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Initial commit
2021-04-15 11:31:59 -07:00
NUMBER OF LINES: 999
001=Usr:0 Null User 06/30/87 20:34 Msg:0 Call:0 Lines:19
1$If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2$************************* INSTALLED: 25 JUN 89 ***************************
3$Welcome to BWMS II (BackWater Message System II) Mike Day System operator
4$**************************************************************************
5$GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS II IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
6$ PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
7$BWMS II was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS II is a privately
8$owned and operated system which is currently open for use by the general
9$public. No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the
10$system is privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all
11$messages which I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the
12$system, it will be periodically purged of messages (only 999 lines of data
13$can be saved). To leave a message, type 'ENTER'. Use ctrl/C to get out
14$the ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering
15$the message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to
16$replace the line. To exit from the system, type 'BYE' then hang up.
17$Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
18$**************************************************************************
19$
002=Usr:1 CISTOP MIKEY 06/25/89 23:35 Msg:4033 Call:22098 Lines:2
20 Success is like a fart, only your own smells sweet.
21 ************************************************************************
003=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 06/25/89 23:47 Msg:4034 Call:22100 Lines:10
22 &*&*&*&*'s
23 I'm at the TOP!
24
25 Ok, now that that is over with.
26
27 I like this disks quote. Not quite the truth, but close enough for life.
28
29 An Astral Dreamer
30 &*&*&*&*'s
31
004=Usr:286 Jeff Marten 06/26/89 01:18 Msg:4035 Call:22104 Lines:13
32
33 {+}{+}{+}{+}
34
35 CLIMB...
36 EVERY...
37 MOUNTAAAAAAIIIINNNN !
38
39 -+|[ ThingFish ]|+-
40 The Air Sure Is Thin Up Here
41
42 {+}{+}{+}{+}
43
44
005=Usr:287 Ralph Steadman 06/26/89 12:03 Msg:4036 Call:22107 Lines:94
45 696969696969
46
47 I find it an extremely telling comment on the "society" and
48 "culture" in this country that the richest neighborhood in the country has
49 spawned the poorest neighborhood in the country. The rich get richer at the
50 expense of the poor who get poorer. Today's tribute the Republican-run HUD:
51
52 RICHEST SUBURB NEAR CHICAGO:-6/26/89
53 The richest suburb in the nation is Kenilworth, Ill., near Chicago where
54 annual per capita income averages $61,950, reports the June 26 Newsweek. Other
55 rich suburbs and their per capita earnings include: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.,
56 $59,830; Hewlett/Woodsburgh, N.Y., $59,300; Ladue, Mo., $55,300; and Missions
57 Hills, Kan., $55,136.
58 POOREST SUBURB NEAR CHICAGO:
59 The poorest suburb in the nation is Ford Heights, Ill., near Chicago,
60 where annual per capita income averages $4,943, reports the June 26 Newsweek.
61 Other poor suburbs and their per capita income include: Cudahy, Calif.,
62 $5,170; Bell Gardens, Calif., $5,337; Alorton, Ill., $5,795; East St. Louis,
63 Ill., $5,973; Coachella, Calif., and $6,185; Huntington Park, Calif., $6,298.
64
65 THE RICHEST: $61,950
66 THE POOREST: $ 4,943
67
68 CHINA PURGES PARTY LEADER:-6/26/89
69 In a major push by hard-liners, the head of China's 47 million member
70 Communist Party, General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, was ousted during the weekend
71 for "supporting the turmoil" of pro-democracy demonstrations. Two members of
72 the Standing Committee - the party's most powerful body - also were removed
73 for being moderate.
74 Jiang Zemin replaces Zhao Ziyang as the new head of the Chinese Communist
75 Party. Zemin has preferred economic, rather than political solutions during
76 his career as an engineer and manager. A graduate of Shanghai's Jiaotong
77 University, Jiang, 61, knows several languages. A former mayor of
78 Shanghai,he's in charge of the campaign to cover up the massacre on Tiananmen
79 Square.
80 HONG KONG GRIPPED BY FEAR:-6/26/89
81 In Hong Kong - from fashionable high-rises on "The Peak" to teeming
82 apartments amid industrial districts in Kowloon - there are signs of fear.
83 Students hand out pamphlets urging Hong Kong's 5.7 million citizens to keep up
84 the struggle for democracy - and their free-wheeling capitalist way of life.
85 The reason for fear: The reversion of the colony to Chinese authority on July
86 1, 1997.
87 The turmoil in China has had a dramatic effect on the financial markets of
88 Hong Kong, China's largest trading partner. For two decades, the British
89 colony has funneled foreign investment into China. But all that changed. The
90 demonstrations and the massacre in Beijing will have lasting effects, says
91 Deborah Kuenstner, an investment strategist at Merrill Lynch International
92 Research.
93
94 TOUGHER SPILL LAWS DEMANDED:-6/26/89
95 Pressure will build for Congress to enact tougher laws to prevent oil
96 spills after tanker mishaps this weekend in waters near Rhode Island, Delaware
97 and Texas, experts say. "This will galvanize support," says spill specialist
98 Richard Golob. The 1.5 million gallons spilled is 13 percent of that spilled
99 in the Exxon Valdez disaster.
100 Cleanup crews worked feverishly Sunday on oil spills in Rhode Island,
101 Delaware and Texas while residents worried about its effects in their
102 backyards. The Delaware spill appeared to be the worst - molasses-like blobs
103 threaten wildlife in rivers and wetlands. In Newport, R.I., about 200 National
104 Guard troops, 200 volunteers and 120 state prison inmates fought the oil.
105 Sen. Quentin Burdick, D-N.D., promised Sunday to take up oil-spill
106 legislation once the Senate returns for business on July 10. Among bills
107 introduced since the March 24 Exxon spill: a $1 billion cleanup bill; improved
108 safety guidelines on tankers; and tougher background checks on captains.
109 Rhode Island has filed charges against the operators of a Greek tanker
110 that dumped 420,000 gallons of heating oil into Narragansett Bay. The state
111 says that Ballard Shipping of Athens, Greece, and the tanker captain broke
112 state law by operating a ship too close to shore without a local pilot. A
113 court hearing is set for Wednesday. A federal investigation is also under way.
114 In Delaware, crews Sunday refloated the Uruguayan tanker Presidente Rivera
115 and took it to a dock. The ship spilled 800,000 gallons of oil into the
116 Delaware River Saturday; it held 19 million gallons of refined oil.
117 A tug-driven barge in Texas' Galveston Bay ruptured Friday when it
118 collided with a cargo ship. Most of the oil flowed into a narrow channel,
119 where cleanup crews could easily contain it. Joe Carr, harbormaster of the
120 Houston Yacht Club, says he's seen no wildlife killed.
121
122 Conspiracy or Coincidence? Too much oil's been spilled.
123
124 POLL - CANADIANS DISLIKE YANKS:-6/26/89
125 Twenty-nine percent of Canadians see U.S. citizens as "aggressive,
126 obnoxious, pigheaded snobs," while 43 percent of Americans think of them as
127 "friendly, good neighbors," according to a poll of 2,000 for the Canadian
128 magazine Maclean's, on stands Monday Sixty percent of us think Canada should
129 be a state while 14 percent of Canadians do.
130
131 696969696969696969
132
133 As Lee Atwater, head of the Republican National Committee said: "If we can
134 just spill enough oil, destroy enough wildlife, let enough Chinese students
135 die, maim enough Nicaraguans, sell enough drugs in this country, and let AIDS
136 kill enough of those Liberal Democrats, we could have a Republican majority in
137 the House"
138
006=Usr:219 Friar Mossback 06/26/89 14:52 Msg:4037 Call:22111 Lines:42
139 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
140
141 I have the following items for sale, due to a restructuring of my
142 economy. (We are going to have a daughter.) All items are in good
143 working condition. Call and leave a message at 777-xxxx, or leave
144 a note here.
145 Offers considered.
146 .
147 Hardware -
148 1 IBM 8513 VGA Color Monitor $ 500.00
149 w/Hercules VGA card $ 600.00
150 1 20 MB hardcard $ 150.00
151 1 64K Parallel printer buffer (hardware) $ 30.00
152 1 Compaq portable (early) two drives,
153 10 MB hardcard $ 600.00
154 2 IRMA 3278 emulators. (new) $ 500.00/ea
155 1 Uninterruptible Power Supply (up to AT) $ 150.00
156 (Keep that BBS on line all the time)
157 1 TRS 80 model 600 laptop $ 250.00
158 (Not IBM compatible, but has WP, SS, Modem)
159 .
160 Software - (all legal with original disks and documentation)
161 Diplomacy $ 10.00
162 Gunship $ 15.00
163 Pinball Construction Set $ 5.00
164 Archon $ 5.00
165 Orbiter $ 15.00
166 Arctic Fox $ 5.00
167 Silent Service $ 15.00
168 .
169 Miscellaneous
170 500 foot roll of teflon coated coax. $ ???.??
171 (sells for .45/foot at norvac)
172 Captains Bed (needs paint) $ 50.00
173 Full size mattress with split foundation $ 75.00
174 Upright Freezer - 15cf $ 100.00
175 .
176 Thank you for your support.
177 Dave Johnsen
178
179 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
180 (Known by another name in this reality.)
007=Usr:340 van perley 06/26/89 15:37 Msg:4038 Call:22113 Lines:2
181 hi........mike day......how are you a doing?
182
008=Usr:465 Gregg Harris 06/26/89 19:23 Msg:4039 Call:22117 Lines:18
183 )(**&)((*&)(&)(*&)((*&)((*&)((*&)(*&)(**&)((*&
184
185 Yo, Milch toast. I will happily participate in the
186 festivities at the appointed spot and time
187
188 (same bat channel, same bat time, same ... )
189
190 Next sunday be fine. Schwarzenne-G-GER vill there be to
191 do you into little bitty pieces make. :-)
192
193 Ack, some commie mutant tritor has brain washed me.
194 who was it. *Zot* *Fizz* *Pop*. gee, elmer accidentily
195 got in my line of fire:-)
196
197 The Mole
198
199 )*&(*&)(*&)(*&)((*&)((&)((&)(&)(*)((*&)(*(&)(*(&)*
200
009=Usr:333 Bartender Slug 06/27/89 00:05 Msg:4040 Call:22122 Lines:3
201
202 All Purpose Marker #1
203
010=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 06/27/89 01:28 Msg:4041 Call:22126 Lines:3
204
205 FLY! theres a waiter in my soup!
206
011=Usr:332 Night Watcher 06/27/89 21:21 Msg:4042 Call:22139 Lines:1
207 HOW UTTERLY CLEVER!
012=Usr:465 Gregg Harris 06/27/89 21:45 Msg:4043 Call:22141 Lines:4
208 )**&)(*&)(*&)((*&)((*&(
209 :-)
210 )(*(&)(*&)(*(&)(*&)(*&
211
013=Usr:498 Hagbard Celine , 06/27/89 23:29 Msg:4044 Call:22143 Lines:29
212 {}
213
214 ThingFish - you forgot! The OTHER message was:
215
216 WORK HARDER
217 INCREASE PRODUCTION
218 AND,
219 BE HAPPY.
220
221 Interesting to note "their" religion and government and economy
222 interacted as a whole - Prayer Booths give economic messages,
223 the government requires you to be on sedatives to increase
224 your production in a dangerous environment, and the religion helped
225 to distract the masses away from all of this. Then there was the
226 part about how "All of the insides are missing from these people...",
227 which the "Hologram" said to THX. Another "social" point - all
228 of the holograms were black, all of the "outside world" was white.
229 To top it off, the hologram complains about "not being in the
230 real world", so he "left" his station.
231
232 I already have enough hairs standing on end without watching that
233 again - but I admit, I love that movie.
234
235 Makes you wonder about "the real world" ;->)
236
237 Hagbard Celine
238
239 {}
240
014=Usr:333 Bartender Slug 06/27/89 23:41 Msg:4045 Call:22144 Lines:3
241
242 Bartender Slug Lurked Here, June 27, 1989 11:50 pm.
243
015=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 06/28/89 21:01 Msg:4046 Call:22161 Lines:10
244 &*&*&*&*'s
245
246 Hmm, I havn't seen that movie. Sounds worthwhile.
247
248 Has anybody here seen terror vision? Outstanding flick, though the end is a
249 bit dark for my tastes. Also good are Dark Star and night of the Comet.
250
251 An Astral Dreamer
252 &*&*&*&*'s
253
016=Usr:287 Ralph Steadman 06/28/89 21:40 Msg:4047 Call:22164 Lines:100
254 696969696969
255
256 APn 06/26 1989. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
257 WATERBURY, Vt. (AP) -- Are Oreos politically correct?
258 More than 400 shareholders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. debated that
259 question and other issues more related to politics than profits at the ice crea
260 maker's annual meeting last weekend.
261 Shareholder Ross Connelly of Hardwick complained that the board of directors
262 of such a socially conscious company shouldn't be "all white and all male."
263 Company co-founder Ben Cohen said efforts were being made to rectify the
264 problem.
265 Shareholder Elizabeth Kmon of Massachusetts questioned the company's use of
266 Nabisco products such as Oreos in some of its ice cream flavors. She said she
267 boycotts Nabisco because the company is owned by a cigarette maker, R.J.
268 Reynolds.
269 Ben & Jerry's officials said they're looking for a substitute for Oreos, but
270 have not yet found another cookie that remains crunchy while submerged in ice
271 cream.
272
273 DELAWARE CLEANUP SLOWS DOWN:-6/28/89
274 Heat hampered Delaware River cleanup efforts Tuesday as huge globs of oil
275 liquefied into a sticky mass. Only 65,000 gallons out of 306,684 gallons
276 spilled Saturday by a tanker have been cleaned up, prompting the state to file
277 a suit against the tanker's operators for the slow cleanup pace. The oil
278 apparently won't mar beaches, officials said, and wildlife suffered minimal
279 damage.
280
281 RHODE ISLAND BEACHES REOPEN:
282 Most Rhode Island beaches will be open for swimming by the upcoming
283 holiday weekend, state officials say. Three days of bright sunlight and warm
284 temperatures have evaporated about 85 percent of the heating oil spilled
285 Friday by the grounding of a Greek tanker. Beaches in Upper Narragansett Bay
286 were reopened Monday.
287
288 INVESTIGATIONS LOOKS AT SPILLS:
289 Federal investigations have begun of weekend oil spills by ships in Rhode
290 Island and Texas. At a hearing Tuesday in Houston, tanker Capt. Michael Gale
291 said he was stopped in the channel when a tugboat towing a barge rammed into
292 him. In Rhode Island, tanker helmsman Konstandinos Paraskevopulos wouldn't
293 talk, citing the Fifth Amendment.
294 DEBATE - OIL-- USA TODAY'S OPINION:
295 Finally the effort to develop new oil-spill technology must be stepped up,
296 at oil industry expense. The federal budget for spill research has been cut 80
297 percent in three years. The people in six states who have had to fight oil
298 spills in a single week are fed up. So are the rest of us. It's time for
299 results. No more promises.
300 PATRICIA NELSON LIMERICK, historian at the University of Colorado: We have
301 made it through eight years of one president smiling and telling us not to
302 worry, and now we face four years with another president whose attention seems
303 focused on the care of puppies and the protection of the American flag, not on
304 oil spills.
305 CHARLES J. DIBONA, president of the American Petroleum Institute: The
306 three oil spills last weekend have intensified calls for legislation to
307 correct the problem. No one can guarantee that all spills can be prevented. A
308 better job can be done, however, and the industry is going forward with its
309 best efforts.
310 ALLEN MURRAY, CEO, Mobil Oil: "Recognizing the extreme difficulties
311 presented by a catastrophic spill ... industry can promise only its very best
312 efforts in responding to such spills."
313 ARTHUR MCKENZIE, director, Tanker Advisory Center, on resistance to using
314 double-hulled tankers: "The oil industry is acting the same way the auto
315 industry did in fighting seat belts."
316 WAKEFIELD, R.I., Fran Gould, 26, restaurant manager: "Companies need to
317 pay more attention to whom they are hiring. A lot of ship captains are not
318 following proper navigation rules. The spill that occurred in our area
319 happened because there was not even a captain directing the ship. We need
320 stiffer penalties ..."
321 PARLIN, N.J., Len Spanjersberg, 66, retired window dresser: "I think we
322 should start using more modern ships to transport oil instead of the pieces of
323 junk we're using now. These old tankers have been around since World War II.
324 That's what is causing so many accidents and spills ..."
325 DELAWARE CLEANUP SLOWS DOWN:-6/28/89
326 Heat hampered Delaware River cleanup efforts Tuesday as huge globs of oil
327 liquefied into a sticky mass. Only 65,000 gallons out of 306,684 gallons
328 spilled Saturday by a tanker have been cleaned up, prompting the state to file
329 a suit against the tanker's operators for the slow cleanup pace. The oil
330 apparently won't mar beaches, officials said, and wildlife suffered minimal
331 damage.
332 Federal investigations have begun of weekend oil spills by ships in Rhode
333 Island and Texas. At a hearing Tuesday in Houston, tanker Capt. Michael Gale
334 said he was stopped in the channel when a tugboat towing a barge rammed into
335 him. In Rhode Island, tanker helmsman Konstandinos Paraskevopulos wouldn't
336 talk, citing the Fifth Amendment.
337 (It's all Greek to me, he said)
338
339 HAIR DRESS A CUT ABOVE-6/28/89
340 When Martha Hayes wants to clean her favorite dress she just shampoos it
341 and gives it a quick blow dry.
342 Because Martha's one-of-a-kind, knee-length, short-sleeve dress is made
343 from human hair.
344 The North Carolina hair-weaver says she spent months sewing the furry
345 fashion -- a process that included stitching hair into wafts that resemble a
346 grass skirt.
347 Then she tacked the wafts onto a size 7 black slip starting with ink-black
348 hair at neck and ending with auburn along the hem.
349 Hayes says most of the lucky ladies who've sported the hairy outfit report
350 feeling more feminine, but others thought it was hot and itchy.
351 Despite mixed reviews, Hayes says she wouldn't part with her precious
352 hairpiece dress for any price.
353 In fact, she considers it a work of art and thinks it should be displayed
017=Usr:287 Ralph Steadman 06/28/89 21:57 Msg:4048 Call:22165 Lines:88
354 in the Smithsonian.
355
356 BOMBS BLOW OUT COLD FUSION-6/28/89
357 It appears that so-called "cold fusion" power is a lot of hot air.
358 But there's a new source of energy that could power cities for decades to
359 come: hydrogen bombs.
360 According to California physicist Ralph Moir (Moyer), exploding nuclear
361 bombs in specially designed caves would eliminate the energy crisis.
362 Here's the idea he outlined in the journal Fusion Technology:
363 First, dig a cave the size of a football field in a mountain. Next, line
364 the cave with steel and fill it with salt droplets. Finally, detonate a
365 hydrogen bomb every 40 minutes.
366 Moir (Moyer) says the explosions will vaporize the salt and produce enough
367 heat to turn a giant turbine on the surface.
368 Moir (Moyer) says detonating about 8,000 bombs per year should run a power
369 plant about the size of today's nuclear reactors.--M.D.
370 PHONER > Ralph Moir (415) 422-9808or contact Donna Schreiber 423-1405
371
372 CHINA UNREST MIGHT SPREAD:-6/28/89
373 The Chinese economy, facing serious troubles aggravated by Beijing's
374 crackdown on dissent, could soon stir a new wave unrest that might extend
375 beyond the cities into the country, according to Western diplomats monitoring
376 the situation in Beijing, Wednesday's Washington Post reports.
377 A 21-year-old student leader, wanted for his role in protests preceding
378 the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, predicted China's leaders would
379 capitulate to the pro-democracy movement. Wu'er Kaixi, who did an interview
380 from Hong Kong on the NBC Nightly News, was last seen in public before troops
381 opened fire on protesters in Beijing June 4. He was smuggled out of the
382 country.
383
384 HUD WOES BLAMED ON COMPUTER:-6/28/89
385 Housing and Urban Development officials are blaming inadequate accounting
386 computer controls as a factor in the agency's management scandal.
387 Investigators are searching for more than $20 million in HUD revenues that
388 might have been misappropriated. The June 26 Government Computer News reports
389 that lax computer recording systems possibly prevented earlier detection of
390 the missing funds.
391
392 BUSH WANTS TO OVERRULE COURT:-6/28/89
393 President Bush denounced flag-burning as "wrong" and vowed to lead the
394 fight for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's
395 protection of the act. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 last week that the First
396 Amendment protected flag-burners. House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., has
397 suggested new laws rather than a constitutional amendment.
398 President Bush is sailing into perilous waters by taking the lead on a
399 constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning, legal experts say. "Amending the
400 Constitution is tortuous, slow going, and it's difficult to succeed," says
401 University of Virginia law professor A.E. Dick Howard. Though 10,375
402 constitutional amendments have been proposed in Congress, only 26 have passed.
403
404 U.S. REWARDS ARE YOURS-6/28/89
405 Do you want to make a few extra bucks?
406 Just become a stool pigeon for the government.
407 That's the word from the book "Rewards Offered by the United States."
408 It tells how to cash in on zillions of government rewards by being a rat
409 fink.
410 Author Larry Dreyfus says you could make $100,000 by snitching on someone
411 who owes one million bucks in unpaid taxes.
412 But that's chicken feed compared to the reward for squealing on a nuclear
413 weapons smuggler.
414 The government will give you half a million dollars for that tip.
415 Dreyfus says the largest government rewards come from illegal money schemes
416 such as laundering, counterfeiting or drug dealing.
417 The former U.S. Customs Agent even includes a "10 commandments of
418 collecting rewards" in his book.--M.D.
419 PHONER > Larry Dreyfus, Chicago, IL (312) 787-5524
420
421 WADSWORTH, Ill. (AP) -- Zoning officials didn't object to
422 or the shark-filled moat. But they had enough when Jim Onan put a 45-foot statu
423 of a pharoah on his front lawn.
424 The town took him to court under a zoning ordinance that puts a 25-foot limi
425 o structures in residential neighborhoods.
426 The 52-year-old Onan, a construction contractor, decided on a way of getting
427 around the regulation: He's burying the 200-ton statue of Ramses II in gravel u
428 to its knees.
429 Onan says he intends to spend $25,000 to bury all but 25 feet of Ramses II.
430 "I love it because they're making a fool of themselves," Onan said in a
431 telephone interview from his pyramid home Friday.
432 The choice of Ramses II is fitting: He ruled Egypt from 1290 to 1224 B.C.,
433 and was known for his ambitious building projects -- much like Onan.
434 Onan completed his 5-story-tall, gold-plated pyramid five years ago near
435 Wadsworth, a town just south of the Wisconsin border.
436 Townspeople haven't exactly rallied to Onan's defense in the statue case.
437 "I don't think there's anyone who had anything good to say about it," said
438 Village President Ed Tomkowiak.
439
440 696969696969696969
441
018=Usr:4 Milchar 06/29/89 23:30 Msg:4049 Call:22190 Lines:9
442 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
443 To all good citizens who have replied: The Computer has not let your
444 loyalty go unnoticed. To further prove yourself in its sensors,
445 however, you must be certain that Mr. GameMaster Sir knows of the
446 scheduled Traitor Roast. Such knowledge is BLUE level, however; after
447 informing Mr. GameMaster Sir of such plans, please report to the
448 nearest Inner Happiness and Termination Center immediately. Thank
449 you for your cooperation.
450 +++++++++++++++++++++ Milch +++++++++++ June 29, 1989 +++++++++++++++
019=Usr:286 Jeff Marten 06/30/89 01:27 Msg:4050 Call:22193 Lines:31
451
452
453 {+}{+}{+}{+}
454
455 -|-| B A T N O T E S |-|-
456
457 If the Academy Awards really had anything to do with with who
458 actually did some good acting this year...Jack Nicholson would
459 walk away with three, maybe four of those little toads.
460
461 Gotham City was truly a work of art, reminiscent of Los Angeles
462 2017 in BLADERUNNER, which itself was inspired by Fritz Lange's
463 METROPOLIS.
464
465 The Batmobile, charging down the leaf strewn country lane made
466 my bowtie spin...and the Batwing against the full moon blew my
467 argyles off. Brief but satisfying moments of visual rapture.
468
469 The only real disappointment was the Lloyd Cinemas.
470 When I saw INDIANA JONES (and The Last Ark of Doom) at Tigard
471 Cinemas, Mr. THX Dolby Sound was cranked up so loud and full it
472 sucked the air out of your lungs. At Lloyd the sound was so meek
473 the music had no drama, I missed some of the dialogue, and the
474 Surround Sound was a complete loss. THX isn't worth a tinker's
475 damn at polite volume levels.
476
477 ......Who ARE You ?!?!!
478 -+|[ I'm ThingFish ]|+-
479
480 {+}{+}{+}{+}
481
020=Usr:666 james kolbet 06/30/89 09:56 Msg:4051 Call:22197 Lines:10
482 ***************
483 Hey, now wait a minute! I just saw INDIANA JONES at Tigard, and I thought the
484 sound was just fine. Sure, it started out a little loud, and shocking, when
485 they introduced their sound system, but it's a lot better than other cinemas!
486 For those of you who missed me, since I haven't been on since last Feb., I'm
487 back again! Astral Dreamer, HI! (especially since you are the only name I
488 recognized. Ooops! Sorry Hagberd, I didn't mean to forget you!)
489 Anyway, if anyone out there really did miss me, hello again!
490 Kaitlyn
491 ***************
021=Usr:219 Friar Mossback 06/30/89 14:49 Msg:4052 Call:22200 Lines:3
492 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
493 I'm crushed. Apparently Kaitlyn *did* mean to forget me.
494 [][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][]
022=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 06/30/89 19:19 Msg:4053 Call:22206 Lines:8
495 &*&*&*&*'s
496 Hello! Good to see you again. life at BWMSII continues.
497
498 Well, not much to say, been up way to long on to little sleep.
499
500 An Astral Dreamer
501 &*&*&*&*'s
502
023=Usr:465 Gregg Harris 07/01/89 01:32 Msg:4054 Call:22217 Lines:6
503 )(**&)((*&&)(*&&)(*&&)(*&)(*&)
504 o Ooo. Lurkin'. Ii am a lurkin'. Yo o, a lurkin'.
505
506 The Mole
507 )(*&)((*&&)((&&)((**&)((*&)((*&)((*&
508
024=Usr:4 Milchar 07/01/89 17:42 Msg:4055 Call:22225 Lines:9
509 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
510 And why do lurkers lurk? And when they lurk, why do they post messages
511 saying they lurk? If a message left by someone calling themselves a
512 lurker says nothing but "I am lurking", are they still lurking? Haven't
513 they entered something? Granted, the content of such communication is
514 very low, but it still expresses an idea of sorts. And do messages about
515 lurking count as lurking, or perhaps psych credit at college? Will my
516 future thesis be, "The LifeStyle and Habits of Modern Lurkers"? Stay tuned.
517 +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++++ 890701.1755 ++++++++
025=Usr:465 Gregg Harris 07/01/89 18:35 Msg:4056 Call:22228 Lines:5
518 )(*(*&)(*(*&)((**)((**&&)((**&&)(**&)((*&)(*)(*&)((*&*
519 *Thought of Writing about Lurking*
520 The Mole
521 )(*&)(*&)((**&()*&)((*&&)((*&&)((*&)((*&(()*&)(*&)((*&
522
026=Usr:286 Jeff Marten 07/01/89 19:49 Msg:4057 Call:22233 Lines:20
523
524
525 {+}{+}{+}{+}
526
527 Just for the record.....
528
529 When I said the Tigard Cinemas ran their THX Audio at volume
530 levels that would "suck the air out of your lungs"
531 I meant it as a supreme compliment. I only wish more theaters
532 would let 'er rip like that.
533
534 For $5.50 per ticket...I want to FEEL that movie in my BONES.
535
536 -+|[ ThingFish ]|+-
537 He Bangin' On Dem Bongos Like A Chimpanzee
538
539
540 {+}{+}{+}{+}
541
542
027=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 07/01/89 21:58 Msg:4058 Call:22237 Lines:8
543 &*&*&*&*'s
544
545 Saw Earth Girls are easy today. Great movie. Especialy if you go during the
546 cheap time. I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 4.
547
548 An Astral Dreamer
549 &*&*&*&*'s
550
028=Usr:33 Mike Stanfill 07/01/89 23:12 Msg:4059 Call:22238 Lines:17
551 /*/*/*/*/*/*/*
552
553 I have no idea why i'm posting this, just something that
554 stuck in my head this week...
555
556 "They've got the Red Book, they've got the New Look,
557 little people like they're living in China
558 They've got the answers to all the questions,
559 little people like they're living in China
560 The solution is revolution <--- hmmm
561 Oh, little people like they're living in China
562 They've got ping pong, egg foo yung,
563 oh, little people like they're living in China" _
564 - Men w/o Hats, "Living In China" /#)
565 n n n (#/
566 mostly just a swoblurk / ~~~ ~~~ \/
567 lurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurklurk/___/____\__\
029=Usr:1 CISTOP MIKEY 07/02/89 14:05 Msg:4060 Call:22243 Lines:6
568 I'm a lurker. He's a lurker. She's a lurker.
569 Wouldn't you like to be a lurker too?
570 Be a lurker... Just a lurking.
571 Be a lurker... Just a lurking.
572 Wouldn't you like to be a lurker too?
573 10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6-10-2-6
030=Usr:53 prince dragon 07/02/89 22:52 Msg:4061 Call:22262 Lines:6
574 .-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.prince dragon
575 fire mode ON
576 i do not call this bbs to read a lot of B.S. i can get off USENET(tm)
577 i call to see lurkers writeing all kines of good thingys
578 .-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-no news on BWMSII.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
579
031=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 07/03/89 00:39 Msg:4062 Call:22265 Lines:10
580 &*&*&*&*'s
581 I like the news. I don't have time to read all the news groups, and it's
582 great to me that somebody takes the time to collect interesting stuff.
583 (Whatever the source may be.)
584
585 So I say, keep it up!
586
587 An Astral Dreamer
588 &*&*&*&*'s
589
032=Usr:286 Jeff Marten 07/03/89 04:35 Msg:4063 Call:22269 Lines:18
590
591 {+}{+}{+}{+}
592
593 { ahem.....
594
595 696969696969
596 and A.D.
597 have an admiration society
598 69 is the man
599 A.D. is the fan
600 and forever they post
601 ever so happily
602
603 -+|[ ThingFish ]|+-
604 Forgive Me, I've Been Hearing Those Damn Voices{Again
605
606 {+}{+}{+}{+}
607
033=Usr:4 Milchar 07/03/89 08:36 Msg:4064 Call:22271 Lines:10
608 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
609 Voices? You mean like those voices in my head that tell me to get a
610 high-powered laser rifle and blast those bits of tree branch that
611 block my window? Are they male, female, both, or neither? Do they
612 whisper to you about the future? Can you understand them at all?
613 Or are these more like the voices that tell you to go out and dive
614 into a swimming pool filled with lime jello so as to improve Earth's
615 chances of being accepted into the InterGalactic League? I just
616 wanna know about these guys you hear!
617 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milch +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
034=Usr:33 Mike Stanfill 07/03/89 17:08 Msg:4065 Call:22277 Lines:14
618@rz
619
620 /*/*/*/*/*/*/*
621 Posts like these make me believe more and more than insanity is
622 contagious.
623
624 "Sometimes, when I drive across the desert in the middle of the night,
625 with no other cars around, I start imagining: "What if there were no
626 civilization out there? No cities, no factories, no people?" And
627 then I think, "Then who made this car? And this highway?" And I get _
628 so confused I have to stick my face out the window /#)
629 into the driving rain." -Jack Handey n n n (#/
630 / ~~~ ~~~ \/
631 /*/*/*/*/*/*/* -swob (a Self-Willed Orange Blancmange) /___/____\__\
035=Usr:4 Milchar 07/03/89 22:19 Msg:4066 Call:22282 Lines:14
632 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
633 swob: *PLEASE* don't do that! It sends terminal programs with Auto
634 Download into a frenzy. It will still work, but there is a LOOONG
635 pause while my terminal program figures out what is going on. I got
636 rid of it. (I could turn off ADL, but the work involved isn't worth it).
637 Of course, I could just put my terminal into dumb mode, which means no
638 interpretation of anything but CR/LF, but then I couldn't use all those
639 fancy ANSI escape sequences. Some time ago a few Inngoers tried to find
640 a control character that could be inserted into text
641 just like this, to delay words. We couldn't
642 find one that didn't mess up someone's terminal, somewhere.
643 Enough, I think. "Where do you get those wonderful quotes?" to badly
644 quote someone else. :-)
645 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milch +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
036=Usr:196 Cheryl Singer 07/04/89 01:28 Msg:4067 Call:22285 Lines:8
646 This board is getting too weird for words...its awfully small to be posting
647 news articles, isn't it? Better to go to Agora or someplace for that.
648 What has always been the best part of this board is the intelligent
649 conversation -- not just "lurking" or copying articles. So, what do
650 people THINK about the current events like cold fusion and Chinese
651 politics and Exxon?
652
653 ***Cassandra***
037=Usr:131 THE VISION 07/04/89 01:49 Msg:4068 Call:22286 Lines:20
654 _________________________________T_H_E__V_I_S_I_O_N_______________________
655
656 Well, Cassandra, it's kinda late for me to be thinking about anything.
657 I don't really keep up on all the current political events anyway. I know
658 about the Exxon "event" but not all the major details. I figure that I
659 can't do much about it or anything else so why worry? So I just don't even
660 try to think about all the problems and enjoy life. I suppose I should
661 though since I am only 16. It's kinda late so goodnight for now. Hey AD!
662 How's it going pal? Haven't talked w/you for a long time!! How's life?
663 Well--I will be back tomorrow (gasp) to see what's going on on this truly
664 live and bitchin board... It's the first one I called in my (perhaps brief)
665 return to modeming...
666 _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
667
668 __T_H_E__V_I_S_I_O_N__
669
670 2:08pm 02 7/4/89
671
672 Happy Fouth everyone!!!!!
673
038=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 07/04/89 13:54 Msg:4069 Call:22294 Lines:13
674 &*&*&*&*'s
675 Things are looking up for me, now all I have to do is find some place to move
676 by friday...
677
678 About exxon et al, I tend to keep my politics on other boards, as the group
679 here at BW is rather small, and I find them much more interesting to talk too,
680 rather then debate.
681
682 Bring back the News!
683
684 An Astral Dreamer
685 &*&*&*&*'s (Gee, I guess the News thing is a debate!)
686
039=Usr:343 black art 07/04/89 16:14 Msg:4070 Call:22298 Lines:7
687 The normal state of mind is not "normal". As for downloaded news, I do not
688 mind as long as it is not the standard info/garbage from the snoregonian.
689 (And they do not take up too much space.) One person's intelegent conversation
690 is anothers raving. pay attention, cassandra, you might learn something.
691 (Then again, you might not...)
692 ** Black Art **
693
040=Usr:4 Milchar 07/04/89 22:53 Msg:4071 Call:22305 Lines:16
694 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
695 #include <twocents.h>
696 Cold fusion: Last time I looked, it seems that low temperature fusion
697 is a reality. It isn't something that can be done by a beginning
698 chemistry student, as once was thought (the conductors must be flushed
699 of any hydrogen contamination, and *KEPT* that way during the process,
700 which means continuously flushing the gases emitted with argon). What
701 it might be used for and how is still very much up in the air.
702 Exxon: I tend to feel that cleaning efforts should begin as soon as
703 word of the spill reaches management, and DA*N the cost. I like a
704 tidy planet, don't you?
705 China: I haven't heard anything about this recently. The dead count
706 keeps changing apparently at random. Anyone heard anything more
707 recent?
708 >>> This set of random ravings brought to you by:
709 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
041=Usr:131 THE VISION 07/04/89 23:13 Msg:4072 Call:22306 Lines:16
710 _________________________________T_X_E__V_I_S_I_O_N________________________
711
712 Why do you have to move by Friday AD? Where you staying closing down,
713 or someone kick you out... (haha) Seen "Batman" yet? It was hyped major
714
715 and was only fair. I personally thought keeping up with the Indiana
716 Joneses was more fun (but that's just one man's opinion). That's my
717 1/2 peso for this evening... later all (anyone burn their hand off doing
718 fireworks??... or was it just me??) hahah
719
720 _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*O*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
721
722 __T_H_E__V_I_S_I_O_N__
723
724 11:31pm 32 7/4/89
725
042=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 07/05/89 19:21 Msg:4073 Call:22316 Lines:10
726 &*&*&*&*'s
727 Well, I told the people around here that I'd be moving out today, but I havn't
728 found anyplace to move to. I have offers from a couple of friends, but
729 I'd like to find someplace of my own if at all possible.
7300
731 Tommorow is D day. Wish me luck!
732
733 An Astral Dreamer
734 &*&*&*&*'s
735
043=Usr:465 Gregg Harris 07/05/89 21:35 Msg:4074 Call:22320 Lines:2
736 This is a blank line.
737 The Mole
044=Usr:53 prince dragon 07/05/89 22:18 Msg:4075 Call:22321 Lines:3
738 .-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
739 #############################################################poof
740 .-=-.-=-.-=-.etc...
045=Usr:286 Jeff Marten 07/06/89 03:46 Msg:4076 Call:22329 Lines:19
741
74"
743 {+}{+}{+}{+}
744
745 Time now for CHURCH CHAT
746 With Your Host...The Church Lady
747
748 Today on CHURCH CHAT we'll be discussing the so called
749 "New Age Music" phenomenon that's sweeping the country.
750 Is it harmless, pastoral meditation music...
751 or a slow dance with The Beast-Master ?
752 You be the judge.
753
754 -+|[ ThingFish ]|+-
755 Isn't That Spatial
756
757
758 {+}{+}{+}{+}
759
046=Usr:428 Mercury X 07/06/89 08:31 Msg:4077 Call:22334 Lines:6
760 ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))
761 On lurking...
762
763 Can anybody lurk? If n, who c an't? Why? Is lurking merely psychological or
764 is it physical also? Why lurk in the first place?
765 ((((((((((((((Mercury)))))))))))))))
047=Usr:131 THE VISION 07/06/89 18:19 Msg:4078 Call:22338 Lines:11
766 _______T_H_E__V_I_S_I_O_N________
767 Good luck, AD!! Let me know what
768 happens. I hope you don't end up
769 on the street bud! that would
770 suck royal. mercury, I sometimes
771 lurk when I have nothing to say,
772 just to see what has been going
773 on but having nothing to contribute.
774 This is often for me. LAterAD!
775 _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*__
776
048=Usr:84 Michael Miller j 07/06/89 18:33 Msg:4079 Call:22339 Lines:19
777 &*&*&*&*'s
778 One YEAR! (OK, so it ain't dhat long compared to some people.) Today is the
779 first anniversary of my arival at BWMSII. <Fanfares in the background,
780 The crowd chears.>
781
782 Ok, Thats done with.
783
784 Vision, I won't be living on the streets, a friend has offered me a loan on
785 his living room. Being a former college student means I don't have much
786 stuff either, so I should be able to just about fit. :-)
787
788 I still need to find somthing more permanent, and with any luck I'll be
789 making a bit more money this month. Things in general are looking up.
790
791 Enough blathering, I'm Outta here!
792
793 An Astral Dreamer
794 &*&*&*&*'s
795
049=Usr:333 Bartender Slug 07/06/89 22:15 Msg:4080 Call:22343 Lines:3
796
797 Baby call my line, call me anytime.
798
050=Usr:131 THE VISION 07/07/89 00:58 Msg:4081 Call:22349 Lines:16
799 ______________T_H_E__V_I_S_I_O_N________________
800 A pretty nice friend to offer you space, AD.
801 Hope it works out good for you. Where you work
802 now? (if you want to say). I might start working
803 at Baskin Robbins near our house but I don't know.
804 I do need to get a job though. So far this summer
805 I haven't done anything but see, make, and talk about
806 movies. WEll, that is it for now. Later ADreamer,
807 my good friend, and good night (it's 1:16am!!!).
808 _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*__
809
810
811 Ba ba ba bab babab baby... don't forget my number
812 i've been searchin high high high i've been searching low low low
813 bababba ba ba ba b ab a ba b ab b baby
814
051=Usr:131 THE VISION 07/07/89 15:44 Msg:4082 Call:22361 Lines:4
815
816 LURKING
817 NOTHING GOING ON HERE TODAY
818
052=Usr:287 Ralph Steadman 07/07/89 15:50 Msg:4083 Call:22362 Lines:80
819 696969696969
820 The key is to learn which is "news" and which is fantasy.
821
822 (June 25,1989)
823 10 of the Most Overplayed Records and Artists
824
825 I've got to get this off my chest. There are a number of records and
826 artists that are constantly overplayed on radio stations of almost every format
827 Many of these records may have been considered good or significant at one time,
828 but the subsequent exposure suggests that Peter Finch's actions in the movie
829 "Network" are relevant here (when he yells out the window that "I'm mad as hell
830 and not going to take it anymore"). In no particular order, here are my choice
831 for the 10 records or artists that are heard far too much.
832
833 1. The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby & The Range. Disc Jockeys have always bee
834 soft touches for records that allegedly "say something". And with references t
835 civil rights, war and all the other horrors of the last 30 years, this record
836 makes a statement. But come on guys, enough is enough. The background music i
837 droning, and Hornsby's vocals are unspectacular.
838
839 2. The Boxer & Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel. This is
840 tie between the two worst records of their career. Both songs are extremely
841 overlong, dull and really, make little sense. Never mind the Grammy Awards, if
842 you want to avoid a tedious 5 plus minutes of nothingness, turn your dial.
843
844 3. Hey Jude - The Beatles. With all the great music the "Fab Four" gave us
845 I have never understood how this annoyingly repetitious song was their all-time
846 biggest hit. For a refreshing diversion, try Wilson Pickett's soulful 1969
847 version of "Hey Jude".
848
849 4. Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues. I can handle the shorter 1972
850 single version of this, but forget the long "Days of Future Passed" album
851 version or anything else in that set. Despite the raves of critics, the Moody
852 Blues have not had a good record since their early releases of "Go Now" and
853 "Stop" in the middle sixties.
854
855 5. American Pie - Don McLean. I immediately reach for the Maalox when thos
856 immortal words "A long long time ago" come on the radio. This is a record mean
857 to be played about once a year, similar to looking at an old photo album,
858 perhaps to reflect on the past.
859
860 6. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby Stills and Nash. Yes, this was a great
861 album when released in 1969, when these three superstars were brought together,
862 but the opening track has suffered from 20 years of overexposure.
863
864 7. Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells. And let's give
865 honorable mention to "Crystal Blue Persuasion". None of the Tommy James record
866 will find their way into the Smithsonian, or even the Rock and Roll
867 Hall-Of-Fame, but how about a little "Say I Am" or "Mirage" once in a while?
868
869 8. My Sweet Lord - George Harrison. If you apply the descriptions of one t
870 seven above, they are all apropos here. Ditto the "All Things Must Pass" album,
871 a~ unimpressive three record collection of "My Sweet Lord" type songs.
872
873 9. Almost any song by Credence Clearwater Revival, Doobie Brothers or
874 Steely Dan. I loved these groups when they hit the pop scene (I still have the
875 first two Steely Dan albums) but these groups are played in disproportion to
876 their influence or significance. Oddly, Steely Dan's best record "FM (No Stati
877 At All)" is rarely heard.
878
879 10. Judy In Disguise - John Fred & His Playboy Band. How this record got
880 to Number 1 in early 1968 was a mystery then. Why it is constantly played on
881 oldie stations, especially in either poor or non-existent stereo is a enigma
882 now. Along with "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees in 1976, and "Dominique" by the
883 Singing Nun (1963), this is probably the worst record to hit the top of the
884 charts in the entire rock era.
885
886 Also worthy of being included on this list are the following: "La Bamba" b
887 Richie Valens; anything by Harry Chq`in; "Get Together" by the Youngbloods; the
888 long version of "Time Has Come Today" by the Chambers Brothers; "Lola" from the
889 Kinks; "You Made Me So Very Happy by Blood, Sweat and Tears; and virtually all
890 1960's records of the Beach Boys and the Supremes.
891
892 Although no one can throw rotten tomatoes at me through the computer
893 screen, I await your outrage and criticisms. Many of us are accustomed to
894 blindly accepting the gospel of the critics and music is no exception. But if
895 you think about it, I just may be right.- Ira Bruce Simmons
896
897 696969696969696969
898
053=Usr:428 Mercury X 07/07/89 18:52 Msg:4084 Call:22368 Lines:9
899 (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))))))
900
901
902 The Vision...Thanks.
903
904 --(What is this? It appears on my screen for no reason!)
905 I shall lurk...
906 lurklurklulurklurklurklurk...
907 (((((((((((((((((((((((((Mercury))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
054=Usr:219 Friar Mossback 07/07/89 20:29 Msg:4085 Call:22372 Lines:11
908 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
909 Well, I agree on most of them, but you left out a few.
910 Anything at all by Willie Nelson should not be played to sober people.
911 Anything at all by Julio Iglesias should be thrown out.
912 I think we can do without "The Mamas and the Papas" for the most part.
913
914 On a more important note, they should stop turning good music into
915 commercial jingles or, much worse, elevator music!
916 [][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
917 PS. I rather like Harry Chapin, but in small doses at infrequent intervals.
918 [][][][][][] F.
055=Usr:287 Ralph Steadman 07/07/89 20:43 Msg:4086 Call:22373 Lines:81
919 696969696969
920 1,400 DIE IN GUN ACCIDENTS:-7/7/89
921 The National Safety Council said this week that about 1,400 people died
922 from accidental firearm injuries in 1988. According to National Rifle
923 Association statistics, there are between 180 million and 200 million guns in
924 the United States, owned by 70 million Americans. The NRA estimates that half
925 the households in the United States contain a firearm.
926 NRA CREDITS SAFETY EDUCATION:-7/7/89
927 Accidental firearms fatalities have declined almost 52 percent during the
928 last 20 years, say National Safety Council statistics for 1987. The National
929 Rifle Association says that during the same period, the number of NRA
930 certified firearms instructors and individuals enrolled in NRA gun safety
931 courses has increased to more than 26,000 teachers and about 750,000 students
932 annually.
933 1,400 DIE IN GUN ACCIDENTS:-7/7/89
934 The National Safety Council said this week that about 1,400 people died
935 from accidental firearm injuries in01988. According to National Rifle
936 Association statistics, there are between 180 million and 200 million guns in
937 the United States, owned by 70 million Americans. The NRA estimates that half
938 the households in the United States contain a firearm.
939
940 Computer firms suffer July 7-9, 1989 Source: USA TODAY/G
941 ion Network
942 After two years of firecracker growth, the U.S. competer industry is
943 starting to fizzle. A computer sales slowdown, expected and dreaded for nearly
944 a year, is here. Nobody is saying that conditions are anywhere as dismal as
945 they were in the industry slump of 1985-86. However, experts predict that the
946 computer slowdown will get worse before it gets better.
947 HOW BAD IS BUSINESS?
948 Companies can expect losses and layoffs during the next six months to a
949 year. In recent weeks more than a dozen high-flyers have stunned the
950 investment community with news that sales and earnings will be lower than
951 expected, including Apple Computer Inc., Digital Equipment Corp. and Hewlett-
952 Packard Co.
953 ARE OTHER COMPUTER COMPANIES SUFFERING?
954 Worse yet, others - such as computer software maker Ashton-Tate Corp.,
955 workstation company Sun Microsystems Inc., and minicomputer makers Wang
956 Laboratories Inc. - say they could report a loss. Last week Amdahl Corp. said
957 its quarterly net income would be down 25 percent, its first quarterly decline
958 in three years.
959 WHY ARE QUARTERLY PROFITS DOWN?
960 LSI Logic Corp. says it too will have lower quarterly profits because
961 computer customers are delaying orders of its computer chips. The latter news
962 hit hard, prompting investment banking house Kidder Peabody to slash earnings
963 estimates on a rash of chip makers. Those that aren't dead are badly wounded,
964 says Richard Shaffer, editor of the Computer Letter.
965 ARE THERE OTHER INDICATIONS OF A SLOWDOWN?
966 Two precursors to the 1985-86 slump have surfaced again: Unused computer
967 chips are stacking up, lowering orders for the March through April period.
968 And, electronics employment in Silicon Valley, the nation's technology
969 heartland, has edged downward for four consecutive months, a first since the
970 fall of 1986.
971 HOW ARE CUSTOMERS REACTING?
972 Perhaps the most distressing element of this slowdown is the reason given
973 by most experts: customer confusion - which also was the culprit in the
974 disastrous technology recession of 1985-86. Customers are baffled by the mad
975 jockeying of firms as each pushes its own computer design to be the most
976 widely accepted - the de facto standard.
977 WHAT ARE OTHER REASONS FOR THE INDUSTRY'S CURRENT STATE?
978 Other reasons for the slowdown: the onslaught of truly powerful PCs has
979 many questioning the need for mini computers and other big smart boxes. And,
980 long delays in getting announced products to market is putting off buyers.
981 WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM?
982 The industry is making the same mistake it made in 1983, says Fred
983 Gibbons, chairperson of Software Publishing Corp. There are too many options.
984 There are 20 different standards. The industry is forgetting who the customers
985 are and giving them overblown, overkill products. Customer confusion is more
986 than a glitch, it's a problem, he says.
987 WHY ARE TOO MANY CHOICES A PROBLEM?
988 In the past year, buyers have been besieged by a multitude of choices.
989 Worse yet, there has been a rash of rhetoric about how all of them will
990 survive in the market. The reason is that some computer designs use radically
991 different software that cannot always be interchanged. It would be like trying
992 to run a VHS video cassette tape in a Beta VCR.
993 COULDN'T IT BE MADE TO WORK?
994 It just wouldn't work. This isn't new in the industry, but it's gettinw
9)5 wildly complicated as new computer designs hit the market. Instead of two main
996 designs of a couple years ago - by IBM Corp. and Apple Computer Inc. - there
997 are now seven possibilities. If one adds in smaller players, such as Atari
998 Corp. and Commodore International Inc., it rises to nine.
999 696969696969696969