644 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
644 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
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2 ************************* INSTALLED: 15 MAR 86 ************************************
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3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator
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4 ************************************************************
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5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
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6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
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7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
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8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
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9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
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10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
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11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
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12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
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13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
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14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
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15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
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16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
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17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
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18 ***********************************************************
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19
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20 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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21 I am, at the top.
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22 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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23 Mike: The "session" on No-Name that was uploaded on Drive B is not anywhere
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24 close to being correct. The most likely method used was to EDIT a *real*
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25 session that was downloaded by this twit. I say this because the log-on
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26 msg is one that is at least a week old.... Also there are other errors that
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27 I won't go into....
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28 Nom de Guerre: I hope that you had nothing to do with that mess on DB.
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29 I also wish that you would realize that your tirades against Destroyer &
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30 Silverman are nothing but a waste of disk space. All of the "regulars"
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31 have now heard your views at least 6 times. Since most of the responses
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32 seem to be "shut up and let us read" maybe you aren't talking to the
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33 "right" people.
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34 If we don't agree with you the first 5 times you state your views, why
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35 should we change our minds just because you repeat them *again*? (and
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36 again and again and....)
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37 Likewise if we *do* agree with you, why do you need to repeat the argument?
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38 If you had something *new* to say that would be different. But you haven't
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39 changed the *content* of your msg since the first one.
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40 Finally, you complain & make allegations. When people reply, or make
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41 suggestions on how you can "avoid" the entries you dislike, or ask you
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42 questions you ignore them. From this I can only conclude that (at best)
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43 you are one *RUDE* S.O.B. or (at worst) you are a self-centered twit who
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44 is only complaining because he can't do as well.
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45 ______________________Leonard_JD 2446505.4381______________________________
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46
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47 I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE MESSAGE ON THIS SYSTEM, BUT I'LL BE
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48 DOUBLE DIPPED IF I CAN FIND ANYMORE. GUESS I'M JUST STUPID, HUH?
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49 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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50 No, not stupid. You just don't read the directions. Type DB to get to the
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51 other disk drive. Lots of stuff to look at!
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52 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Nerdly Q. Dipstick~~~~~~~~
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53 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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54 Milchar again drifted off to sleep, only to start awake at the sound of a
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55 synthesized voice. "..never kill a living thing, not even an insect..."
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56 The mage was so stunned he didn't hear the rest. Never kill anything? Er, um,
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57 did allowing one of those slugs to fall to their deaths count? Milchar decided
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58 he'd better ask at first opprotunity.
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59 ++++++++++++++++++++++k+++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++++++++++k+++++
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60 Frank Zappa?! (a closet Miami Vice fan)
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61 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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62
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63 Nerdly: Nice to see you could make it.
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64 Maricia Bennett
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65 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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66 I AM TTTTTTTTT NN NN TTTTTTTTT
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67 I AM TTTTTTTTTT NN NN TTTTTTTTTT
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68 I AM TTTTTT NN NN TTTTTT
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69 TT N N N TT
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70 TT N N N TT
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71 TT N N N TT
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72 TT . N NN . TT
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73 *********************************************
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74 I THINK THIS PLASE IS STUPED I WILL BE BACK.........
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75 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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76 Delta V: this quarter I took Numerical Computation, Compiler Methods,
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77 Speech Communications, Short Story, and Ballroom Dance. The first two
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78 took up most of my time and frustrations, and the others helped
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79 balance things a little. this coming quarter though, I'll be taking
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80 all computer related classes. Sometimes I think I've masochistic
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81 tendencies.
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82 Madwand: Once finals for the above mentioned classes are over, I should
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83 be able to continue on with Miranda's education. Thanks for the interest
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84 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu
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85 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Epilogue 2
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86 The dawn was just begining to change the sky from deep blue to perple amd gold. The ocean roared against the rocks
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87 below as it had since the beginning of time. Tariya dal-Silmarilyn stood at the window, watching. She had loved the
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88 ocean since she had been tall enough to peer out of that window, but now it didn't make an impression on her. She felt
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89 nothing would ever again.
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90 She heard the door creak open behind her. "Tariya!" it was the voice of her sister Jaralla, her immediate senior.
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91 "What are you doing out of bed? You're not nearly well enough yet."
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92 "I don't care." she said quietly. Jaralla was right, though. Her stomach still ached miserably, but she was getting
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93 better.
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94 Instead or arguing, Jaralla went over and sat on the edge of the bed. "You will. Soon."
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95 Tariya felt the tears begin again. "It's my fault. If I hadn't gotten him involved in Mother's God damned scheme,
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96 he'd still be alive! I killed him."
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97 "Oh, honey," Jaralla groaned, "you can't blame yourself for what Mother does. She's beyond anyone's control. If you
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98 hadn't done it, she would have found another way. Knowing her, none of us would be alive then." Tariya continued to
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99 stare out the window silently. "Guess who's here."
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100 "Who?" she sighed.
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101 "Quallas." Tariya turned to look at her sharply. "He's been at the guest quarters for the last two weeks waiting to
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102 see you." Jaralla giggled "I think he's prepared to wait two years if neccessary."
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103 Tariya walked stiffly over to the bed and sat down beside her sister. She sighed, "I know why he's here."
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104 "So do I. I managed to worm the secret out of him three days ago. He wants to ask your hand in marriage." She
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105 chuckled. "He's very handsome. If you weren't feeling so bad, I'd steal him away from you. He might be just what you
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106 need, though."
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107 "And I'm just what he needs." Tariya said bitterly. "He'll be marrying into the most powerful family on Kadan.
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108 He'll be sitting quite pretty."
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109 "Tariya!" she gasped, "You know better than that! You've known each other since childhood. He loves you." She
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110 looked down at her hands. "I could see it written all over his face."
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111 Tariya was silent for a long time, staring at the wall. Finally Jaralla asked "What was the D- what was he
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112 like?"
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113 She sighed, "He was mean-tempered, immature, obnoxious, self-centered, sarcastic... I never did like him that
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114 much."
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115 Jaralla looked at her sharply. "Who are you lying to, me or yourself?" Tariya's reply was to burst into tears. She
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116 held her tightly, whispering, "Go ahead, baby, let it all out. You'll feel better."
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117 Finally she cut back to just sniffles and Jaralla helped her back into bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin
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118 and admonished, "If I catch you up again I'll tie you to the bed. I mean it. You need rest." Tariya just nodded
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119 silently.
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120 Just as she put her hand on the doorhandle, Tariya said, "I'm going to tell him yes."
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121 "What?"
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122 "When Quollas asks me, I'm going to say yes."
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123 "That's your decision, Tari."
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124 "James is gone, but I still have a life to live. I think it's what he would want me to do."
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125 Jaralla asked sharply, "But is it what you want?"
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126 Tariya thought about it for a long time. "Yes."
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127 "Then I wish you the very best of luck. But if you get out of that bed again you'll find your luck has run
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128 out."
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129 Tariya grinned, "Don't worry. I'll behave."
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130 Jaralla rolled her eyes, "That would be a spectacular change of pace." She closed the door quietly.
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131 In the semidarkness, Tariya whispered quietly, "Goodbye, James. I did love you."
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132 Outside, the sun had fully risen, spreading its warmth and promise of a bright new day and spirits renewed.
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133
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134 The End.
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135 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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136 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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137 Well, seeing that the pendulum has yet to swing (for all you BW users
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138 too recent or too forgetfull, no one ever *said* this was a "story" or
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139 "multi-authored fiction" board! It does have other uses...) purhaps I can
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140 convert the remaining potential energy back to kinetic with some questions.
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141 Back, back, back in the distant past, some of the ancients might
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142 remember my ramblings about 'The Shape of Things to Come' relating to the
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143 future of BBS and, in particular (espically if you wanted to get nasty about
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144 it) such promised systems UNICOM or MULTICOM. Having grown increasingly
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145 weary of the slow, featureless, and generally painfull-to-use BBS's out
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146 there I resurected from the grave some of my ideas, and in the interest of
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147 evaluating them properly, set up a small system to test them effectively.
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148 Be prepared to welcome "Smorgasbord' to the local arena this week; I have
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149 already inflicted it on some local SYSOP's to get some ideas and feedback,
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150 and could be swayed to give private demos as requested prior to turn up.
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151 Back to my original querry... Just what makes a usefull system? In thinking
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152 about this I came up with the following features that I incorporated into
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153 the Smorgasbord...
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154 o Individual, private, file areas for local storage
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155 o User definable command procedures for commonly repeated functions
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156 o User defined login command file [AUTOEXEC.BAT]
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157 o A screen editor, and a TERMCAP-like database
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158 o Diverse file t-fer protocols... XMODEM, KERMIT, PACED ASCII, etc...
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159 o Ability to UP/DOWNLOAD messages using file transfer protocols...
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160 o NET's to post to for messages for specific user interests...
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161 o A variety of UN*X-like tools for file manipulation
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162 o A concise, simple-to-use, yet generally extensible and versitile
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163 message handling system, with unlimted length text capability.
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164 o Complete, on-line help for ALL facets of system operation.
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165 o Security, sending encrypted [by us OR you!] files OK!
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166 These are things that were important to ME, so I put them in MY system. If
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167 you were setting up a system that ran on hardware which had virtually no
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168 imposed limits [we have more main memory than most systems have for
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169 mass storage!] to interfere with your implementation, what features would
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170 you incorporate? What would you leave out?
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171 PS: We have the ENTIRE BWMS archives on-line! Access arrangements are of
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172 course dependent on the good-pleasure of the group-purchase archivists, and
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173 has yet to be negotiated, but is potentially availiable.
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174 Aaron
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175 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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176 Wanted: Secretary Work - Word Processing:
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177 Call (503) 692-xxxx Lewis Business Services
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178 We can pick up and deliver.
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179 **********************************************************************
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180 Disclaimer: The following is not by me, though it originally was entered
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181 with my name at the bottom, rest assured that it is not. BW is and will
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182 remain as always. Even given the possibility that I would get tired of
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183 dealing with twits, there is another who has specifically stated that
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184 he would take over should that ever happen. So fear not, BW has a life
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185 of its own, I am but its caretaker.
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186 ******************************* CM ************************************
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187
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188 ******************************************************************
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189 ATTENTION ALL USERS:
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190 As of 3/19/86, Backwater Message System is going down for good. The
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191 reasons for this are many, but the most prominant one is the number
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192 of people that have ben abusing this system lately. I originally
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193 set this system for messages, open debate, and, occasionally,
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194 stories. There has been no debate for months, the twits are running
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195 rampant, and, finally, Mr. John Silverman has apparently
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196 appropriated this system for his own use. Rather than continue to
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197 endure this abuse, I am disconnecting the system. I apologize to
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198 all the old time users for this sudden decision, but I think it
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199 will be the right one in the long run. I have especially enjoyed
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200 running this system the last several years and hope to one day set
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201 up a new one incorperating a password system that will better allow
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202 me to control the twits. Thank you all for your support and I hope
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203 to see some of you on the Blue Parrot and Le Nerd in the future.
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204 ***********************************************************************
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205 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\NDG\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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206 I KNEW IT! ALL SILVERMAN'S FAULT!
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207 NOM DE GUERRE
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208 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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209 **************************************************************************
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210 Orson Wells this guy ain't. Normally I would just remove the offending entry
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211 and ignore it, But for some reason this time I decided to let it go with
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212 these surrounding comments. As Piper below states, the guy didn7t even
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213 capture my style. It's a shame that he can't use the creative powers that
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214 are evident in generating the above towards something positive instead of
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215 attacking and attempting to destroy others. I feel sorry for him that he
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216 feels he must use such means to gain attention and be noticed. You do have
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217 ability, why not use it to create something that will make you feel good
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218 about yourself? You have the ability, use it. Do something positive. You are
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219 wasting your talents with this destructive type of action.
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220 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY *********************************
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221 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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222 RE: message above (if it's gone, I'm not surprised.)
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223 -- You did not capture Cistop Mikey's style or substance. When attempting to
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224 counterfeit another's writing, you should pay more attention to the substance
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225 and tone of their writing. Then (if you are ESPECIALLY good, and you aren't)
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226 you might be able to slip one over on watchers. It's unfortunate that there
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227 are those with so little intellectual resource that they must resort to
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228 attempts at literary vandalism. Of course, it's much easier to destroy than
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229 to create, and MUCH less satisfying.
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230 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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231 The piper listened to the strange, four-armed blue creature for a few moments.
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232 Milchar stirred, turned over, then went back to sleep.
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233 "I'm interested, but it's not my decision," he said. "I can't survive in
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234 this atmosphere. If Bard hadn't rescued me, I'd have died painfully."
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235 The piper shifted, causing a chain reaction of shifts and adjustments among
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236 those sharing the limited space.
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237 "The innkeeper," he continued, "Seems to have some sort of spell that allows
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238 him to function -- whether or not it will continue to work, I don't know.
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239 Milchar may have something on one of his 3x5 cards, but he seems to need to
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240 sleep for a while. I don't know if Cragmore's psi powers will let him visit
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241 comfortably in a poisonous atmosphere, and I don't know how long the bard's
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242 atmosphere suit s
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243 is good for." (change that "s<CR>" to "is" at front of line. Drat E.O.)
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244 The piper looked about at the small company. The increased odor of burned
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245 rosin with definite overtones of eau d'Allen Bradley was very definite in
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246 the enclosed vehicle.
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247 "Bard," the piper said worriedly, "Have you been experimenting in here?
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248 If not, we may be in trouble."
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249 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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250
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251 ________________________________
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252 _ Westmoreland _ _
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253 _ Deductive reasoning, Bah! _
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254 ________________________________
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255
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256 #########################################################################
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257 Bard was busy helping the Innkeeper up off the floor where he had been
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258 sitting trying to adjust to the oxigen again. Using a towel to wipe the
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259 yellow slime that had run down his chin and stained his shirt, he tried to
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260 make himself presentable.
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261 I didn7t hear Piper's warning either, but it did not go unnoticed.
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262 Not knowing what it ment, or even what I was saying, the voice inside
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263 my head took over. -"Bard! The transdemensional stablizer! It's arcing
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264 over! Quick! shut it down before we end up who knows where!"-
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265 At that outburst, the occupants who knew the Innkeeeper looked on
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266 in stunded silence. What did a medieval innkeeper know of transdimensional
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267 stablizers, or that it was deteriorating at this very moment?! The Innkeeper
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268 himself was even stunned at his outburst.
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269 Meanwhile, the air in the room quickly began to glow a shimerin
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270 bluish green as the stablizer aproached the break down point. The smell of
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271 ozone and burnt components filled the small space.
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272 Again the voice inside took over. -"There's too many people in here,
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273 it can't compensate, it's overloaded."- As I reached out towards the
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274 failsafe switch on the control panel, the emergency statis feild switched
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275 on and frozen everyone in position. The high pitched screaching noise of the
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276 overloaded stablizer and the added low pitch hum of the statis field drowned
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277 out the sound of the noise of the automatics attempting to handle th
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278 overload. The transport began to vibrate and rock as the stablizer began to
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279 fail. Would the auto return systems take effect before teh failure was
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280 complete? Did this vehicle even HAVE an autoreturn circuit built into it?
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281 Of course I had no idea what any of this ment. All I knew was that I had the
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282 biggest headache I had ever had since my last drinking binge 20 years ago.
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283 And still my hand tried to reach to the cutoff switch. What was going to
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284 happen? At least my friends were here this time.
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285 ############################## The Innkeeper ##############################
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286 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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287 What? No gerbils in this fiction?
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288 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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289 300
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290
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291
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292
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293
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294 is this leaving a message? I am not sure. Anyway, this is the first time
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295 I have used this system and it probably should be converted to a more
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296 APPROPRIATE USE
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297 ?
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298 Probably.
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299 .............lurk..........lurk............lurk.........Entropy.....
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300 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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301
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302 I can't help wondering if Mr. duh Guerre has a hand in all this
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303 tomfoolery. Rumor has it that he really can use lower case.
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304
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305 Maricia
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306 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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307 \\\\\\\\\\\\What? No applause now that I'm leaving?\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\marker\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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308
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309 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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310 The Former placed a paw on the tough outer fabric. The fabric had grown
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311 over itself and that qualified it as a plant. The chalky white fabric denied
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312 the leafy green association he had with plants though.
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313 In the folds of the fabric was a round opening. It was secure and kept the
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314 fabric from closing in around it. Trusting the immense mushrooms to be at
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315 least consistant, the Former squirreled through the opening and fell to the
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316 floor below.
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317 It too was of the mushroom fabric, though several char marks were on the
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318 walls, evidence of previous experiments. Electronics were set on the walls and
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319 from the chars on the walls, they had often exploded on the walls too.
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320 A few cabinets among the machinery held the scant personal effects. A few
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321 gloves, about three pair, none with fingers, some twine and pointy implements,
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322 and a selection of knobs. This was the home of an tinkerer indeed.
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323 Around a corner or two, where mushrooms grew over one another, was the
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324 culprit teleporter. A long metal cylinder rested above a thick cable of wires
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325 in every color. The wires ended at a console. Six panels were on the console
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326 and it appeared, strangely enough, as if all the panels needed to be operated
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327 in synchronicity. Strange.
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328 The Former found a bubble in the fabric of these, mushrooms. Climbing it
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329 as quickly as he dared, without ripping the fabric, he peered into the long
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330 cylinder. It was a tube, open at either end. In the shades of different
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331 lights though, it seemed as if-
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332 The people gone to investigate the disappearences were appearing and
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333 disappearing in the tube! One second brought a phantom of the Innkeeper,
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334 another brought the Piper, and the others too! The phantoms were lighter and
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335 lighter at every moment, though.
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336 Assuming this might be fatal, the Former leapt down to the floor. He
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337 dashed to the console and inspected the equipment. Indeed, each panel needed
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338 to be set and ordered simultaneously. If they panels had been left set for
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339 a certain coordinate, perhaps a single panel could get the whole set of them
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340 into the chamber at once.
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341 The only panel of any urgent demeanor was the center one, with bleeps
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342 and whirs at every glance. There was a row of buttons. The Former depressed
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343 them one by one. As one was set down, the others rose, and he had no idea
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344 what he was selecting.
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345 Then he looked up to see the phantoms out of the tube. They were arranging
|
||
346 themselves and preparing to finish teleportation. The console seemed to be
|
||
347 operating itself. The gamble of letting the console alone had worked. The
|
||
348 phantoms were solidifying, and they were distinguishable.
|
||
349 They would need air though. He set his atmospheric generator to the
|
||
350 most industrios setting and cordoned off the room. The air itself filled the
|
||
351 room as the phantoms did the same.
|
||
352 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
|
||
353
|
||
354 At Piper's call Bard started to turn towards the controls. When he
|
||
355 heard a voice call out something abou the stabilizer he realized that he
|
||
356 was heading in the wrong direction.
|
||
357 He turned back towards the rear of the conveyer just as the crash
|
||
358 field came on. As he waited for the inevitable he cursed the man who'd
|
||
359 designed this "safety" feature. The conveyor was going somewhere, but
|
||
360 where?
|
||
361 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
362 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
||
363 Peaceful, untroubled sleep.
|
||
364 Then a feeling of discord, drifting free- like free fall in one gee.
|
||
365 Milchar snapped awake again, and despaired of ever getting the sleep he
|
||
366 desperately needed.
|
||
367 A mixture of ozone and burnt *something* scented the air which already had
|
||
368 little bits of clorine in it. The air purification systems of Bard's craft
|
||
369 (Milchar had been shown such things on the Doctor's TARDIS, long ago) whined
|
||
370 at an ever-increasing pitch in its battle against the fumes.
|
||
371 NNot much mental energy was required to see that something was wrong.
|
||
372 The mage tried to rise-
|
||
373 And failed, as a force clamped down upon them all. A stasis field, said a
|
||
374 stray thought, of Milchar's; a modern equivalent of a straightjacket, said the
|
||
375 rest of his mind. The sensation was worse than the dampening field. For
|
||
376 several eternal seconds, Milchar and what remained of his energy reserve were
|
||
377 trapped in a very tiny shell.
|
||
378 Imagine to be sighted one moment and blinded the next!
|
||
379 It is no wonder, then, that Milchar felt relief when finally the field was
|
||
380 gone...
|
||
381 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++ 16 Mar 86 at 11:16pm ++++++++
|
||
382 +++ch/mistakes/no mistakes/. gotta sleep, finals tomorrow at 7:30.++++++Milch
|
||
383 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPiSpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi
|
||
384
|
||
385 When the body rebels against external stimulus, the mind takes over,
|
||
386 filling in the needed stimulus, providing the organism with its necessary
|
||
387 operation, and continuing to afford the human what ever else it demands
|
||
388 for existence.
|
||
389 Into this self-conscious mode Cragmore went. The crowded ship made him
|
||
390 very uncomfortable. The air made him nauseous. And worst of all, the
|
||
391 appearance of the alien brought a pain to Cragmore's head like nothing he
|
||
392 had ever felt before.
|
||
393 Some people consider psi a gift. Some people don't know what it's like
|
||
394 to have that third eye under siege. The alien made the hair on Cragmore's
|
||
395 neck stand on end. He felt as though someone were scratching a giant
|
||
396 metal glove over a vast chalk board, and piping the resulting sound
|
||
397 directly into his brain. Cragmore had met many different life forms in
|
||
398 his travels across the cosmos, but never, ever had he felt such tortuous
|
||
399 pain.
|
||
400 Confusion was Cragmore's first feeling. He could not understand what
|
||
401 the alien could have to do with these waves of psi-anguish he was enduring.
|
||
402 Necessity soon moved him on from confusion to the need for confronting the
|
||
403 problem. He could not stand the torment much longer, but he couldn't leave
|
||
404 the ship before the condition of the Innkeeper, piper, and the rest of
|
||
405 his friends was more secure. He had to somehow contact the alien, on the
|
||
406 psi plateau, and attempt to find some sort of resolution.
|
||
407 Cragmore sat down at the foot of piper's couch, made himself as
|
||
408 confortable as possible, gritted his teeth, and set his mind in motion.
|
||
409 Initially the screech in his open mind was almost too excruciating to
|
||
410 continue, but continue he did. He could not stop. It was too late to
|
||
411 go back.
|
||
412 Outward his mind flowed. Throngs of mental pain continued to shoot
|
||
413 through Cragmore's mind, but the will to make contact over-rode the body's
|
||
414 pleas to stop.
|
||
415 #...me? Can you hear me? Do you... Do you understand me? Uh... Please
|
||
416 listen. I... uh... must get... through to you.... #
|
||
417 Bard's ship shuddered due to causes beyond Cragmore's sphere of
|
||
418 knowledge, and in the same moment, Cragmore's body shuddered, and in the
|
||
419 next moment, the mind-flow stopped. Cragmore had fainted.
|
||
420
|
||
421 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi CRAGMORE PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsI
|
||
422
|
||
423 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
424 More appropriate use? Unfortunatly, a DiskWriter is far too light to make
|
||
425 an efficient boat anchor, and isn't readily combustiable, and thus can't be
|
||
426 used to start a fire in a fireplace [unlike the archives, which are readily
|
||
427 combustible, and burn with such pretty colors! The same of the free person-
|
||
428 lity tests the Scientologists offer... excelent kindling!] I, for example,
|
||
429 have yet to even turn mine on, so BW is certainly better than any of the
|
||
430 other potential uses...
|
||
431 And by the way, Milch, free fall in 1 "gee" [sic] feels the same as free
|
||
432 fall in ANY gravitational field, and in an Einsteinian universe, is un-
|
||
433 distinguishable from a non-accelerating frame outside of any gravitational
|
||
434 influence...
|
||
435 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
436 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
437 ______________________________JD 2446507.3524______________________________
|
||
438
|
||
439 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (the time but not the place)
|
||
440 A long time ago there was a person that picked up a telephone and dialed
|
||
441 an odd looking number. The terminal replied "CONNECTED" and a fresh, new
|
||
442 horizon had been opened up to him. He had stumbled upon the Inn at its best.
|
||
443 There were a couragous band of characters dealing with what I believe were
|
||
444 the blue devils in the Ruby Valley. It suprised me to find that when one
|
||
445 person left off a Different one carried on. Aside from that, there were some
|
||
446 marvelous souls left behind at the Inn -- discussing a wide variety of topics.
|
||
447 The person that dialed the odd looking number caught a bit of the fever of
|
||
448 what it might be like to actually write something that wasn't an assignment,
|
||
449 but rather a personal project. He even went so far as to start something.
|
||
450 When he started BW was haveing a great time, but this wasn't his place to do
|
||
451 his writing. He wrote anyway.
|
||
452 Now the time is right to continue, but it isn't the same place anymore.
|
||
453 This is not the same benevolent system where the young Master West took his
|
||
454 first steps.
|
||
455 I thought it would be exciting to be back. Instead I just stand in the
|
||
456 shade, unrecognized, scarcely remembered.
|
||
457 What's the old saying? "The show must go on"?
|
||
458
|
||
459 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian (76:13)
|
||
460
|
||
461 <><><>: When will this 'system' *really* come to BE? We all remember UNICOM
|
||
462 all too well. It was a great system, an even greater promise, and one big fat
|
||
463 disappointment. I hope these new promises carry more weight than the last.
|
||
464 Else all further communications of that sort will carry as much weight around
|
||
465 here as a body in the middle of L5.
|
||
466 Mr. Tricorder.
|
||
467 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
468 :::::=====:::::=====
|
||
469 Straxi had been resting and telling the aliens about xhis homeworld. Then
|
||
470 , suddenly, and without warning, he felt someone trying to mentally contactt
|
||
471 him.
|
||
472 The voice was vague, and almost like a whisper. It sounded as if the
|
||
473 sender was experiencing terrible pain, and with each labored word, the voice
|
||
474 continued to fade into nothingness.
|
||
475 "I.>.. I must get through to you." Then txehe voice fell silent, and an
|
||
476 alien fell. Some of the aliens cried "CRAGMORE!" and rushed to their fallen
|
||
477 friend. Straxi looked on in confusion, waiting to`see what the aliens did.
|
||
478 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr:==:=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==
|
||
479 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
480 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
||
481 Aaron: I, in my typical lack of attention to detail, forgot about that little
|
||
482 piece of elementary physics. Really, though, my intent was to have that line
|
||
483 rhyme.
|
||
484 The system you have been describing sounds very attractive... I also would
|
||
485 like to know when/if/where/ it will be running.
|
||
486 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++ 17 Mar 86 at 9:58pm ++++++++++
|
||
487 -------------------nothing original here-----------------
|
||
488 Mike: I have a user application on my system (Skeeve) requesting the login
|
||
489 of 'mikey'. Knowing that you are sometimes known as 'CISTOP Mikey', I would
|
||
490 like to give you the 'first right of refusal'. I will check in here, or you
|
||
491 can leave a message on Le Nerd (#17), or you can even apply on skeeve.
|
||
492
|
||
493 We now return to regularly un-scheduled programming -- sorry for the i
|
||
494 interruption...
|
||
495 -------------------nothing original here (this message, that is)-----------
|
||
496 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
497 Milch: Physics often takes a back seat to art. Ask Escher. As for
|
||
498 Smorgasbord, it will be up briefly later this week, and then up for an
|
||
499 extended test through most of the following two weeks. Unfortunatly, the
|
||
500 computer Smorgasbord runs on isn't mine, and if I decide to continue the
|
||
501 project, I will have to find a host for it. If you are interested in an
|
||
502 early demo, leave me a note and we will set up a time for you to call in, an
|
||
503 offer which is open to the other BW users as well. The public mail system
|
||
504 dosen't seem to want to release public messages, and the nets are plagued
|
||
505 with concurency problems, but as a whole the system is reasonably functional
|
||
506 and robust. Our standard procedure for new users is to let them call in on
|
||
507 a 'monitored' line, so that we can see what they have on their screen, and
|
||
508 guide them by voice while they are exploring. Helps, obviously, if the user
|
||
509 has two phone lines so that they can explore and ask questions without
|
||
510 logging off. Not really much of a problem, as you can drop carrier (either
|
||
511 intentionally, or accidentally) and the system saves your exact context for
|
||
512 you to continue EXACTLY (were talking to the character, here folks...) where
|
||
513 you left off prior to the abnormal disconnect. Needless to say, we scrounged
|
||
514 most of our functions from the resident OS...
|
||
515 Mr. Tricorder: Smorgasbord is not a "promise". It is a private system,
|
||
516 set up purely for the purpose of testing the feasability of such a project.
|
||
517 I make no promises as to it's future availiability, only suggest that if a
|
||
518 significant user base develops, I will consider maintaining the system as
|
||
519 a publicly-accessable BBS. And by the way, Mr. Tricorder, even if L-5 wasn't
|
||
520 in it's peculiar orbital perspective and gravitational state, A BODY IN THE
|
||
521 MIDDLE OF IT WOULDN'T CARRY WEIGHT "AROUND HERE", EITHER. I knew someone was
|
||
522 going to get nasty about it...
|
||
523 Aaron
|
||
524 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
525 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (disclaimer)
|
||
526 Aaron: You may have noticed that there is some one here that pays little heed
|
||
527 to the fact that a border is almost a religious possession. I just thought
|
||
528 I'd take this time (and these lines) to tell you that I am not Mr. Tri-.
|
||
529 I, as do many other I would imagine, look forward to the Smorgasbord (sp).
|
||
530 Seeing that word almost gave me the impresion I saw the name Sondargard.....
|
||
531 Nah, couldn't be. (oops, ch /dargard/dargaard/) Every one knows he doesn't
|
||
532 really exist anymore. Right?
|
||
533 [Typos here are only co-existant figments of our imaginations. Enjoy.]
|
||
534
|
||
535 Oh, and before I forget... I found a neat scrap of paper at work today... It
|
||
536 was even signed. I don't suppose you would now that such notes have a habit
|
||
537 of giving me a raise in blood pressure. Heck, I even enjoy bouncing off the
|
||
538 walls like that. (another one, ch / now that / know that /) Next time you
|
||
539 make a suprise appearance, weeknights would do just fine. I know, not quite
|
||
540 practical, yet.....
|
||
541
|
||
542 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian (77:03)
|
||
543
|
||
544 ***************************************************************************
|
||
545
|
||
546 *********************************************************NDS*******************
|
||
547 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\NDG\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
548 INTERESTING PICTURE ABOVE. HEY, I JUST GOT A GREAT IDEA. EVERYBODY WHO
|
||
549 AGREES WITH ME AND THINKS SILVERMAN SHOULD GET HIS BUTT OFF THE BOARDS
|
||
550 SHOULD SEND ME A MESSAGE SAYING SO. AND EVERYBODY WHO THINKS HE'S THE GREATEST
|
||
551 THING SINCE SLICED S##T SHOULD ALSO SEND ME A MESSAGE SAYING SO. I AM TAKING
|
||
552 A SURVEY. IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE SILVERMAN OUTNUMBER THE PEOPL WHO DON'T, I
|
||
553 WILL SHUT UP FOREVER AND YOU WILL NEVER HEAR FROM ME AGAIN. BUT IF MORE
|
||
554 PEOPLE DON'T LIKE HIM, THEN WE CAN BOMBARD HIM WITH MESSAGES ON EVERY BOARD
|
||
555 HE TALKS ON. MAYBE THAT MIGHT WORK.
|
||
556 THE PLACE TO SEND MESSAGES IS:
|
||
557 THE BLUE PARROT,
|
||
558 USER #155
|
||
559 NAME: NOM DE GUERRE
|
||
560 I'LL BE AWAITING YOUR RESPONSES.
|
||
561 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\NDG\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\NDG\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
562 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
563 Zephyr -- please note that we're now in a stasis field, unable to move.
|
||
564 We also seem to have another person coming in. It looks like the tour of
|
||
565 the chlorine world is indefinitely postponed. How does the alien feel about
|
||
566 an involuntary off-world trip? You've established a generally peaceful
|
||
567 character who seems to be a stay-at-home. I have a feeling that (s)he is
|
||
568 in for a surprise....
|
||
569 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
570 The piper was confused by the action his caution called. Almost at the
|
||
571 same moment, Cragmore moaned and began to slump, held up by the pressure
|
||
572 of bodies in the crowded interior of the bard's vehicle. Bard began to turn
|
||
573 to the control panel, and at the same time the innkeeper was reaching for
|
||
574 the controls.
|
||
575 The piper wondered vaguely what the innkeeper intended, as everyone in
|
||
576 the vehicle was suddenly frozen in place. The glow of other realities
|
||
577 filled the vehicle, the scream of tortured machinery was drowned out in a
|
||
578 pervasive hum, and through the windows the surrounding world seemed to
|
||
579 lurch and shift. Out of the corner of his eye the piper caught a glimpse
|
||
580 of a small figure, seen as through the wrong end of a telescope, moving
|
||
581 about what seemed to be control panels. He tried to turn, but found himself
|
||
582 caught, prevented from moving by the velvet trap of the stasis field.
|
||
583 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
584 ))))))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))(((((((
|
||
585 NDG: In case you haven't noticed, Silverman has been conspicuously silent on
|
||
586 this disk. Perhaps you have already won. NOW WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP?!?!?!!
|
||
587 ))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))).606)))))))))))))))))(())
|
||
588
|
||
>___________>__________>_________>________>_______>______>_____>____>___>__>
|
||
|
||
589 Hello Aaron,
|
||
|
||
590 And welcome back (I know it's a bit belated, but the feeling is still
|
||
591 there).
|
||
|
||
592 That sounds like quite a system you have.... planned? (In the works,
|
||
593 already running, fill in the blank.... sorry, I'm working from memory here,
|
||
594 and my brain's RAM is a little TOO random at times.) What's the hardware
|
||
595 you're going to be using for that beast? It must be rather extensive.... no
|
||
596 C-64 apparently. And is it going to be designated for a specific use, or is
|
||
597 the use to be defined by the users (a dangerous proposition to say the
|
||
598 least. Just look at Nom de Guano).
|
||
|
||
599 On the same note, what has brought you back to these parts? I had
|
||
600 begun to think that you had forever joined the ranks of the modemless.... or
|
||
601 had at least become extremely selective about your modem use. Slumming?
|
||
602 Or, (say it softly, quietly ...) did you actually.... miss us? Nah,
|
||
603 couldn't be, you college boys have much better things to do with your time,
|
||
604 right? (Don't mind me, I'm just jealous about your opportunities for higher
|
||
605 education.)
|
||
|
||
606 Oh yes.... certainly the archives rank a bit higher than Scientologist
|
||
607 literature. I would hope so anyway. They are, after all, admitted and
|
||
608 honest fiction.
|
||
|
||
609 And don't be so nasty to the poor ol' Diskwriter than runs BW. She's
|
||
610 old, she's just a bit retarded, she's cranky, but she works hard and does
|
||
611 what she is supposed to do as well as she is able.... and has done it for a
|
||
612 long time without calling in sick. Most of humanity can't make that claim
|
||
613 (myself included).
|
||
|
||
614 Hmmmm..... some welcome, right? Here I am, berating you. Sorry about
|
||
615 that. I'd start again, but we're forever locked into Enter Only, and I
|
||
616 don't want to be accused of wasting space, so I guess I'll just let it stand
|
||
617 as is. I'm sure you won't mind (wishful thinking).
|
||
|
||
618 <___________<__________<Sue Donim<________<_______<______<_____<____<___<__<
|
||
|
||
|
||
619 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
620 Don't worry Sue, Aaron loves to get all the mail he can. So few people write
|
||
621 to him these days, it gets rather lonely (at the top?)
|
||
622 <>
|
||
623 Hello all, just thought I'd say hi cuz I'm like, a new user on this BBS...I guess it don't matter much though as this
|
||
624 system is going down....>sigh<
|
||
625 -DK-
|
||
626 +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
|
||
627
|
||
628 Sue Donim. Is she cousin to Miss Nomer?
|
||
629 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^***********************************
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629
|