1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 13 FEB 85 ********************* 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 21 I won't say it. No, I won't say it! I refuse. Though, I must 22 admit that since its been more than a year since I've been up here, the 23 temptation is there. 24 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM+[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 25 26 Aw, go head... you owe it to yourself. 27 On to other matters, this was my first essay. 28 29 It was one of those laid-back spring days down on campus. Perfect riot weather... The flowering plums 30 proudly displayed their bright pink blossoms. The air had a gently scented smell. Girls were working on 31 their summer tans. The cold, rainy winter was just a memory. 32 The warm sun had pushed the awful realities of the War to the back of our minds. Of course, the school's 33 weirdo's, the Students for a Democratic Society, were having another sit-in at the college administration 34 building. Most of us didn't pay attention. Spring was a time to enjoy nature's annual show. I can't even 35 remember why they were there now... Was it Kent State, Jackson State, or the Cambodia Invasion? No matter. 36 Sit-ins were a usual occurrance at the University of Oregon. Most of us were political, but not political 37 enough to be concerned with another sit-in. 38 It was late afternoon when I returned to my apartment. Janis Joplin was blasting on the stereo. As I 39 was puttering around the apartment, the radio announcer broke in with a special report: The police had 40 invaded campus. I looked at my roommate, "This one is going to be too good to miss." We high-tailed it 41 back down to campus. 42 By the Student Union, 30 or 40 of my classmates were milling around aimlessly. A few quick questions 43 revealed that the police were inside the Administration Building arresting the demonstrators. No one had 44 any idea what would happen next. 45 Our view of Johnson Hall, the administration building was blocked by trees. Shortly from that direction, 46 we heard a continuous angry whine. The whine of a tear gas generator ready for action. The 'parade' had 47 started. Men in formation marched into view, the sun gleaming on their helmets. In the lead was the tear 48 gas generator. To one side an officer with a shot gun. The rest carried long riot sticks at the ready. 49 Following was a jail bus. Wire mesh covered its blacked out windows. We knew our classmates were inside. 50 The sight was intimidating. But not intimidating enough. A single longhaired woman lay down on the 51 asphalt and blocked their path. A policeman dragged her from the roadway by her hair. An outraged groan 52 went up from the crowd of students. 53 Academic freedom was being trampled by the establishment. As the police officers turned onto University 54 Street and passed us by, catcalls rang out: "Pigs Off Campus!" "Off The Pigs!" Events began to escalate. 55 At first paper cups full of soft drinks flew towards the marching men. Then from behind me a ceramic coffee 56 cup was hurled. It moved in a lazy arc and struck one of the policemen in the neck. He went down. A cheer 57 resounded. The other officers helped him to his feet. Their arrogance was broken. They shifted their sticks 58 and glanced from side to side nervously. 59 We followed the police up the street, shouting our anger. The jail bus passed by the officers and 60 rumbled out of sight. Finally, as if they couldn't stand it any more; the police turned. The tear gas 61 generator began to spew its noxious fumes. Students began running in every direction, eyes watering, noses 62 burning, the aroma of the spring blossoms lost to the gas. In a moment it was over. The police were gone. 63 The campus once again belonged to the students. This was the first skirmish in a battle that would last years 64 Today, I'm on the other side. I'm a cop. Those days still live with me, but under the surface. 65 66 Er... this is what's known as an author's intrusion. My essay rambles for another few hundred words 67 trying to make a point. What it boils down to is that today when I look at a punked-out child of the street 68 and my blood pressure starts to rise, I pause and remember... remember how I felt and thought back then. I 69 had a deep sense of right and wrong. I still do. Only my persepective has changed. My perspective doesn't 70 make me better than anyone else. 71 72 Dr. Frankenstupe 73 +_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+ 74 75 Grand D, 76 What can I say? It was worth a shot. Sometimes my business takes me 77 to CSD (rarely anymore). I'll try to look you up if I'm ever in the neighborhood. 78 Mohammed 79 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 80 81 <<:*********************************************************:>> 82 Mohammed: 83 And what business is that? I remember you once saying that 84 you were a cop, but I find that hard to believe. My dad was a 85 cop and you no more seem the type than Dr Frankenstupe does. 86 I'm working at Columbia County Children's Services. If 87 you're in the neighborhood drop by...in uniform of course. It 88 makes it look like we're working that way. Frank Jones says 89 "Hi". 90 91 Grand D. 92 <<:********************************************************:>> 93 Alex: I just got around to checking the answering machine... the Computer 94 Center had callled... my copy of "Computer Diplomacy" has finally arrived!! 95 HOORAY! (gee, it's only 6-7 months behind schedule....) 96 ________________________________Leonard____________________________________ 97 (*==marker==*) 98 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 99 Becky T.: Hello! 100 L'homme : What's this? Accusing *ME* of pirating? Now, really, that's too 101 much. Would *I* do a thing like that? Pirating, indeed. 102 +++++++++++++ 103 What's this I see on drive b? Confessions? Identity bleed-over? 104 I can see where honesty could promote better entries, but REAL NAMES is a bit 105 much. I'll have to agree with Piper. However, identities is a different story 106 altogether. Here is a list, if anyone's interested, of the personalities I've 107 used since I started here on BW: 108 Milchar(this one), Dimat, Novar, (last two seen in the Ruby Vally adventure) 109 Sundownor (McKane/NET story), UNDERGROUND HQ (]]]]]]]] border), J.K. O'Hara, 110 Harry Foster, Farley (current NET story), and Master Changer (misc. fantasy 111 entries, also has a terrible memory for names). It seemed incredible to me 112 when I first read BW that one person would write the entries for two different 113 personalities; now, I see each one as a different facet of my being. One of 114 my primary interests before I arrived was Advanced Dungeons and Dragons- thus 115 my love for fantasy. The nasties I play (Sundownor, John K., etc.) are a way 116 to be "rude, corrupt, and cruel" and not hurt anyone. They're foils, really, 117 for anyone who wants to cut them up. Of course, the fun's gone if I let them 118 get killed off withouut a fight. 119 Farley- well, he's an experiment. After re-examining my entries and by 120 listening carefully to critics (thanks, L'homme), I decided to begin anew. 121 He seems to be working. I can, and have, "pour out my heart" with his voice. 122 Feurary always seemed to me to be the best time of the year for sharing. 123 That's why I enter this. AlthoughI know that none of my personalities can 124 be fully severed from this one from now on, I don't really mind. 125 +++++++++++++++++++ 126 The Travelling Book before me, I began concentrating on the letters. Slowly, 127 the numerous symbols rose from the pages, hopping to and fro in a semblance of 128 "The Dance of Chaos". I began to Place-form: that is, position the letters on 129 the page, under certain rules, to spell out the place I wanted to go. 130 "Let's see...S followed by either F,I,N, or another S... Aha! N! 'Apply the 131 letter "N" mentally then follow it by a T, W, or I unless you plan to follow 132 next letter by A, E, or R- in which case you must apply those letters first, 133 then the N, then the T, W, or I.'" 134 The dance of the symbols grew more intense as A's and N's fluttered to the page 135 in increasing numbers, darkening the air before the tome. With 200 or so rules 136 to follow, plus exceptions, Place-forming isn't the speediest mental exercise 137 in the universe. 138 The cloud of letters tithinned. The last few letters scampered to their places, 139 with the remainder falling back into the rest of the book. Finally, alone on a 140 page were the words "Backwater Inn". 141 I held my breath. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the letters shone. 142 A glow almost tangible enveloped the tome and I, smothering what I could see 143 of the outside world. A few more infinite heartbeats later, the glow faded. 144 I stood alone, just outside the door of the Inn. A warm glow from within told 145 me that the Innkeeper was no slouch at 146 his job, and that there were patons there who, even now, talked and joked 147 among themselves. I closed the tome and walked in quietly so as not to 148 disturb conversation. I wondered, for a brief moment, exactly what I would do 149 if the Inn closed its doors.Go elsewhere? Where? I pushed the ugly thought 150 back into the depths of my mind. Quietly, I found a comfortable chair near a 151 corner, sat down, and observed the new faces tell their stories. 152 +++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 11:14pm on 02/13/85 +++++++ 153 +++ Hope that the line noise didn't make my entry too unintelligible. Milch.+++ 154 *^)_*^@#_)^*#_)^*_!)*^!)_*!_)*^_)*^!_)^*!_)^)_^&)_*!)_^@)_#(^@)_^*)_^#*^)_(@^_)@^*@)_#^&@_)(!@#_)^*@_)#^*@_)^*@_)^*_@*^ 155 Unmasked : Sondargaard, your recent entries to me are quite powerful. You have managed to put into words feelings and 156 emotions that are sometimes quite difficult to write about. I applaud your courage for entering them here, for all of 157 us to read. Don't use the word corny so much. Love is a difficult subject to write about without sounding 'corny.' Don't 158 worry about labels and catagories; they shouldn't be applied here. While I am not a big fan of the so-called love 159 stories seen here of late, your messages, at least to me, don't fall into that style. Messages about love, lost or not, and 160 how it affects your life, are messages everyone can relate too. Thank you... 161 Piper : Out To Lunch...I'll try again Thursday. 162 Alc/Mes/Mel/Barfoot : I promised I wouldn't tell! You gave away the secret sooner than I expected. Are we ever going to 163 find out what happened to Raza and the island? Are we going to here from your participant in this reality at the school 164 district soon? No luck on Dr. Halo yet, still trying... 165 And now...after an attempt before...I turn over the board to a lawyer friend of mine... 166 &*^_#@_)#@*_*_)*#@^_)*@#_)^*@_)*!_^&@#_)*^@_#)*^@#_^ L'homme sans Parity *%_)#*%_)!%*_!)*%_!)%*_^&@_)#^_*!_)^*@_)^@_)^* 167 168 defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense 169 MacBeth: In Defense of MacBeth - Summation 170 171 Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: I am a mere public defendant, 172 assigned to defend a person who is down and out in the worst way. I can't 173 afford to put on the floor show my illustrious opponent has done for you 174 these past few weeks. I am not able to conjure up ghosts of victims 175 fallen by unfortunate coincidence unproven under cross examination to 176 have anything to do with my client. I must base my case on pure unadulterated 177 fact, not tricks with mirrors. And you, my companions on this incredible 178 trip through the halls of power in our country, must decide, given only 179 what you have seen and heard in this court room, the guilt or innocence 180 of my client, MacBeth. 181 182 For him to even be here to be tried under the objective eye of 183 the judicial system, is an unbelievable feat of perseverances and fortitude. 184 So close to death MacBeth was, that only a miraculous escape (so I changed 185 it a bit...) from Dunsinane spared his life. The vicious attacks perpetrated 186 by the prosecutor's so called witnesses could not end the story one chapter 187 short. MacBeth chose on his own to finish the story, and come out of hiding, 188 and come what may, put his life in the hands of justice. A far better deal he 189 gets here in this courtroom than at the hands of bloodthirsty enemies. 190 191 What can you say about a man who's life as crumbled about him? Oh 192 the prosecuting attorny levels all of the blame at MacBeth himself, and 193 none at MacBeth's environment. He ignores the three fortune tellers, from part 194 I.i of the testimony. Do you believe in ability of some special individuals 195 to tell the future, or at least glimpse at it? Are you willing to deny the 196 monumental amount of evidence that supports the claims of these so-called 197 witches, a term bandied about by those who don't understand, or don't want 198 to understand? Could you deny your own future, when presented to you as it 199 was to MacBeth, in part I.iii of the testimony? What a weight, what a burden 200 to bare! To deny the future is to deny the past. It can't be done. But Mr. 201 prosecutor would have you believe otherwise. He would have you condemn this 202 man for something he had no control over. Is that fair? I ask you, is that 203 fair!? 204 205 Lady MacBeth. Crumbling, falling, slipping into a chaotic personna 206 of murder and death. Poor MacBeth. What was he to do? What would any of you 207 do, when presented with such a dilemma? Your loved one demands an action of 208 you. An action that goes against every grain of your existence. You are loyal 209 to the king, yet your mate seeks more. More power, not so much for yourself, 210 but for his or her self. To deny this request is to deny your love, at least 211 in the eyes of the other. To succumb would be treachery, but what a choice to 212 make! You have spent your whole lives together. Suddenly to cut that off; a 213 fate worse than death; and infinitely better than the fate that may become 214 you when your act is discovered. An impossible decision to make? Nay, a 215 decision must be made. Are you willing to condemn a man, MacBeth, because he 216 made a decision? He took action. He struck a path, and kept at it. He 217 decided his wife was more important to him than anything else. Oh at first 218 he denied it, as in testimony I.vii and II.ii, but he could not deny his 219 wife's will for long. Treachery they call it. I call it love. Are any of you 220 willing to admit you would do any different? Are you willing to go home and 221 tell your wives and your husbands that you love your king more than they? 222 Are you willing to tell them that you would rather see them die than someone 223 else? Are you willing to admit that you, in MacBeth's place, would have done 224 they same thing? Will you be honest, as MacBeth was??? 225 226 The events that follow are incidental. Poor MacBeth was sucked into 227 a whirlpool of distrust and hatred that he did not create, but instead 228 inherited. To protect his wife, his own protection was secondary, he had to 229 take measures that when examined out of context, like the prosecutor has 230 done, do take on an ominous look. But he was forced into the situation. Once 231 MacBeth decided to do what he did, there was no going back. Unfortunate 232 incidents took place, and I will not remind you of what the lawyer to my 233 right has so masterfully shown. The decision was made, but the ramifications 234 didn't stop with the act. Lady MacBeth, then a wasted shell of her former 235 self, and prophesy foretold the actions of MacBeth. He was like a puppet on 236 a string. No real will of his own, only a knowledge of the terrible things 237 that must be done, in order to continue. I assure you he regrets all that 238 was done, but no other path opened itself up. A one way ticket to Hell was 239 purchased by MacBeth. Will you pay for the return fare? 240 241 I ask you...no I beseech you, fine people of the jury, to find my 242 client innocent of malicious forethought and action. While there is no 243 doubt, no fogginess about what has happened, a tragedy that it is, there 244 is a question of why? You can't pass judgement without asking why. Please 245 don't be caught up in the yarn of power hungry madness the prosecution 246 has spun. See above it and around it...and through it. That theory is full 247 of holes. See MacBeth for what he truly is, and man who was at the wrong 248 place at the wrong time. An unfortunate situation indeed. Find MacBeth 249 not guilty. Don't make a mistake, and leave this person stranded, never to 250 return to the country he loves; the country he has proven his love for many 251 times over as a hero in the military. Don't leave this true patriot in the 252 cold. Don't make the mistake of making this case a total tragedy. Don't make 253 this the tragedy of MacBeth. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you. 254 255 defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense 256 257 ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 258 A candy factory has 10 gumball machines. Each machine 259 produces 1 oz. round gumballs. Each machine produces gumballs 260 of the same color: 10 colors in all. One day, it is discovered 261 that one of the machines is producing gumballs that only weigh 262 1/2 oz. You are assigned to the case. You must find the 263 defective gumball machine. The problem: You are only allowed to 264 use a weight scale once. No multiple weighings, no putting all 265 10 samples on the scale at once, and removing them one at at 266 (a) time. You are allowed only ONE use of the scale. How can 267 you determine which machine is producing the bad gumball? Now 268 remember, once you determine which gumball is light, you can 269 fix the machine based on the color of the gumball you think is 270 bad. But you can only weigh the gumballs once. It can be done, 271 but how? To reiterate (typed in on the fly) Each machine 272 produces gumballs of the same color, but each machine's gumballs 273 are different in color from any of the other machines. Machine 274 one produces red gumballs, #2 blue, #3 green, and so on... 275 ?????????????????? Mini-Quiz-Mistress ???????????????????????????? 276 277 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (drained) 278 L'homme: Thanks, I needed a few kind words... 279 Piper: I'm sorry to say that the truth has temp. drained me of my creativeness 280 and that I will have to wait to type for the morrow. 281 Milchar: Don't tempt me like that- I have too many facets that I still want 282 to keep semi-private. (Only a few know them all. Not even Ian...) 283 My Legion of characters will return shortly... 284 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 45:02 285 286 ^^^^^ p.s. Entropy: I'm trying... --->G 45:03 287 288 **************************************************************************** 289 wow, ok macbeth... not guilty 290 masks? i have none, sometimes i spell my name backwards, but im not 291 hiding anything. 292 ******************************************kathyd****************************** 293 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 294 The brief gust of wind brought the soft smell of the rain-wet air into 295 the rather smoky air of the in. Along with the cool damp, a figure dim against 296 the poorly-lit outer wall slipped into a seat at an empty table. Passing by 297 the innkeeper who was deftly drawing another flagon of ale, the piper lifted 298 a filled mug and placed it on the newcomer's table. As he set the mug down, 299 he glanced at a familiar face. 300 "Well, hello Milchar. Glad to see you back," he said. 301 pppppppppppppppppppppp 302 L'Homme -- if you are trying to call me around lunch time, you are gauranteed 303 NOT to make connections with me. Being rather old and fat, I have been 304 attempting to improve my physical condition for the last year and a half. 305 I spend the time my stomach feels would best be spent in eating lunch thrashing 306 madly about in a large container of chlorinated water. I attempt to put in 307 30 minutes lap swimming when other more sane persons stuff their faces. 308 (the result of a year and a half? When I started this regimen, I weighed 309 234 pounds. I still weigh 234 pounds, but my waist is four inches smaller 310 and my shirts are all too tight.) 311 If you want to call, you have an even chance before 9:30 AM and after 1:30 312 PM. (That's why when there's a lot of work to be done I work nights -- I 313 rarely get enough time in one chunk during the day. It's always meetings, 314 problems, answering questions, expiditing matters of one sort or another. 315 My most productive time is the time before 9:00AM or after 7:00 PM. Sigh. 316 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 317 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318 Defense-- You left out one point. Remember, the first scene the witches say 319 "Fair is foul and foul is fair." And then Mcbeth walks on later and says "So 320 fair and foul a day, I have not seen." Well, I'll play Carton and whether or 321 not I believe this is irrelavent (yes, I know it's very misspelled). 322 Don't you see? That is absolutely proof that those evil witches had control 323 of him. He was possessed. He couldn't think rationally. His very own wife said 324 he was too full of the milk of human kindness. He was a good man, very very 325 good. And, because he was so good the instruments of darkness saw that fit to 326 change. And, then his wife was sticking her face in his, calling him a coward. 327 He had all these things against him. And, Lady Macbeth said "let me pour my 328 spirits into thine ear..." (not a direct quote, can't remember) and then she 329 made that prayer. Why she poured all her vileness into him. He had both the 330 witches and his beloved wife against him! Two evil forces, working for the 331 common enemy of man... (Now if you want me to say the Lady wasn't evil, that's 332 a different story. Oh, about Carton, that wasn't an insult. Drop the comment, 333 because, I realize now, there is no other way to read it). -Tanya 334 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 336 Orange Dye No. 12 337 338 I stepped off the bus at work 339 Wearing my funky orange knapsack 340 Upon the bench sat a woman 341 Red was the color of her hair 342 Our eyes locked for a moment 343 In a flash of fantasy 344 I thought it was you 345 I turned and walked away 346 Speechless....... 347 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 348 349 defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense 350 Tanya : I am sorry, but I don't get the Carton reference. Your use of 351 Fair and Foul is but one of many Equivical statements found in MacBeth. Check 352 scenes I.i.4, I.ii.last, I.iii.65-66, I.vi, II.iii.28-36, IV.ii, IV.iv.138, 353 V.iv.10, etc... Also, think about the crucial disorder. There comes a point 354 in the play when you now things can not resolve happily for all. But as in 355 all tragedies, the Tragedy of MacBeth shares a few common bonds. The overall 356 situation is better at the end of the play then at the beginning, although 357 this is sometimes subtle. Bad for individuals yes, but good for society. And 358 of course, the person in the title always dies... The only exceptions I can 359 think of that don't fall in to Shakespeare's rigid styles are Trollis and 360 Cressida, ...Pericles, A Winter's Tale, and Cymbaline. 361 One last point about my previous entry. Remember, the job of a public 362 defender is to get his or her client off. I purposly left out many a terrible 363 thing MacBeth did, in order to sway the judgement of the jury. Not fair you 364 might say; remember the prosecution will do everything in their power to do 365 the exact opposite of me, so there is no doubt that both sides will be heard. 366 Our judicial system, in its purest form, is a thing of beauty. It is only 367 the abuse by individuals that tarnish the system; an all too often occurance, 368 unfortunately. 369 One last point. An Oxford definition of 'weird', as in weird sisters, 370 is 'fate.' That is a point I based a great deal of my case on. I don't think 371 we were so far apart in our opinions after all... 372 defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense 373 374 *#@_)$*_)$*@_%)*#@_%#@_)%@#%*@#% 375 Piper:Thanks. Haven't talked yet; appointment later today. I'll call soon. 376 *_#*@%) L'homme sans Parity %)(% 377 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 378 Fog covers the ground and wreaths the frame of the heavy oaken door 379 that stands as guard against the ravages of winter, and the door shows 380 cracks where time has left its mark. As I stand upon the planks at the 381 entrance, my hand traces a pattern along one of the larger furrows, 382 following and caressing the impression of character. The age may show, the 383 signs where it was modified from another use obvious, but it serves its 384 purpose so well. And the memories that it can evoke! Yes, it is a 385 marvelous door, so much history......... and it nearly hits me in the face 386 as it swings swiftly outward from the force of a cluster of hands. 387 Stumbling backward in an effort to avoid the contact, my boot catches on the 388 edge of a board and I fall from the low porch into a cluster of bushes 389 that huddle against the near wall. From this highly dignified position I 390 can hear the laughter and a few bits of banter drifting back to me through 391 the cold evening air: "TWIT!....... Did you see...... drivel!..... modified 392 BIOS?....." as the voices fade into the distance. 393 After returning myself to some semblance of respectability, I once 394 again mount the steps. The door being already open, I enter and pull it 395 shut behind me, then turn and face the room. Though different it is still 396 the same, like comparing this spring's rosebud to last. Patrons jostle and 397 curse, laugh, argue, and the good Innkeeper keeps an eye on the proceedings 398 while quietly maintaining his own council. The room is slightly smokey, 399 the air fragrant with the odors of wood from the hearth, roasting meat, 400 pipe tobacco, and a thousand other smells familiar and not. I feel just 401 a bit intoxicated by the climate that surrounds me, and a warm glow fills me 402 as I slip quietly through the crowd toward the table I had used most often 403 in the past, tucked unobtrusively into its own small corner near the back 404 of the room. 405 Looking about me from the comparative safety of this table, I see that 406 the Inn does indeed have some familiar faces: there is the Piper, his face 407 slightly pink from exercise and from the entertainment his pipes provide; 408 though I don't see him, the Bard's presence is felt somehow, as if he were 409 prepared to jump out from behind a curtain to regale us with some bawdy 410 song; Dr. Frankenstupe has just finished telling a story about the days 411 of his youth in the Town Of Two Buttes. But where might the apprentice 412 be? I still owe him a cup of tea from a favor once rendered. Perhaps he 413 will soon be revealed; I see a group of patrons standing there, removing 414 mask after mask, and under each is a familiar visage. I'm surprised at 415 their sudden need to bare their soles since we did not need to know who 416 they were in other realities, but I am also surprised to see some of the 417 faces that appear from beneath the masks. I fear that I cannot join into 418 their game though. A smile curls the corners of my lips as I think of the 419 words of a character from still another reality that would fit my position 420 well: "I yam what I yam, and that's allz that I yam!" 421 I peek behind the curtain that covers a nearby wall, then I let it fall 422 into place again. What will the Innkeeper think? That was certainly a poor 423 gift to give on a day dedicated to affairs of the heart. But then again, 424 perhaps it was not. I guess that only he can answer that question. 425 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM?[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 426 Ok, I admit it, I HAVE entered under other names in the past. I put 427 some poetry here under the name of Jedeves (a bit personal, those, but since 428 we're dropping masks...), as well as a number of other names during the 429 dabate phase a little over a year ago (trying to stir things up and get 430 everyone talking). A couple of times I've used male names (though not for 431 anything major) just to see if I would still get those brownie points that 432 gender seems to bring (I didn't). Sigh... Back to the Shadows again..... 433 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 434 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< * >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 435 There were several and varied reasons for the use of the multiple persona forms 436 here on the backwater. One of the main ones was to see if I could write using a 437 believable female voice. In the course of doing so I got caught up in the Magen 438 story myself. It is my intention to finish the story as time permits, meanwhile 439 rest assured that Raza and Magen are enjoying themselves immensely. 440 441 voyeur ---- You are 100% correct. Testing of the hypothesis concerning the way 442 personality types are treated was very revealing but hardly surprising. Again 443 it served to point out that social and cultural bias still runs strong. 444 445 Tanya ---- I have enjoyed our interchanges very much. I sincerely hope you will 446 continue to communicate with me as an integrated personality. Thank you very 447 much for your stand against the forces of destruction. I feel certain you are 448 a person who embraces many of the values that make us caring human beings. 449 450 Steve, (L'homme) ---- Alas, old habits fade slowly! You will be hearing from me 451 `real soon now' concerning all pending items. 452 453 Although my offerings will be less frequent, (pause for the sound of applause) 454 my affection for the Inn continues. 455 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< capt'n barefoot >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 456 s:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:457 "Most murderers are not the wonderfully wicked monsters they appear to be for taking a human life. It is phisicly easy to 458 do so. Macbeth was not GOOD, he hide behind it so he could say 'See, I don't really want to do this, the witches made me. Pity 459 me, and destroy the witches.' 460 When Lady Macbeth said Macbeth was to full of goodness, she 461 was trying to live out her self-stlyed evilness. She knew that evil sees good as weak, and she knew Macbeth was weak, so she 462 made the assumtion that too many people have made. If you are weak when you do something evil, you are not REALLY evil, in fact 463 you are good. 464 "IT is very easy to aviod the issue, and assume that since he was controlled he commited no crime. But isn't the fact that he 465 could be brought out of his orignal fate proof that he was in a murderer who was lucky enough to have some witches as scapgoats 466 around. I belive that he had much more freedom than he wallowed himself to be given credit for. 467 "Every murderer has a story to prove he was only following fate or other inaviodable motivation, as does every rapist, thief, 468 and embellzeler. That they had a motive does not make them innocent." 469 Lady S. 470 s:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:k 471 472 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (standing back in awe) 473 "No! Don't do it! Don't give up you privacy!" I said. 474 But no one seemed to be listening... 475 "I only dropped my known mask for the moment it took me to tell my side, 476 (forever it seemed...) I didn't mean for the rest of you to give up that 477 part of yourselves that allowed you to say something without personal attack. 478 I may have shown you my true self, but you STILL don't know who I am..." 479 As I said these words, I was taking a few slow steps towards the door but, 480 the path is blocked. I will still remain... er- we will still remain... 481 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 45:15 482 483 484 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485 Melissa-- Sorry to keep refering to you this way but I have no idea what to 486 call you now; please give me something. Why, yes, of course I wish to keep 487 conversing with you! Why wouldn't I? 488 Defense-- My entry was written in the early morning, about 5 minutes after 489 I awoke. (See where my priorities are?) I realize that the fair/foul image was 490 used through-out the entire play. (I don't think I expressed myself very well 491 due to the fact that my eyes were falling out of my head). I assumed that the 492 jury knew of Macbeth's crimes. Giving in explanation for them, I was. Those 493 evil, midnight hags possessed him. When he repeated their earlier statement, 494 in but a only slightly altered form, this was clue to their influence over him. 495 The fact that those comparisons were used through-out the entire play (and 496 perhaps this was just a coincidence) you needn't tell the jury... My reference 497 to Sydney Carton was from A Tale of Two Cities. Carton helps this lawyer with 498 cases. Implying that I am Carton and you are Stryver (the lawyer he asissts) is 499 in insult. I didn't realize this at the time. Certainly, I do not wish to give 500 you in insult, especially when it was not deserved. 501 Lady S-- Macbeth, himself never claimed that it was the witches fault. 502 Although towards the end he realized that the witches and his wife had some 503 influence over him. Through-out the majority of the play he thought it was only 504 himself. He said "I have no spurs to prick the sides of my intent, only vault- 505 ing ambition" sorry I don't remember the scene, it was shortly after the Lady's 506 big scene. He never considered that who could be controlled. Which, in my 507 belief, he was not. But, I do think he was influenced by the witches and his 508 wife. He was free, and made the choices. That's what made him a tragedy. And, 509 he realized this all at the end. Well, I am rambling. One thing: this is my 510 opinion. I'm not saying it's right, sorry if it sounds like it's the One Truth. 511 If it does, that wasn't intended. For all those who are bored by Macbeth, sorry 512 I'll try not to ramble next time. -Tanya 513 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514 }MY NAME IS RHONDA J. CHRISTIAN AND I HAIL FROM PORT ST. LUCIE FLORIDA. 515 ::::::::::__________::::::::::__________::::::::::__________::::::::::__________ 516 Discarding my now-useless overcoat, I trample on. The biting, snowy 517 winds almost beakon me to return, yet, my unconscious being tells me to 518 tarry forward. I trip over a branch; my face forced into the damp, white 519 powder. My frostbitten cheeks, now covered with ice, feel the need for 520 the nourishment that I have been denied. Crossing a hillock, I see.... 521 can it be?!?!?!? The window lights spur an inner longing I haven't felt 522 since the start of my journey. As I approach, I see, YES! THE INN!!!!! 523 At long last, the hunger of my body as well as my intellect shall be 524 fulfilled! As I burst open the door, I am greeted by the friendly, familiar 525 faces I have so long missed. I collapse in a table, close enough to feed on 526 the delightful tales of others, but not yet nourished enough to have the 527 strength to encontribute my own....... 528 ::::::::::: 529 Entropy- Glad to see you finally made it on! Loved all of your poems, 530 look forward to seeing more!!!!!! 531 532 Melissa- Keep up Magen. I am in suspence over the anticipation of another 533 episode. 534 535 Defence- Good defence. Are you really a lawyer??? 536 537 Bye gang! Keep up the good work! 538 539 ::::::::::__________:::::::::: The Jiz /// __________f::::::::::__________ 540 541 Who's in charge here? 542 Sir, this is Hell. 543 I realize that, but who's in charge? 544 No one. That's why it's Hell. 545 _innocent bysitter_ _ 546 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 547 Guardian: Haven't you ever felt the need to tell someone else a secret? 548 Besides, I'm beginning to think that despite people knowing who my other facets 549 are, nothing will change. 550 L'homme: Could we arrange for that little tour about the first Saturday in 551 March? Wait, perhaps the second. Oh, well, please call me. 552 ++++++++++++ 553 I listened intently to the conversation about me. Nearby, a mug was set down 554 on a table. I turned to see Piper smiling, holding a mug of his own. He'd 555 thoughtfully brought me a draught of the Inn's excellent ale. 556 "Greetings, Piper! I return after a long rest. It was hard to stay away. 557 Almost as if this place were... enchanted. Yes, enchanted by the souls 558 within." 559 ++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 22:54 on 02/14/85 +++++++++ 560 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 561 With a groan of effort, L'homme and I managed to lift the lid on the coffin-like boxes. 562 Wires, PC boards, and smaller boxes returned the stare we gave them. Only a piece of paper broke the technological 563 monotony. 564 L'homme snatched the paper, irritated that the boxes had not produced Minksy and Flemming. 565 "Inventory, shipment 3C. AI sub-unit 24-ZE, FD-78 series. Deliver to new adress, S.E. 54th Street, Portland." 566 "FD-78? That's Fred's model number!", I exclaimed. 567 "Guess we have to go to this address, Farley, then find out where these boxes are coming from. I hope we'll be able 568 to re-assemble him. Ian wouldn't like to lose such a good AI specimen." 569 "IAN wouldn't like it? *I* wouldt like it. Listen, let's find this place. I think these are the second-to-the-last 570 pieces of the AI section. 24-ZF's the final one. We can secure the place then wait for the final drop." 571 "We've been chasing after this van all day, Farley. A tired agent soon becomes a dead one. Come on, let't get back 572 to some comfortable quarters at the NET offices. We'll start early tomorrow." 573 "All right," I reluctantly agreed. "Crack of dawn?" 574 "Dawn it is.", he said, and we left. 575 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 23:09 - 02/14/85 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 576 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 577 Some people lose their borders; people are poaching on my Concept. 578 'Mini-quiz-mistress' - I suppose it's not something simple like the 1/2 oz 579 gumballs are only 80% the size of the 1 oz balls? 580 A somewhat more complicated method is to take 1 ball from machine #1, 581 2 balls from maching #2 .......10 balls from machine #10. Put them all on 582 the scale at once. The number of 1/2 ozes is the number of the machine 583 producing light balls. Aaarrgg! The total weight should be 55 ounces. 584 The difference between the actual weight and 55 ozs, in 1/2 ounce 585 units, is the number of the machine producing the underweight gumballs. 586 (i.e. if the actual weight is 52.5 ounces, that is 2.5 ounces light, 587 which is 5 1/2-ounce units. That means that machine number 5 is defective). 588 You actually only need to use the gumballs from 9 machines. If the weight is 589 right on, the 10th machine is the culprit, but in that case you have to start 590 counting from 0. 591 I'm curious to see your solution. Or is this one of those trick questions? 592 ?????????????????????????????????? QUIZMASTER ?????????????????????????????????? 593 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^ 594 tilean 595 Don't be frustrated, just be discreet. I do not want you to go away mad. 596 I am the first to admit that my paranoia gets the best of me, and I think that 597 sometimes it makes my words much to harsh. 598 599 Guardian 600 Work I shall on the poem. 601 602 Tin Man 603 Thank you. I am working on a way to prevent what we discussed, wish me luck. 604 605 606 Adrian 607 p.s. Tanya, my friend, thank you, as always, for your words. 608 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^ 609 off 610 ***************************************************************************** 611 close to bottom, or there... so much to say, aurgg what a day, a day filled 612 with valentines and warrents for my arrest. what a combo... what? did i just 613 feel the presence of 200 ears that just pricked up to some good dirt? ok to 614 satisfy i will just say i paid the tickets and they didn't take me back to 615 texas... gee that was a wild vacation... yes, im grabbing my ankles, feel good? 616 oh yes officer, give me more. but i have a drivers license it's right here. 617 *******icouldb***hallnightkathyd********************************************* 618 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 619 Tanka 620 621 Experimenting 622 A new song, by a new voice 623 Echos off the walls 624 625 626 Testing its form and meter 627 Amongst the chorus of the Inn 628 629 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Adrian ^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^ TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629