HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: erics@sco.COM (eric smith)
Subject: Re: Civil War Alternate Histories
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 20:04:34 GMT


glhewitt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Gary Livingston Hewitt) writes:

>nancy@genie.slhs.udel.edu (Nancy Lebovitz) writes:

>>In article <D2150056.ladc96@erics.infoserv.com> erics@infoserv.com writes:

>>>The slave-based agricultural economy of the South was not compatible
>>>with industrialization, and this country was bound to industrialize.
>>>Unless the South could have figured out how to change their plantation
>>>economy to a slave-based industrial one, then either slavery had to
>>>be ended (by force or mutual agreement), or the South had to go its
>>>separate way. And I doubt the North would have stood for the South's
>>>industrializing on a slavery base. If pro-slavery forces lost the
>>>battle for expansion into new territories, and therefore their balance
>>>in Congress, slavery as an institution was doomed.

>>I've heard arguments that slavery for agriculture became uneconomical--
>>I've never heard any sort of reason why keeping slaves as personal
>>servants is uneconomical, but it's obvious that such slavery doesn't
>>exist in industrialized countries (except for some scams involving
>>illegal immigrants). Any theories about why?

>A possible theory is that in a political sense, the abolition of slavery
>enables a full conversion to a free-labor economy, that is, a system in
>which one is required to sell one's labor-power in a market (or _the_
>market, for that matter), in which the relationship between employer
>(say, owner of land/capital) and employee is mediated only by a wage.
>In this argumetn, the existence of slavery _in_any_form_ tends to
>undermine this abstracted relationship, and so the political result is
>that capitalists like to abolish slavery, in order that their new labor
>system which involves fewer responsibilities towards their employees can
>be justified.  This is often accompanied by Arminian religion, by the
>way.

>This does not preclude, of course, the existence of slavery on the
>periphery of wage-labor capitalist regions, because there (say, in
>America), there is little threat to the core.  Until the antislavery
>ideas of humanitarianism start building steam, so by 1834 you get
>abolition in the UK and its colonies.

>Just one attempt, I guess.

One fact that should not be ignored is that slavery as an institution
was not monolithic, nor were conditions in the South. A slave on a small
family farm in Virginia had a much different life than a slave on a
large plantation in the deep South. By the time of the Civil War,
economic conditions were working against slavery in many small farm
and small town areas. Presumably the labor benefits of having slaves
was not worth the cost of feeding and caring for them in many of those
situations. At the same time, however, slavery was thriving in the
economy of the plantation South.

-----
Eric Smith
erics@sco.com
erics@infoserv.com
CI$: 70262,3610
From: jonathan@comp.lancs.ac.uk (Mr J J Trevor)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: Domes of Fire
Date: 16 Dec 92 09:18:55 GMT
Organization: Department of Computing at Lancaster University, UK.

In article <weber-121292121817@spinel.bucknell.edu> weber@bucknell.edu (Bryan Weber) writes:
>Has anyone read David Eddings's new book, Domes of Fire?  I'm thinking of
>buying the hardback, and I want to know if it's worth the twenty-plus
>dollars it'll cost me.  Is it?
>
>  -bW

Ive read it (got it as part of a book club offer) and its more of the
same (as another poster mentions). Thats not to say I didnt enjoy it,
but theres nothing new. In fact it looks like he's doing exactly the
same thing with this new series as he did with the Mallorean, rehashing
a plot with only a few changes (Domes is all about Sparhawk and another
god who wants world domination).

However, all the character interaction is nicely done and made the book
ok as far as I was concerned, even if the plot was a little slow.

My advice? Either get a reduced harback price if you are a fan (<$20) or
wait for paperback.


-- 
___________
  |onathan   Phone: +44 524 65201 x3793 Address:Department of Computing
'-'________    Fax: +44 524 381707              Lancaster University
            E-mail: jonathan@comp.lancs.ac.uk   Lancaster, Lancs., U.K.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: troly@redwood.math.ucla.edu (Bret Jolly)
Subject: Re: Motorcycle Science Fiction
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 01:42:51 GMT

In article <9212181351.AA04903@rutgers.edu> JXA01@albnydh2.BITNET writes:

>Could someone please help? I am looking for science fiction stories that
>have motorcycling as a main theme or component of the story. >

   Try _Damnation Alley_, a widely-anthologized novelette (novella?) by
Zelazny.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: dresnick@athena.mit.edu (David I Resnick)
Subject: Re: Domes of Fire
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.written
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 17:41:32 GMT

In article <weber-121292121817@spinel.bucknell.edu> weber@bucknell.edu (Bryan Weber) writes:

   Has anyone read David Eddings's new book, Domes of Fire?  I'm thinking of
   buying the hardback, and I want to know if it's worth the twenty-plus
   dollars it'll cost me.  Is it?

   I read the first 30 or so pages in the store, and it looks like more
of the same.  I am currently a "recovering Eddings junkie".  This is
the first one in a while that I won't buy hard cover.  While I've
thought that the quality/originality of his stuff has been going
downhill for some time now, I was "hooked" (as I was on Piers Anthony
and Alan Dean Foster at previous times).  I am currently at the
somewhat disillusioned but will still buy paperback stage with
Eddings, and at the won't touch stage with PA/ADF.  

  I hope that this doesn't start the monthly "Eddings is crap"
flamewar.  The last one wasn't long ago enough for that!!!!  
--
       David Resnick                           dresnick@athena.mit.edu      
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: lindsay+@cs.cmu.edu (Donald Lindsay)
Subject: Re: CHTORR!!
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 19:27:30 GMT


kuryakin@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Rick Pavek) writes:
>I don't think it's going to be a book for someone not familiar with the
>series.

Would someone post a good SPOILER, please? I'd like to know how it
comes out.

I read book 2 because #1 was OK. I only read any of book 3 because I'd
already bought it before reading book 2. At that, I skimmed #3 pretty
heavily - the seminars in particular were a waste of paper.
-- 
Don		D.C.Lindsay	Carnegie Mellon Computer Science
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: fscem1@acad3.alaska.edu
Subject: Re: Friedman opinions??
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:16:06 GMT



	I thought _In Conquest Born_ was okay, _The Madness Season_
	was good, and _Black Sun Rising_ was wonderful wonderful
	wonderful.  And if _BSR_ hasn't got at least one sequel,
	I'm going to be *terribly* upset with Friedman, because
	it's set up to have one.  Anybody know when it might come
	out?  Or what it might be called?

						-bright the hour
							catie
From: rnlee@sdcc3.ucsd.edu (Profess'nal Agitator)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: Highlander flashbacks
Date: 18 Dec 92 20:08:21 GMT
Organization: MAWL - Mudd Alums Without Lives

In article <8049@news.duke.edu> amu@gauss.egr.duke.edu (Audrey M. Urling) writes:
>
>From article <42558@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, by rnlee@sdcc3.ucsd.edu (Profess'nal Agitator):

>> I've seen all nine eps and this is what I've been able to piece
>> together based on memory:

>> born sometime before 1586 (aside:  when was Connor born?  He is
>> supposed to be two generations before Duncan.  I remember the
>> Highlander posters saying his first battle was in 15*6, but I don't
>> remember if this was 1536 or 1586.)

>		Several flashbacks deleted

>> Feel free to add to this list (did I miss a flashback from "Freefall"?).

>There was a flashback to China in one episode.  "The Road not Taken",
>I believe.  I don't know when that happened, however.

I thought there might have been one, but I forgot what happened.
Maybe it was 100 years ago, which I did include.

>As for Duncan's birth...in the first episode he said something like "I 
>won't be 400 until next week" which makes it 1592.  Unless he was 
>kidding, of course.

Or 1585-1586 for those of us who are stubborn.

>In "Eyewitness" there were no flashbacks, but they did mention that
>Duncan knew Anne in Paris.

Actually, I think they just mentioned that Duncan had seen the
painting in Paris.  My guess is that Anne was too young in the 1960's.
I didn't include this because he may have just been there for a short
period of time and it doesn't serve any development other than, "Oh
look, we know Duncan went to Paris in the 60's."  Big deal.

>The only flashback in "Freefall" was Joan Jett's.

Was this hers or Devereaux's?

In any event, I didn't include it because it wasn't Duncan's
flashback.  I only plan on including Duncan's (and Connor's if he
shows up again) flashes.

Agitator
  #->

*Vision*Madoka*Yuri*Akane*Kyoko*Rally*Miria*Fujiko*Priss*Lum*//*Fuke Eroze*
*------------ R E M E M B E R   B E I J I N G --------------//------------*
*IBM PC - Who wants a politically correct computer?     \\ //  Only AMIGA!*
*================================ Bring Back the Caltech \X/ Cannon!! ====*
*Roderick Lee, HMC '91    "The Professional Agitator"    agitator@ucsd.edu*
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: swardwel@nyx.cs.du.edu (Stephanie  Wardwell)
Subject: QL:  Promised Land (Spoiler-free trivia)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 17:16:16 GMT


LOVED THIS EPISODE!!!  (Of course, at this point, any new episodes are a
good thing.  I hate exam time!)

Trivia point #1:  The actress who played the pregnant woman was Elizabeth
Dennehy, whom any QL/TNG crossover fans may recognize as the pushy woman
bucking for Riker's job on the Enterprise in "Best of Both Worlds."  She
looked really strange with her hair down!

Trivia point #2:  I'm glad someone else noticed the Olds commercial, too! 
Normally I change the channel right after the "Oh,boy!", but I had my
hands full of cat and laundry so I stuck around.  It went something like
"If you like leaping around, you are probably here this time every week. 
But with the Olds blah blah V6 blah blah 8% APR blah blah rebate blah
blah.  So stop leaping around and stop in at your local Olds dealer
today."  I was so surprised I just sat and stared at the tube.  Did I
really hear that?  Yes, I do believe I did.  Well, that was very strange,
I must say.

Anyway, I'm off for the holidays, leaping between New York and South
Central Penna.  Blessed Yule, Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, and if the
Muslims or Hindi or anyone else celebrates anything else at this time of
year, have a good one of those, too!

Steph

%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%
Stephanie Wardwell                             QUANTUM LEAP - 
                                               Fun to watch,
swardwel@mail.sas.upenn.edu                    Difficult to explain
%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%\%
h
From: 4224_5201@uwovax.uwo.ca (John LaRocque)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: YAR'S DEATH SCENE
Date: 20 Dec 92 17:12:23 GMT
Organization: University of Western Ont, London

In article <lk23554@pro-amber.cts.com>, rsopicki@pro-amber.cts.com (Randy Sopicki) writes:
> wixer!cactus.org!wixer!pro-smof.cts.com!rfletcher@cactus.org (Robert Fletcher) writes:
> 
>>  It was not the writers idea but a problem with the person who played Yar.
>>The politics of big business killed off Yar.
>>----
> That's absolutely right. Tasha, Denise Crosby, wanted a larger part and more
> money. .

Good thing she was "tarred", then. I hated those episodes with her, and
secretly desired to play the same role that Armus the tar-baby from hell
did in that historic moment. Makes you almsot sick just thinking about that
first season: Worf in the background, Troy in a miniskirt, Data not knowing
just how to talk right, and Riker without a mustache. 

-- 

John P. LaRocque
vader@uwo.ca
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario


"Urk..urk..."
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa", Darth Vader
From: rsopicki@pro-amber.cts.com (Randy Sopicki)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: YAR'S DEATH SCENE
Date: 20 Dec 92 14:29:31 GMT
Organization: ProLine [pro-amber] -- Spring Valley, Ca

wixer!cactus.org!wixer!pro-smof.cts.com!rfletcher@cactus.org (Robert Fletcher) writes:

>  It was not the writers idea but a problem with the person who played Yar.
>The politics of big business killed off Yar.
>----
That's absolutely right. Tasha, Denise Crosby, wanted a larger part and more
money. .
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.misc,rec.arts.drwho
From: rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu (Michael Rawdon)
Subject: Re: ST:TNG (critiques) vs Dr. Who
Followup-To: rec.arts.drwho
Reply-To: rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin Computer Sciences Dept., Madison, WI
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 16:23:30 GMT

[Followups to rec.arts.drwho]

In <1992Dec14.184356.2543@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik) writes:
>In <1992Dec13.193144.471@rivers> ph9991_manfr@rivers.acc.uwrf.edu writes:
>>I differ with you here Michael, the quality of the writing in those eras
>>did not plummet at all.  The quality of the show's time slot did and thus
>>the ratings suffered.
>>If anything, the writing only got better with masterpieces like
>>"Remembrance of the Daleks," "The Curse of Fenric," "The Greatest Show in
>>the Galaxy," and "Survival."
>>Otherwise I think we agree. Just wanted everyone to know that Michael's
>>point about the scripts is one that is in dispute.

>And *I* want everyone to know (as if they didn't already) that there are
>those among us who agree wholeheartedly with Michael and are physically sick
>at the idea that the abovementioned stories might be considered
>"masterpieces" by *anyone*.  Because before the Baker and McCoy eras, Doctor
>Who had believable characters and coherent plots.  At least in my book, you
>need both of those in order to qualify as a "masterpiece."

Well, I would disagree with you as far as "Survival" goes, insofar as I think
the creators realized with that episode that its strength was not its plot,
but its theme and characterization (both of which I thought were extremely
strong, as well as the superb script and music score).  Actually, its plot
is fairly straightforward, which I think was what was needed to make the
strengths of the McCoy era show, not the convoluted plotting of "Curse Of
Fenric".

-- 
Michael Rawdon				  rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin Computer Sciences Department,  Madison, WI
( Coming soon to a Massachusetts near you! )

"...I trusted [Ganelon] like a brother.  That is to say, not at all."
				- Roger Zelazny, _The_Guns_Of_Avalon_
Xref: sparky rec.arts.sf.tv:5984 rec.arts.tv:23939
From: jeh@cmkrnl.com
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: TV Crushes
Date: 15 Dec 92 09:22:53 GMT
Organization: Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego, CA

In article <1992Dec14.010525.28272@pslu1.psl.wisc.edu>, jarnolde@pslu1.psl.wisc.edu (John Arnolde) writes:
> In article <1gg5lhINN5vl@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aa716@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Scott Fields) writes:
>>TV women I've been hot for:
>> [...]

Gawd, you guys make me feel OLD.  

I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned:

	- Diana Rigg (Mrs. Emma Peel on The Avengers)
	- Nichelle Nichols 
	- Lynda Day George 
	   (Casey, from one of Mission: Impossible's later seasons.)
	   (Cinnamon looked and acted as though she was carved from solid ice,
	   and whats-her-name, Tracey?, played by Lesley Anne Warren, was about 
	   as convincing in that role as PeeWee Herman would be at the head of 
	   a platoon of Marines...)
	- Mary Tyler Moore (can you tell that I'm partial to dancers?  Nyah...)
	- Loretta Swit 

And if we expand the field to include singers:  

	- Cheryl Bentyne of Manhattan Transfer
	- for that matter, Janis Siegal, also of Manhattan Transfer
		(she's married, though.)
		(you women can fight over Alan Paul and Tim Hauser!)

>>Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters on WKRP)

Ah, ha!  I thought I was the only one who preferred a classy brunette to 
a cheap flashy blonde (Jennifer?  the character played by Loni Anderson).  

Um, well, make that an expensive flashy blonde.  

	--- Jamie Hanrahan, Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego CA
Internet:  jeh@cmkrnl.com, hanrahan@eisner.decus.org, or jeh@crash.cts.com
Uucp:  ...{crash,eisner,uunet}!cmkrnl!jeh
Xref: sparky rec.arts.sf.tv:5962 rec.arts.tv:23865
From: bs895@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Terri M. Librande)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: QL More you know you like Al better
Date: 14 Dec 1992 20:44:23 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


I think Al is golden on a date.  Holds chairs out for the lady, 
opens doors, and the like.  A perfect gentleman--until you marry
the guy....

Then, it's adios amigo.

Terri in Cleveland
((would I tell this guy adios?  No way, partner!)
-- 
"My armor, my sword!  More misadventures?  Adventures old friend!"
From: MSWJ@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU (History is REPLETE!)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Babylon 5 & Deep Space Nine
Date: 18 Dec 92 13:09:00 GMT



I am trying to find out the scheduled January release dates for both
Babylon 5 and ST: Deep Space Nine.  If anyone can help me with this, I 
would appreciate it.

MScott Walters
mswj@crnlvax5    OR   msw4@cornell.edu
From: jseaver@bigwpi.WPI.EDU (Jason John Seaver)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Date: 12 Dec 1992 18:10:07 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: bigwpi.wpi.edu

In article <1992Dec11.191912.6933@urbana.mcd.mot.com> mscott@urbana.mcd.mot.com writes:
>Paramount owns the rights to 'Star Trek'.  FOX is the only network that
>I know of that has purchased the ST:TNG series. I wouldn't doubt that some
>other independents might have picked it up too. Since ST:DS9 will be closely
>hinged on the ST:TNG world, with TNG guest appearances, I doubt you'll see 
>DS9 on any station that doesn't carry TNG now, which is mostly FOX
>affiliates. This has also borne out to be true from the info I've been hearing
>in the Star Trek news groups.

	Fox has _NOT_ purchased the rights to ST:TNG (they had their chance,
but didn't.  They must be kicking themselves...).  However, the stations which
had room in their schedules for ST:TNG happened to be Fox stations _MOST OF THE
TIME_.  I watch TNG on an ABC station at school and a Fox station at home.

	Also, it seems that in a lot of markets, TNG and DS9 will be on
different stations.

