HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: summer@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (Mark Summerfield)
Subject: _Career Opportunities_
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 23:42:54 GMT

A quick video review -- you'll find this one in the "New Releases" section
of your local video library.

Writer/producer John Hughes (_Home Alone_, _Ferris Bueller's Day Off_ etc.)
has managed to create a "comedy" (I use the term loosely) which combines
all the worst features of _Heathers_, _The Breakfast Club_ and _Home
Alone_, with none of the best. Whilst this movie is not *quite* as sexist
as the cover artwork and blurb suggest, it is easily as shallow, trite and
puerile as I expected. Jim (Frank Whaley) is a quick talking bullshit
artist who can't hold down a job, and ends up working nights at Target.
Josie is a lonely, mixed-up little rich girl who ends up locked in Target
overnight. Two big, ugly dudes are armed robbers who end up breaking into
Target in the middle of the night. Two other guys are the kids' fathers who
spend the night awake contemplating their respective relationships with
their children. Lots of other people are even more incidental. You get
the picture...

... BUT (why did I rent this movie?) Josie is played by Jennifer Connelly
(_The Rocketeer_, _The Hot Spot_) who would have to be the most gorgeous
young lady on celluloid today. You can keep your blonde Christina Applegate
types, thankyou very much... give me long, flowing, dark hair, eyes that
melt, and the brightest smile in the known universe. I won't mention her
body (which is an added bonus) for fear of sounding sexist. And she also
has slightly imperfect teeth, which is refreshing in an American!!

And the hairstyles are state of the art.

Highly recommended.

:-), BTW.
          --------------------------------------------------------
              Mark Summerfield,  Photonics Research Laboratory
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne  
                ACSnet[AARN/Internet]: summer@ee.mu.oz[.au] 
          --------------------------------------------------------
   "This terminal is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone
    to meet its maker. This is a late terminal. It's a stiff. Bereft of
     life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the bench, it
      would be pushing up the daisies. It's run down the curtain and
            joined the choir invisible. This is an X-Terminal!"
Newsgroups: aus.films,aus.culture.ultimo
From: max@currawong.bhs.mq.edu.au (Max Coltheart)
Subject: Re: Chez Nous
Organization: School of Behavioural Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 13:54:46 GMT

In article <axolotl.719106868@syzygy> axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au writes:
>fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson) writes:
> >to see a really good movie, try _The Last Days of Chez Nous_.  Come to think
> >of it, I might write a review myself.
>
>A movie shot on location in Ultimo & surrounds!  I give it two sugars
>on the "flat white" scale, without even seeing it.  (Special mention must
>be made of the French "hero", who is a filthy, arrogant slob.)
>
Without even seeing it either (though I am definitely going to) I
thought he was German?

MaxC
From: chrisf@nms.otca.oz.au (Christopher Fraser)
Newsgroups: aus.films
Subject: Re: Universal Soldier
Date: 9 Oct 92 13:45:30 GMT
Distribution: aus

stevea@vast.unsw.edu.au (Steve Avery) writes:

>Chris Karadaglis <ck@iconix.oz.au> sez:

>   I'd see it for Mr Lugren alone. Van DammeIwishIwasanactor is probably
>   the only thing that'll put me off seeing it. Check out "Red Scorpion"
>   for another mindless, reasonably plotless and pointless film with
>   Lugren. 

>	Actually, I would have thought "The Punisher" would have been
>the best mindless/plotless/pointless film with Dolph in it.

>	-steve

There's always the test pattern .... SBS even has sub-titles.

Cheers,
--
Christopher Fraser      "First time surrealists are often confused by the
chrisf@nms.otca.oz.au    similarities between fish and telephones"
Xref: sparky aus.films:614 aus.culture.ultimo:278
From: leroy@socs.uts.edu.au (Leroy)
Newsgroups: aus.films,aus.culture.ultimo
Subject: Re: Chez Nous
Date: 16 Oct 92 00:55:57 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Computing Sciences, Uni of Technology, Sydney.

max@currawong.bhs.mq.edu.au (Max Coltheart) writes:

>In article <axolotl.719106868@syzygy> axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au writes:
>>fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson) writes:
>> >to see a really good movie, try _The Last Days of Chez Nous_.  Come to think
>> >of it, I might write a review myself.
>>
>>A movie shot on location in Ultimo & surrounds!  I give it two sugars
>>on the "flat white" scale, without even seeing it.  (Special mention must
>>be made of the French "hero", who is a filthy, arrogant slob.)
>>
>Without even seeing it either (though I am definitely going to) I
>thought he was German?

Bruno Gatz - the actor - is German. (He played the angel in "Wings of Desire.")
He plays a Frenchman: this, according to the script, makes him "deep," 
"complex" and often a complete arsehole. He is, however, a natty dresser - being
a slob isn't one of the characters many bad points.

Wonderful movie, btw. Eventually, I'll get around to reviewing it (with Swoon
and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All three are excellent.)

--- G M Heinrich  ( leroy@socs.uts.edu.au )
There's a doctor here who thinks I'm thin and beautiful.
From: mwf@dstos3.dsto.gov.au
Newsgroups: aus.films
Subject: Re: Universal Soldier
Date: 13 Oct 92 23:26:54 GMT
Organization: Defence Science and Technology Organisation

In article <s914311.718353169@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU>, s914311@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (Mr Some-one) writes:
> I have seen Universal Soldier.  Don't bother.  It is toooo corney to be taken
> seriously.  If you are into second rate films, then take this on.
> Although, some (I did say 'some') of the action seens are good, on the whole,
> they did not make up for the rest.
> See it just to give the makers money so that they can go to movie school!!
> -- 
 
I completely agree.. 
Take a look at some of the verbal abuse being dished out to
Jean-Claude van DamnIwishIwasanactor in some of the alt.film groups
 
They deserve it, but I guess they love it, and laugh all the way to the bank.
Newsgroups: aus.films
From: fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson)
Subject: Re: Universal Soldier
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 00:37:28 GMT

mwf@dstos3.dsto.gov.au writes:

>Take a look at some of the verbal abuse being dished out to
>Jean-Claude van DamnIwishIwasanactor in some of the alt.film groups

Oh, so what the Americans are saying about the film proves something?
Hey, I know it was crap, but it was (and this is the vital bit) *good*
crap, and good craps are hard to come by.

A-ha, a-ha ha.

>They deserve it, but I guess they love it, and laugh all the way to the bank.

I had a good time, and didn't regret spending my $8.50.  But if you want 
to see a really good movie, try _The Last Days of Chez Nous_.  Come to think
of it, I might write a review myself.

Fraser.
From: musjjh@lure.latrobe.edu.au
Newsgroups: aus.films
Subject: Omega Man (Melbourne)
Date: 11 Oct 92 04:47:39 GMT
Organization: VAX Cluster, Computer Centre, La Trobe University

Has anyone in Melbourne seen lurking in the shelves of their local vid
shop a copy of "The Omega Man" (you know, the one with Charlton Heston
and a mess of mutants with afros)? I have a serious yen for this film
at the moment and it dosen't look as though it's going to materialise
on TV for quite a while.

Thanks in Advance,

Jason Hellwege					La Trobe Uni, Melbourne, Oz.
Newsgroups: aus.films
From: 10642633@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au (PETER GILLESPIE)
Subject: Re: Monkey Island I (yeah, I know, you all finished it years back)
Summary: Help!
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, Monash University 
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 00:23:01 GMT

In article <tp923083.719018651@elm> tp923083@elm.canberra.edu.au (Simon Porritt) writes:
>From: tp923083@elm.canberra.edu.au (Simon Porritt)
>Subject: Monkey Island I (yeah, I know, you all finished it years back)
>Summary: Help!
>Date: 13 Oct 92 23:24:11 GMT
>OK...How the hell do I get from the boat onto Monkey Island?
>I know that Toothrot etc came back in the little boat, but where is it?
>If anyone can help, I'd be mega-grateful
>Bye now
>
Yeah, I did finish it years back, but if memory serves you have to use the 
canon, string and 'flint??' 

PEG>>>
Newsgroups: aus.games
From: phvas@marlin.jcu.edu.au (Vlad Soukhanovsky)
Subject: Flight simulators wanted
Keywords: shoot down the Russians as many as possible
Organization: James Cook University
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 03:26:58 GMT

Hi there,

I'm looking for flight simulators of MiG-29 and F-111. Will 
consider any offers. 
Thanks in advance.

Vlad. < phvas@marlin.jcu.edu.au >
From: jsyem@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Johnny Yem)
Newsgroups: aus.games
Subject: Hottest sierra games for sale
Date: 14 Oct 1992 04:33:44 GMT
Organization: The University of Westrn Australia
Distribution: aus
NNTP-Posting-Host: tartarus.uwa.edu.au

Sierra Games:
 
King's Quest V				$50
Space's Quest IV			$50
Police Quest III			$50
Quest for Glory I 			$50
Conquest of the LongBow			$50
Laura Bow II - The Dagger of Amon Ra 	$50
 
More Games:
 
Flight Simulator v.4			$50
SimEarth				$50
D/Generation				$50
Operation Stealth			$50
MechWarrior II				$50
 
Operating System:
 
DOS 3.3					$30
Windows 3.0				$40
 
Make me an offer if you want to buy more than one.
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: u9044140@cs.uow.edu.au (Scot Joseph Wilson)
Subject: Re: Timetable blues
Organization: Hey , I'm already missing one T
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 22:53:27 GMT

braca2@cspyr1.cs.adfa.oz.au (BRAY CHRISTOPHER) writes:
>There are computer programs that you can buy or write, I believe, that will
>timetable for you.  A few alterations and I'm sure that you could get a
>convention going.  I dont know whether the costs would preclude a convention
>from doing this, but I'm sure a teacher could nick one from his school.

	Get real. (This is not meant to be an offensive personal go at you.)

	I wouldn't even want to start thinking about the actual processing it
has to do. What will your program do if there is no solution? Go endlessly? How
close to a perfect soulution can you come to? How do you organise the first
and second choice for individuals to make up a team? What about those people
who won't play with certain other people? Or GM's that won't GM certain teams
due to dislikes or them being their friends?(For fair play's sake?). What
happens when certain team members can't make it at certain times? How do you
handle those last minute cancellations? Do you re run your program?

						Gawd, what a frightening goal,
								Scot.
-- 
  Scot Wilson, The man with One T.            u9044140@wraith.cs.uow.edu.au
    "Its Scot with 1 T because all the other four letter words were used."
		DEUS EX MACHINA!	E PLURIBUS UNIX?
Warning: This .signature may be suddenly, and without prior notice, be cut shor
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: u9044140@cs.uow.edu.au (Scot Joseph Wilson)
Subject: Re: Judging Roleplay
Organization: Hey , I'm already missing one T
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 22:41:06 GMT

Matt Goodall writes:
>	One thing I about nepotism in cons, it seems to me that the more 
>famous teams always get the better GMs however this could just be paranoia
>on my part.

	It happens, but its no big problem. With some of the two session games
that are being done, GM's are no longer GMing the same team for two sessions,
so that they can see other teams in action. Other Design groups, seem to have
a roving spy, that watches what each team is doing in the module. (Or am I
really going paranoid?).
	Anyway, I think it goes to show that designers and Game-Masters are
trying to be more fair to the majority of roleplayers. Sure there are the few
cliquey (I can't spell) designers out there who reserve the best teams to GM
for themselves, but these people seem to be on the decrease.
	Give Designers and G.M.s a break.

Tonio Loewald writes:
> In freeforms, characters are
> often earmarked for favourite players, while newbies get relatively
> pathetic characters. (Flame me as you like. I've seen it done.)

	True, but I believe it may also be a sympathy and underground network
type connection. As a freeformer, you usually enter as an individual, and to
put it quaintly, result in being up shit creek without a paddle, due to being
non or mis-scheduled in the games you want to play. (And people wonder why
individuals hate Arcanacon sheduling hybrids! No offense to Arcanaconians)
	Anyway, freeformers tend to get together, bond and whinge about this.
Then we hear of someone who's writing a freeform, and hassle them, and get
characters, sometime before they are even written. Getting caharacters before
they are written means, that some of us can even get somewhat tailor made
characters in terms of personality and description. (RE : Concept Freeform).

						This is to long to go on,
							Scot.
-- 
  Scot Wilson, The man with One T.            u9044140@wraith.cs.uow.edu.au
    "Its Scot with 1 T because all the other four letter words were used."

Warning: This .signature may be suddenly, and without prior notice, be cut shor
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: braca2@cspyr1.cs.adfa.oz.au (BRAY CHRISTOPHER)
Subject: Re: Timetable blues
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 23:33:24 GMT

[stuff deleted about the Charme-PC timetabling system]

Could it be possible to hire this program for a tournament, at a reduced
cost with a guarentee that it wont be copied??

If all the conventions (Nationwide) put in say $100 bucks a year, how soon
would it be till the price was reached? Would they be willing to do it?

hook

Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: engjs@wombat.newcastle.edu.au (James Smith)
Subject: Timetable blues
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 01:01:59 GMT

I went to Necro last week.  I payed to play 12 sessions of games, and
ended up playing 5, mostly because of timetabling problems.  I'm not
blaming the organisers; I know from past experience what timetabling
can be like, and they did try.  At least they didn't land us with the
dreaded Arcanacon system.

As an individual I have very rarely been to a con and come away
satisified, and the reason is usually timetabling and organisational
stuffups.  Australian cons are generally oriented towards teams rather
than individuals, and to those who have been to cons before.  If you
are not part of a team, and/or you do not know the people running the
con, you get problems.

At Necro I was handed a timetable.  I liked that.  However it was not a
very useful timetable.  It told me what I was playing each session, and
which team I was playing with.  Let's see.  First session I'm playing
Dungeon of Death with the Useless Tomatoes.  Who are the Useless Tomatoes?
I don't know who they are or what they look like.  Okay, how do I find
them?  There's no sign saying 'Dungeon of Death people come here', nor
is there any desk labelled 'Dungeon of Death.'  In fact, the only useful
thing to do appears to be to go and ask at the main desk, er, make that
the canteen.  'Check with the designer.'  Who's that?  'Fred Bloggs.'
Who's that?

I think organisers or friends of organisers from most cons now have net
access.  Perhaps we can get some useful discussion going.

Jim
-- 
James J Smith             | "I couldn't get over it. All these women
School of Engineering     | in the world...and under their clothes
Newcastle University      | each and every one of them was naked, you
engjs@cc.newcastle.edu.au | know..." -- Psycho-killer, "Sandman"
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: markg@arp.anu.edu.au (Mark Grundy)
Subject: Re: Judging Roleplay
Reply-To: markg@arp.anu.edu.au
Organization: Automated Reasoning Program, ANU.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 01:14:59 GMT

    In article <1992Oct7.145533.401@hhcs.gov.au>, langsl@hhcs.gov.au writes:
    > In      article      <1992Oct7.102702.1@wombat.newcastle.edu.au>,
      engjs@wombat.newcastle.edu.au (James Smith) writes:

    >> When you pay to enter a con you are paying your share of the cost  of
       holding the con, i.e.   the cost of  printing entry forms, booking  a
       venue, and so forth.  You are not paying for a service, and you  have
       no right to expect anything

    > I  DISAGREE.   You are  paying  for a  service -  the service  is  the
      convention itself and  the games that  are run  there.  If  it is  big
      enough to attract  vendors then people  often get access  to goods  as
      well that they mightn't otherwise have seen.

        At most conventions, neither designers nor GMs see any of the  money
    paid by players.   You  are not paying  for their  service.   Generally,
    convenors don't get money from conventions either -- they typically  run
    at cost and float any profit into next year's convention.  Anything  you
    get at a convention by way of  gaming is from goodwill, not because  you
    paid for it.   This should  be borne in  mind when you  think about what
    brings good convenors, good designers and good GMs to conventions.

    > I think it  is fair to expect  a good chance that  you will enjoy  the
      com- petitions as  well as  being given a  fair go.   Getting  treated
      equally shabbily as anyone else while having a rotten time meets  your
      definition, but I don't think that  is what you or anyone else  really
      wants.

        Ideally, the GMs for a game should be good enough to run a game well
    with any team.  Dud GMs simply shouldn't be offered to run games, to  my
    mind.  Some  GMs do much  better with  some players though,  and in  the
    interests of having the most fun for  your weekend, I think it's a  fair
    thing to try and match 'em up.  Also though, it's a good idea to  ensure
    that GMs get teams they haven't seen  before, and vice versa.  I try  to
    strive for both of these things when I design.

    > So long as other teams all have a crack at _name_ GMs, and all GMs can
      have a crack at _name_ teams.  You should be giving _everyone_ a  fair
      go.

        Variety is very important, I think.  But this concept of _name_ (and
    _non-name_, by inference) sucks  the mop.  And  a squee-gee.  _Name_  is
    not created by how good you are, it's created by who talks about you :-)
    What also sucks is  the notion that _name_  GM's somehow have a  greater
    obligation to players than _non-name_ GMs -- bollocks to that, quoth  I.
    GMs ref games for free.   It isn't up to  players to say how GMs  should
    choose to donate their time.  A  better way for players to attract  good
    refereeing is for them  to learn to  give their GMs  a better time  when
    they're running 'em.
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: braca2@cspyr1.cs.adfa.oz.au (BRAY CHRISTOPHER)
Subject: Re: Timetable blues
Organization: Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 09:52:41 GMT

Well, what do they do in the States??????


hook
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: barnett@mummy.agsm.unsw.OZ.AU (Glen Barnett)
Subject: Re: Timetable blues
Organization: The Australian Graduate School of Management
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 05:55:43 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.040930.15359@sserve.cc.adfa.oz.au> braca2@cspyr1.cs.adfa.oz.au (BRAY CHRISTOPHER) writes:
>There are computer programs that you can buy or write, I believe, that will
>timetable for you.  A few alterations and I'm sure that you could get a
>convention going.  I dont know whether the costs would preclude a convention
>from doing this, but I'm sure a teacher could nick one from his school.
>
>And if conventions were to share this (shock, horror) then it would 
>simplify it greatly.  It may reduce the flexibility, but if the program 
>is good then it will allow for sudden changes.
>
I understand that the guys who timetable for Macquariecon (with purpose
written software developed in a database language) will work for other
cons as well, but of course it requires a fee (they need to get something
back for their effort). I'm not sure of the details (such as whether
you get them or just the software or what), but I can get in contact
with them if anyone really needs to know more. I think recent Macquariecons
have, timetable-wise been largely excellent. But then I was at the early ones,
so I know how bad it can get - not that it was anyones fault.
Numbers were always much bigger than expected, DM's would disappear, 
there weren't enough rooms, not everything was ready on time ....
you know, the usual teething troubles. Of course, some people still
get stiffed, but it more often turns out to be because other players/teams
or DM's or even game designers stuff up - not the timetable itself.

Glen
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
From: u9044140@cs.uow.edu.au (Scot Joseph Wilson)
Subject: Re: Timetable blues, individs and a solution,suggestion?
Organization: Hey , I'm already missing one T
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 23:12:55 GMT


	Apart from destroying those who support Arcanacon scheduling... 8-)

Prelude:
	I remeber Cancon 90 (I think) where all the Games had a sign printed
out where the GM's and players would gather and be made into a playable team.
This was a good idea and I really enjoyed Cancon, because it seemed organised.
(Hooray for Uncle Wes).

Nowdays:
	Why the hell don't they do this:

	Print out a big sign saying "UNSCHEDULED PEOPLE/SUCKERS, free to good
game" so that people can go along there and get other people so that they
could have enough willing people to play a team that session. It would sure
beat going around crying, individual free for a session!. Also 5 or so
individuals could form a team on the fly (And convince another person to GM..)

	Print out a big sign saying "GMS FOR <INSERT NAME> GAME" so that
players know where to go to find their respective GM's. Also teams formed on
the fly can go to find a GM for a game.

Result:
	Who knows? Anyway those with nasty personal criticisms of me can mail
them to me, nice criticism should be posted.

Disclaimer:
	I though of this idea while talking to someone? at the British Lion.
							Scot.
-- 
  Scot Wilson, The man with One T.            u9044140@wraith.cs.uow.edu.au
    "Its Scot with 1 T because all the other four letter words were used."
		DEUS EX MACHINA!	E PLURIBUS UNIX?
Warning: This .signature may be suddenly, and without prior notice, be cut shor
From: tal691@huxley.anu.edu.au (Tonio Loewald)
Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay
Subject: Re: Judging Roleplay
Date: 11 Oct 92 04:22:33 GMT
Organization: Australian National University
NNTP-Posting-Host: huxley.anu.edu.au

engjs@wombat.newcastle.edu.au (James Smith) writes:


>Tonio Loewald writes:

>> In freeforms, characters are
>> often earmarked for favourite players, while newbies get relatively
>> pathetic characters. (Flame me as you like. I've seen it done.)

>Another way of saying this is that pivotal characters are given to
>players who the designer knows can handle them in the way he wants to
>ensure that the freeform runs successfully.

>Why does a player go to a con?  What does he put into it?  What does he
>get out of it?  How about a GM?  A designer?  An organiser?  What looks
>like nepotism is often just common sense.

You're perfectly correct. Unfortunately, this leads to them having
characters with more exposure and opportunity to be seen to be a
"good player". Your arguments are fine, so long as prizes aren't
involved, which is what I've been saying all along.

All of this stems from the mistaken belief that the purpose of a role-
plying tournament is to determine who's best whereas it is to HAVE FUN.
Earmarking particular characters for particular players (which I have
done) is a way of ensuring fun, but it can stiff people in the prize
stakes. So: ditch prizes.

Tonio Loewald

-- 
Tonio Loewald            | Ph  06 290 1594 | PO Box 101 O'Connor
tal691@huxley.anu.edu.au | Fax 06 290 1595 | ACT 2601   AUSTRALIA

Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay