615 lines
42 KiB
Plaintext
615 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: 28 DEC 84 ************************
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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 My very first time to call the Backwater Message System and the 'A' disk is
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21 empty. Can there be an omen in this? (After reading the help file I did make
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22 my way to the 'B' disk. VERY interesting) -----Melissa----
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23 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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24 Melissa -- You have, by your own admission, a fantastic case of beginners
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25 luck. At this point it is proper (as you are the first person to make an entry
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26 on a blank disk -- lines 1-188 don't count) to performe some type of celebretory
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27 action -- dance, sing, or otherwise celebrate the occasion.
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28 My dear, YOU'RE ON TOP!!
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29 In honor of this occasion, let's leave the piper and his friend hanging and
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30 have a slight pause to honor our new contributor at the top.
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31
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32 Thank you, one and all. Now let's see where Peg and the piper got to.
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33 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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34 The pegasus' coat was covered with lather and streaked with blood, some of
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35 it hers, some the piper's, and most belonging to the winged carnivore. Several
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36 more claw marks striped her heaving flanks with crimson slashes, and only
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37 the bent knees of her rider kept him astride her back. Her wings half-extended,
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38 she scanned the surroundings, but saw only a limp, black-striped tawny body
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39 twisting in the vagrant air currents. The evidences of the recent battle were
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40 all about, making the air most noisome and difficult to breathhe.
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41 Slowly her rider raised himself on her back and spoke.
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42 "Peg, we've got to get out of here. We need food, water, and most of all
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43 a chance to rest and heal."
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44 The pegasus tossed her head in agreement, adding to the coating of various
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45 fluids on her rider's naked chest. As she did so, the pipes she had been
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46 carrying rattled and bumped the piper's knee.
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47 "My pipes!" the piper excamed. "Peg, I never noticed, I was so glad to see
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48 you -- and then quite a bit too busy."
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49 Reaching forward, the piper slid the cord over the pegasus' head and removed
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50 his pipes from her neck. Checking them over and finding them intact, he
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51 placed the pipes under his arm, let the drones hang free (lack of gravity
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52 does pose a problem here), and grasped the chanter. A few lungfuls of air
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53 inflated the leather bag, and with a few trial runs on the scales, the piper
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54 began the piobreachd "The Desperate Battle." As he played the ground, or
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55 theme of the tune, the gold and black of the surrounding celestial sphere
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56 began to take on a shimmering, unreal hue, progressing as the tune progressed.
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57 Somewhere in the twists and turns of possible realities, one can find nearly
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58 any situation one might imagine. People go through lives of quiet desperation,
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59 noisy exultation, and most other variations that can occur. Persons live, die
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60 rot, or resurrect. They found religions, and logically disprove them, but a
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61 near universal human trait is a love of comfort. Different cultures have
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62 differing ideas of comfort, but many find proximity to a seaside soothing.
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63 Add to this a warm sunshine, a very light breeze, and a near blood-temperature
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64 warmth, and the sight of a young lady laying near a striped tent pitched on
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65 the seashore takes on a near-mythic quality. Even the ranks of heavily-armed
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66 guardsmen surrounding the area did little to dispell the feeling of languidity
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67 that hung over the beachfront scene -- soft and lazy as a summer afternoon.
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68 The young woman raised her head in puzzlement -- then shook her head.
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69 Her guardsmen shifted nervously, a strange quality was in the air. A deep
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70 straining in the fabric of reality seemed to manifest itself in a nearly
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71 inaudible sound that was coming "closer" every second. It was unexpected,
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72 but not surprising to the armed party that surrounded it, when the sound
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73 became audible from withing the gold and black striped beach tent. It was
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74 with no surprise that the young lady directed her guards to surround the tent,
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75 and only a slight arch of her lovely eyebrows indicated her amazement as
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76 the badly wounded and blood-stained pegasus, wings folded tightly to her body
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77 stepped out of the beach tent. Another slight quirk of her lips betrayed
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78 some knowlege of the rider, equally as damaged as his mount, naked to the waist,
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79 covered by blood and claw marks, kilt hiked high up his thighs, clutching his
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80 quaint instrument, still sporting a small cap with a feather at a jaunty angle.
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81 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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82
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83 Why do I visualize a Monty Python skit..
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84 And now.... "A Scottsman on a horse!"
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85 ------------------------------------------
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86 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
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87 "Stop that--it's getting too silly!!" - The Colonel
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88
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89 Let's see if I have this straight...the NET is looking for Joshua near
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90 the Dangerfield (?) Hotel, Farley (who isn't NET - an enemy?) was following
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91 someone, but lost them and went home for Christmas, Petrov is an enemy of
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92 the NET (where is he?), the Piper (the pipes have turned out to be bagpipes-
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93 I didn't know that before) has warped onto a lady's beach for some R&R, and
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94 the Inn has become unusually quiet. (Those disputing that last fact, please
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95 remember that I joined the Inn when it was composed of fantasy travellers,
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96 so the Bond-type stuff caught me off guard.) This is terribly confusing to
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97 some poor character in search of a story who is trying to fit it all into
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98 one coherent universe. I think I'll just give up on that and enjoy the stories
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99 for what they are -- great stories. If the Cistop ever needs any extra money
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100 (and he has the authors' permission) he could get rich publishing this stuff-
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101 in the great tradition of the THEIVE'S WORLD anthologies.
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102
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103 THAT REMINDS ME------
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104 For those of you that don't know yet, the 6th THEIVES WORLD
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105 book is out!! It's called WINGS OF OMEN, and our favorite
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106 bad guys battle the invaders. Good stuff!!!
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107 (Just repaying the guy that told me about Adams latest...)
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108
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109 Anyway,just keep on writing, and I hope to see a couple of you at the PorSFiS
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110 meeting tomorrow!! Look for the long orange scarf...
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111 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Luingil/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
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112
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113 Mikey: I don't suppose that it's practical to recover from the trashed sectors
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114 on DB? If it is caused by "old, worn-out" disks, then let me know & I'll bring
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115 you a few at the next PCS (not to be confused with PC&S!) social.
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116 ________________________________Leonard_______________________________________
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117 I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE FIX CONCERT THAT HAPPENED NOT TO LONG AGO WAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS. I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE GOOD MUSIC
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118 DIRECTOR
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119 to all great message I got a kick out of it
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120 signed,
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121 THE BAD BARON!
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122 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
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123 Theus:I just crashed my own damn BBS system. Your password may take a day or two longer. God, I hate Xenix!
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124 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/ ? ? > > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
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125
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126 =-------------------------------------=
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127 \ KNOCK-OUT DROPS /
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128 =-------------------------------------=
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129
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130 Cloral Hydrate
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131 (Knock-out Drops)
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132
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133 Chemicals: Equiptment:
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134 Bleach Distilling Set (see below)
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135 Sani-Flush Clorine Bottle
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136 Ethyl Alcohol Glass Tubing
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137 Sulfuric Acid Rubber Tubing
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138 Calcium Oxide Aquarium Aerator
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139 Basting Syringe
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140 Cooking Thermometer
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141 600 ml Beaker
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142 Water Glass
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143
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144 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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145
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146 ______ _______
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147 / \_/ \___
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148 _/ ||| \ Bucket of ice water
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149 | | ||| _____\ _____ |
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150 /--|_| / | \ | \ | ____________/
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151 / / o \ | \ |
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152 Bleach |_____| |________\___| To outside
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153 & \ _________ /
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154 Saniflush | \__/
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155 600 ml | |
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156 w/ aerator |__| __Collection
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157 Glass
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158
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159 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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160
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161 A piece of glass is fitted into the bottom of the stopper for the
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162 flask. To that is placed an eight-inch length of rubber tubing and at
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163 the end of this is the aerator. Two more pieces of glass is put in the
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164 top of the stopper.
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165
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166 First, you will need pure alcohol so buy some 100 proof vodka and
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167 distill it until you have about 12 oz.
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168
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169 Put the alcohol in the flask.Put about two inches of bleach and a
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170 teaspoon of Sani-Flush in the chlorine bottle. This will generate the
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171 clorine gas that you will need. Start the clorine through the alcohol
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172 while the flask is still cold. Watch it carefully to see when the
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173 alcohol stops absorbing the clorine. Then light a alcohol lamp and
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174 place it under the 600 ml flask. Keep the flame low until the alcohol
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175 stops absorbing again. Raise the flame and repeat. Continue this untill
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176 the alcohol is boiling. Some of the alcohol will distill off into the
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177 collection bottle. Several times during the process, pour this back
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178 into the 600 ml beaker.
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179
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180 When the alcohol is totally chlorinated the flask is poured into a
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181 porcelain dish and allowed to cool. If you have done this right the
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182 cooled product should be a crystaline mass of unrefined Cloral Hydrate.
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183
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184 Now, pour strong sulfuric acid, three times the volume of the
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185 Cloral Hydrate, into the pan. Place this pan on your stove over gentle
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186 heat. When the cloral hydrate is melted, it and the sulfuric acid are
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187 stirred throughly pour this into the flask and heat again. But this
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188 time use the thermometer and don't let it get over 200 F.
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189
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190 As the mixture heats up, the still impure cloral hydrate will rise
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191 to the surface. When it stops rising, use the basting syringe and draw
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192 the top off of the sulfuric acid. Repeat this until the pan is empty.
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193
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194 Put the cloral hydrate (you drew it off in the last step) into the
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195 beaker and heat at about 190 F. for 20 minutes. This will get rid of
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196 any alcohol or acid still in it. Pour this back into the flask and add
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197 an equal amount of sulfuric acid. Swirl this around to mix it.
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198
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199 Once again you must distill the mixture. But this time it is easy
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200 since the cloral hydrate will boil at 210 F and the sulfuric acid boils
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201 at 722 F. When finished pour out the acid, then wash and dry the flask.
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202 Now, put the powered Calcium Oxide, equal in volume to the cloral
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203 hydrate into the flask, add the cloral hydrate and distill again. Stop
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204 as soon as the surface of the oxide is dry.
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205
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206
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207 To use, add one part water to two parts { by volume } of the
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208 finished product. The dose is 1/28th of an oz ( 1 gram ). The best way
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209 to use this is to put it into a mixed drink, because it has a bitter
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210 taste. In about 15 minutes, whoever you gave it to is out for the
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211 night.
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212
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213 -Aleister Crowley-
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214 I A O
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215
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216 De Sacrificio Summo
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217
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218 Deinde silentium frangat sacerdos cum verbis versiculi sancti dei
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219 particularitur invocandi.
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220
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221 Ineat ad Sanctum Sanctorum.
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222
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223 Caveat; caveat; caveat.
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224
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225 Duo qui UNUS sine intermissione verba versiculi sancti alta voce
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226 cantent.
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227
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228 What is this system anyway I found it in LINK UP MAG
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229 maybe they are in error?
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230
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231 <<:*********************************************************:>>
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232
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233 We were not aware that the NET was such an arrogantly
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234 elitist group. The McKane organization will no longer
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235 be taking part in further NET adventures. We are a purely
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236 democratic group and do not participate in puffery or
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237 snobbery.
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238
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239 LeRoy McKane
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240 McKane Enterprises
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241
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242 <<:*********************************************************:>>
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243 Leroy - Picky, picky, picky.
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244 To: person asking above about LINK UP, no, they were right, as
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245 they said, it is a bit different then the rest.
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246
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247
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248 ###########################################################################
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249 The Innkeeper sat slumped on an old broken crate in back of the Inn.
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250 A small pile of pebbles lay at his side. Heavy dark clouds lay close about
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251 the Inn, but the Innkeeper was totally oblivious to the drizel being
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252 omitted by them. The rain had turned the dirt floored court into a maze of
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253 mud puddles and muck. Nearby, one of the puddles exploded with a plop as
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254 the Innkeeper tossed a pebble into it. He watched the waves rush back and
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255 forth within its narrowly defined borders, erasing and recreating its small
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256 mud beaches. Slowly the waves subsided until once again it was quiet save
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257 for the small ripples of the pattering rain... Once again the puddle
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258 explodes as yet another pebble joins its brother in that wet embrace, and
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259 again the puddles tiny world is shattered by this intruder.
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260 The Innkeeper sometimes came here to get away from the noise of the
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261 Inn and the pressing crowd. He could still hear the muffled echos of the
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262 patrons shouts and gufaws. Instead of enjoying the revelry within, he was
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263 saddened and morose, for one voice was missing in the din. His barmaid and
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264 friend Pam was nowhere to be found. These disappearances had been getting
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265 more frequent and longer as the year progressed, until now he felt himself
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266 lucky to even hear of her presence second hand. And to have her even
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267 notice him anymore, why... It was hard to even imagine that anymore.
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268 Ah, Pam what has happened to diminish your interest in the Inn? Is it
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269 me, are my demands too strong for you to deal with? Has the enchantment of
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270 the Inn deteriorated so much? Once you had been so cheerful, hardly being
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271 able to wait for the next work shift so that you could once more immerse
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272 yourself in the joys of the Inn. But, now, the cheerfulness and vigor are
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273 gone, and instead when you do appear, it is as if with a forced smile and a
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274 false mask of joy. It is as if it were no longer a thing of love but
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275 rather a duty one forces upon themself even though they would rather be
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276 doing something else.
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277 I know I can be quarrelious at times, and the Inn's patrons can be a
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278 bit obnoxious, but surely this has not been enough to dim your joyous
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279 spirit. Ach, it hurts to see a friend drift away, to loose interest in
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280 enjoyments once shared. No longer laughing, no longer gleefully makeing
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281 the rounds of the Inn, checking up on the well being of the furniture and
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282 the patrons themselves. No longer do I see that joyous bounce in your step
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283 as you move to clean a table left by an overly imbibed customer. Instead
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284 it is replaced with a downcast mood of weariness, as if you would rather be
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285 elsewhere, but forced yourself to the task after being unable to find even
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286 a meager excuse to avoid your self imposed duty.
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287 Dear friend, is there something I can do (or not do) to change this?
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288 Hopefully to reverse it? But perhaps I ask too much. Your interests
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289 have probably moved on to other and better things, and I certainly have no
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290 right to ask you to revert to older ways. You certainly have much better
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291 things to do then waste your time in this broken down hovel. It is only
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292 that it hurts to see a friend drift away.
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293
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294 Change, the one thing that cannot be stopped. Sometimes it moves in
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295 the direction you would like, and other times it doesn't... Having
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296 rehersed his speech, the Innkeeper went over it again, seeing it was a bit
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297 rough around the edges, but he knew it was the best he could do for now.
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298 The only problem was when would he see Pam again to present it to her? He
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299 never knew when she might appear again, or for that matter if she would at
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300 all anymore. Heaving a sigh, the Innkeeper slumped against the rear wall
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301 of the Inn and watched the rain attempting to turn the rear court of the
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302 Inn to a muddy swamp. In the distance the mornful cry of a wolf could be
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303 heard, echoing across the court its distaste for the sodden weather.
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304
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305 The Innkeeper threw the remaining stones into the puddle causing a
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306 cascade of water to fly in all directions, leaving a puddle only half its
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307 original size with a new island of rock in the middle. Getting up off of
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308 the old crate, he slogged back in the rear door of the Inn not even
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309 bothering to clean his shoes of the clinging clay. The rear door closed
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310 quietly leaving the puddle in peace once more, and the dark clouds worked
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311 earnestly to once more fill it to its old size.
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312 ########################### The Innkeeper #################################
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313
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314 *******************************************************************
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315 GAD! I've been trying to call in all day and only now just got
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316 through. Maybe that's why Pam hasn't called? As it was, I only
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317 got though because I was finaly able to put my modem on autodial
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318 and had it camp on the line until it could get through. (It's
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319 after 5PM) Off hand, I'd say the Inn is getting just a bit busy
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320 ********************* CISTOP MIKEY ********************************
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321 P.S. Anybody want a simply marvelous christmas cold? I'll be most
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322 happy to give it to anyone that wants it. <cough> <hack> <wheez>
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323 *******************************************************************
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324 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>:>:
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325 From Prometheus, and Zippy; Irked
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326 Twits in general again, but this time it isn't only the modem for Christmas variety either. No! We have the dubious
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327 distinction of being listed in what sounds to me to be a small twit magazine called Link Up.
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328 Perhaps I am being to hard on them, maybe this Link Up is actually a nice magazine. Maybe the recipe for "Knock out"
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329 drops was only for medicinal purposes, but I doubt it.
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330 However, one particularly annoying bit of text (Quote unquote) was from a Slashman and or Slashman Junior. Need more
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331 be said...?
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332
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333 These are my personal opinions, I have not asked Zippy who is sitting right here, what he thinks. But from the groans
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334 and death threats, I assume he agrees.
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335
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336 Assorted messages follow...
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337 Man in Gray; My, Iit a small problem here. When will she be up again, I know about the Contamination Shielding at the
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338 Center, so when will it really be up for testing? I am clearing a place in my shelf for the advanced information doc's
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339 from the Supplier.
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340
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341 Sondargaard; I see you followed through on the Lovelace Relation. Should I call you Dex, or Chuck?
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342
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343 kathy; PorSFiS is this Saturday, I hope you will attend for I have my nice set with me now. And I have a question to
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344 ask about Kendall136...
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345 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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346 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-;-+
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347 MiG,
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348 THIS IS FROM THE NEW SERIAL pORT >>ITS WORKING .... SORT'AA
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349 CDP
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350 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
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351
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352 Mr. Mckane: Some members of the NET want it to be a closed corporation,
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353 others want to open it to anything that crawls in off the street. I
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354 Ppersonally, would prefer that people who want to be on OUR side at
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355 would at least check to make sure that they aren't tromping all over
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356 someone's carefully planned plot.
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357 We have had too many instances of this sort of thing. Now,
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358 mind you, I tend to rather EXPECT this from the opposition. But from
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359 our FRIENDS?
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360 This is why we are attempting to get some sort of handle on the
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361 situation. I am *FAR* more tolerant of this sort of thing than my
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362 colleagues. This is one of the items on the agenda for our meeting
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363 tomorrow.
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364 One final note, while we try to interfere with you as a matter
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365 of course, (and vice-versa) WE do not try to dictate internal policy to
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366 you. (and at least WE have better taste than to employ PETROV!)
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367 Ian MacHinery
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368 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
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369 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$#
|
||
370 Ian: Certainly doing your homework now, aren't you? Alas, as I have said, I must work tomorrow. Must help the boss
|
||
371 get the bills out. I don't frequent any BBS's other than dear BW anymore, but just tell me which one to use and I'll
|
||
372 oblige (CBBS/PCS, private?).
|
||
373 #$##$##$##$##$#
|
||
374 I made the dinner a quick one. My mother was very unhappy I had to go, but understood. I could barely contain myself
|
||
375 as I quickly strode out to Fred.
|
||
376 "Here it is, Fred. Work on it." I hoped I could get results, soon.
|
||
377 "Scanning pages... code read. Decipherment process begun. Who did you get this from, Farley?", Fred asked.
|
||
378 "I, er, ah, well...got it from Santa. Don't worry about the details. I'm beginning to think I'm going slowly nuts."
|
||
379 "First code: deciphered. The last entry tells that NET is planning to change their code, that there are too many
|
||
380 leaks. I have not deciphered subsequent blocks of code."
|
||
381 "What are the words, exactly?"
|
||
382 "They're not important. The rest of it just says 'This is my last entry in the old code.'"
|
||
383 "Well, any references to places in the rest of the text you've deciphered?"
|
||
384 "Yes... But I think I've made an error. Either that, or Joshua did. A group of letters here and there translate to
|
||
385 'PORSFIS'. Meaningless garbage."
|
||
386 "PORSFIS? Stop on the rest of the translation for a moment. Scan data files in the City of Portland offices for
|
||
387 PORSFIS. Maybe it's something local."
|
||
388 "Wait, you're right. Portland Science Fiction Society. PorSFiS. They're having a meeting on the 29th. Tomorrow."
|
||
389 "Let's get there. Where is it? I want to have the room they meet in bugged. We'll wait a few blocks away."
|
||
390 "The Multnomah County Library, Main Branch. 10th and Taylor. Conference room A."
|
||
391 "Hey, 10th and Taylor. The address Joshua was seen at?"
|
||
392 "Yes. We can stay at the Hilton, a few blocks from there."
|
||
393 "Let's go. This may get interesting, and we just MIGHT get a substantial clue for a change."
|
||
394 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley, coming in spirit #$##$##$##$##$# 12/28/84 - 10:45 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$#
|
||
395 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
396 UNDERGROUND.
|
||
397 We've existed for nearly four years. Started out as another one of Reagan's crackpot ideas.
|
||
398 Fortunately, we were under better management. Me.
|
||
399 Our purpose: to keep the public ignorant, help in our small way to begin small wars, and to keep our national debt down.
|
||
400 All deporable tasks, but we enjoy them. Some may say we're doing impossible missions. No, just damn hard ones.
|
||
401 We're UNDERGROUND: UNion to Destroy Essential Records, Global Rationality, and Our Ubiquitous National Debt.
|
||
402 Destroying records is easy. Valuable, too. Of course, we copy them first. It's better to be well informed,
|
||
403 especially if you destroy everyone else's information.
|
||
404 We profit by selling arms to both sides of small skirmishes. Thus we put an end to Global Rationality.
|
||
405 Our third purpose is what ties us to the government still. If not for that, we would have never learned of our enemies,
|
||
406 the NET.
|
||
407 They asked for $200 millon from the government, and got it. That's contributing a lot to our National Debt.
|
||
408 Thus, secretly, we have gathered information on this group. Recently, one of their agents was presumed lost. Just a
|
||
409 few days ago, evidence turned up that suggests he still lives. If he does, within his mind is sufficient information
|
||
410 to destroy the NET so that the $200 mil can be used for better purposes. Us.
|
||
411 We want that information. Unlike the NET, we don't hesitate to use force. Most of our agents like it. Some even call
|
||
412 the killing a 'fringe benefit'.
|
||
413 Our agents have been sent to the Portland, OR. area in search of this missing NET agent. The ironic part is that they
|
||
414 posed as NET agents and some idiot believed them. They sent him out on a 'mission'.
|
||
415 Since then, the agents have been reprimanded and we have relocated. The site is now free of any evidence. We can only
|
||
416 hope that the NET does not gain possession of the false ID card given to the idiot sent out.
|
||
417 By mistake, an ID card containing vital UNDERGROUND internal information was given to this man. Since the punishment
|
||
418 dealt out to the two agents was death, no discription is available. The executors of the agents have also been
|
||
419 terminated.
|
||
420 All UNDERGROUND agents: You have now been briefed. Your goals are: find the NET agent, and find the man with the ID
|
||
421 card. Both are believed to still be in the Portland area.
|
||
422 Failures in this manner will lead to the customary penalty.
|
||
423 John K. O'Hara
|
||
424 Addenda: Tested models of the XD-40 will be issued as standard weaponry for this task, from the Government's labs.
|
||
425 The last of the FD-78 models has been sold just prior to intelligence learning of the NET. KF-01's will be issued in
|
||
426 their stead.
|
||
427 [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
|
||
428 the enemies of net approach...
|
||
429
|
||
430 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
|
||
431
|
||
432 tilean wrapped his finger s around the glass, warmth fogged the sides from his wet hands. steam poured out from
|
||
433 inside the bathroom. the lights were on dim, a small warbling sound came from his desk.
|
||
434
|
||
435 walking slowly over to the phone, tilean reached into his robe pocket and pulled forth the ring. tilean answered
|
||
436 the phone.
|
||
437 "mthe mckinlay papers have been deciphered, sir. the text file is in your terminal waiting for you. and, about
|
||
438 the anderson papers,nearing completion. i think that's it."
|
||
439 "it should be, you're right... i do remember a doctor kyle lloyd... an induction problem ?" said tilean.
|
||
440
|
||
441 "i know a little about the situation, a doctor kyle lloyd, inducted into a low level security position. i think
|
||
442 he spooked..." the leiutenant seemed worried to mention traitors, fearing his life.
|
||
443
|
||
444 "yes, spooked is the precise wording, it seems he started reading the london times and decided that Thrike was a
|
||
445 threat to his national security. i see no reason to have him assasinated though, i met him once, seemed to be an
|
||
446 extraordinary man, i like him."
|
||
447
|
||
448 "i beleive i am due for a call from him soon, thank you for the report, see you soon..." tilean turned of the
|
||
449 microphone, and put the ring on his finger.
|
||
450 # nice boy, , him... i will remember to speak to his officer... when shall lloyd call... eight this evening...
|
||
451 good... # tilean was tired, it showed on his droopy eyelids...
|
||
452
|
||
453 after a small minute looking over the mckinlay papers, the warbler sounded again... lloyd was calling... lloyd
|
||
454 was late... five minutes...
|
||
455 "sorry for being so late, i was held up at the lab, we have a net agent here, asking about the joshua affair."
|
||
456 "please, calm yourself, no need to worry, i'm kind of bored here anyway..." lloyd was n't excited... definately
|
||
457 not excited enough to warrant the rebuff tilean had given him... "i hear you want to phase out of Thrike...?"
|
||
458
|
||
459 "well, all i was thinking was of transferring out of this net assignment. somewhere where the lizards don't
|
||
460 prowl during the night. i was thinking about an assignment in oregon..." tilean cut him off.
|
||
461 "an assignment in oreg... oh. i will arrange the net transfer in the morning, alright ?" tilean tried to sound
|
||
462 menacing... tilean didn't know how he did... sounding menacing was never his best trait...
|
||
463
|
||
464 "well, i was also thinking of a leave of absense... a vacation, i am starting to think in the language of our
|
||
465 computer system here." lloyd had a slight tone of worry... only tilean might have noticed it.
|
||
466
|
||
467 "i understand, but usually when people take leave's of absense they try not to come back... then net or someone
|
||
468 grabs them and we never hear from them again." tilean sounded nice... kind.
|
||
469 "i see in the newspapers that net is reforming, at least the originals are, anyway..." lloyd was changing the
|
||
470 subject as best he could in the situation...
|
||
471 "the originals are... to an extent... right now they are simply doing nothing but talk..." tilean lied.
|
||
472
|
||
473 "the morals and foundations are being questioned by some of the newer members... internal dissarray... never a
|
||
474 nice thing to have... anyway... possibly they will come out of all of this with a new sense of purpose." said
|
||
475 tilean, softly, insinuating something, lloyd wasn't sure what though.
|
||
476
|
||
477 "i see... they seem to wrapped up in interfering with trade and commerce to be doing much else anyway."
|
||
478 "no... some of them are involved in selling arms to the farmers in cambodia... to protect themselves from the a
|
||
479 arms that the net is selling to the vietnamese... weapons and more weapons... will it never end ? " tilean so
|
||
480 sounded quite idealistic... at times tilean got that way... at others...
|
||
481 "i never unerstood those agencies... the cia, the kgb, net... all of them bent on edominating the world, and if
|
||
482 they couldn't... no one else could... stupid, and arrogant..." tilean was silent, listening to lloyd recount
|
||
483 the thrike ideals... lloyd continued... "why are they so rigid ? why do they want to destroy the Earth ? "
|
||
484
|
||
485 tilean saw why lloyd entered thrike, an idealist, someone to whom life was more sacred than the ideals therin...
|
||
486 a kindred spirit, thought tilean. tilean spoke... interrupting lloyd... "i do not know, destroying the world i
|
||
487 nothing new, they have founded no major ideals with what they do... all they manage is to proclaim the righteous
|
||
488 path, and then order everyone to follow it... caring not that all cultures have differing ideals... paying no
|
||
489 attention to the rights of everyone to decide for themselves.. all thrike is formed to do, is acheive a single
|
||
490 earth government... to controll all these petty squables that have gone on for so many centuries..." tilean was
|
||
491 an idealist too.
|
||
492 "so many centuries, think of the redundancies of it all..." lloyd finished tilean's sililoquy... lloyd
|
||
493 reminded of the principles for which he entered thrike... the principles thrike was to defend... lloyd was still
|
||
494 oyal to his path... in his own way, a follower of the righteous path...
|
||
495
|
||
496 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
|
||
497 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Boy that disk sure filled up fast.
|
||
498 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PaPa Smurf 12-29-84 02:34
|
||
499 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
|
||
500 FARLEY: TRY CBBS/ALOHA (649-8327). A PASSWORD OF MESG RENDERS A MESSAGE
|
||
501 INVISIBLE TO ALL BUT THE SENDER AND ADDRESSEE. A MESSAGE AWAITS YOU.
|
||
502 BE SURE TO ADDRESS YOUR MESSAGE TO:
|
||
503 IAN MACHINERY
|
||
504 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
|
||
505
|
||
506 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (a small word of warning)
|
||
507 Ian; Although not formally introduced yet I would like to remind you of
|
||
508 something that has been pointed out to me elsewhere. I know that
|
||
509 all of the current hub-bub and semi-confused plot connections may
|
||
510 require that you take vigil over the flock which on ocassion requires
|
||
511 that you stand out from the background. This does seem helpful but may
|
||
512 may be putting yourself into a situation of the compromise of your safety.
|
||
513 (I know, you can handle yourdelf, your on top) My words are these:
|
||
514 Familiarity Breads Contempt (spellings?)
|
||
515 I hope you understand my friendly message- Mums the word...
|
||
516 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->an Informer 0510 Hrs 29 Dec 84 PorSFiSDay
|
||
517
|
||
518 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
519 Somehow, being at the top engenders the ambition to put forth a major effort
|
||
520 in writing things. Being so near the bottom has the opposite effect. We'll
|
||
521 leave Peg and the piper in their fix for a while (after all, it's their own
|
||
522 fault -- I didn't put them there!).
|
||
523 PorSFiS folks -- no promises, but circumstances have changed. I may be able
|
||
524 to meet you there today, or after at the customary oasis.
|
||
525 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
526 ========================================================================
|
||
527 Let me see if I understand the rules the NET is run by. The Net is a
|
||
528 story that is run by a committee. Only members of the committee are
|
||
529 allowed to contribute and they must conform to the story line of the
|
||
530 group. Non-NET members can join the story if they remain enemies of the
|
||
531 NET and don't change the plot decided by the committee.
|
||
532 It must be very difficult to be creative while conforming to the
|
||
533 group. I guess that's probably why the NET adventure has been so disjointed
|
||
534 and difficult to follow. I'm glad you guys are having so much fun
|
||
535 but I really wonder if a committee can ever write a story worth reading.
|
||
536
|
||
537 Hemmingway
|
||
538 =========================================================================
|
||
539 *************************************************************
|
||
540 Prometheus: Actualy, you shouldn't rush to judge so fast.
|
||
541 LINK-UP is most definately NOT a twit magazine. It is a well respected
|
||
542 glossy magazine that is nationally distributed. It is oriented towards
|
||
543 microcomputer telecommunications. The reference that was made, is that
|
||
544 it has a monthly reveiw of BBS's in the back (about a paragraph per
|
||
545 system) and BWMS was one of the systems reveiwed in the DEC 84 issue.
|
||
546 Not having a copy handy, it went something like; 'This system is a little
|
||
547 different then most. When you call in all you get is a > prompt. Type
|
||
548 HELP or LIST to see what it is all about. Try it you'll like it!'
|
||
549 As for the Slashman/knockout drops/link up inquiry, don't be so quick
|
||
550 to assume they are all the same person. (I have no reason to assume they
|
||
551 are mind you) Note that the knock out drops article was very well written
|
||
552 as opposed to the Slashman entry. From the structure, I'd say it was stolen
|
||
553 from somewhere else. By the way, it is definately NOT what would appear
|
||
554 in Link up. Linkup talks about communications equipment and software, not
|
||
555 things like that. Another mag oriented to telecomm, is Microcommunications.
|
||
556 There is also one oriented to BBS's called Entry. And I remember hearing
|
||
557 of one about a year ago called PLUMB that was also oriented to BBS's, but
|
||
558 I don't know if it is still alive.
|
||
559 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ******************************
|
||
560 ::::::::::O O::::::::::12:30:::::::::::::::12/29:::::::::::O O:::::::::::
|
||
561 Hemmingway: the NET stories are not written by committee. Every entry is
|
||
562 relatively independant. The authors talk together every now and then
|
||
563 (usually at PorSFiS/PCS), where a DIRECTION is suggested. Guidelines have been
|
||
564 set down, but they are VERY broad. (such as - don't manipulate someone elses
|
||
565 character unnecessarily i.e put too many words in their mouth. You can capture them,
|
||
566 torture them, but don't play them.) The fun is derived from finding out what
|
||
567 the other people are going to do, and how it affects you. For instance :
|
||
568 Farley was interacting with some people in a deserted lot. He probably
|
||
569 intended that they were NET agents. Someone else suggested that they may
|
||
570 have been frauds. This left it up to Farley to decide which way to go.
|
||
571 Another player then decided that they WERE fakes, and Farley had to play it
|
||
572 in that direction, OR FIGURE OUT A CLEVER WAY TO REDIRECT THE STORY.
|
||
573 That, as I see it, is where a large part of the enjoyment comes from.
|
||
574 The people who are playing the NET have certain ideas in common, certain ways
|
||
575 they like things to go. Understandings, if you will. This is why they are
|
||
576 so protective of their corporate identity.
|
||
577 One more comment - Several genre exist on BackWater. Fantasy, spy (NET) stories,
|
||
578 discussions/arguments, and combinations. The NET stories are ideally played with
|
||
579 a James Bond flair - no magic, no super high-tech weapons. Like the Bond
|
||
580 stories, situations are preferably resolved by wits and normal weapons, although
|
||
581 limited super-gadgets are permitted (Farley's car, and L'homme's before that).
|
||
582 One thing that is extremely irritating is, after setting up an interesting
|
||
583 predicament for a character, requiring an ingenious solution, someone comes in
|
||
584 and 'cuts the Gordian Knot' - resolves the situation by operating outside the
|
||
585 framework of the reality. (commonly referred to as a 'deus ex machina'.
|
||
586 Sorry, Ian. Sometimes it works, but sometimes.....)
|
||
587 Enough on that.
|
||
588 Farley: Yes, I can run off a copy of the Nuclear Risk rules. Should I give them to
|
||
589 L'homme to give to you? I would mail it, but I cannot find you in the phone book.
|
||
590 (nothing in your Eastern locale, one in SW, two in LkOs).
|
||
591 {heh heh.. nothing is safe from the NET. You hated the 80 columns, didn't you...}
|
||
592 Alex: sorry I missed the game. It's been too long since last we played.
|
||
593 Having become an employed person seems to have cut into my time and energy.
|
||
594 Petrov is here until the 6th; he'd still like to pay you back for Europe.
|
||
595 Maybe we can schedule one game in before then?
|
||
596 ......
|
||
597 I'll be glad when school starts up again. It's extremely difficult to get
|
||
598 on BackWater lately. All those new modems, I guess. Friday morning at 08:15
|
||
599 there were 5 lines on this disk, now, 28 hours later, it's almost full? Sheesh..
|
||
600 Piper: hope you can make it; it sounds like there will be many people there.
|
||
601 Bringing your pipes? (please please...)
|
||
602 See you all in an hour
|
||
603 :::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::::::::::voyeur::::::::::::::O O:::::::::::::
|
||
604 ***********************************************************************
|
||
605 VOYER: ACTUALY, FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS IT WAS FILLED WITH LONG WINDED
|
||
606 ENTRIES FROM MOSTLY OLD TIMERS. (INCLUDING THE INNKEEPER) NOT THAT IT IS
|
||
607 BAD, BUT IT DOES MAKE IT RATHER DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CATCH UP ON THINGS
|
||
608 WHEN DISKS ARE CHANGING EVERY DAY, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN GET ON.
|
||
609 LIKE YOU SAID; "SHEESH!"
|
||
610 ************************ CISTOP MIKEY ************************************
|
||
611 Long-winded? Harumph!
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 611
|