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.misc,rec.arts.drwho
From: rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu (Michael Rawdon)
Subject: Re: ST:TNG (critiques) vs Dr. Who
Followup-To: rec.arts.drwho
Reply-To: rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin Computer Sciences Dept., Madison, WI
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 18:30:33 GMT

[Footnote:  Oh-my-ghod I'm about to jump in on the side of the "Curse Of
Fenric" defenders! :-) ]

In <1992Dec16.035658.7472@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik) writes:
>In <6JJVB1A3@cc.swarthmore.edu> jhildeb1@cc.swarthmore.edu (Jeff Hildebrand) writes:
>>as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik) writes:
>>>And *I* want everyone to know (as if they didn't already) that there are
>>>those among us who agree wholeheartedly with Michael and are physically
>>>sick at the idea that the abovementioned stories might be considered
>>>"masterpieces" by *anyone*.

>>	Would you like an air sickness bag? Curse of Fenric happens to be
>>one of my all time favorite Who episodes. A lot of people agree with me and
>>have ever since it was first shown back in 1989.

>A lot of people liked Hitler for a while too.

I think that this is hitting below the belt.

>						Like what you like, you will
>have no luck convincing me that a story which manages to trivialize (a) war,

I don't really see this.  The war angle seemed like mainly a backdrop to me.
If you want a story which trivializes war, I recommend "The Armageddon Factor"
or "Battlefield".

>(b) chess,

I was unaware that chess was nontrivial to begin with.  And here I'd always
thought it was a game.

>	    (c) Norse myth, and (d) [and this is the killer] vampires
>by failing to adequately explore *any* of these within its own plot and theme
>is a "masterpiece."

Well, I will agree that it didn't do a good or complete job of explaining a
lot of key plot elements.

>			...Come to think of it, that last sentence was pretty
>incoherent, too, but never mind.  Anyway, I felt that there was entirely too
>much in "Curse" to really make a good story.  Believe it or not, it ranks as
>one of my *least* favorite who stories ever with bad acting, bad writing,
>cheesy visuals, and lack of unified thrust.  I liked "Twin Dilemma" better
>than this tripe, for Schnopia's sake!

Aw, I wouldn't go THAT far.  I certainly wouldn't put it on the same level as
(gack) "The Happiness Patrol".  Like "Silver Nemesis" and "Ghost Light", I
liked the ideas, but didn't like the execution.

-- 
Michael Rawdon				  rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin Computer Sciences Department,  Madison, WI
( Coming soon to a Massachusetts near you! )

"...I trusted [Ganelon] like a brother.  That is to say, not at all."
				- Roger Zelazny, _The_Guns_Of_Avalon_
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: 4224_5201@uwovax.uwo.ca (John LaRocque)
Subject: Re: Galactica Question
Organization: University of Western Ont, London
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:13:47 GMT

In article <724613124.AA02113@csource.oz.au>, andy@csource.oz.au (andrew gulovsen) writes:

>hope the above is of help.. highly recommend you purchase Battlestar Galactica
>#7"WAR OF THE GODS".. well worth reading.. and does fill in many of the blanks
> left open in that ep..
> 
> ag
> 
>  * Origin: Andy's BBS - Melb Aust - +61-3-357-3414 (3:635/503)

I have most of the books, but a couple of months ago I attempted to purchase
the remainder of the Berkely Books set. I was missing 7, 10,11,13,14 and
ordered the four that were still in the 1991 catalogue. Nice to know that
they are out of print (here in Canada, at least). I would die to get them.

I have several extra Marvel Comics novelizations (yes, the pocket book
color comic) of the BG movie and too many extra copies of volume one
(the movie). I would be willing to buy or trade for those books and
other BG stuff like Blueprints or soundrack albums.




-- 

John P. LaRocque
vader@uwo.ca
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario


"Urk..urk..."
"Apology accepted, Captain Needa", Darth Vader
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.startrek.misc,rec.arts.drwho
From: gletty@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Bruce Gletty)
Subject: Re: ST:TNG (critiques) vs Dr. Who
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 21:14:48 GMT

as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (andrew david simchik) writes:


>[lots of stuff about how Yar's death in Trek was less affecting than
>Adric's]

>I agree with that.  And in reference to the question about "didn't they
>bring Yar back?", they've had a Romulan lookalike who is (no flames becuase
>I don't remember exactly) supposed to be Yar's daughter or something. 
>They've had her on several times without even an attempt at an explanation,
>which is just about the most reprehensible thing any writer can do, in my
>opinion.  UGH!

They explained it the first time she showed up. Its a result of a 
paradox caused in another epsiode.
-- 
This post is mine, and does not necessarily reflect the views of C.C.S.O.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv