Re: Announcing my new Sci-fi Book

Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tina Hall) wrote in
news:MSGID_2=3A240=2F2199.13=40fidonet_61674c71@xxxxxxxxxxx:

Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy <taustinca@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tina Hall) wrote
Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy <taustinca@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tina Hall) wrote
Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy <taustinca@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tina Hall) wrote

That's looking at it a bit too, well, literally.

If it wasn't meant to be taken literally, it wasn't a
documentary, and thus isn't a credible source of facts.

Even documentaries don't sound too credible all too often.

Rather the point, yes?

Of what?

That you shouldn't accept everything you see on TV at face
value.

Oh, that.

(On the other hand, I recall quite a few years ago, Ace
Hardware was trying to break in to the international market
more, and had opened some test stores in Germany. They
apparently had a hell of a time finding employees who could
grasp the American ideals of good customer sevice. By our
standards, the best they could get were surly, lazy, and
uninterested. Or so I've read in the trade rags.)

Heh. I trust there's at least some truth in it. And just
perhaps
they looked at the wrong wage category for what they
wanted.

Retail is a rough business that doesn't pay well. That's the
reality.

If they don't pay well, there's no surprise in not getting
good staff.

The point was, the best they could find was pretty bad compared
to what they were used to here.

Because here they better ones are used to better wages. <g>

The same is true here. Your point?

DVRs are your best friend. I almost *never* watch
commercials any more.

That would be more than I can affort (yet - the price of
them might one day reach affordable levels).

$10/month from the cable company. Or you could build a MythTV
box of your own from an old PC.

? (I don't know what that box is.)

A homemade DVR, made out of a computer and one or more tuner
cards.

Hm. Maybe I'll get back to that when I'm in a new flat, with
SPACE, where I want to put up different computers anyway.

Not sure what a tuner card is, though. Something like a card to
watch TV with?

Yes.

How old can the PC be?

From what I understand, the hardware requirements aren't much, so
long as you have a big hard drive (or array of drives).

Ten dollar (or euro) a month for all eternity is a bit more
than I'm willing to pay for a DVrecorder (what does the DV
stand for, anyway?).

Digital Video.

Ah, thanks.

I've got a video recorder that does the job, too. And finally
a DVD player to watch DVDs.

If your current rig does what you want, no reason to upgrade
(though VHS tapes are disappearing, so hoard what you've got.)

I think the hoard of tapes has long since overrun me. <g>

A friend once gave me all his old tapes so I've got plenty to
tape over and over again until they no longer work.

Grocery stores here still sell them cheap, though.

For now. There's a shelf life to the plastic they're made out of,
though.

Not good for stuff you want to keep a copy of permanently,
though.

How fast do the rewritable DVDs wear out? (Most I tape is to
watch and be taped over.)

No idea, but you can still buy new ones. Not sure how much
longer that will be true for videotapes.

The ones I've got should last way past the point I could get a
DVR cheap. <g>

Plus I want to get the series I like in the original on DVD. No
dubbing can't be gotten here on TV anyway.

Unless you mean downloading stuff and putting that on to
DVDs... I may be weird in prefering to pay for what I find
interesting enough to want to watch, or just get it off TV.

That's actually quite difficult to do, because of the
retarded copyright laws. Here, at least (and Europe doesn't
seem to be any more sensible.)

What exactly?

It is a felony to bypass copy protections, and copy protections
are built in to the standards because the standards are based
on patents, and you can't licenes the patents unless you agree
to abide by *all* the standard.

Taping something off TV to watch later isn't bypassing any copy
protections, though.

It is if the TV and the recorder have circuitry that prevents it.

US copyright law is so screwed up right now it's a crime to possess
tools necessary to perform actions specifically allowed (and
protected) by copyright law.

And for something on DVD, I prefer proper ones anyway. With
subtitles (I'm far better reading English than understanding it
spoken), and specials, and stuff. (No idea whether stolen ones
would include all that.)

You're usually lucky if the pirated ones don't include viruses.

Getting it off the TV is easy: press record on the video
recorder.
:)

They're working on that, too. When your TV wears out, you
probably won't be able to buy on that doesn't require the
encryption standards for the new HD stuff. In other words, your
new TV won't be able to accept an analog signal from your VCR.

My last 'new' TV cost me 10 euro, for the transport. <g> (Means
the next one isn't likely going to be any newer.)

Besides, why shouldn't a TV accept a signal from a video
recorder, that's what they're there for.

Because the law says they can't (or will, soon enough). In the US,
we have the end of broadcast analog signals as of yesterday. That
means analog TVs no longer work without converter boxes of some
kind (cable boxes seve this purpose). The converter boxes *will*
have copy controls in them.

In the flat here, for example, there's only one outlet from the
wall for TV stuff. The round little socket (could be they're
different from what your country has, but it looks pretty
analog to me, in any case). From there it goes into the video,
and from there another (same built) to the TV. A TV that can't
understand that signal wouldn't work, which kind of misses the
point.

It can carry different signals. My digital cable comes in over 25
year old coax cable, but isn't analog.

And you wonder why you're not rick.

Heh. Not really, I know why; I can't be bothered. <g>

Heh.

Lazyness does have some drawbacks. :)

Bite your tongue, woman.

Porn has the flaw of showing too many people's faces that
pretend to enjoy themselves. Boring.

That's why amateur stuff is so much more popular.

Haven't seen any of that, but I doubt it has less faces of
people pretending to enjoy themselves.

The image is that it has exactly that.

Hm. May be worth looking into.

There might even be an element of truth to it.

Poor rat. :)

It was dead at the time, and thus, had lost its vote.

Heh.

I still have more, or actually only, sympathy for the rat.

Yeah, well, some have sympathy for the lettuce in a salad, too.

Same as for the rat, really. (Can't stand vegetarians if they
think they're doing something good.)

You are what you eat, and you eat what you can outsmart. We spent
millions of years clawing out way (without claws, even) to the top
of the food chain. I'm not going back down voluntarily.

That's like saying books involve fewer creative minds. My
hope is that once it's wide spread, other people do the
stories, just like now writers write the stories.

The acting is an art form in and of itself, in addition to
the writing behind it. There's a reason people tend to watch
TV or movies instead of read books these days.

Because they can't read. :-P

Why bother to learn when they get more entertainment value out
of TV.

They probably don't even think about that. ('Cause they lack the
equipment. <g>)

And?

For me, personally, I would find it a bit silly to pay my
groceries with a credit card.

Credit cards and debit cards are pretty much interchangable
in most people's mind, and are used the same way. If you pay
off the credit card every month, there isn't much difference
at all.

I prefer just plundering the bank account each month (leaving
what's wired for rent, electric/heating bill, phone,...), and
use that without any charge at all.

But then, you don't have banks barraging you with offers of
cheap credit you can't afford (and they know it).

True.

But in this country it would be "Sittenwidrig" (something like
immoral in the eyes of the law) to give credit to people who
only have the 'minimum' to live, like unemployed folks getting
money from the job centre or social department, anyway.

Some do, of course, but it's not allowed.

If I understand it correctly, our welfare system actually gives
recipients credit cards now. (Or, more likely, maybe debit cards.)

Sorry, I get enough hits from idiots that think I'm on the
market even though I tell them I'm not, even without
meeting many people.
:)

Then it sounds like you qualify.

Why, I ask you? Why do they not get it that I don't want to
qualify!? :)

What you want is irrelevant. People in to that sort of thing
believe (need to believe) that if they just off you enough
money . . .

Money!? No one's offering me any money! They just expect me to
have been waiting just for them.

I keep telling you how you can get rich. But you're not interested.

<g>

"Would you sleep with me a million dollars?" "Sure!" "How about
for $20?" "What kind of girl do you think I am?" "We've already
established that. Now we're just negotiating over the price."

LOL. Yeah, I know that joke.

I'll refrain from adding my minority-of-one opinion on that
(would just lead to flames, and I don't need more help in
filling my killfile).

That's no fun.

There's a theory that if one is willing to accept the near
universal rejection (and occasional slaps) that a man can
occastionally - maybe one time in a hundred - get laid by
walking up to every woman he sees and saying "Hey, bitch,
wanna ***?"

Yabbut, _after_ they've been told I take no applications on
that
regard?

Well, in Hollywood land, at least, no means yes; you're just
being coy.

I have been suspecting that people watch too many Hollywood
productions...

No doubt about it.

And then start to argue? (With arguments from their deluded
empty heads that assume I must want it, too.)

In some cases, it might well be the only female attention they
ever get.

Well, the last one supposedly had a girlfriend. Didn't like me
on sight, someone said she's jealous, I couldn't understand
why; I'd not want her guy.

Sounds to me like two losers who can't get any, who aren't in to
each other, trying to look more desirable by pretending to have
each other. Surveys indicated that married men are more attractive
to woman that single men, all other things being equal. The theory
is "well, *someone* saw something in him." My theory is that people
are idiots.

But mostly, men are willing to screw anything that will sit
still long enough.

LOL. Sounds too true.

A tree stump with a knot hole in it, if they could be certain
there wouldn't be any splinters.

Heh.

Sounds like a new market.

New? What makes you think so?

Wouldn't be as obvious as an
inflatable rubber doll. Guy can just say "I'll go chopping some
wood." and take his stump along.

I'm afraid to google for this, but I'll bet it's out there.

Bloody idiots.

If you hit them with something sharp, yes.

Maybe I should try that next time. <g>

I recommend something chemically propelled.

Could you be more specific?

Firearms would be the most obvious choice.

In fact, there is a submarket of just that, so long as you
put out in the end. Or you could go the bondage S/M route,
which isn't sexual at all if done right.

I've had a look at that once, just to see if that were more
interesting than what obviously isn't my thing.

On the bottom line, the costumes are great to look at, but it
still involves having to deal with people, or even fulfilling
some masochist's fantasies. If I were out to make someone
else happy, I might as well just go with the next guy.

I don't find tying people up (and I mean proper bondage)
appealing, nor any of the dominance stuff. The only thing
useful (not erotic) there would be a slave to clean up for
me, but of course they have extra wishes, too. Bah.

What's the point in that? :)

One might almost think you're anti-social.

Who, me?

Never.

Ok, I lied. <g>

Heh.

Besides, I always had the feeling that there's something
mentally wrong with the masochists and subs.

Many professionals agree with you, in varying degrees.

But of course you're not allowed to say that to them, or in
public, or else you're intolerant.

The only proper response to political correctness is to look them
right in the eye and announce, "I'm an ***. Get used to it."
Shuts 'em right up.

They'd sell (Germany has enough weirdos), but you'll have to
find someone else for the production. But I'm sure you
could find enough local airheads for the production.

I'll just film the commercials here with some typical beach
bunnies. IIRC, Baywatch was insanely popular in Germany.

True.

More so, in fact, than it ever was in the US.

I vaguely recall seeing that mentioned on TV sometimes. And here
you say they can't be believed. <g>

Oh, they know their ratings very well.

They'll give any cheap excuse. Thing is just, a brain
preserved in alcohol doesn't work very well in the thinking
business. It drops the thin coat of the technological age
and go right back to cave huggers. Which is more likely the
reason they drop their clothes, what with not being used to
them. They'd probably be happy with a few lengths of fur.
<g>

Unless you, too, have been an alcoholic for longer than you
haven't been, I'm inclined to take the word of the obvious
expert. :)

For longer than I haven't been?

An alcoholic.

That was a bit strangely phrased. :)

Yeah.

I don't drink any alcoholic drinks at all. I did some testing
in my youth, but then decided that lifetime - according to
latest science limited - is better not wasted by switching
off all I, on the bottom line, have; my ability to think
(more or less coherent). It's like buying a ton of chocolate,
and then chucking away large amounts of it.

I had an experience when I was about 18 involving screwdrivers
(orange juice and vodka - mostly vodka), a swivel chair and an
ultraviolet strobe light that cured me of any curiosity. (Not
that I was inclined to ever do that again anyway.)

Heh.

I like you ever better. :)

I did *not* get sick. Took every bit of will and focus I had, but I
did *not* get sick.

I've got some strong opinions on people who do drink, another
subject where I'm in a minority of one. :)

It's juts another form of self destructive stupidity.

Yep.

No arguments from me. A woman who is too perfect becomes
more an asthetic object d' art, and not so much a woman.
Flaws add character and personality to a person's looks.
The flaws are what's *interesting*.

I wouldn't agree with that,

Women never do.

I object to that being a solely women thing, though.

Oh, many men agree, too, but women *always* do.

I would have thought at least the ones with a larger number of
flaws would agree with you. Just so they can feel better, they
would at least claim it.

Apparently, they are more committed to being miserable because they
are imperfect than anything else. They say most women get plastic
surgery to impress other women, not to impress men. (And men to
impress other men.)

