HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rkoch@lonestar.utsa.edu (Ruth M. Koch)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: religion for which others are waiting
Date: 27 Jul 92 21:08:36 GMT
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio

[StM talking about the importance of rituals]

Yeah!  Agree wholeheartedly.

One of the things I have been searching for for quite sometime now
has been ritual in my life.

Being pretty much raised agnostic, there wasn't much acknowledged ritual
in my life. (as in associated with religion.)  I always felt left out
of a part of life because I didn't have the same rituals.  When I was
starting college, I went through a period of finding myself that continues
to this day.  Along the way, I've found out a lot about myself.

I know now that I am very sympathetic to the neo-pagan/wiccan way of
thinking, though not a wiccan myself.  I've learned to recoginze the
importance of rituals in everyday life, and how to create rituals
when I need one.  I use rituals as a form of meditation, or ev.

Nathan.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: lower-tony@CS.YALE.EDU (Tony Lower)
Subject: Manx & 'Loysious
Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept., New Haven, CT 06520-2158
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 18:20:02 GMT


   A thin man with curly brown hair steps out of a patch
of shadow that nobody had been watching.

   "Well, I guess that's the end of lurking for me.  Hi!
My names Manx, and this is Aloysious."  Manx gestures to
the kitten head sticking out of his jacket pocket. "We're
here to have fun, and like that.  Mike, a ginger ale for
me, and a platter of milk for 'luscious-kitty, OK?"

Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: SG.MML@isumvs.iastate.edu (M. Loughin)
Subject: Re: A Night in the Hills of West Virginia
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 21:35:09 GMT

In article <RANDOLPH.92Jul23141227@cognito.cognito.ebay.Sun.COM>,
randolph@cognito.cognito.ebay.Sun.COM (Randolph Fritz) writes:
>"Marie, one the big problems of TV violence is that the families in
>bad shape and rotten environments are the ones in the worst position
>to control television watching.  So I believe that in those
>environments television aggravates the problem of violence.

Yes, this is unfortunately true. But I still don't believe in
censoring television.  What about restricting violence to after
9:00 p.m.?  Would that be considered censorship?

>"For those of you defending violence -- anyone remember Dirque?
>Remember how violated some of us felt during his visits?  Hey -- I
>found a use for him -- he's a bad example!"

I am not defending violence -- I think it has unhealthy influence
on those without normal defenses, in particular.  But I think that
those who *do* claim it is harmless are saying that it doesn't
effect the *behavior* of those who watch it.  I don't think they
claim that it doesn't upset people as they are watching it.

Those people who defend violence as entertainment may have a point
that it provides an outlet in our safe, dull lives.  But I still
think the harm outweighs the good.

--Marie
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jhitch@crash.cts.com (Jeffrey Hitchin)
Subject: Re: More of Nathan being Depressed. (feel free to skip this)
Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 05:13:02 GMT

	"Marie is right, Nathan," Grant says.  "Just because you don't
know shitloads of math doesn't mean you're stupid.  I have a biology
degree, I can't do calculus worth a damn.  Doesn't mean I'm dumb,
nosireebob!

	"Let me put it this way.  You're talking to a bunch of science
geeks, uh, students and someone says:

'No problem.  All you have to do is feed the energy through the matter
transducer, recalibrate the delta-Q of the mainframe directional chips
to take care of any parabolic inertial forces, and then simply maintain
the field strength. Easy!'

	"Sounds like science, doesn't it?  Well, it's bullshit, and
so is your argument.  Trust me, friend, you are NOT stupid or unintelligent.
You just have different interests and opinions.  Let's hear some of those,
huh?"
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu (Barbara Trumpinski)
Subject: Re: A return
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 12:38:13 GMT

kitten to shonias ...re: dm's cold hands....
>>
>>"well, shonias must remember the old saying...'cold hands, warm
>>heart'... unlike some MICE i will not name....:)"

>Frood, having popped in from "out of know wear", turns to kitten
>saying, "I hope the converse is not true of hands and heart - that this
>is not a zero-sum game with one hot and the other cold.  Honestly,"
>breaking into a smile and unobtrusively flexing his digits slightly,
>"my hands are usually warm and my heart is warm enough towards many - I
>only tickle those I like.  (Well, I reserve the right to like quite a
>few folk, especially around here.  :-)"

>>(you know i am teasing....but just wait....one of these days i will
>>sneak up on you when you least expect it....then you'll be sorry!)

>(Ah, stealth tickles
>    - yer approaching proximity upon padded paws ... to pounce!)

"that's how i catch my bus every morning }:)....just ask didi...but
no, frood...it's just an old saying...not a zero sum equation...

and i tend toward cold hands and COLD feet...(my feet have ALMOST
gotten me kicked out of bed on occasion...that's why i sleep in sox
(like the fox) in winter."
--
***************************************************************************
conan the librarian a.k.a. kitten           /\ /\  barbara ann 
"my life's a soap opera, isn't yours?"      {=.=}
                                              ~   trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu 
"perhaps _any_ universe becomes real in proportion 
to the number of people who believe in it and spend time there." s. robinson

Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: bsackste@AFIT.AF.MIL (Bernadette M. Sacksteder)
Subject: Re:The New Kid
Organization: Air Force Institue of Technology, WPAFB OH
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:54:25 GMT

"Gosh, Gryphon, how nice of you!" In this place the New Kid gets to smile 
with all the dimples she always wanted to have, and does so. "Here's to you, 
and too cool beings everywhere (including all the wonderful ones who emailed 
me the past few days)!"

Smash, crash, band, sticky mess coating the pile of glass shards in the 
fireplace.

"So, how did you manage to get to become a mythical being?"

------------------------------------------------------------------
Bernadette M. Sacksteder       Here comes your father!
Bsackste@afit.af.mil                -William Shakespeare
                                            Henry V
__________________________________________________________________
You mean somebody actually CARES about my opinions?
------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                             
                              
                              
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: ajm@wag.caltech.edu (Abner J. Mintz)
Subject: Re: Yet another sleepless night
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 19:00:53 GMT

Kitten says ...
>>i am not criticizing you abner...NEVER.  and you are doing what is
>>right for YOU..  but i can see where space cadet is coming from...
>>and i sort of have to agree with him...."

"Oh, I didn't think you were.  And if I thought there WAS a chance of my
getting involved with someone within 24 hours, I'd definitely buy one and
keep it in my wallet.  But I'm sure I'd have more warning than that ... "
 
TJ says ...
>I just wanted to say that I agree...Abner, you must do what you
>think is best for you, however I wouldn't leave home without one
>personally. (it's snuggled in my wallet right next to the
>'buy-two-get-one-free' card I have for the place I buy my hair dye)

Abner shrugs.  "No problem.  It's just a personal thing.  I've only ever slept
with one person, and I had about two weeks worth of warning before the first
time ...  I suspect that, being who I am, I wouldn't get into a situation
where I'd need one without having a clue beforehand and enough time to get one.
Besides, condoms get brittle with age, and are rather expensive ...  For me,
it would be better to get them fresh when I need them."

>I don't sleep around, especially with someone I just met, but ya
>never know what could happen...besides, a woman friend of my mom's
>was raped fairly recently and she was able to talk him into letting
>her put one on him, you can't do that if one isn't handy.
 
"Well, I certainly won't need one for anything like that!"

>TJ braces her legs and puts her arms out. "Ready Kitten?"

"Tsk, tsk tsk.  In public yet ..."  =8)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: JMPIERCE%USMCP6.bitnet@VM.TCS.Tulane.EDU (JIM PIERCE)
Subject: re: SEA makes a decision
Organization: Yale CS Mail/News Gateway
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 00:03:58 GMT

 [ just a few deletions, wouldn't want to violate net-etiquette ]

>Smiling sweetly at DJ, SEA leaves her place in the Meadow and
>returns inside to the bar and the comfort of Mike's countenance.

    { DJ bows and realizes that something is troubling her.
      He slowly follows to see if he can help. }

>As Mike pours SEA a glass of wine, she feels rather than sees
>her friends gathering around her to offer support.

>Turning to face them, she continues,
 [ some deletetions...]
>"My stomach is
>upset, I'm depressed all the time, I only have energy to sleep
>and then I don't sleep well at all."

 { Hmm. Sounds familiar. Job problems... Supervisors who don't
   know how to supervise... }

>Tossing her glass in to the fireplace after toasting:
>"To bravery, or stupidity...it's a step in making a change"

    "If I had not left several jobs in the past, I wouldn't be
   here to enjoy the friendship in The Place. The coupon is always
   redeemable for without True Friends, I would still be just
   a little lost," DJ speaks softly.

>SEA turns to go back to the meadow, saying "I'll gladly take
>suggestions."

    "I don't have much to offer, but here I am, doing what I
   seem to do best, waiting for a request," DJ spoken softer yet.

    A Poem for SEA by DJ.


           The birds sing in the meadow,
           a moon has risen,
           the whip'poor will calls softly
           in the dusk,
             a train of thought wanders through my
           self, a friend I am, for every need,
           a True Friend is always hard to find,
           where I was before doesn't really matter
            anymore, for I am among friends, by the score.


* <JMPIERCE@USMCP6.BITNET> Jim "NickD." Pierce; Bach. Sci. in Appl. Cmp Sci
* USM Academic Computing on the Gulf Park Campus. Disclaimer: Standard.
* "At least my initials aren't Dan Quayle." me
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: Strange Question  (was Responsibilities of Artists...)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 19:39:02 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.055241.20980@ucc.su.OZ.AU> mar@physics.su.OZ.AU (David Mar) writes:

}"However... the speed of sound in such a rarefied gas will almost certainly
}be much less than the speed of any particles thrown out by an explosion. ..."

The Polymath fishes around and comes up with his aviator's hat.

"Ahem.  Just a technical nit.  The speed of sound varies with the
temperature of the gas, not the density.

"We now return you to the original discussion, still in progress."

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: The Nightstalker makes an observation
From: <JW83HISW@MIAMIU.BITNET>
Date: Wednesday, 22 Jul 1992 14:09:55 EDT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service

In reply to Speaker to Minerals' tirade against the Bible, Sundog says -
     You seem pretty fanatic about proving the Bible is just words, StM,
any reason why, other than a dislike of christians?  You seem pretty
fanatic about it, even though you say you are against people who are so
fanatic about the Bible who ignore modern science.
     Okay: evolution and the Bible.  I have no problem with the theory
of evolution and belief that God made the world.  The system is set up
so logically, and then right in the middle of it you have human beings,
who don't fit!  Also, so many catastrophic events have occurred that have
made the Earth just perfect for humans.
     In the end, this argument comes down to belief in God: you can't
prove to me that God doesn't exist(and I can't prove to you that Hedoes,
either).  Evolution makes a lot of sense, and I don't see why God
wouldn't operate in a logical fashion to set up a world where humans
could live comfortably.
     You argue with a lot of passion, but I'm afraid you're spinning
your wheels here.  These questions are never going to be answered.
 
Sundog
 
=========================================================================
Universal Citizen.  Ultra Knight.  Snow Master.  Bladesman.  Bodybuilder.
==========================================================================
my short sig.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
qquit
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: salford@orion.lrmsc.loral.com (Stephanie Alford 5850)
Subject: Re: even more re: SEA takes a ride.
Organization: Loral Rolm Mil-Spec Computers
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 07:04:36 GMT

In article <9207252213.AA13316@pops.navo.navy.mil> pierce@navo.navy.mil (James M. Pierce) writes:
>     { more. yes, more... }
>
>   <whee> leapfrog over the satellites...
>
>  { Boss, whatch out for that military satellite }
>
>  "No problem Spider ! The suits are set to avoid them.
>   Shall we hold hands while the sun rises above the Earth's horizon ?" DJ.
>
>  "Well, okay," SEA.
>
>                                segue
>  'also spake Zarathustra'  ---------------------> 'Here Comes the Sun!'
>
>  'Here comes the Sun !
>   Here comes the Sun !'
>
And SEA starts singing..."And I say it's alright"...holding on to DJ's hand
they leapfrog another satellite.
From: aahz@netcom.com (Aahzmandius)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Callahan's Intro, short form
Date: 23 Jul 92 11:45:58 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: Bill 'n' Opus for Prez

Okay, here's the second draft of the intro to alt.callahans.  I've
deliberately left out some important details, because I don't want
to spoil things for anyone who hasn't read the stories.

#######################

Welcome to Callahan's!

This is a little strange, so please be patient:  There is a Sinus Friction
writer (his words) named Spider Robinson.  He wrote a book called 
_Callahan's Crosstime Saloon_.  This book takes place in a bar which is 
decidedly non-normal.  Some of the characteristics of the place include: 
no barstools, bright lighting, awful puns, no mirrors, and $1 drinks with 
the option.

"The option", you ask?  Ahhhh....well, you may either return the glass at
the end of the evening for $.50 refund, or you may step up to the 
chalk-line, make a toast (and the toast *is* mandatory), and hurl the 
glass into the fireplace.  Afterwards, should you choose to talk, you 
receive the instant, undivided attention of all patrons in the place.  
On the other hand, should you choose to say nothing at all, no one will 
pry -- enforced by Fast Eddie's black jack.

The bar is presided over by Mike Callahan himself.  If Mike doesn't
know your drink, or doesn't have the ingredients for it, you get it
for free.  Several of the regulars are Jake (the narrator of the 
stories), Doc Webster, Mickey Finn, Josie Bauer, Long Drink McGonigle, 
and several others I won't mention so I won't spoil the reading.

There is an "axiom" which pretty much defines the place: "Shared pain is
lessened, shared joy increased; thus do we refute entropy."

Alt.callahans is an extension of that fictional reality into virtual 
reality.  Furthermore, because people in a.c tend to get rather close 
to each other, we have also made the transition to a virtually real 
reality (i.e. physical meetings).  Because it is a virtual reality, 
alt.callahans never seems to run out of room; there's always an empty 
table, and the soap boxes are never-ending.

The Callahanian calendar is a bit different from the standard one.
First there's Sunday; then there's Fireside Fillmore night (our version
is Radio Free Colorado, which magically plays whatever people want);
then there's Punday, in which the winner gets the night's bar tab 
refunded; and finally, there's Tall Tales night (our version is called
Story Poker, poker with the ante being stories).

In Callahan's, the bar is heavily populated with aliens and time 
travelers; alt.callahans has lots of dragons and other animals.

Relax, enjoy the scenery, and feel free to lurk until you feel
comfortable here.  We're really quite friendly, and those of us
that bite wait to be asked first.
-- 
                         --- Aahz (the *other* Dan Bernstein)
                             @netcom.com 

Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6

Babbage's Birthday Bargain Bash -- December 26th, 1992
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: lgold@callahans.Cadence.COM (Lynn Gold)
Subject: Weird stuff
Organization: /mnt4/lgold/.organization
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1992 08:57:46 GMT

The gold-haired woman steps up to order a drink.

"Mike, how about a Bass Ale."  Mike magically makes a mug appear.

"Today must've been an unusually slow news day."

"How's that?" asks Mike.

"The 8am headliner on the morning news was 'Gilroy Has Clydesdale Poop
Race.'

"I'm not making this up!  They're having some kind of event where they
walk these horses, the horses defacate, and if you're ticket matches
the marker where the biggest piece of horse poop lands, you win $2500.!

"Of course, if I'd have titled this message 'Horse sh*t,' whod've
believed I meant it literally?" :-)

--Lynn

--
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?<&QY97(@=V5R92!T;R!H97)E(&%B;W5T('1H:7,A"F%P
`
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: pope@physics.su.OZ.AU (The Nightstalker)
Subject: Re: The Nightstalker clowns around
Organization: School of Physics, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 04:48:49 GMT

In article <memo.535597@cix.compulink.co.uk> aralph@cix.compulink.co.uk writes:
>pope@physics.su.OZ.AU (The Nightstalker) writes:
>>The Nightstalker ducks out to the toilets with a big grin on his face, and
>>returns quickly with an asbestos suit from head to toe. He also has that
>>flamethrower that he mentioned after his 'transformation'. 
>
>>"A match please Mike."
>
>>Mike looks rather worried.
>
>>"Be careful will you?? I am insured, but...."
>
>>"Relax," smiles The Nightstalker as he lights the flamethrower. The
>>flamethrower lights and The Nightstalker proceeds to bathe himself in
>>flames. "Oh, ah, this is hot stuff."
>
>>This continues for a while, until The Nightstalker becomes BORED with all
>>the flaming. He switches it off, and takes off the helmet.
>
>>"A coke please Mike, I need the feeling. See people, I am flame proof.
>>Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!"
>
>"Nah, that's not a flame-thrower" says MonTemplar, as he pulls out a small
>object like a spray can, and presses the nozzle...
>
>*FWOOSH!*
>
>The Nightstalker suddenly notices that he is somewhat undressed and a nice
>shade of sharcoal-black.
>
>"THIS is a flame-thrower!"
>
>[Remember kids, don't try this at home! These stunts only work in VR]
>
>[Spotted the film reference?]
>
>"Seeing as I'm a good sport... last one in the Hot Tub gets cold water
>poured on them! Race ya!" says MonTemplar, as he rips off his outfit in
>one quick motion to reveal his trunks and beach towel... *CHARGE!*
>
The Nightstalker is somewhat embarrassed by his state of undressedness.

"Oh sod it!  Last one in is a rotten egg."

He dashes for the hot tub.



--
The Nightstalker.....




      I hate to recommend weird chemicals, alcohol,
      violence, or insanity to anyone... but, they've
      always worked for me.
                              - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: ajm@wag.caltech.edu (Abner J. Mintz)
Subject: Re: Why I react the way I do to some...
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 09:24:23 GMT

>
>}Science tries to prove its evidence ...

The polymath responds:

>"Not quite.  Science tries to _disprove_ its evidence.  That's a subtle,
>but _very_ important distinction.  For science to even accept a theory as
>worthy of consideration it must be inherently disprovable.  Note that the
>existence of God does not meet this basic criterion.
>
>"That's the distinction that separates science from faith.  The faithful
>only seek evidence to support their position.  They never seek to disprove
>it and would consider it blasphemous to do so.  Science constantly tests
>and attempts to disprove what it knows in its quest for better
>understanding of what is."

*blush*  "Well, um, sorry, I misspoke myself there.  You're entirely right.
In fact, I said something similar either later in that article or in a
followup, but messed up that sentence.  It should have read something like
'Science tries to evaluate its evidence.'  Mea culpa" *whack* "Mea culpa"
*whack*

=8)
From: trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu (Barbara Trumpinski)
Subject: Re: Pi is Three?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 20:22:27 GMT

bellman:
>>>And on a lighter vein
>>>
>>>"A favourite thing of mine,
>>>A new value of Pi to assign,
>>>I'd fix it at three,
>>>for its simpler you see,
>>>Than 3.14159"
>>>
>>>bye
>>>
>>
john:

>>      "How I want a drink, alcoholic, of course, after the heavy lectures 
>>involving quantum mechanics."

nightstalker:

>"I should have thought that before would have been useful as well," pipes
>in The Nightstalker.  To Dirac, Schroedinger and Heisenberg (who may have
>been here!)."

><crash>

"but please always remember and don't ever forget...."rene descarte
was a drinken f*art...." sings kitten....
--
***************************************************************************
conan the librarian a.k.a. kitten           /\ /\  barbara ann 
"my life's a soap opera, isn't yours?"      {=.=}
                                              ~   trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu 
"perhaps _any_ universe becomes real in proportion 
to the number of people who believe in it and spend time there." s. robinson

Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: pierce@spop.navo.navy.mil (Jim M. Pierce)
Subject: Re: even more re: SEA takes a ride.
Reply-To: pierce@navo.navy.mil (Jim M. Pierce)
Organization: POPS Operations I/O Operator
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 16:26:33 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-13223]: spop.navo.navy.mil

In article <1992Jul26.070436.23494@lrmsc.loral.com>, salford@orion.lrmsc.loral.com (Stephanie Alford 5850) writes:
|> And SEA starts singing..."And I say it's alright"...holding on to DJ's hand
|> they leapfrog another satellite.

      <wheeeeee> DJ.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans