HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: maryb@cix.compulink.co.uk (Mary Branscombe)
Subject: Re: Arrival of a Stranger
Reply-To: maryb@cix.compulink.co.uk
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 17:33:00 +0000


hey! I'm human - says Mary-with-a-Tail
But I have a tail! and there's a tale to that!
I celebrate the diversity of form in here because in this Place we 
can be what we want. So I can catch things! With my tail as well.

Galan, Greywolf... welcome!

+-------------------------------------------+--------------------------+
| Organisation: Me? You're joking, right?   |maryb@cix.compulink.co.uk |
|                                           |maryb@cix.compulink.uucp  |
|I know I type "teh" for "the" My fingers have their own accent ;-)    |
+-------------------------------------------+--------------------------+

Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: bwinton@laplace.uwaterloo.ca ()
Subject: Goodbye (for a while) 
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 22:18:16 GMT

"AH HA Ha ha ha ha... I'm free!"  Blake yells.  "I get to go home...I don't
have to go to school...I can't lurk around at Callahan's...AAAARRRGGH, I'm
addicted to the net."  (Luckily for me, my dad has access to a bbs with 
Internet feeds, so I can still lurk around)  "Well, all of my exams are
finally over, and I have to admit that I was much luckier than I deserved
to be on this last exam.  I couldn't study for it at all, I simply lacked the
motivation, by the time I got to the exam, I had resigned myself to failing, 
but lo and behold, I knew most of the topics on the exam, and I got many of 
the questions right.  I don't think that I will ever go through that again.
If I can't get up enough motivation to study for an exam for it's own sake,
then I'll remember the sad feeling that I might fail the course, and I'll 
get right down to studying to avoid that.  Thank you all for giving me a 
place to go when all other doors were closed to me, and I'll see you in
2-3 weeks."

With that, Blake opens an X-window, and steps out, into a room with 40 
terminals,  picks up his knapsack, and starts the 5-minute walk to the
residence which he has called home for the past 4 months.

							Blake.

Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce)
Subject: Re: Dalek has entered the building
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:18:43 GMT

>The Dalek will be more than happy to remove his weapon arm, but will require
>some assistance as his other manipulator isn't up to the task.
>However, as having only his suction arm and eye stalk makes him feel
>unbalanced, he will require a new appendage.  He kindly (kindly for a 
>Dalek that is) asks for suggestions that fit the spirit of the Place.
>
>The Dalek

 <chuckle> "Thats easy, something to hug others with, " Linda.

-- 
         Jim Pierce Bach. of Sci. in Applied Computer Science USM 
             jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu  Disclaimer: Standard.
                   Video. Cher: Love and Understanding.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce)
Subject: Re: John dashes through.
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:33:13 GMT

>John dashes through, on her way to the bar.
>
>She grabs an orange juice, and waves to all.
>
>"Happy news, calloo callay!  The VMS account
>I am (slowly) learning to use can access alt.callahans.
>
>"Thusly, you haven't gotten rid of me yet!"
>
>"This is one of the last days of this account.  From now on,
>assume my mail address to be:
>Bonapart@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu"
>
>"Thanks!"
>
>exit john

  I never got the chance to wish you a happy birthday, at least I don't
remember doing so, which means I probably did ! <chuckle> I sent this
little 'poem' to Didi earlier. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did !

=====================

    Last year, or the year before, we went over one hundred inches of
rain, setting a new 'century mark' for rain for this area. My toe
webbing came in real good that year ! :-)

      Rain: a Poem by DJ.

    Its fall up North, and Spring Down Under,
    Both are rainy,
    It just doesn't seem fair !
    Of course, if it were fair,
    there would be no clouds to rain with ! :-)
 
    Gee, I'm silly this morning !

   "I'll say ! You forget something ?" Linda.

   <urk> "Yes, I did ! John, Happy Birthday !" DJ.
  
-- 
         Jim Pierce Bach. of Sci. in Applied Computer Science USM 
             jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu  Disclaimer: Standard.
                   Video. Cher: Love and Understanding.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: mss2@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Michael S. Schiffer)
Subject: Re: Humor (was prejudice)
Reply-To: mss2@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 23:53:05 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.163404.18923@onetouch.COM> jpalmer@onetouch.COM (John Palmer) writes:

>    E.g. if a person goes around punching people in the face, if they have to
>get punched back to stop them, they 'deserve' that. . . hell, they worked for
>it, they earned it!  (But this stops short of arbitrarily decided upon
>punishments. . . why do they call it a 'justice system' instead of a
>'systematic process to exact revenge against those who do not follow our
>arbitrary legal code'?)

	"For the same reason that the US Constitution guarantees
`freedom of speech' or rights to `life, liberty, and property' rather
than `our imperfect and often arbitrary wishes'.  Just because
aspirations can't be perfectly achieved doesn't make them worthless.
An imperfectly guaranteed freedom of speech still guarantees far more
freedom of speech than a system which doesn't even purport to attempt
it.  A system which holds out justice as an ideal is more likely to
reject an unjust result than one which acknowledges itself as the
arbitrary wishes of a power group.  Certainly, there'll be much of the
latter in any system of alleged justice-- but be very afraid of a
system which makes _no_ pretension to justice.  It won't be any less
arbitrary-- but there'll be no basis on which to challenge a decision
at all, and no override mechanism (like legislative changes or
executive pardons) to allow for justice when the law falls short."

Michael
-- 
Michael S. Schiffer, LHN, FCS	"Indeed I tremble for my country
mss2@midway.uchicago.edu	 when I reflect that God is just."
mike.schiffer@um.cc.umich.edu	 -- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on
mschiffer@aal.itd.umich.edu	    Virginia (1784)
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Date: Friday, 11 Dec 1992 13:34:10 EST
From: Philip J. Comins <PJCHC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Chess

    Philip walks over to the holographic chess board with three glasses in
his hand. "Hi Jason, hi Ekho. Let me give you another of what you're having."
He lays the appropriate drinks at the table, and then raises his own, smiling
slightly. "Tea, of course, since it's fairly early in the day here. Um ...
could I get the next game with the winner?"
    Philip turns to Amanda. "Hi there. As we say in New York (which is at
this moment becoming the soggy wet apple due to flash flooding) What's
shaking? Of course, if you've been where I've been, you might rephrase it to
`How art thou?' Anyway, you'll let me know."
    Philip peers at the chess board, in thought. "Ah," he said, looking at
Jason, "if you move your kni ... Nevermind, I'll shut up." He glances at Ekho,
and clears his throat slightly. "Oh yes, before I forget (yes, I feel old)
I remember Roj Blake, though I never met him. Actually, we were in the same
jail together (not the same cell though ...)

     From my VR to yours, (and vice-versa I'm sure,)
                                                        -Philip J. Comins
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: mtemplar@redunser.demon.co.uk (Alan Ralph)
Subject: Re: Dalek has entered the building
Reply-To: mtemplar@redunser.demon.co.uk
Distribution: world
X-Mailer: cppnews $Revision: 1.20 $
Organization: Chez MonTemplar, Redunser
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 21:34:27 +0000

In article <1992Dec11.154312.18409@husc3.harvard.edu> djsnyder@husc10.harvard.edu (David Snyder) writes:
>There is a eery quiver that sounds through the Place, similar to the
>familiar noise of the Doctor's TARDIS, but quicker, clearer and more 
>well tuned.  A large metal box appears in the middle of the Place.
>A door in the box opens, and a pepperpot shaped creature slides out.
>"Exterminate," cries the Dalek.  "Exterminate."
>No one in the place showest the slighest sign of terror.
>"Exterminate?" asks the Dalek.  He is suddenly struck by a stream 
>of positive emotions, a stream that bores into his brain and
>activates parts that the Dalek had long belived remove.  The Dalek
>finds happiness.  He'd like to order a drink, but has no experience
>ingesting alcohol.
>
>The Dalek


MonTemplar eventually stops rolling around on the floor laughing, and gets up.
"Deary me. I thought I'd seen everything happen in here, but you beat the rest
hands down (suction pad?)" Wiping the tears from his eyes, he approached the
Dalek. "I don't think I can help you with the liquids problem, but I daresay we
could link you up to the jukebox and radio if you're looking for some
entertainment. Just mind you don't exterminate anybody, y'hear!"

MonTemplar leans over the bar to Mike. "Better go and inform the-" he looks
over his shoulder "- Dee Oh See Tee Oh Arr of our new arrival."

:-)

--
Alan Ralph, AKA Kimberley MonTemplar (when in alt.callahans)
aralph@cix.compulink.co.uk  OR  mtemplar@redunser.demon.co.uk
Cominatcha' c/o Demon Internet Services - Internet for a tenner+VAT a month!
Note: redunser is NOT associated with any other site of demon.co.uk
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce)
Subject: Re: A Toast - To my friends
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 17:35:24 GMT

iii writes:
>And to the folks on alt.callahans: Thanks for listening.

  I listen. I don't answer all posts, that would clog things up.
And I would feel silly from hogging the net... Sometimes I have
no answer, and sometimes I can't answer, but sometimes I hope my
answer helps. Thats about it for me. Later my friend, Jim.

   Variety, thats what I like about The Place. 

-- 
         Jim Pierce Bach. of Sci. in Applied Computer Science USM 
             jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu  Disclaimer: Standard.
                   Video. Cher: Love and Understanding.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: pel@maximo.enet.dec.com (Phillip E lujan)
Subject: Re: prejudice
Reply-To: pel@maximo.enet.dec.com (Phillip E lujan)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 13:09:04 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.163118.22280@netcom.com>, henry@netcom.com (Henry Polard) writes:
|> In article <1992Dec10.191209.484@data-io.com> li@Data-IO.COM (Phyllis Rostykus) writes:
|> >In article <104394@bu.edu> mjmh@crsa.bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes) writes:
|> >>"Anyway, he made a really strong case, and no one could
|> >>come up with even one counter-example that didn't have
|> >>at least some element of pain, or wasn't at someone's
|> >>expense or humiliation."
|> >
|> >"Puns." said Liralen.  "Puns don't have any of the above.
|> >I think it's the main reason they're a staple of this Place."
|> 
|> You mean the dazed people here are not inebriated, but merely
|> pun-drunk? It is a point to punder.
|> 
|> Puns punish the hearers. Those who engage in punditry do so at the
|> risk of being punched to death or worse, and rarely escape with
|> impunity. 
|> 
|> See what I mean?
|> 
|> --Henry Polard, the happy sadist.
|> 

Starknight sticks his head in through an Xwindow.  "Did I hear yet another
punderous punorama of punishment?"  (LOL, GD&R)

----------
If life is just a bowl of cherries, where's my brandy and chocolate???
Subject: Re: Hats
Reply-To: mtemplar@redunser.demon.co.uk
Distribution: world
X-Mailer: cppnews $Revision: 1.20 $
Organization: Chez MonTemplar, Redunser
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 15:53:04 +0000

Hmm... I have a selection of caps I've worn on holiday over the years, but the
one I use the most is my flat cap, procured whilst on a driving holiday with
my parents in Ireland, at Castlebar to be precise (where they filmed 'The
Quiet Man', starring John Wayne in 'eyrish' mode :-) ) Keeps the top of my head
warm when I walk to college in the morning.

My Dad has a fur-trapper's hat, with the flaps to cover your ears, which I may
borrow one day if it gets REALLY cold.

Later,
--
Alan Ralph, AKA Kimberley MonTemplar (when in alt.callahans)
aralph@cix.compulink.co.uk  OR  mtemplar@redunser.demon.co.uk
Cominatcha' c/o Demon Internet Services - Internet for a tenner+VAT a month!
Note: redunser is NOT associated with any other site of demon.co.uk
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce)
Subject: Re: Humor (was prejudice)
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 23:19:53 GMT

In article <Dec13.053026.34203@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> arsmith@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Alan Smith) writes:
>In article <1992Dec12.200103.28530@netcom.com> henry@netcom.com (Henry Polard) writes:
>>In article <Dec12.035405.37380@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> arsmith@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Alan Smith) writes:
>>>In article <1992Dec11.163118.22280@netcom.com> henry@netcom.com (Henry Polard) writes:
>>>>In article <1992Dec10.191209.484@data-io.com> li@Data-IO.COM (Phyllis Rostykus) writes:
>>>>>In article <104394@bu.edu> mjmh@crsa.bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes) writes:
>>>>>>"Anyway, he made a really strong case, and no one could
>>>>>>come up with even one counter-example [of humor - HP] that didn't have
>>>>>>at least some element of pain, or wasn't at someone's
>>>>>>expense or humiliation."
>>>>>"Puns." said Liralen.  "Puns don't have any of the above.
>>>>>I think it's the main reason they're a staple of this Place."
>>>>You mean the dazed people here are not inebriated, but merely
>>>>pun-drunk? It is a point to punder.
>>>Feminabane appears in Big Al's hands and gives Henry a smack upside the
>>>head, softer than he would like.
>>><bonk>
>>>[Rest deleted in order to save everybody's sanity]
>>>>--Henry Polard, the happy sadist.
>>>"I'll say."
>>>Big Al.  No, I didn't hurt him, enough.
>>Thank you for proving my point. Pain and hurt respond with pain and
>>hurt.
>Big Al.  Wondering if he's gonna get kicked out for cruelty.  (Wouldn't
>be surprising)

 "Now Al, why would we want to kick you out ? Someday I'll teach you to
  dance !" Linda. :-) :-) :-)

-- 
 Jim Pierce Bach. of Sci. in Applied Computer Science USM - Gulf Park Campus 
             jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu  Disclaimer: Standard.
             Video. Cher: Love and Understanding.
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce)
Subject: Re: Merry Christmas
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 06:44:43 GMT

 "Great card Nightstalker ! Happy holidays to all of you also !"
 Linda, DJ, and Robbie.

-- 
         Jim Pierce Bach. of Sci. in Applied Computer Science USM 
             jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu  Disclaimer: Standard.
                   Video. Cher: Love and Understanding.
From: mjmh@crsa.bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Utopiae (Was: Amanda wants to be a Kesh)
Date: 18 Dec 92 16:12:15 GMT
Organization: Boston University Center for Remote Sensing

In article <1godqgINN2cl@gap.caltech.edu> lydick@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:

>=>Splash pipes up:  "Au contraire my friend ... I'm interested in a
>=>philosophy called Conscious Reality Creation - `life is what you make it',
>=>on some level.  One of my favourite phrases is `If life sends you lemons,
>=>make lemonade!'  Just a comment ..."

>="Thanks, Splash!"  /* had been listening, with some consternation, to Big
>=Al's discourses on utopias, and life.

>="I've never heard of 'Conscious Reality Creation,' but it seems
>=pretty similar to the idea behind how I live day-to-day."

>Nor have I, but it sounds rather like some new-age stuff that I 
>ran across when
>someone in talk.religion.newage crossposted to sci.skeptic.  The more nutty of
>its adherents claim to believe that their consciousness actually creates
>objective reality.  E.g., the Landers earthquake last spring was just
>somebody's imagination.

/* turns to Speaker-to-Minerals, and has a grimace of mock-anger
on his face.

"Nutty New-Ager??  I don't know if I'd go *that* far!!"

*grin*

>Just how much control did I have over whether or not the Landers quake
>occurred?  Admittedly, we all have some control over our lives, but that
>control is far from complete.

"Well, it is more of a control of my personal and immediate
surroundings.  In relationships, at home, at work - I firmly
believe I have a strong influence on my surroundings and on
the people around me.  For example, if I have an unpleasant
relationship with a coworker, since I am part of that
relationship, and helped to create it (even if I think I
didn't do anything negative), then I have the power to change
it to something different.  *I* always have options to change
what isn't working in my life."

"And as for the earthquake example - well, no, I don't
believe you *created* that.  BUT you did have a choice
as to where you lived, you have a choice as to what type
of building you live in, you have a choice as to where you
work - you could have moved, changed jobs, etc.  ALSO,
you have a choice as to how you respond to this natural
event - do you panic, do moan for weeks, or do you pick
yourself, survey the damage, and say 'What am I going to
DO about it?'  Recognizing the control you had that led
up to a situation helps you to realize you have a lot
of options, more control over what to do *next*."

"*That* is what I mean.  And it has really worked
quite well.  I can't say *where* it came from,
it's more an amalgamation from a variety of philosophical
and religious sources, plus experience."

"Nutty New-Ager indeed!!  Harumph!"

;)



-- 
========================================================================
Mike Holmes       mjmh@crsa.bu.edu           "Happiness Will Prevail!"
Boston University Department of Geography (a truly GREAT place to work!)
========================================================================
From: ajm@wag.caltech.edu (Abner J. Mintz)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Utopiae (Was: Amanda wants to be a Kesh)
Date: 13 Dec 1992 08:53:32 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: seurat.wag.caltech.edu


Big Al asks ...

>"SO," Those who had fallen asleep suddenly snap awake, their note-taking 
>instincts coming back, "Call For Discussion: Favorite Mythological areas and
>cultures.  Where, Who, What.  Give virtues.  For extra credit, create your
>OWN area."

Abner considers for a second, then shimmers.  His clothes turn all blue,
his eyes start to glow, and there is a smell of ozone in the air ...  Why,
Tizrak's back!

"In Abner's AD&D universe, the elementals are all intelligent, and the
various types have different personalities.  The lightning elementals are
all carefree, anti-establishment, frankly quite crazy types.  It used to be
that we had no formal society at all, but during an invasion by demons we
were forced to mobilize.  All two million of us got together and voted one of
us, Centurion Delinquense, King of all the Lightning elementals ... because  
he was known to be a good strategist.  He refused, of course (no lightning
elemental would take such a job voluntarily!) but was forced by circumstances
and the demon threat to acquiesce eventually.  We drove the demons out, then
told Centurion that he's keep his job in case of future invasions."

"He got his revenge, of course ... he started delegating authority!  I,
Tizrak, otherwise known as the Shouter, was designated Herald ... a position
I keep to this day.  You see, lightning elementals communicate in the
electromagnetic spectrum, and my specialty is generating EMP's ... something
I will not do in the Place, of course!"

"Still, since our formal duties are only important in time of war, which 
occurs only every few millenia, I have plenty of free time to hang around
in any universe I wish!"   

Tizrak reverts back to Abner.  "Now, if I had a choice, that's where I'd be! 
A civilization with no hunger (all the lightning you can eat!), no
power-hungry idiots messing up the works (well, none of us anyway ... other
societies may have their own problems ...), no land to fight over, an
infinite number of universes to explore, and even if you die in one of them,
you just reform on your own plane!  Just about perfect ..."
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Date: Monday, 14 Dec 1992 12:22:50 EST
From: Philip J. Comins <PJCHC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Dalek has entered the building

    Philip approaches the box and Kitten, the small hint of a smile on his
face. "My dear Kitten," Philip chuckles, "as everyone knows, you can't pet a
Dalek, or jump into his lap (he has no lap to jump into, only mutated body
parts. No offense, pal ...)  If you want to make him happy, let's plug him
into an electronic pleasure stimulator. By the way, friend Dalek, you'll have
to remove that weapon-arm of yours if you want to stay here for any length of
time.
    So, what thyme are you from?   (Argggh, peanuts ... hey, these are honey
flavoured ... yum!)

    Philip crawls along the floor to the bar where Mike is holding out another
teacup, being pelted by peanuts all the way. "Thanks, Mike. I feel like I've
just taken a bite out of a York Peppermint Patty. I've been blown away!"
    (Pause while everyone reloads their peanut bowls ...)
                                                     - Philip J. Comins
From: JBrandt@AAA.UOregon.EDU (Thyra)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Arrival of a Stranger
Followup-To: alt.callahans
Date: 16 Dec 1992 00:46:20 GMT
Organization: University of Oregon, Architecture
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: aaa.uoregon.edu

In article <1992Dec15.150651.26945@ra.msstate.edu>,
jmpierce@whale.st.usm.edu (Jimmy Malcolm Pierce) wrote:
> 
> >    "Hello.  My name is Galan and this is my faithful pet Greywolf.  We have 
> >heard many things about this place in our travels and decided to come see it 
> >for ourselves."  He pats the wolf lovingly on the head.  "I do hope that we're
> >not intruding." 
> 
>    "No problem. Not all of us are Human here. There are { lets see if i can
>  remember [ inside joke... ] } elves, a balrog, a dalek, a doctor, some
>  toons, a starship, several robots and mechanicals, a few humans, two
>  sprites, bear, part of a mandelbrot, a Kzin, deckers, dragons, dragon
>  riders, Archteryx, other birds, lets see whom else, kitten, SEA, a Golden
>  Gryphon, Gypsy Lady Rowen, a Boss Troll, i know i'm leaving some beings
>  out... But thats all i can remember !!" DJ. :-)

Thyra adds to the list. "Don't forget Ocelot and ThunderKat and myself,
feline shapeshifters all three. And Jason's wife, Pegasus, and their friend
Phoenix, both of whom usually appear as their namesakes. And Solution Myth,
our Vaporous Callahanner. Anybody heard from him lately? And Itosu the
Ogre. And B'Naal, the armored alien who is screened to look like a normal
college student. Oh, Im sure there's more yet. We -are- a very diverse
crowd."

Purrs,
Thyra
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
From: rich@theophilus.msfc.nasa.gov (Rich Krum)
Subject: Re: It's a girl!
Reply-To: rich@theophilus.msfc.nasa.gov
Organization: Boeing Computer Support Services
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:31:38 GMT

Congrats, brumby!

Just a quick note (alll I have time for)

"To babies, the best miracle the universe has given us!

<Crash>
--troll
---
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My opinions are my own, and my employer (Boeing Computer Support Services)
 denies any responsibility for me, all opinions in general, and anything 
 I may say, do, or be otherwise associated with outside of work for them.
 -- Use at your own risk, your mileage may vary, no news is good news."

 E-MAIL REPLY TO:  rich@troll1.msfc.nasa.gov     PLEASE KEEP IT "G" RATED
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: alt.callahans