I've met women who were pretty much perfect by birth, and
while it's less so, the same principle still applies. (Mind
you, looks aren't the top of my list anyway. Never have been,
and get less so as I get older.)

I once fancied a guy who, on first seeing him, I thought "Oh
dear, what does _he_ look like!?", and then he started
talking. Great person. :)

Ever since then my 'first impression' isn't based on the very
first glance.

Looks are useful to get someone's attention, I suppose, but
that's about it.

One nice thing about usenet; no looks at all. Only post
formats...

Only nice if you're a) literate, and b) not a retard. For many,
it's not so nice at all.

Well, what I really mean is that here one can get plenty of
attention without any looks at all.

In a "dance naked on the bar singing "LOOK AT ME!! LOOK AT ME!!"
off key, sure.

I am prone to what the doctor called "traumatic athrithis."
Any time I injure a joint, I get arthritis in it a few months
later.

Ouch.

My Dad's got athritis, and what he says doesn't sound pleasant
at all.

It's not generally a big deal, though the one shoulder hurts
more as I get older. Eventually, it will bother me enough to
see the doctor, and they'll have something for it.

Hm. Doctors. I should go to a few occasionally, but I hate
sitting in the waiting room. Childhood trauma, I guess (my
grandmother dragged me to the orthopaedist every year, and the
dentist just for fun, plus her clueless general surgeon). I
don't mind doctors if I trust they know what they're doing,
never afraid of the dentist (he's the only one I regularly go
to, too), but I'm allergic to sitting in a waiting room.

Never did like dentists. Most of my baby teeth were capped (bad
teeth run in the family), and having someone else's fingers in my
mouth drives me crazy.

About 15 years ago, I had a nasty bicycle accident that
injures pretty much every major joint that wasn't already
messed up. Not a huge deal, mostly, but everything aches when
the weather changes.

You have my sympathies.

Three days in the hospital without food or water, surgery and a
pin in my wrist. It was a blast.

Why no food or water?

They knew they were going to do surgery on the arm, but I had a
mild concussion. They won't put you under a general anesthetic if
there's any question of the condition of the concussion, and they
don't like to do so if you've eaten (because you'll probably throw
up when you come out of it). I finally put my foot down on the
water, and told them if they didn't bring me somthing, I'd crawl to
the bathroom and drink out of the toilet if I had to. That might
have convinced them I was in good enough shape for the surgery.

A very wise woman once pointed out that getting old is not
for sissies.

Hey, I'm not that old! (And I was born with those hips.)

Some of us were born old.

Could be. I was born kind of not really present at all, just
sort of around, and only came into being around twenty years
later. (The only explanation for having missed so much stuff
that's supposedly mandatory.)

No doubt. Perhaps you sprung, fully grown, from Zeus' forehead.

LOL. That must be it.

I'll just call you Athena from now on.

With me, there's always a significant chance I'll light
myself on fire. Even if no combustion source is involved.
I've been known to trip over stray air currents.

Sounds familiar.

I'm better at bumping into things, dropping things, or just
cutting myself accidentally on harmless objects (or more
conventionally while peeling potatoes).

I've learned to be very careful, and very aware of everything
around me.

I tend to be easily distracted... (Which is why I do check some
things trying to focus on that, else I'll just forget and check
again. Not without reason; I've let the water running in a
clogged sink two or three times, and not too long ago had some
rice mildly heated for an hour or two - not boiliing, or I'd
have heard it.)

Easily distracted by brightly colored objects? I'll make a
Californian of you yet.

Had a roommate, once, though, who nearly put himself in the
emergency room cutting up cardboard counters for a game with an
Xacto knife.

Ouch.

Reminds me of a school trip where some people were carving
stuff. I wanted to carve something, too. I was warned. I didn't
listen. The scars on thumb and forefinger (on the inside and on
the outside respectively - how it went in two different
directions is still a mystery) are still visible.

But nothing worth a trip to a hospital, just very bloody on the
way back from the forest to where we were staying.

I recall learning to wear shoes outside in a similar fashion.

The message arrived here split (too big I guess), so I'll
continue in the next one...

We're both chatterboxes who don't snip.

Heh. I try my best to do snip.

And?

Well, I do snip some stuff. :)

(But that's just because too much quoted stuff bugs me.)

Heh.

--
Terry Austin

Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more ***. -
David Bilek

Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.
.