnic confusion<BR>
[none]<BR>
Re: Art and attraction<BR>
Re: OT Gunbunny notice<BR>
Re: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
Re: OT Gunbunny notice<BR>
Re: Art and attraction<BR>
Re: AuricTech Large Freightliner for T4 (longish)<BR>
Re: Art and attraction<BR>
Re: Ethnic confusion<BR>
RE: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
RE: In Jokes<BR>
<BR>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:28:27 -0400<BR>
From: Michel Vaillancourt <misha@empire.atlantic-online.ns.ca><BR>
Subject: RE: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
<BR>
At 12:17 PM 12/30/99 -0800, you wrote:<BR>
>I'm always in (trouble, a world of hurt, lust, etc)<BR>
><BR>
>=)<BR>
><BR>
>Jesse<BR>
<BR>
        Damn!  I wish I was in SF...  that sound like my kinda Traveller game...<BR>
<BR>
        --Michel<BR>
<BR>
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-<BR>
	Michel R. Vaillancourt	misha@atlantic-online.ns.ca<BR>
				ICQ # 31172292<BR>
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-<BR>
	    NET-City Communications....<BR>
	         Providing "Solutions for the Common Company"<BR>
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-<BR>
	***REMEMBER - Always virus-check your emails ***<BR>
	-+=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+-<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 15:44:00 -0500<BR>
From: "Josh W. Spencer" <macmanjws@earthlink.net><BR>
Subject: Character Generation Program for Palm Pilot?<BR>
<BR>
Hello.<BR>
Does anyone on the TML have a character generation program for the Palm OS<BR>
which can help create Traveller characters? Let me know off-list.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
- -- <BR>
Josh W. Spencer (macmanjws@earthlink.net)<BR>
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 14:49:59 -0600<BR>
From: Dan Roseberry <rosebee@troi.csw.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard kills and misc.<BR>
<BR>
I, Frank Pitt, Kenji Scwarz, and others...<BR>
Shuddering Thought:   Norris in a sexy skintight leotard.<BR>
> > And the ducal feather boa, let's not forget!<BR>
> Never understood why you'd want a feather boa, I prefer the scaly ones<BR>
<BR>
> myself<BR>
> It's the cod-piece that really makes the outfit though.<BR>
>>Huh?... Oh!  Ye gods!  I assume this would bear the crest of the Duke<BR>
of<BR>
>>Regina, a unicorn?<BR>
<BR>
"LLLLLLLLLLLLLEEETTTTSSS GET READY TO RRUUUMBLLLLLLLEEE!"<BR>
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Introducing Norris "the Body" Aleddon!" [crowd<BR>
goes wild]<BR>
"and in this corner, Lord of the Known Universe Santanocheev!" [booo!<BR>
hiss! booo!]<BR>
[You know, I'm really surprised at the low amount of keyboard kills on<BR>
this one;<BR>
everybody must have headed for the bomb shelters for Y2K. Oh yeah, I'll<BR>
leave<BR>
it to the TML to figure out Santanocheevs' wardrobe.]<BR>
Dan Roseberry(plop101) I got 20Cr on Norris. Any takers?<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 11:25:09 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Hiding education :was Geographical idiocy<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> SD Mooney <dom@cybergoths.u-net.com> wrote:<BR>
>> At 20:51 -0500 23/12/99, "Douglas E. Berry"<BR>
>> <gridlore@pop.mindspring.com> wrote:<BR>
>>> Music is a wonderful way to learn, and it sticks things in your<BR>
>>> head.  For example, Kirsten and I were horrified to discover that<BR>
>>> we both remember the words to the Dukes of Hazzard theme.<BR>
<BR>
>> What about 'the Fall Guy'?<BR>
><BR>
> One of my favorites was _Suicide is Painless_ (the theme<BR>
> song from _M*A*S*H_).<BR>
<BR>
Suicide is painless (theme from M*A*S*H)<BR>
<BR>
through early morning fog i see<BR>
visions of the things to be<BR>
the pains that are withheld for me<BR>
i realize and i can see<BR>
<BR>
Chorus:that suicide is painless<BR>
it brings on many changes<BR>
and i can take or leave it if i please<BR>
<BR>
the game of life is hard to play<BR>
i'm gonna lose it anyway<BR>
the losing card i'll someday lay<BR>
so this is all i have to say<BR>
CHORUS<BR>
the sword of time will pierce our skin<BR>
it doesn't hurt when it begins<BR>
but as it works its way on in<BR>
the pain grows stronger watch it grin(?)<BR>
CHORUS<BR>
a brave man once requested me<BR>
to answer questions that are key<BR>
"is it to be or not to be"<BR>
and i replied, "oh why ask me?"<BR>
<BR>
suicide is painless<BR>
it brings on many changes<BR>
and i can take or leave it if i please<BR>
and you can do the same thing if you please...<BR>
<BR>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>
Above was transcribed from a videotape. The soundtrack album doesn't<BR>
have the words! Thus the lowercase & minimal punctuation.<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, 30 Dec 1999 11:28:11 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Keyboard kills & misc<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Frank Pitt <frankie@mundens.gen.nz> wrote:<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<BR>
> his<BR>
>> work.<BR>
><BR>
> If you study his works closely, you will find that most of the<BR>
> women are quite similar in face and figure.  There is a<BR>
> reason for this fact, his primary model was his wife.  I guess<BR>
> that if I had a wife as beautiful as his, I wouldn't look any<BR>
> further for a gorgeous model either.<BR>
<BR>
The same applies to Frank Frazetta and the women in his art. :-)<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, 30 Dec 1999 11:31:38 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Re A/UX<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
> Ob Trav: I don't bother with computer issues much IMTU, as I assume the<BR>
> Imperial Virtual Machine, which is required for all starship computers to<BR>
> use. Since it is standardized, and hardware emulated, it doesn't slow<BR>
> things down TOO much. And it guarantees that you can buy SW on any planet<BR>
> of sufficient TL. Getting it into the right media to be loaded, however,<BR>
> may be tricky!<BR>
<BR>
What "media"? You have a portable "storage box" that transfers data via<BR>
any of several standard Imperial data interfaces (SCSI, 10-base-100,<BR>
etc). You connect it up to the system at the point of sale, they<BR>
transfer your software to your box. They you return to your<BR>
business/ship and connect the box to the system and upload the<BR>
software. <BR>
<BR>
Actually, I'd bet that the software is available on the local net. The<BR>
"dongle" that lets it know you are an authorized user is what you get<BR>
when you fork over the cash. Unlike now, there will be a dedicated set<BR>
of ports for the "dongles". You just stick it into an empty slot.<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, 30 Dec 1999 11:00:27 PST<BR>
From: shadow@krypton.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)<BR>
Subject: Re: Gunnery<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>>> "If your scenario calls for large quantities of children, a deck<BR>
>>> dedicated to play may be necessary. Playrooms should be designed<BR>
>>> with an eye toward teaching survival skills to groups of different<BR>
>>> ages, and they must be fun."<BR>
<BR>
>>One world's "survival skills" is quick way to get *very* dead on<BR>
>>another world.<BR>
><BR>
> Certainly true. However the concept isn't bad. Children on shipboard will<BR>
> definitely need to know survival skills not necessary for their planet bond<BR>
> brethren.  What do they do on a loss of gravity? A loss of power? And what<BR>
> do they do in the case of a vacuum leak? They better know. A child as young<BR>
> as five better know how to climb into a Rescue Ball.<BR>
<BR>
I expect that "cradles" and even "pappoose carriers" will double as<BR>
rescue balls. In fact, they'll probably be *sturdier* than rescue<BR>
balls. Hard shelled with a "cover that snaps down against a gasket at<BR>
the first pressure drop. A 15 minute oxy tank for an adult is about the<BR>
size of a baby. And isn't all *that* heavy. It should last a real baby<BR>
an hour or more (much more if the unit incorporates elementary<BR>
"re-breather" filtration).<BR>
<BR>
Kids large enough to run around with minimal supervision (say bright<BR>
3-year olds on up) will probably be trained to *always* have with them<BR>
a small pack/satchel that contains a children's rescue ball. Smaller,<BR>
and again probably somewhat tougher (partly to withstand handling by<BR>
kids!).<BR>
<BR>
> A ten year old should<BR>
> know how to use a vac suit (if they regularly live on a ship or on a world<BR>
> without a breathable atmosphere.)  They should know how to operate an<BR>
> airlock and when it's safe to go outside on a strange planet and when the<BR>
> indicating lights on the airlock say it's not safe. They should know how to<BR>
> operate the ship's communication system and the computer (which should have<BR>
> guards to prevent them from doing anything that will endanger the ship.)<BR>
> They should know where and the ship they aren't allowed to go (most likely<BR>
> the engineering sections and possibly the bridge/control room.)<BR>
<BR>
Actually, going by *farm* life, kids as young as 8 will be operating<BR>
the simpler equipment. They may have "chores" that involve doing the<BR>
simpler tasks in the control room or enegineering. And they'll know<BR>
*quite* well what they are and aren't allowed to touch. <BR>
<BR>
They'll be *training* on stuff they aren't allowed to do on their own<BR>
yet. Many's the ship where in an accident, one of the kids used this<BR>
training to take care of something when there wasn't *time* (or<BR>
opportunity) for an adult to deal with it in time. <BR>
<BR>
A kid may not be certified to run the powerplant yet, but the *first*<BR>
thing he was taught was how to recognize the warning signals, and the<BR>
right way to do a shutdown for various problems. <BR>
<BR>
So if there are a couple of "junior cadets" in engineering, cleaning<BR>
and checking "safe" secondary systems, and something goes wrong and<BR>
takes out the engineer on duty, you can bet that one of them is<BR>
notifying control and tending to the injured man while the other is<BR>
trying to shut down whatever system has gone nuts. <BR>
<BR>
> Really young children will probably require constant attention (which<BR>
> they need anyway) and be limited to a few rooms that have been "child<BR>
> safed".<BR>
<BR>
Which, on shipboard, includes special filters on the air returns.<BR>
*Especially* if zero g is present any amount of the time. The last<BR>
thing you want to get into the air system are pieces of toys, "spit-up"<BR>
and worse. :-)<BR>
<BR>
> Older children will probably have chores necessary to ship operation<BR>
> (very much like farm children), especially on a working trader.<BR>
<BR>
Yep. See above. <BR>
<BR>
Oh yeah, a duty that kids almost *always* draw... "dusting" the air<BR>
ducts. The ducts aren't all *that* long or complex on any reasonable<BR>
sized ship. But they *are* small enough that you have a choice between<BR>
an expensive robot, giving an adult galloping claustrophobia, and using<BR>
the kids. <BR>
<BR>
In port, kids barely old enough to read well may be helping the cargo<BR>
master check containers of cargo in and out. Sure, the automatics log<BR>
the stuff, but a manual backup (the cargo master and the "supercargo"<BR>
:-) never hurts. <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, 30 Dec 1999 19:49:47 GMT<BR>
From: Postmark Design Bureau <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re: T4: Marine Officer developement<BR>
<BR>
> >1.  Neither academy leads to a Marine commission (I really don't like<BR>
> >this option, and I suspect that you won't either);<BR>
> <BR>
> In GT: Ground Forces, this is the rule.  All Marines start swabbing decks<BR>
> and taking orders.  Potential officers are selected for OCS after they have<BR>
> proved themselves as Marines first.<BR>
<BR>
Doug, this does not seem to follow the way Traveller was going.<BR>
As you'll see below, it is only supported by CT (but higher education<BR>
did not appear until Book 5 and Marines are in Book 4) and T4 (this<BR>
might be an error. ;-)<BR>
<BR>
=====<BR>
<BR>
In CT, Marines are in Book 4, which does not appear to have higher<BR>
education.<BR>
<BR>
In MT, future Marines can go through OTC or Naval Academy (but not NOTC<BR>
or Military Academy)<BR>
<BR>
In TNE, it is only the Naval Academy (Universities don't run OTC/NOTC)<BR>
bu this is the only system that specifically mentions running Marines<BR>
through flight School.<BR>
<BR>
In T4, there is no option for Marines - the Army and avy options are<BR>
quite specific.<BR>
<BR>
In T4.1 (draft) Naval Academy and NOTC graduates can choose Marines<BR>
instead of Navy.<BR>
<BR>
Note:<BR>
OTC (Officer Training Corps) and NOTC (Naval Officer Training Corps)<BR>
are taken whilst at university.<BR>
<BR>
Phil Kitching<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 19:51:42 GMT<BR>
From: Postmark Design Bureau <postmark.design@btinternet.com><BR>
Subject: Re:  AuricTech Large Freightliner for T4 (longish)<BR>
<BR>
> Black ICE <wombat@premier.net> wrote<BR>
> <BR>
> > Here's the AuricTech take on the large freightliners that are the<BR>
> > lifeblood of Imperial trade.  It's 20,000 dtons, Jump-2, and TL-12. <BR>
> > BTW, according to the Akins spreadsheet ver. 3.2, it makes an annual<BR>
> > profit of over MCr 26, at 80% capacity.<BR>
> <BR>
> > Cost: 4088.231 MCr   (Cost Multiplier .8 for standard design)<BR>
> <BR>
> At a cost of MCr 4088 a return of MCr<BR>
> 26 per year is less than 0.64 %.<BR>
> Even in the Imperium you can do a lot <BR>
> better than that. The question becomes<BR>
> what kind of returns can you get if<BR>
> you are 85, or 90, or 95% full {and<BR>
> how realistic are these projections)?<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
Unless that MCr 4088 is before the .8 instead of after,<BR>
I get the ship making a loss at 80%<BR>
<BR>
Here's an extract from an Andy Spreadsheet for my reverse<BR>
engineering of the AuricTech design:<BR>
<BR>
Economic Potential			<BR>
Expenses		Full Load	80% Load<BR>
	Ship's Payment	MCr 213 	MCr 213 <BR>
	Maintenance 	MCr   4 	MCr   4 <BR>
	Fuel		MCr  51 	MCr  51 <BR>
	Salaries	MCr   7 	MCr   7 <BR>
	Life Support	MCr  24 	MCr  21<BR>
	Subtotal	MCr 300 	MCr 297 <BR>
			<BR>
Income			Full Load	80% Load<BR>
	High Passage	MCr  25 	MCr  20 <BR>
	Middle Passage	MCr  45 	MCr  35<BR>
	Freight		MCr 281 	MCr 226<BR>
	Subtotal	MCr 351 	MCr 282 <BR>
			<BR>
Net Profit/Loss		MCr  51 	(MCr 15)<BR>
<BR>
Phil Kitching<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 15:35:37 -0600 (CST)<BR>
From: Steven Bonneville <bonnevil@ima.umn.edu><BR>
Subject: Re: Ethnic confusion<BR>
<BR>
Hans Rancke wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> We're getting beyond my extremely limited knowledge of taxonomy, but I<BR>
> would have thought that two species would HAVE to be of the same genus<BR>
> in order to produce even sterile offspring. Isn't that sort of implied<BR>
> by the taxonomic system? Certainly horses and donkeys belong to the same<BR>
> genus. Are there any examples of hybrids between different genusses<BR>
> (genii? ;-)<BR>
<BR>
Yes, certainly in plants -- triticale (genus X Triticosecale) is a cross<BR>
of wheat and rye (genera Triticum and Secale).  I've heard of examples<BR>
of rare but naturally-occuring "intergeneric hybrids" in some fish and<BR>
cetaceans.  Taxonomic classification is fuzzier around the edges than<BR>
one might hope....<BR>
<BR>
Incidentally, all species in genus Canis interbreed; dogs and gray wolves<BR>
produce fertile offspring, and dog and coyote hybrids are frequently    <BR>
themselves fertile as well.  <BR>
<BR>
  -- Steve Bonneville<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 12:48:33 -0900<BR>
From: "William F. Hostman" <aramis@gci.net><BR>
Subject: [none]<BR>
<BR>
At 19:45 -0500 25/12/99,  "Benyamene' ZeAbe' Akella" <xrp@sierratel.com> wrote:<BR>
>more Mac friendly format? I have a copy of Office 2k, but I would have to<BR>
>run VPC. I can do this, but if you could save it in a Clarisworks compatible<BR>
>format, it would help. That would be either Excel 3 or 4, DIF, DBF, or SYLK.<BR>
>Or even ASCII unless there are complex formulaes. Excel 3 or 4 is probably<BR>
>the best bet.<BR>
<BR>
get office 98 for Mac. It'll open them just fine.<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: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 17:12:52 -0500 (EST)<BR>
From: Tom Ellis <tellis@telerama.lm.com><BR>
Subject: Re: Art and attraction<BR>
<BR>
On Wed, 29 Dec 1999, Kelly St.Clair wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> On Wed, 29 Dec 1999 14:21:14 -0500 (EST), Kenji Schwarz<BR>
> <schwarz@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> >I will wait breathlessly for the first Traveller art to depict the<BR>
> >Intrepid Adventurers with potbellies and cellulite.<BR>
> <BR>
> Wasn't at least one member of the Official DGP Adventuring Party (the<BR>
> roboticist, IIRC) rather "stout"?<BR>
> <BR>
> Seriously:  anyone who spends a lot of time in space has a very good reason<BR>
> to keep their weight constant.  Not being able to fit into your Vacc Suit<BR>
> (tailored or otherwise) when the decompression alarm goes off is Bad(tm).<BR>
> <BR>
> Consider also that most Traveller characters are, even now, ex-military.<BR>
> They have experience with physical discipline and a tendency to maintain it<BR>
> after they leave active service (that, or go completely to seed...)<BR>
<BR>
Keep in mind too that on most mid to high tech level worlds, there are<BR>
bound to be numerous, safe ways to prevent obesity. Very, very few people<BR>
would actually CHOOSE to be obese, or even chubby.  Maybe a beer belly<BR>
from too many tavern crawls looking for patrons though...hmm.<BR>
<BR>
Tom<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:16:20 -0600<BR>
From: "Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
Subject: Re: OT Gunbunny notice<BR>
<BR>
>FWIW I'm sure some of you (Jesse?) will be pleased to know that<BR>
>BAEsystems has signed a letter of agreement with Colt Manufacturing<BR>
>to sell them H&K.<BR>
<BR>
That REALLY sucks. Colt no longer deals to the public, only to military and<BR>
law enforcement. Their guidelines for such deals is horrendous according to<BR>
my gun dealer.<BR>
Which effectively means, H&K probably won't deal with the public.<BR>
Colt becomes and even bigger military arms dealer and one more good brand of<BR>
weapon is no longer out there four us gun nuts :(<BR>
<BR>
TV<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:33:25 -0600<BR>
From: Eris Reddoch <eris@pcola.gulf.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
<BR>
Jesse DeGraff wrote:<BR>
<BR>
Eris wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>   Tying this thread to "the US is really big" thread...it's tough for us to<BR>
>   all get together.  Those that are west have a problem getting east and<BR>
>   vise versa.  Heck those of us southeast have a problem getting to the<BR>
>   upper midwest.<BR>
><BR>
>   What we might want to do is pick out several regional cons for us<BR>
>   Traveller types to concentrate on?  As a suggestion BayCon on the west<BR>
>   coast, GenCon in the midwest, maybe DragonCon in the south and another ??<BR>
>   in the northeast.  That way we could be sure of having two or three good<BR>
>   Traveller games at a con we might be able to attend.<BR>
><BR>
>   What do you think?<BR>
><BR>
> Then there are those crazy people that live on the west coast and want to<BR>
> hit DragonCon next year (of which I'm one!!!)<BR>
<BR>
Ooo, great! That means you'll play and/or GM Traveller games right?<BR>
<BR>
That's ONE for DragonCon, TWO with me.  So, who'll make it three?<BR>
<BR>
Eris<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:20:17 -0600<BR>
From: "Thomas Vickers" <redroach@flex.net><BR>
Subject: Re: OT Gunbunny notice<BR>
<BR>
>Pleased?  Pissed is more like it.  According to Colt's press release they<BR>
>will cease handgun sales to the public if they acquire HK.  I wish BAE<BR>
<BR>
>(Glad my rifle says "Armalite" instead of Colt!)<BR>
<BR>
My gun dealer is also a law enforcement officer and apparently Colt has<BR>
already passed the word about no more civilian sales.  He says that you need<BR>
letterhead stationary (not that hard to get) for a Order and there is some<BR>
sort of paperwork/follow-up involved about carrying the gun for a year<BR>
afterward.<BR>
Which means if you are a dealer and want to buy it, you gotta wear it which<BR>
drives the value of said commodity down if you want to later resale it.<BR>
Not sure how they plan to enforce it, but that is what colt has told<BR>
dealers.<BR>
<BR>
Looks like its time to save and get that Glock :)<BR>
<BR>
TV<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1999 11:44:42 +1300<BR>
From: "Rupert Boleyn" <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
Subject: Re: Art and attraction<BR>
<BR>
On 30 Dec 99, at 2:37, Black ICE wrote:<BR>
<BR>
> Frank Pitt wrote:<BR>
> > <BR>
> > >And we could get over pretending that we are all Vulcans who<BR>
> > > choose our mates by logic.<BR>
> > <BR>
> > I _did_ choose my mate logically .<BR>
> > <BR>
> > I couldn't live without her, so the logical thing to do was to live with<BR>
> > her<BR>
> > !<BR>
> > <grin><BR>
> <BR>
> How fortunate for you, sir, that you [staying with the Vulcan motif]<BR>
> found an Amanda, rather than a T'Pring.<BR>
> <BR>
> OTOH, I don't have the Dependent NPC Disadvantage....<BR>
<BR>
But if one chose one's mate logically, one should end up with the Ally <BR>
advantage.<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: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:56:57 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: AuricTech Large Freightliner for T4 (longish)<BR>
<BR>
Postmark Design Bureau wrote:<BR>
> <BR>
> > Black ICE <wombat@premier.net> wrote<BR>
> ><BR>
> > > Here's the AuricTech take on the large freightliners that are the<BR>
> > > lifeblood of Imperial trade.  It's 20,000 dtons, Jump-2, and TL-12.<BR>
> > > BTW, according to the Akins spreadsheet ver. 3.2, it makes an annual<BR>
> > > profit of over MCr 26, at 80% capacity.<BR>
> ><BR>
> > > Cost: 4088.231 MCr   (Cost Multiplier .8 for standard design)<BR>
> ><BR>
> > At a cost of MCr 4088 a return of MCr<BR>
> > 26 per year is less than 0.64 %.<BR>
> > Even in the Imperium you can do a lot<BR>
> > better than that. The question becomes<BR>
> > what kind of returns can you get if<BR>
> > you are 85, or 90, or 95% full {and<BR>
> > how realistic are these projections)?<BR>
<BR>
Actually, I would look at the downpayment as the original investment,<BR>
since the calculations assume that your major expense is paying off the<BR>
ship.  If you assume that the purchaser (a megacorp, or at least a<BR>
sector-wide shipping firm) pays cash for the ship, you get an annual<BR>
return of MCr 239 or so (again, assuming 80% capacity loads).  That<BR>
works out to 5.8% annual return.<BR>
> ><BR>
> ><BR>
> Unless that MCr 4088 is before the .8 instead of after,<BR>
> I get the ship making a loss at 80%<BR>
<BR>
The MCr 4088 includes the .8 cost multiplier for a standard (IMTU) ship.<BR>
> <BR>
> Here's an extract from an Andy Spreadsheet for my reverse<BR>
> engineering of the AuricTech design:<BR>
> <BR>
> Economic Potential<BR>
> Expenses                Full Load       80% Load<BR>
>         Ship's Payment  MCr 213         MCr 213<BR>
>         Maintenance     MCr   4         MCr   4<BR>
>         Fuel            MCr  51         MCr  51<BR>
>         Salaries        MCr   7         MCr   7<BR>
>         Life Support    MCr  24         MCr  21<BR>
>         Subtotal        MCr 300         MCr 297<BR>
> <BR>
> Income                  Full Load       80% Load<BR>
>         High Passage    MCr  25         MCr  20<BR>
>         Middle Passage  MCr  45         MCr  35<BR>
>         Freight         MCr 281         MCr 226<BR>
>         Subtotal        MCr 351         MCr 282<BR>
> <BR>
> Net Profit/Loss         MCr  51         (MCr 15)<BR>
<BR>
I found the discrepancy:  fuel costs.  Since this ship has fuel refining<BR>
capability, the fuel cost should be about MCr 10.<BR>
<BR>
Note also that I found and fixed a discrepancy in the G-comp formula<BR>
used in the Akins 3.2 spreadsheet.  (I notified Andrew Akins of this<BR>
discrepancy a while back, and he approved my fix.)<BR>
<BR>
If you like, I can forward the Excel 5.0 spreadsheet to any of you,<BR>
zipped.<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: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 17:51:56 -0500<BR>
From: "Chris Seamans" <semo@pil.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Art and attraction<BR>
<BR>
From: Rupert Boleyn <rboleyn@paradise.net.nz><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> But if one chose one's mate logically, one should end up with the <BR>
>Ally  advantage.<BR>
<BR>
Sometimes you find yourself with the Enemy disadvantage, though.<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 17:04:00 -0600<BR>
From: Black ICE <wombat@premier.net><BR>
Subject: Re: Ethnic confusion<BR>
<BR>
Here's a Web site with a story that marginally pertains to the direction<BR>
this thread has taken:<BR>
<BR>
http://www.brunching.com/features/feature-conversationcat.html<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: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 15:03:03 -0800<BR>
From: Jesse DeGraff <jdegraff@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: RE: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
<BR>
GM?  Doubtful :)  Play, damn straight!  Roger Barr (no longer on the TML)<BR>
and several of our PBEM group have shown interest in making to the next<BR>
DragonCon during some of our gameing discussions, there's a couple more in<BR>
all probability.<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 Eris Reddoch<BR>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 1999 2:33 PM<BR>
To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Subject: Re: Sac'to? (Was Re: SF Trav game)<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Jesse DeGraff wrote:<BR>
<BR>
Eris wrote:<BR>
<BR>
>   Tying this thread to "the US is really big" thread...it's tough for us<BR>
to<BR>
>   all get together.  Those that are west have a problem getting east and<BR>
>   vise versa.  Heck those of us southeast have a problem getting to the<BR>
>   upper midwest.<BR>
><BR>
>   What we might want to do is pick out several regional cons for us<BR>
>   Traveller types to concentrate on?  As a suggestion BayCon on the west<BR>
>   coast, GenCon in the midwest, maybe DragonCon in the south and another<BR>
??<BR>
>   in the northeast.  That way we could be sure of having two or three good<BR>
>   Traveller games at a con we might be able to attend.<BR>
><BR>
>   What do you think?<BR>
><BR>
> Then there are those crazy people that live on the west coast and want to<BR>
> hit DragonCon next year (of which I'm one!!!)<BR>
<BR>
Ooo, great! That means you'll play and/or GM Traveller games right?<BR>
<BR>
That's ONE for DragonCon, TWO with me.  So, who'll make it three?<BR>
<BR>
Eris<BR>
<BR>
------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 15:18:27 -0800<BR>
From: Jesse DeGraff <jdegraff@pacbell.net><BR>
Subject: RE: In Jokes<BR>
<BR>
I've got some foot extensions that I've developed for digitigrade walking to<BR>
use in creature makeups.  They're really only a pair of old tennis shoes<BR>
with plywood soles that extend about 2 1/2 to 3 inches beyond the normal<BR>
toes.  Underneath is a block that serves as the new foot pad.  Depending on<BR>
how far back you take this block, it can be pretty stable.  It's just REALLY<BR>
hard on the quadracepts when your up and walking (as opposed to dropping<BR>
down onto the heel for a rest).  I gave one of my quads a pretty good strain<BR>
when I was walking around in the prototypes years back.  I'll see if I can't<BR>
pull 'em out of storage and shoot a couple of seconds of video to share with<BR>
everyone.  When done right, and costumed, it's pretty cool looking =)<BR>
<BR>
Jesse<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
- -----Original Message-----<BR>
From: owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
[mailto:owner-traveller@lists.imagiconline.com]On Behalf Of Leonard<BR>
Erickson<BR>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 3:06 PM<BR>
To: traveller@lists.imagiconline.com<BR>
Subject: Re: In Jokes<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
In mail you write:<BR>
<BR>
>> > (several exchanges later, Sid's Vargr kicks the marine to death, while<BR>
><BR>
> Hmmmm... correct me if I am wrong here, but I have always thought<BR>
> Vargr physiology makes their kicks pretty ineffective, right? I seem<BR>
> to remember the rule of thumb... "Vargr can't kick." <shrug>.<BR>
<BR>
Forwards? I tend to agree. But *backwards* is a whole different story.<BR>
Being digigrade[1], rather than plantigrade[2], Vargr are likely to be<BR>
able to kick well *behind* themselves, and also do *nasty* "belly<BR>
rakes" to someone they've grappled with.<BR>
<BR>
[1] walking with only the toes and "toe pad" on the ground, and what<BR>
    would be the rest of the foot on a human bein a long set of bones<BR>
    leading up to a hock(?) which is the joint that's the heel & ankle<BR>
    on humans.<BR>
<BR>
[2] Walking with those bones on the ground, and the hock(?) being an<BR>
    ankle.<BR>
<BR>
Note. If you ever try to "walk digigrade" keep in mind that it is *not*<BR>
done like a human on tip-toe. Instead, both the ankle *and* the knee<BR>
are kept bent. This keeps the center of gravity over the ground contact<BR>
points, but results in a *very* different gait. Sort of a "glide". Even<BR>
without make-up, you look quite non-human.<BR>
<BR>
It's a strain for humans to walk this way for long. I can't even do it<BR>
since I gained some weight. My ankles aren't up to it, and my knees<BR>
aren't real happy either.<BR>
<BR>
Anyway, if you try, you'll probably *know* when you get it right<BR>
because all of a sudden it's *easier* to move than in any other posture<BR>
except our "normal" one.<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 #1608<BR>
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