Anyone else notice the irony of William posting a seemingly sci-fi first section of the RR on a Non Sci-Fi board?

Actually I didn't know what genre it was. I didn't think it is SF because it can happen now. (It is just a bigger Klingerman telegram.)

Don't get me wrong. It is SF if you say so. Geesh, that means if it comes back to me I have to continue with SF. Parallel Universes count?

Seriously, I'm going to need something to riff off from the other posts or really widen the definition of SF (or have it be real!). (That was a joke; I wouldn't ask anybody to read about real Crab Creatures from Outer Space.)

MJ, I didn't notice the time on your post at the kitchen sink. Are we nit picking here?

Here's another nit I noticed in William's story. It may be unintentional. I have a habit of checking every web address I see in works of fiction, be it in movies, comic books, etc. www.scambusters.org is, it turns out, a legitimate web address. www.urbanmyths.com isn't. However, www.urbanmyth(no 's').com is a legitimate address. However, it's the address of "a seven member ensemble of versatile and innovative performers from New England whose repertoire mixes African/Middle Eastern rhythms, Early Music, Celtic folk traditions, jazz, and other World music influences in a unique blend", called Urban Myth. Perhaps he should have used www.snopes.com?

Science fiction, William, does not always take place in the future. Jules Verne's novels took place in a (for Verne) contemporary setting.

I think it's better to nitpick here, but that's just me.

I didn't feel it necessary to remicronit you here.

Oh, and you won't be committing immoral acts in my segment...if you're even there. Mikey has to be kind to me.

Nothing like starting out with a "bang." What am I supposed to do with that? (Actually, I have an idea or two, but I still feel I was blind-sided. )

-------

Even if it turns out that there is more to the video than "William" believes, the story need not be SF.* There are stories set in other genres that occasionally brush up against ideas usually considered SF conventions. For example in the "spy" sub-genre of the "action-adventure" genre there is the sub-sub-genre known as the "techno-thriller." Because a country's most advanced defense technology is classified, the writer has to invent his own version of it in much the same way as the SF writer extrapolates tomorrow's consumer technology.


*There is no such literary genre as "Sci-Fi." It is a term that should be reserved for ***-awful [or maybe ****ess-awful(he says with a wink to MJ)] B-grade movies and third-rate fanfic. (Hmm, maybe this is Sci-Fi after all.)

Mmmmmm...'Non-SF Novels'...yeah, that looks good (or at least would save me a bit of typing each time I have to introduce myself. ) I'll have to check with the Chief on that one.

Meanwhile - not to worry, Tom, I have faith in you. Besides, remember that you can be as wacky as you want in your turn...

Benn,

That is not something a modern day Jules Verne would have wrote. There is no technology you are not looking at right now. The characters do not "boldly go where no man has gone before." I am not French. (Miseur, I demand an apology.)

TomM,

I thought that was easy to transition out of. He can go to the closet and end up in "Narnia", or go to a chess tournament and solve a murder, or go to a donut shop and meet police. (OK, the last one is a cheap shot, but I can't write them tickets.)

Machiko Jenkins: ***Mikey has to be kind to me. ***

-- cracking my knuckles and smiling in anticipation of my turn...

And guess what, Mikey? If you're especially nice to me, I'll do my best to make Morgan have to really work to stay in the game!

'Cause, y'know, his turn is after mine in the Game of Write.

"That is not something a modern day Jules Verne would have wrote. There is no technology you are not looking at right now."

Which is exactly the same with what Jules Verne wrote. His stories were the result painstaking research on his part on what was doable, given the science of his day. His stories did not take place in the far flung future, but in the days in which he lived. If Journey to the Center of Earth seems far fetched today, remember, in Verne's day it was all scientifically accurate.

I would catagorize Pat Frank's Alas, Babylon as Science Fiction, too. Aside from an all out nuclear war, there's nothing too far from reality and our current understanding of science. Science Fiction is, I believe, mostly a matter of taking science fact and using it extrapolate its effect and significance.

Benn,

The main character does nothing but debunk claims. He does not travel to the moon or the center of the earth. Except for some bad SF posing as reality (as all hoaxes are) there is no SF element. If it was the "Klingerman Telegram" or a vwarning about a computer virus that eats your fingers or a "forward this to help Microsoft's e-mail tracker" would you still say it was SF. BTW Mr. Frank and I are one nuclear war apart. What science fact is extrapolated? (Relative strength of exoskeltons?) How is that extrapolated for its significance?

Don't get me wrong, there are several people here who say that is SF. My next installment will be SF within the loose definition provided. (other than a "Computer, end program." I can't get him into space. No Hard SF. Is sociology a science?)

The problem for me, William, is when someone else pointed out that your story wasn't "science fiction", you said it wasn't because "...it can happen now." I merely have pointed out that the same was true for Verne's stories & Alas Babylon. Now, you claim "The main character does nothing but debunk claims. He does not travel to the moon or the center of the earth. Except for some bad SF posing as reality (as all hoaxes are) there is no SF element." But that is why it was said to be SF. Despite the "debunking", you end the story with the nagging doubt that it could be true.

Science fiction isn't about "parallel universes", "outer space" or other such cliches. Daniel Keyes' Flowers For Algernon can easily be called SF. And it's only science fiction conceit was a drug or a treatment (IIRC) that increased the IQ (temporarily) of the lead character, Charley.

Besides, it's interesting that you argue that it isn't SF. At first you told Machiko, "Don't get me wrong. It is SF if you say so." I merely point out that a story does not have to have phasers or warp drive to qualiy as science fiction.

I told MJ that is SF for purposes of this game. When it comes back to me I'll have to continue with SF (your definition). As for leaving the impression that it could be true, well, that's a revelation. I thought the impression I left was of the lead character getting tired of swimming upstream.

Flowers for Algernon had a new drug or treatment that temporarily increased the title character's intelligence and explored the ramifications of that drug. I never explore the ramifications of anything.

Hmmm...now we see. Will Tom turn his section in, as it's due TODAY?

We all wait with baited breath...well, you all do. I'm going to go brush my teeth so I don't smell like fish bait, thanks.

Yes, MJ. Kerriem has had my installment for a little while now, and is determining if it violates the agreed on rules (I'm fairly sure that it does not) and will post it by tonight.

I don't like fish, so when I wait with baited breath, I use cheese. Mouse bones aren't as dangerous, either.

TomM,

Sorry but I filled up on worms.

This was my first chance to re-read my response to MJ, and I think I may owe Kerriem an apology. It sounds like I submitted my piece days ago, and she is the hold-up. At the time I wrote it, "a little while meant an hour and a half to two hours, not that much time, but noticibly before MJ's post.

So to be clear, although MJ's "reminder" was understandable, it was not (quite) necessary, and that is all I intended to convey. And Kerriem is in no way to be faulted in the lateness of the posting.

Sorry, Kerrie

No problem, Tom...but that was real nice of you, anyway.

Ahem. OK, everybody, Tom's entry is now up for inspection. Enjoy.

That brings us to...a problem.
If we're playing in order of interested posters, Merry comes next - but I haven't heard from her since, which means I haven't had a chance to send her the rules. I'm not certain she's even been keeping up with the game.

Sooooo...I'm suspending operations until Monday morning. Merry, if you're reading this (or somebody who knows how to get in touch with her is) please email me ASAP to get started on your turn.
If I don't hear from you over the weekend I'll assume you've skipped this round and go on to the next player - assuming ScottN doesn't have a problem with that?

No nits. Frankly the possible nits are for the third poster. (I am assuming nits are violations of internal consistancy.) BTW, TomM, is it an Sci-Fi story?

I've decided leave that an open question. Right now, the next poster can dismiss the vidclip as a hoax and start off in a new direction entirely, or focus on de-bunking it, or decide that the crab-creatures are real(within the story), or totally surprise us.

Two things about the mystery stories from the 20's and thirties that I noticed:

1)Sometimes the first chapter or two would include details that were clearly intended to be used as clues or red herrings, but the writers of the next three or four chapters would miss them entirely and steer the story in wildly different directions, until, when it finally got to someone who recognized the "hooks," it was nearly impossible to jerk the story back to pick them up.

2) One writer would introduce a character clearly intended to be the "Holmes" of the work, but later writers would add their own Holmesian character, and the original character would become a Gregson analog, then a Lestrade analog, and a Watson.

Well, sorry, Tom. I've been waiting all week to read your installment. This waiting is gonna kill me before it's my turn!

*Sniff* No one loves me.

(As an addendum: Kerrie, something you might consider is at the top where you do announcements, put who's next to post and when it's due by. It'll help ME, anyway. Just a thought.)

A nit for William Berry's Portion:

"If he is intelligent enough to send us that message, he can figure it out," I typed. "Besides, where is Voyager II? The nearest star is eight light years away. He'd have to send it out faster than light and then slow it down when it got here so we could read it."

Our nearest stellar neighbour is Alpha Centauri, sitting at 4.3 light-years away.

A nit for Part 2: The Voyager 2 record was gold (or at least gold-plated).
Or was calling it silver a deliberate plot point? Hmm...

Well, sorry, Tom. I've been waiting all week to read your installment. This waiting is gonna kill me before it's my turn! MJ

Now you're making me feel bad

You have nothing to apologize for. In fact maybe I should apologize to you for making you wait, but its hard making an appointment with my muse. We both have very busy schedules, and can never seem to coördinate.

Nsetzer,

The unnamed (at that point) character was wrong. You have established he is not in astronomy! (Yes, I screwed up, but it was in quotes so I can pass it off as the character screwing up.)

Craig,

Good potential nit. Obviously the video is a fake. If someone says it is real then the silver vs. gold plated nit hits 'em. Bravo TomM, too bad we're on to you and your evil traps set for MJ! (Seriously TomM, I doubt you planted it on purpose. Well, that IMHO.)

Erm, how is Tom setting multiple traps for me? There's only once he could have killed me with the waiting...

Unless yer referring to the video?

It ain't MY trap, then...

MJ,

A gentleman never exposes another gentleman's traps. (Only kidding, I was refering to the video. [Is it a nit if I tell her it was an*.mp3 when it is probably an *.avi and she relies on it? Hey, to avoid that problem why don't we agree that writers shouldn't lie outside of the story.])

Let's see... we had "Part I," followed by "Part 2," so next must be "Part C," right? :-)

Ha ha. Also ha.

Anyhow...just to let you know that ScottN has come through in a big way. His contribution - a bit short, but then again it was produced on very short notice - has now been posted.

Mikey, you're up (starting tomorrow)...

Hey, I can be just as paranoid as the Paranoid Conspiracy Theorist!

d00d!

Micronit:

With that, Dave swithed to a different computer.

Shouldn't that "swithed" be "switched"?

And maybe I'm just lazy, but is it confirmed that Berry lives in MA?

Scott, I loved it! I had to laugh at that. Man, I love conspiracy theorists (and we all know that MattPatt heads them)!

MJ, well, we know from his PM postings that in Real Life™ he lives there, and there was nothing in the story to contradict it, so now, if someone claims otherwise, it's either a nit, or it needs to be explained away (possibly Dave's mad h4xx0r 5k1llz are not as good as he thinks?).

Hey! My post disappeared! I had a false nit then I went back and I was wrong. No biggie, but it was funny (or at least I thought so).

No, MJ, since birth I haven't lived in Ma. Oh, you mean am I a Massachusettean. Yup. You know how Massachusetts looks like an arm of somebody showing off their bicep? I live in the arm pit! (It sounds "" but that is a valid description.)

There is no evidence that "William" and "Tom" IMed from the story but it can easily be infered. (C'mon, they e-mailed.) I thought it was funny that the writer always gets identified as that character in the next story. I want to ask Mikey which hacker is "Scott"? (Both of them?)

Oh yeah? Well a big pbbbbbbbbttttttttt!!!!!!!!! to both of you!

MJ,

Please help me. I can't do that without "h" and "z".

I'm neither. I don't use 'leetspeek.

Oh, and I 0\/\/n0r5 j00, d00d!!!!

Ohmygodit'smyturnit'smyturn! Whatamigonnadowhatamigonnado?

When's my installments due?

Easy there Mikey. Take a deep breath and let it out slow. I'm sure you'll do fine. You seem like a thoughtful, creative guy. I'm sure you'll come up with something good. :-)

ScottN,

I hate to admit my ignorance (no, really) but can you provide a translation for, "Oh, and I 0\/\/n0r5 j00, d00d!!!!" I understand only, "Oh, and I ... dude!!!!"

Your installment's due...well...let's say Monday, Mikey, OK? The Moderator has a bad cold and doesn't feel like doing much deep thinking 'till then anyway.

"I own you, dude"

Um...okay. I can make out the "own" part. And the "Oh, and I" and "dude." What the heck does "0r5" translate to? And "j00" is "you"?

"ownorz" = "owns" = "own" in this context, and yes, "j00" = "you".

Script Kiddies (the kind of people who use 'leetspeek) think it's cool to have their own dialect, I guess...

Sorry, folks. My dog ate my assignment...

Actually, I got bogged down with work-related stuff this weekend (and late last week), so my installment is not ready, yet. I am reviewing the story now and will hopefully have something this afternoon or early tomorrow morning.

Sorry again.

Don't panic, Mikey. The Moderator is just and benevolent...also still a little stuffed up...and will grant an extension. (If this keeps up, though, she's gonna want a note from your dog. )

Wow, Mikey, that must be one hungry dog to eat your computer like that! Or was it just a disc that got eaten?
Before Mikey even mentioned his delay, I was going to suggest the we just have installments due on Mondays, since it seems to be going that way anyhow. Any comments, O Moderator? Or should I say "Addy cobbets, O Boderator? *snif*"
:-)

Ahem...
"I was going to suggest THAT we just have..." et cetera, not "...suggest THE we have..."
That's what I get for joking around about colds.

Watchit, buster...There's always the possibility that the Moderator, having taken one too many Contac C's, will snap and start trying to figure out how to transmit this %^@*%$ virus down the computer lines.

Seriously...I have one or two problems with the concept of an every-Monday due date, including the fact that the rules that everyone's been operating under up till now say 'four days'. Maybe next round.
In the meantime, the Moderator is mulling sending out a reminder e-mail to make sure authors are notified of their turns promptly.

Hey, the wait is cool for me.

I get more time to plot.

Not to be a nag, but any chance of seeing your entry before the Spiderman movie comes out, Mikey?

Um, so what's up? Were we talking about Monday April 8th?

Sorry, Morgan, didn't see your post.

Hey, guys, since I'm next in line to write, I think it's MY job to nag!

Personally, I'm aiming for beginning of summer.

That way, I can have ALL summer to think of my little evil plot devices!

Hehehehehe.

(Erm, not that I'm getting antsy or anything now. Really.)

Monday...like the rainbow, you can approach it, but it continually recedes. When will Mikey's Monday come? Perhaps no one knows.

Perhaps we are not meant to know.

Good point, Mark.

Sorry to have let things slide like this, guys...my cold, other computer-bulletin-board related chores, excessive Moderatorial softheartedness, take your pick of excuses.

Just to get everybody back on the same page: I've sent a note to Mikey requesting that he submit his entry ASAP. If it doesn't appear here by tomorrow (Tuesday) noon, Machiko, you're up.

And in future, extensions will consist of two days only, as set out in the rules (and as I myself enforced with Merry a few turns back.) Again, sorry for the delay.

Of course I'm up! I haven't gone to bed yet!

Geesh.

:P

kerriem,

I know it feels bad to enforce a rule. As a (chess) tournament director more than once I have to look into a pleading childs eyes and explain the touch move rule as the child learns to lie to the director.

Sorry you are in that position. Since I put you up to this game I feel responsible for putting you on the spot.

I assume Mikey can be an adult, but he might be upset. If it makes you feel safer Mikey will be breaking the law getting to your house with a gun. If Mikey is upset you can crash at MJ's for a while. (Morgan won't mind.) Do you own a big dog?

I emailed kerriem earlier today. I was caught in a sudden deluge of work-related issues. We're on a deadline at work (ironic, isn't it?), and have another day before we finish the current project (only to start the next one in three weeks).

I apologize for putting you guys on hold. When I last posted, I thought I'd have the time to whip something up (I work best on a deadline). Unfortunately, the gods were not with me. I haven't even been online for about a week.

So I do not have a contribution to make for this installment (and it wouldn't be fair to post mine even if I did). I signed up to participate because I thought it'd be a lot of fun, not really expecting the pressures of reality to interfere. Since I can't guarantee that this won't happen again, I will sadly step down and out of the game.

I apologize for my tardiness in responding, but as I said, I haven't been online in a bit and I didn't realize you'd all be resting on pins and needles.

So have fun, all! I'm going to go peruse the Oasis and Acquisition boards and see what kind of trouble I can churn up there, debunking nits and posting a few "observations" of my own.

Machiko, I guess it's up to you, babe.

Sorry, again, all!

Hey, no worries there, Mikey.

Your Queen is feeling benevolent and has decided to not have MattPatt feed you to the lions.

But next time...

Okay, folks.

I think I'm done with my section. But I'm going to sit on it for the night, see what I think.

If all systems are go, I'll fire it off to Kerrie tomorrow.

Don't you go and sit on my computer!

Let us know how it hatches!

This is a bit off topic (What?! Craig going off-topic? No way!), but does anyone have a preference as to how they are addressed on these boards? Usually I just address people by their usernames, but if I ever want to shorten that I want to make sure it's OK first.
Obviously, I go by Craig, though I have no problem with CR, which may be how I sign in from now on. "Sir" would suffice if I'm feeling pompous or if I want to match all the impersonal junk mail I get.
"Craiggie," Machiko? Um, I'll have to think about that one. (Everyone else: that's from another board.)

Hey, Morgan, if I sat on Elroy, maybe it would improve the memory and performance of the machine!

Craggie (hehehehe), I prefer MJ or Machiko, in order of preference. I don't even mind Jenkins.

Of course, bowing before me as your Queen would be your best bet. ;P

My name is William Berry. My friends call me "Bill". You may call me Mr. William Berry. (Apologies to Mr. Steve Martin.)

Actually I could use a cool nick name, like "cannonball" or "the pencil" to replace jerkface.

I tend to use a person's username as written with two exceptions. Where the username is a more-or-less normal given name and a last name (Luigi Novi, William Berry) or a first name and a last initial (ScottN) I tend to use the first name alone. Where someone themselves uses a shortened version of their username (Machiko = MJ, Keith Alan Morgan = KAM, The Undesirable Element = TUE), I follow their lead.

Okay, I forgot to make this note, 'cause I was sleeping. My section has been turned in.

Prepare to laugh, it's so ludicrous.

Hey, Mr. William Berry, I believe Queen MJ only called you a jerk, not a jerkface. :-)

I more or less do the same as TomM (Tom) said, but I thought I'd be courteous and ask first.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Hope your section was worth it, MJ.

I like it! It's well-written and funny...and, oh yeah, I just posted it this morning. Come one, come all.

(And I'm assuming he already knows this...in fact, I'm assuming he's cackling with anticipatory glee right about now...but anyway, Mark, you're up.)

We have been informed that if we do not comply with their wishes, they will use their considerable technologies to cause our sun to go supernova
--in MJ's section, the president of the United States of America

Unfortunately, our sun can not be made to supernova; it lacks the mass to create the necessary conditions (see the Chief's Next Gen Guide II about Soran's device causing a star to supernova (pg 85))

*Blinkblink* And you're telling me this why (other than the fact that I forgot, that is)?

Do you honestly think any President of the US has the brains to figure that out?

I don't.

Hehehe

Loved the "Gor" reference!

The sun can go super nova if the aliens use their technobabble to technobabble the technobabble and increase the sun's mass temporarily.

Hey, MJ, congratulations. It's now officially a Sci-Fi story. (Of course, Mark might make it an SNL skit, but...)

Without sounding too Political Musings here, the current US president thinks any cloning is bad because humans will be cloned just to be harvested for their organs. Talk about bad sci-fi! So yeah, the supernova thing being believed by him is plausible for the moment.

BTW, isn't it ironic that just after I talk about using informal/shortened names, my usernames have gotten ridiculously long? I didn't realize that until I started to post this time.

Anti-nit: While it would be unimaginable for our sun to supernova, since it is quite likely that it is not massive enough to even go nova, it is barely possible to induce conditions in the sun so that it expands like a nova. Possibly the aliens command of our language has been too much influenced by bad science in broadcast science fiction, or maybe the president or his speech-writer mis-heard or mis-understood the message.

Yeah! Maybe the aliens actually said that they'd make the sons go superbald!

;)

Sorry, Berry...it's CHEESY sci-fi!

Actually the aliens have a way of making the sun go super nova. If we assume they are so vastly superior in technology they can temporarily change the atomic weight of the sun's hydrogen to 46. If they say they can do this, would you ask for a demonstration or go under the assumption that they can do it? We are talking about six foot tall, crab guys with exoskeletons of a super strong and super light material in a space ship. (Man, MJ, you realize you have to defend their exoskeltal nature, them speaking English, traveling faster than light, radio waves that can can travel faster than the ship that's traveling faster than light, the viability economics of slavery in "dorax mines" and the changed color of the phonograph recording, right? This I gotta see.)

OK, MJ, rationalize all that. I think you're post will be longer than a Luigi.

Kerriem, how long does she have to rationalize all that to your satisfaction?

She doesn't have to rationlize anything. That's my job.

Mark's right.
A careful perusal of the rules reveals nothing about a player's having to respond to each and every plot detail mentioned in the previous section - only making sure that they don't contradict them.
Remember that this is supposed to be a game. Dangling plot threads help make things ever more complicated for the succeeding players...and it also makes for more 'scope for imagination', as LM Montgomery put it.
And, come to think of it, there do seem to be a whole lot of those threads available for Mark to draw on...

Yeah, Berry!

Personally, I think what Morgan's going to do is then reveal that I was loopy on Pepsi and I didn't hear the speech right.

Either that, or "it was all a nasty dream."

Unless Morgan uses his imagination, that is (if it hasn't completely atrophied).

I'm in so much trouble when he sees this. Hehehehe.

kerriem,

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm going to put everyone in the trojan horse and wearing bowling shoes and let TomM deal with why.

Oh, Mark, if I remember right it can't be a dream or a holodeck episode. (Of course that leaves acid flashbacks.)

If I ever write a holodeck episode outside of a spoof, somebody come over here and shoot me in the head.

Ok, even if the aliens could change the sun's mass (more on that in a moment) the sun would still not supernova -- it still lacks the necessary core.


Now, about the alteration of the sun's mass: They would need to increase our sun's mass to a range of 10 to 100 times its current mass (for a Type II supernova--it can't be a Type I supernova because Type I supernovae involve highly evolved, hydrogen-deficient stars and our sun isn't one of those).

How do they intend to do this? Well, they can only have the mass outright or have it as energy within their ship. In either event we wouldn't need to worry (and we would definitely have "felt" their approach before the transmission) because the Earth would suffer severe volcanic activity and a redistribution of the water on the surface--if it even survives at all: it could conceivably be ripped apart.

Now, let's say they intend to add just as much energy to the sun (that a supernova produces) in the hope that it will explode. Well, supernovae have a total energy output of 10⁴⁶ Joules--roughly as much energy as the sun will produce in its entire lifetime of about 10 billion years. Again, where are they getting the energy? Using E=mc² we find that 10⁴⁶ Joules can be "stored" as 1.113×10²⁹ kg or 0.0559 solar masses or 18600*the mass of the Earth--so the Earth would still suffer volcanic activity and tidal waves on the ship's approach.

Hence, it'd probably be easier just to destroy the Earth than supernova our sun--in fact, if they had a sufficiently massive ship (let's say 1/6 the mass of our moon) and brought it into orbit, the Earth would suffer volcanic activity and tidal waves then too, so much of humanity would die while leaving the planet intact.

And the president may not understand the science, but he does have science advisors who allegedly understand it--hence he would be told it was not scientifically possible before he made the speech

Anther possibility:

MJ's character did not say that she tuned to CNN, or FoxNews, or any other news station; she was flipping channels and stopped when a talking head announced that the president was about to make a speech. She could have tuned in a "realistic" drama ala Orson Welles' radio version of The War of the Worlds. There was nothing in the "president's" speech that conects it to the Crab Clip.

I'm having fun with this on so many levels...

Here's more possibilities (hey! I'm allowed to offer them!):

Even if it was a legitimate news station, there's also nothing in the speech about the President saying that the craft in question had the Crabs on it.

Is there any evidence that the speech was finished by the end? Maybe there would have been more, but I chose to end it there (for Nick's sake, maybe the Prez woulda said, "however, we do not believe them beause of this...").

The email sent to "Tom" gave a date, so we all assume that it was the same date (or the next day) when the speech was given. How ya know it ain't 4-1 of the next year? I never specified.

And going back to the speech: Never said how long the craft had been in orbit; just that it was detected at X time.

I really should stop. I'm gonna be giving Morgan ideas.

NSetzer,

Bad Sci-Fi is bad on many levels? Unfortunately all that has a cheat. Einstein was wrong (although relativity can be useful as a shorthand it is oh so simple.) The ailiens can cause a ripple in the aether. The have found a way to store extremely large amounts of energy with out the toublesome mass issues (because they can look beyond our simplistic notions, MUHAHAHA.)

MJ, not to be giving Mark ideas, but what if we determine the aliens just found a space ship lying around. (Dude, where's my spaceship?) Or we do surrender and they go away never to trouble us again (aliens sometimes behave inexplicably). Or the pointy haired guy in Dilbert gets replaced by a six foot crab and no one notices. (Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.)

Mark, in you're story don't forget to address NSetzer's concerns.

Micronitting Berry's post:

The last line should be:

Mark, in your story, don't forget to address NSetzer's concerns.

:P

MJ,

You obviously don't understand the French fashion of adding useless contractions that lesser mortals think are wrong. You're as bad as the IRS agent who corrects my math and informs me I won't be getting a refund of $14,798.42.

You must have the same agent I had - my refund, I'm told, is definitely not going to be $52,390.68 for dependents like Morgan.

;)

And I am not!

I definitely agree with the other possibilities proposed (and yes, this is fun).

Just to be sure, the "crab video” has been around at least one day (the last few lines of ScottN's portion say "the next morning")

William "insert wacky name" Berry--
the only problem with inventing a new science is that the story's universe has been established to be our own--so any new theory upon which the aliens have based their technology must be consist with our current theories (where they work). So, Einstein could be wrong when involved with large space-time curvature and small distances, but general relativity works with large-scale objects.

Oh, and I forgot to add (commenting on one of your previous posts): yes, I would ask for a demonstration.

I thought it was a little odd that such important news as alien take-over would only appear on ONE station, found after surfing through a few others first. Kind of like those supermarket tabloids...if that crud were real, don't you think there'd be more coverage in the mainstream media?
Of course, ScottN's d00d's might say that's all part of the cover-up!

In college (about 1985 or so) my drunken and/or high friends and I tuned in a news report about tension in the Mideast and the carrier battlegroup Kity Hawk losing comuincation with the mainland (in a reporters mid-sentance the sattelite uplink failed). It was immeadiately followed by a report form Washington about the President taking off in looking glass.

We were stone (or stoned) silent until it was discoverd to be HBO's "Countdown to Looking Glass."

Hey, MJ, do you ever get confused with Michael Jackson?

No, Berry, but that might have something to do with my preference for real men instead of schoolboys.

;)

the only problem with inventing a new science is that the story's universe has been established to be our own

When?

The first line of the story by Mr. Berry himself:

"I was typing a story that would be turned down by Analog Science Fiction and Fact when my instant messenger came up. (Actually I was watching seti@home while thinking of a plot for a story Analog wouldn't turn down, and yes, I use DSL to connect to the Internet to ease any research.)"

The reference to the "Klingerman" note
The reference to Voyager II
The reference to Kurt Waldheim and Jimmy Carter

and that's just the first part.

Other portions include references to nitcentral members themselves, pop culture (the movie Mars Attacks), United States cities (Los Angeles in ScottN's bit), The United States' Government itself (again in ScottN's portion), NASA (ScottN), Starbucks (ScottN), Massachusetts (ScottN), Michigan (MJ), Earth (MJ), Elroy (MJ), Voices Of Unreason (MJ), and Pepsi (MJ)

And I've probably missed a few.

Hence, the only way this story could not be in our Universe (on Earth in fact) is if, in the TOS fashion of a cost-cutting maneuver, there was a planet identical to ours.

This may not be entirely implausible: according to certain scientists' views, the laws of quantum mechanics should be applied to the entire Universe as a whole--the consequence of this is that any time any one of us makes a decision, all those decisions actually occur, but in separate universes.

Pbbbbbbbttttttttt! to you, Nick.

You forgot my reference to other websites, other than just Morgan's (yes, Truer Words and SapphireWolf do exist)!

Although...since I made a reference to Gor, does that throw your theory out?

:P

Alternate universe. The Trek universe was identical to ours until the early/mid '60s.

Carl Baumgartner does not exist in our universe, therefore that cannot be our universe. Even if it was I could logically cheat.

1) In our universe Einstein is wrong; just we don't know it yet. We are in the position of thinking Newtonian physics is perfect and needs no modification. Before you say, "but Einsteinian physics predicts so much” note I will reply "Newtonian physics predicted much too."
2) Mass Delusions. (I mean Masses of people not one of the properties of matter.) You only think I'm joking. It can be done. (Albeit in a joking manner. Comedy is forgiving of physics as any Warner Brothers cartoon can attest.)
3) MJ is delusional. Easier than #2 and you can't nit pick that. (Only Mark Morgan can, but he's biased.)
4) The President (whom we must assume is Bush if MJ was rational or she'd recognize it wasn't him) was delusional. If that is the case perhaps we should move this to Political Musings.
5) The technobable has made the top quark have no charm. Besides meaning it cannot get a date on Saturday, it means that what people wish for comes true. ScottN's hackers wished for aliens. (Berry would wish for three girls, money, and booze, but we won't get into the "rap" scene.)

Actually, to address number 1, I did admit Einstein's theory could be wrong, but in our universe it works where its supposed to (large space-time curvature involving "large" objects) And note, Newton was plainly wrong, but his theory works where it's supposed to too (that's why you learn it)--large, "slow moving" objects are still described, to this day, using Newton's equations.

Regarding number 5, the top quark never had charm; it only has truth (which is the real reason it couldn't get a date on Saturday). The charm quark is the only quark that has charm.

Hey! I am not delusional!

I'll admit to being loopy and crazy and just downright strange, but I am not delusional!

I'm not the one who went into partnership with the Overlord. That was Morgan.

Hey! I am not delusional!

counter-evidence:

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

Sooooo...how's that delusional again?

I would have chalked that up under "long moment of insanity" myself.

Ahem...
Mark, your installment's due. Progress update please?

How about I just mail it to you? It should be in your inbox any virtual moment now.

My turn hit at tax time, it's amazing I'm not completely feral this week.

*muttering* Or completely hacked to bits.

Ahhh, I see...and there it is. Great, I'll have it posted by tonight.
Oh, and MJ, you have my condolences.

Why, thank you, Kerrie.

Although...Morgan would have needed it more than I, had I not been the saint I am.

;)

OK, everybody, Mark's installment is up...and the story takes an intriguing new twist! Enjoy.

Demented, disturbed new twist, I should hope.

Mark Morgan and ScottN had the good sense to name their first person narrator so people wouldn't think it's them. MJ threw him a real curve ball and he just ignored it. Is that legal? I favor giving him some slack and letting her explain her segment when it comes back around to her. (note to MJ, I'll be nice and lay ground work for your explanation [but you won't like it]) What thinks our wise one?

I think I turned everyone's segment into test animations for a man planning murder, that's what I think.

I cut the part where Donovan insults some of the clips...

You know, I read Morgan's section first.

I thought on it, and I reread it.

Did more thinking, did more rereading.

I still don't see any connection to the plotline that had been forming, except for a couple mentions of the Crab Clip.

[plot as it is:
My friend sends me a crab clip section, is it real or not (Chapter 1) -->
I received a copy of this clip in email and here's what my friend at work had to say (Chapter 2) -->
A copy of this crab clip has reached the alien conspiracy paranoid (Interlude 1) -->
I got a copy of the clip and sent it to one of my best friends who called it trash, and my fiance had to crash into bed, and I replied to the friend who sent it to me, and then the President made a speech on TV (Chapter 3) -->
My sister and her boyfriend are drug junkies, and he's going to die! Die, I tell you! Oh yeah, here's mention or two of the crab clip. (Agatha Christie trying to worm her way in)]

I just think his excitement over the upcoming Spider-Man movie's fried his brain.

Well, the idea is to create new twists and turns, while keeping the basic plotline intact...and Mark certainly did that in style...but I admit I'm beginning to look forward to what happens when all these dangling plot elements converge. Seems like we've got everything in place for a pretty spectacular next few chapters.

(Uh, not that JD should feel any pressure or anything...)

My original draft included a more complete explanation that the previous chapters, one and all, were demos that Fredricks made in Flash.

I cut it to leave more fun for JD to play with.

While I will always violently disagree with Morgan and politely disagree with Kerrie, I bow this round out.

I shall, however, continue to say that this is akin to reading the Bible, expecting to come up to Psalms, and finding out that it's not Psalms next; it's Nietzsche.

Talk about a mental whiplash.

So, Mark pulled a "Dallas" on us? None of it was real? How... unusual. Or have you been letting the 'bots play again?

The 'bots attacked him the night he sent that section, and replaced his supposedly brilliant mind with creamed corn and beet juice.

OK, OK...despite her fondness for noir, the Moderator is putting her foot down, guys: no more 'demos', which are far too close to the 'holodeck' scenario in the rules for comfort.

Meanwhile, JD's chapter is up. It's funny and goofy and introduces some action - but in order to get it to match up with the rest of the story, I'm afraid some fancy brain work might be needed.

Ah well...Craig? Want to give it a try?

All I can say in my own defense is I made it ambiguous on purpose, folks.

Kerrie, this board is up to 120k. You may want to start a part 2. Or not, I don't want to seem pushy or anything, it's just I remember what it was like waiting for pages to load on my old phone line modem (I'm on cable now) and how annoying it was to have and sit and wait for some huge page to load and now I just realized I'm making one of those posts where I just ramble on and on without really saying much of anything. Oh great, now I'm making it worse, never mind.

Sounds reasonable, kerriem. I can always write the other story myself, since it appears to have vanished into JD's creative torrent.

Wha... What... WHAT... How the...

(Leans back in comfy office chair, reaches for cup of hot cocoa that has gotten cold sitting on the kitchen counter two rooms away, realizes the cocoa mistake, leans forward in comfy office chair to continue muttering about the latest installment in The Drunken English Major Game...)

Okey-dokey. And to think I was worried about coming out of left field with my installment way back after ScottN's submission. Sheesh, this has indeed gotten... um... SOMETHING.

When's my installment due, kerriem? I've been away for a couple days (haven't even been online!) and need at least one day (from now) to whip up what's been brewing in my head. If I'm overdue, could I please have 'til tomorrow? PLEEEEEASE?! (Bows down to our glorious moderator, with the hope the Queen MJ won't take offense to my bowing to someone else. ) If you need details, let me know and I'll e-mail them to you!
(Does smiling and blinking my not-quite grey-blue eyes help?)
If nothing else, I'll get it posted by midnight tonight, everyone.

Well, you've reduced the Moderator to helpless laughter in the cause...but actually, Craig, no need to panic.
Since I put JD's post up Tuesday you've got until tomorrow anyway, and if necessary you can have until Monday .

Oh, thank you, O Moderator! (Swoops back cape to make gracious bow, wondering if she noticed the capital 'M' I remembered to add to 'Moderator' this time.)
I should have it to you by tomorrow, then, unless something else comes up, at which point I'll e-mail you.

The cape was a bit much, wasn't it?

I see.

Kerriem gets to be glorious, but I'm just 'the.'

There's gratitude for not having been fed to the lions.

Erm...Butch, I'm thinking this is a good time to take your suggestion!

To be continued on part II...