12 June 2010: 'The Love Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake' by Robert T. Jeschonek

This week we listened to another episode of the Escape Pod Podcast. The mp3 of of the story is available for download here.

[13:39] Aroha Hannu: oops... sorry... Hi.

[13:39] Jago Constantine: Hi :)

[13:40] Aroha Hannu: sooo... you're the big cheese around here?
[13:40] Jago Constantine: Well, I run the science fiction meeting
[13:40] Aroha Hannu: and when is the meeting?
[13:40] Jago Constantine: At 2pm
[13:41] Aroha Hannu: in 20 minutes.... that's great....
[13:41] Jago Constantine: Are you here for it?
[13:41] Aroha Hannu: Well.. I guess I am. I happened by this quite by accident. / lucky accident. *smiles*
[13:42] Jago Constantine: Cool :)
[13:42] Aroha Hannu: What do people usually discuss here?
[13:42] Jago Constantine: Well today we're listening to a recorded story / every second week we do that / otherwise we talk about what sci fi we've each been reading
[13:43] Aroha Hannu: Well, the music playing now is my kind of music.... hahahah / Kiwi... / But... gosh... I do try to read. / when I'm not reading non-fiction, it's usually sci fic.
[13:44] Jago Constantine: oh great :) / Would you like an invite to the Sci Fi group so you get reminders?
[13:45] Aroha Hannu: Oh yes! / I have a few standards...... I attend the NPR Science Friday show (which has recently had to move....)
[13:46] Jago Constantine: How is that?
[13:46] Aroha Hannu: It's GREAT! / super group... they are trying to stay together to listen, even though the Sci Fri sim has been dismantled.
[13:47] Jago Constantine: I have tried listening to the show myself but didn't get into it / I am Australian, and I think our Science Show is much better hehe
[13:47] Aroha Hannu: We used to be directly connected to Sci Fri, live and get questions asked... / What science show is that?
[13:48] Jago Constantine: hehe it's called The Science Show / it's on iTunes
[13:48] Aroha Hannu: is it in SL anywhere?
[13:48] Jago Constantine: no unfortunately
[13:48] Aroha Hannu: the brits have a science show on Sundays. / that's my other standard I try to get to. / it's called The Naked Scientist
[13:49] Jago Constantine: Oh I've heard of that but haven't tried it
[13:49] Aroha Hannu: I spend 15 years in New Zealand. / spent... / what is the story about today?
[13:54] Jago Constantine: the story we're listening to is called 'The Love Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake' by Robert Jeschonek / It's written from the point of view of a snack cake / :P
[13:54] Aroha Hannu: hahahhahaa!
[13:54] Jago Constantine: And it's very funny :)
[13:54] Aroha Hannu: sounds good....
[13:54] Jago Constantine: Hey Sora good to see you :)
[13:55] Aroha Hannu: Hi Sora.
[13:56] Sora Bluebird: hello hello / stream is alreeady running
[13:56] Jago Constantine: Thanks Sora :)
[13:57] Mayda Darkrose: Hi Jago, Sora
[13:58] Aroha Hannu: Hi Mayda.
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: hi / shouts: hi
[13:58] Jago Constantine: hey mayda, hey eddi :)
[13:58] Mayda Darkrose: Hi Aroha
[13:58] Jago Constantine: HI EDDI
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: hi!
[13:58] Mayda Darkrose: Hi Eddi
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: i had my mic on
[13:58] Aroha Hannu: Hello, Eddi.
[13:58] Jago Constantine: hehe its ok
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: hi sora / busy being a minister lol
[13:59] Sora Bluebird: hello monsieur eddi
[14:00] Jago Constantine: Ok I've switched to the stream that the story will be on / you should hear moonlight sonata on piano
[14:00] Mayda Darkrose: Got it
[14:00] Jago Constantine: hey eppie :)
[14:00] Eppie Shoreman: hi
[14:00] Zoltan Insoo: hello
[14:01] Mayda Darkrose: Hi Eppie
[14:01] Jago Constantine: Hi, Zoltan, welcome :)
[14:01] Mayda Darkrose: Hi Zoltan
[14:01] Zoltan Insoo: hi All
[14:01] Jago Constantine: Welcome to Science Fiction Saturday everyone :) / Today we're listening to a funny story, but still sci fi / 'The Love Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake' by Robert Jeschonek / told from the point of view of a snack cake / It's from the podcast Escape Pod last week / Do you all have your music streams on?
[14:03] Mayda Darkrose: I have it.
[14:03] Eppie Shoreman: yes
[14:03] Zoltan Insoo: yes
[14:03] Jago Constantine: Welcome perry :)
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: i can say a prayer to being the meeting today :)
[14:04] Jago Constantine: Ok then DJ Sora can start the stream
[14:04] perry Sunkiller: hiya
[14:04] Jago Constantine: you should hear the show beginning now
[14:08] Mayda Darkrose: makes me want potato chips!
[14:08] Aroha Hannu: sorry,.. falling alseep here. / 11pm.... / night.
[14:08] Jago Constantine: night aroha :)
[14:09] perry Sunkiller: lol me to junkkkkk food junkie lol / give me chipssssss lol
[14:13] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:13] perry Sunkiller: or cheetos lol
[14:14] Jago Constantine: Hi, Lori :)
[14:16] perry Sunkiller: brb
[14:16] Jago Constantine: ok
[14:16] Lori Kohl: Hi Jago :-) / wow lol
[14:26] Jago Constantine: lol the innuendo
[14:26] Lori Kohl: yeah!!
[14:26] Eddi Haskell: im getting off on this hostess twinkie i have in front of me .
[14:26] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:26] Lori Kohl: lol
[14:27] Eddi Haskell: someow the low fat strawberry fig newtons i have in real life dont cut it.
[14:27] Jago Constantine: hehe
[14:27] Lori Kohl: I love the strawberry fig newtons! / YES!
[14:28] perry Sunkiller: cr my choc 4 legged cake (black lab) wants a walk in rl :( bye folks
[14:28] Jago Constantine: bye perry :)
[14:28] Lori Kohl: throw them away!
[14:28] Eppie Shoreman: I had to have a piece of Godiva choc.
[14:28] Jago Constantine: they sound like nerds
[14:29] Lori Kohl: yeah they do
[14:29] Jago Constantine: lol you go girl
[14:30] Lori Kohl: lol
[14:31] Jago Constantine: hi, saga :)
[14:31] Saga Highfield: Hi, sorry for being late
[14:31] Jago Constantine: thats ok :) / hi, doctor
[14:31] Doctor Qualia: Greetings.
[14:31] Jago Constantine: we're listening to a story on the music stream ... its most of the way through
[14:38] Lori Kohl: oh no!
[14:39] Mayda Darkrose: haha, the dog
[14:39] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:40] Lori Kohl: lol / wow!
[14:41] Mayda Darkrose: produce porn
[14:41] Lori Kohl: lol
[14:41] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:41] Lori Kohl: yeah / mmmmmmmmm
[14:42] Eppie Shoreman: great story, I've got to go.
[14:42] Jago Constantine: cya next week eppie ;)
[14:42] Eddi Haskell: bye Eppie!
[14:42] Saga Highfield: bye :)
[14:42] Jago Constantine: let me know when the story finishes for you all :)
[14:43] Eddi Haskell: i once bought a case of tastycakes and ate them I go so sick
[14:43] Jago Constantine: lol eddi
[14:43] Saga Highfield: Hehehe
[14:43] Eddi Haskell: i did
[14:44] Lori Kohl: story is finished for me
[14:44] Saga Highfield: The story's over, now there's feedback
[14:44] Jago Constantine: I wondered at first if Smidgen's motivation was realistic / ok I'll switch it back to music / I thought Smidgen's motivation should be to get someone to buy him / not necessarily eat him
[14:45] Mayda Darkrose: That was much better than i thought it would be
[14:45] Lori Kohl: lol
[14:45] Jago Constantine: glad to hear it mayda
[14:45] Mayda Darkrose: The company gave the cake an obsession
[14:45] Lori Kohl: once they buy him, they will eat him lol
[14:46] Jago Constantine: but I suppose if he's eaten there is more chance of repeat purchases
[14:46] Saga Highfield: But if he really is as good as he thinks he is, he should want them to eat him / Exactly what I was thinking
[14:46] Mayda Darkrose: "bet you cant eat just one" lol
[14:46] Jago Constantine: lol yes
[14:46] Sora Bluebird: have a good one everyone =)
[14:46] Mayda Darkrose: you too Sora
[14:46] Jago Constantine: cya sora :)
[14:46] Eddi Haskell: bye sora!
[14:47] Eppie Shoreman: i'm back
[14:47] Eddi Haskell: thank you!
[14:47] Saga Highfield: bye sora
[14:47] Jago Constantine: welcome back eppie LOL
[14:47] Mayda Darkrose: It was good Eppie..you can listen to it online tho
[14:47] Eppie Shoreman: someone sent out an event notice on the wrong day.
[14:47] Jago Constantine: in some ways it does sound like a realistic scenario
[14:47] Lori Kohl: bye everyone :-)
[14:47] Mayda Darkrose: Bye Lori
[14:47] Eppie Shoreman: bye
[14:47] Jago Constantine: the way the product placement in the shop works
[14:47] Mayda Darkrose: Some stores really do things like that / Thats why they advise only shopping the walls of a store, LOL
[14:48] Jago Constantine: the walls?
[14:48] Mayda Darkrose: Outside of the isles--theres vegetables, meat. healthy things
[14:48] Eddi Haskell: i buy what ever is on sale
[14:48] Jago Constantine: oh I get it
[14:48] Mayda Darkrose: The inside aisles have chips, cookies
[14:48] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:49] Mayda Darkrose: One of the stores here recently put the mixed nuts in the beer aisle / Instead of with chips
[14:49] Jago Constantine: that makes sense lol
[14:49] Eppie Shoreman: I was annoyed by those other healthy snacks. they reminded me of munchkins saying now this is good for you.
[14:49] Mayda Darkrose: LOL Eppie
[14:49] Jago Constantine: I can see why the reader gave them that voice
[14:49] Mayda Darkrose: I'd like to try those seaweed snacks tho!
[14:49] Eppie Shoreman: Eddi, I saw some of your work on the Internet last night. It was beautiful.
[14:49] Eddi Haskell: i thought the story was about aliens but i have very bizarre interpretations
[14:49] Mayda Darkrose: I love chocolate, but I also love tofu
[14:49] Jago Constantine: but you'd think realistically they'd have something as appealing as smidgens
[14:49] Eddi Haskell: which one? / i thought the snack cakes were aliens
[14:50] Eppie Shoreman: the one with the beach setting and music.
[14:50] Jago Constantine: LOL eddi
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: oh cool!
[14:50] Saga Highfield: must be off guys
[14:50] Mayda Darkrose: Like invasion of the bodysnatchers?
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: bye saga / yeah
[14:50] Saga Highfield: have fun :)
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: that si what i thought
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Cya next week saga :)
[14:50] Mayda Darkrose: Bye Saga
[14:50] Jago Constantine: how did you get that idea eddi lol
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: i like the story / cause / they were talking over the minds of people / disguising as junk food
[14:51] Jago Constantine: hmm
[14:51] Mayda Darkrose: I can picture that.
[14:51] Eppie Shoreman: that would have been a really good plot.
[14:51] Jago Constantine: LOL
[14:51] Eddi Haskell: but i thought that was it / i think i scare people away from here sometimes lol
[14:51] Jago Constantine: well its really more sinister / because its humans taking over the minds of other humans
[14:51] Eddi Haskell: oh yeah
[14:51] Jago Constantine: through marketing manipulation
[14:51] Eddi Haskell: mmmm / i used to work on the kelloggs acount / its pretty sick what they do to get kids to eat sugar
[14:51] Mayda Darkrose: And you know the manufacturers *will* do that as soon as they can
[14:51] Eddi Haskell: yeah
[14:52] Eppie Shoreman: he reminds me so much of a guy who goes around stealing widows money and killing them. I've seen a few old movies like that. I love classic moveis.
[14:52] Jago Constantine: hehe
[14:52] Eddi Haskell: arsenic and old lace lol
[14:52] Jago Constantine: The reader's voice was perfect
[14:52] Eppie Shoreman: yes it was.
[14:52] Mayda Darkrose: But Smidgens methods were soooo realistic, lol
[14:52] Jago Constantine: yes they were ... sinister too
[14:53] Eppie Shoreman: yes he sounded like a sinister smooth talker gigalo
[14:53] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:53] Mayda Darkrose: "I promise we wont do anything you dont want to do"
[14:53] Jago Constantine: yes lol the innuendo was hilarious
[14:53] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:53] Jago Constantine: like when she opened the package and pulled him out
[14:53] Eddi Haskell: hahahahahahah
[14:53] Eppie Shoreman: disrobing
[14:53] Eddi Haskell: got me thinking about the voice switch too in SL / like that guy needed a morph
[14:53] Jago Constantine: what do you mean?
[14:54] Eddi Haskell: well he was raising his voice
[14:54] Mayda Darkrose: Ah, and now they have a way for a man to sound like a woman
[14:54] Eddi Haskell: and if he had an avatar he coulda switched
[14:54] Eppie Shoreman: true.
[14:54] Jago Constantine: he probably could for a male customer
[14:54] Mayda Darkrose: The new alpha viewer
[14:54] Eddi Haskell: yeah / i put up photos yesterday on my blog on how it could be used
[14:54] Jago Constantine: I think smidgen is a gender neutral name LOL
[14:54] Mayda Darkrose: yes
[14:54] Eppie Shoreman: i would like to see the movie or play, LOL.
[14:55] Mayda Darkrose: Didnt S say he could choose his voice?
[14:55] Jago Constantine: yes
[14:55] Mayda Darkrose: Perfect
[14:55] Jago Constantine: I am posting meeting transcripts to a blog here http://sciencefictiondiscussion.blogspot.com/
[14:56] Mayda Darkrose: That will encourage people to read or listen to the story
[14:56] Jago Constantine: I hope so / Actually I should post links to the story mp3s on the right transcripts
[14:56] Mayda Darkrose: I bookmarked Podcast, but I never think to listen
[14:56] Eppie Shoreman: well, I have to go. It has been fun. See you guys next week.
[14:56] Eddi Haskell: bye eppie!
[14:56] Mayda Darkrose: so long Eppie
[14:56] Jago Constantine: Yes next week we're talking about books again
[14:56] Mayda Darkrose: I've got to be going too. / see you next week
[14:56] Jago Constantine: Thanks for coming :)
[14:56] Eddi Haskell: bye myda / mayda see you next week

5 June 2010

[13:45] Eddi Haskell: hi / lol
[13:49] Jago Constantine: Hi, Alyria!
[13:49] Alyria Bovarro: Hey all! how's it going?
[13:49] Eddi Haskell: hola senoira
[13:50] Alyria Bovarro: sorry waiting for everything to load
[13:50] Jago Constantine: It loads a little slow here :)
[13:50] Eddi Haskell: I know. you can have a tooth extraction in the time it takes to load
[13:51] Alyria Bovarro: lol / how are you both today?
[13:52] Jago Constantine: Good thanks :)
[13:52] Eddi Haskell: I'm okay
[13:52] Jago Constantine: How are you?
[13:52] Alyria Bovarro: I'm great, thanks
[13:53] Eddi Haskell: waiting for some cool thunderstorm / we get thunderstorms a lot this time of year
[13:53] Jago Constantine: heh
[13:54] Eddi Haskell: in south Florida / oh goody weather alert / let's see if I have to run for cover lol
[13:55] Jago Constantine: lol
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: nah its 30 miles north
[13:55] Alyria Bovarro: lol wow. I am really jealous. It's just been cold here for months.
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: where r u
[13:56] Alyria Bovarro: canada
[13:56] Eddi Haskell: its cold there ay? / canada day is soon i get to wear my mounty outfit
[13:56] Alyria Bovarro: well, it's about 18C today. So it's getting warmer. But just two days ago it was 7C and before that lik -10C on average / XD / We aren't actually all mounties and we don't live in igloos XD
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: where are you in the Yukin? / lol
[13:57] Alyria Bovarro: yukin?
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: yeah but mounties are hot / Yukon
[13:57] Alyria Bovarro: do you mean Yukon / lol
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: yeah
[13:57] Alyria Bovarro: No, Alberta
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: i went to canada to check out the mounties
[13:57] Alyria Bovarro: it does get warm here in the summer, sometimes hitting 30C. But I wish I lived somewhere warm year round haha / And how'd that go
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: i am trying so hard not to drive people away from the meeting / well we went to niagara falls candada and it was fun!
[13:58] Alyria Bovarro: It's so beautiful there! / Have you been to the rockies?
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: no / i was in Utah
[13:58] Alyria Bovarro: You should go one day.
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: and idaho / i want to go to Banff
[13:58] Alyria Bovarro: haha good times in Idaho
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: to lake louise
[13:58] Alyria Bovarro: I love it there
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: which is more fun / edmonton or calgary
[13:59] Alyria Bovarro: OH boy. Depends what you're looking for. I don't really know the difference to be honest. Edmonton has more artsy stuff I suppose.
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: yeah/ cool / i want to see cowboys
[14:00] Alyria Bovarro: lol then you should go to calgary
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: yeah / cool
[14:00] Alyria Bovarro: afk for a moment
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: there is a movie of me on my stallion Nelson as oh Canada is played around us to fireworks / I can give you the link
[14:00] Jago Constantine: Hi, Mersilkee :)
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: lol / hiya merilkee
[14:01] mersilkee Restless: hi
[14:01] Jago Constantine: We're just about to get started / So if you haven't been before, the way the group works is
[14:02] Alyria Bovarro: back
[14:02] Jago Constantine: we go round the group and take turns discussing what science fiction we've been reading / welcome back, Alyria :) / Eddi ... have you read any sci fi lately?
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: lol / I read a major book review
[14:03] Jago Constantine: oh?
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: it's called is anyone out there / it's collection of works around two theories / of extra terrestrial intelligence / .
[14:04] Jago Constantine: Welcome, Armand :)
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: that appeared in the sunday times on may 15
[14:05] Armand Saintlouis: hi there
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: hi armand / the first throry was written many years ago by enrico fermi / works like this / if there IS intelligent life elsewhere / then why have we not been able to observe it YET / the emphasis is on the word yet / and the second theorem is by Steven Hawking / who is the subject of much of the book / is there IS intelligent life elsewhere / we need to keep away from it / and not make ourselves noticeable
[14:06] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: which makes sense to me
[14:07] Alyria Bovarro: totally
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: i dont think there is intelligent life elsewhere
[14:07] Jago Constantine: so is it fiction or non fiction?
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: i thik its both jago
[14:07] Jago Constantine: ok sounds interesting
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: the fermi paradox / is very important / which can be simply stated as, Where Is Everybody? If there are really millions of star-systems in the universe capable of supporting life, as scientists theorized in the early part of the 20th Century, a large percentage of which may have developed technological civilizations, then why haven't any of those alien civilizations visited us? / ya know / i have to be honest with eveyrone / I am a very big doubter / of intelligent life elsewhere. / i mean / surely / someone would hhave tried to contact us by now in ways in which we canunderstand / and secondly as Hawking says / there are so many ways in which we can be harmed / lets keep hidden / how do you feel / in your gut / about intelligent life elsewhere / i am a firm beleiver in gut dynamics / meaning what you feel is probalby correct / how do you feel Jago
[14:10] Jago Constantine: well I think it's out there
[14:10] Eddi Haskell: why
[14:10] Jago Constantine: but rare / lol gut feeling
[14:10] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:11] Alyria Bovarro: I don't see why, if we are here, and haven't contacted them, why they can't be there not having contacted us. / They don't have to be any more or less intelligent than we are
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: how would they get here do ya think
[14:11] Alyria Bovarro: and the universe is huge. There is no way that we will ever "see" all of it
[14:11] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:11] Alyria Bovarro: since it technically, as far as we know, has no boundaries
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: we can only see our own dimension anyway / according the majority of physics departments at major universities today there are other dimensions we cannot observe
[14:12] Alyria Bovarro: exactly. So we will never know if there is another life form if it is not in our dimension
[14:12] Eddi Haskell: maybe they reside there
[14:12] Alyria Bovarro: 11, in fact
[14:12] Eddi Haskell: really?
[14:12] Alyria Bovarro: Yessir
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: is that that string theory is saying????????? / wow / do you know something someone can read about this
[14:14] Alyria Bovarro: Um, not sure about read but if you watch Stephen Hawking's Into The Universe series.
[14:14] mersilkee Restless: I think part of the problem is that the universe is so huge and other intelligent species also would have a hard time getting to us. I read an article about a book describing the probability of a civilization surviving long enough to get to the point that they would have the techonology to go all over the universe and it would be very few.
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: your right / cause / it would take them so long to reach here
[14:14] Alyria Bovarro: Um, and I know another scientists website, hold on I'll try to find it
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: i dont know about Jago / hes the boss / but all this stull really interests me
[14:15] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:15] Eddi Haskell: hes being quiet today lol
[14:15] Jago Constantine: Well its been interesting to listen to :)
[14:15] Eddi Haskell: Alyria / no one i know / can talk intelligentally about string theory dimentions / you can it seems
[14:16] Jago Constantine: Hi, Lucrecia :)
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: are you studied in it?
[14:16] Alyria Bovarro: Only from the reading I've done about it
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: hi lucrecia / i'm super interested / cause / it is eveyrthing / if that can be proben / proven / in fact it related direclty
[14:17] Alyria Bovarro: Indeed, it is. It will open a lot of bolted doors for us
[14:17] Eddi Haskell: into what we are talking about / string theory makes our perception of time and distance irrelevant / thank you for that / now / my mother / who is a very intelligent woman / fiercely beleives in von Dankians theories / that we have been visited by extraterrestials
[14:18] Jago Constantine: lol really?
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: yep
[14:18] Jago Constantine: hmm
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: because there is too much evidence / in the bible / other ancient cultures
[14:18] Alyria Bovarro: Isn't it von Daniken?
[14:18] Jago Constantine: yes
[14:18] Alyria Bovarro: Ok haha
[14:19] Eddi Haskell: yes / like if you read the Bible / it's freaky / if you are looking for extraterrestial stuff / the burning bush
[14:19] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:19] Eddi Haskell: the fire that appeared at night guilding the people in the exodus / the pillar of smoke at day / its all so UFO / Jago thinks im crazy but i beleive in ghosts / i can see em somtimes / lol / why not ufos / ok / i am still getting over RSI
[14:20] Jago Constantine: ok eddi
[14:21] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:21] Jago Constantine: Alyria have you read any sci fi lately?
[14:21] Alyria Bovarro: Yes, actually. The new-ish series by Robert Sawyer lol / Really really interesting
[14:22] Jago Constantine: Cool what's it called?
[14:23] Alyria Bovarro: WWW: Wake and his new one is WWW: Watch / The third comes out next spring ish
[14:24] Jago Constantine: so they're about the world wide web?
[14:24] Alyria Bovarro: kind of...an intelligent entity that has suddenly emerged inside the world wide web...you'd have to read it lol I don't want to give it all away
[14:25] Jago Constantine: heh ok
[14:25] Alyria Bovarro: basically a Japanese scientist finds a way to make a blind girl see, and something happened to make this entity emerge
[14:25] Eddi Haskell: the semantic web
[14:25] mersilkee Restless: what is the url to find those books or any discussion about them?
[14:26] Eddi Haskell: I've written alot about the intelligent web in fl / rl
[14:26] Jago Constantine: you could google them / Robert Sawyer WWW
[14:26] Alyria Bovarro: yeah, I believe its on the front page of his website as well
[14:26] Jago Constantine: Hi, Brekka :)
[14:26] Brekka Sveiss: hello
[14:26] Alyria Bovarro: hey
[14:27] Eddi Haskell: hi Brekka
[14:27] Brekka Sveiss: hi just thought I'd stop by
[14:27] Jago Constantine: thanks :) / I'm not sure if WWW makes sense for a series about artificial intelligence / isn't the web just the hypertext component of the internet?
[14:28] Eddi Haskell: to me it makes sense / the current iteration of the web / is so primitive / in terms of what i could be
[14:28] Alyria Bovarro: You'd have to read it and find out...Its not on the actual internet, its in the "space" between the net.
[14:28] Jago Constantine: heh yeah I thought so
[14:29] Eddi Haskell: I can bore people but the most important standard is called RDF or resource description framework / that is going to make the web intelligent
[14:29] Jago Constantine: LOL that does sound boring :P / j/k
[14:29] Eddi Haskell: I wont talk about it its about information / lol
[14:30] Jago Constantine: So I guess you'd recommend Robert Sawyer's WWW series alyria?
[14:30] Alyria Bovarro: Definitely. A very easy read, but well written and informative regardless of the fact that its fiction / Very well done
[14:30] Jago Constantine: he wrote Flash Forward didn't he? I liked that one
[14:31] Alyria Bovarro: yeah, he is a very good author
[14:32] Jago Constantine: Thanks, Alyria :) ... Mersilkee, do you have any sci fi to discuss?
[14:34] mersilkee Restless: no, I haven't been able to do any reading lately. I've been writing but I have enjoyed two readings in Sl recently, Beyond an Open Window and last night Wanda the Robot
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: Where are these readings / I love readings
[14:35] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:36] Alyria Bovarro: I think I've heard Wanda the Robot. It rings a bell. Hm. / What's it about?
[14:36] mersilkee Restless: Oh I think it is Beside an open Window. Unfortunately, Hux who readBeyond an open window just finished his last chapter. I don't remember the full name of the author last night but his name was Harvey and it was here on book island. / It is about a robot who stays with a family over many generations. The first chapter was Wanda talking about herself. The author did a voice sim to sound like a robot. It was quite entertaining.
[14:38] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:38] Alyria Bovarro: awesome :)
[14:38] Jago Constantine: There are a few stories about faithful robots like that
[14:38] Eddi Haskell: Like Rosie in the Jetsons
[14:38] Jago Constantine: lol not what I was thinking of
[14:38] mersilkee Restless: yes indeed.
[14:39] Alyria Bovarro: lol!
[14:39] Jago Constantine: maybe Bicentennial Man / Asimov
[14:40] Eddi Haskell: hi kacy
[14:40] Jago Constantine: Or Simak's book City
[14:40] mersilkee Restless: the other book where I had listened to several readings took place in a Metaverse where dead people had had their brains scanned and lived ther.
[14:40] Alyria Bovarro: Oh Asimov
[14:40] Jago Constantine: oh thats interesting / some people would love to be scanned into second life lol
[14:41] Eddi Haskell: scanned? / I think it would be great not to have to go to the dentist
[14:41] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:42] mersilkee Restless: or to the doctor or not to be in constant pain. that would be wonderful. The Metaverse Fiction reminds me those books about The River, can't think of the titles
[14:43] Alyria Bovarro: Haha that would be awesome
[14:43] Jago Constantine: hmm not sure about the river books / Thanks, Mersilkee :) / Ok I've just finished reading Red Claw, by Philip Palmer
[14:44] Alyria Bovarro: Hi Sublim / What's that about?
[14:44] Jago Constantine: Hi, Sublim :)
[14:44] Sublim Selona: Hi All
[14:44] Jago Constantine: It's an action science fiction novel with a kind of ecological bent / It reminded me a bit of Avatar the movie
[14:45] Eddi Haskell: hi Sublim
[14:45] Jago Constantine: Basically humans have come to an alien world / with a fascinating but deadly ecology
[14:45] Sublim Selona: Hello Eddi
[14:45] Jago Constantine: the humans are in two factions - scientists and military / The scientists are studying the ecology of the planet before it gets destroyed for human colonisation
[14:46] Alyria Bovarro: Oh neat. Will have to look into this one.
[14:46] Jago Constantine: It seems pretty much the general outline of Avatar lol
[14:46] Eddi Haskell: that's very interesting and pertinent
[14:47] Jago Constantine: The book has a lot of action in it, mainly fights with rogue robots and weird monsters / but there's a funny sub theme in which we have diary entries about taxonomy from one of the scientists / which I found entertaining lol
[14:48] Alyria Bovarro: lol no doubt / sounds very interesting
[14:49] Jago Constantine: It is, it made me think there should be a word for novels / in which the ecosystem of a planet is almost a character / such as Brian Aldiss' Hothouse / hmm I can't think of other examples offhand / ecopunk maybe, although the punk isn't really relevant
[14:50] Alyria Bovarro: ecosim?
[14:50] ALE2009 Neutron: OLÁ
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Hi, ALE :)
[14:50] Alyria Bovarro: Hi ALE
[14:51] ALE2009 Neutron: Que lugar é este?
[14:51] Jago Constantine: Anyway, I recommend it ... Red Claw, by Philip Palmer / The title is a reference to the Tennyson line / Nature, red in tooth and claw / With ravine, shriek'd against his creed
[14:52] Alyria Bovarro: I love Tennyson. haha
[14:52] Jago Constantine: Hehe / Anyway, that's all of us ... / next week we'll be listening to a podcast story again / We do that every second week.
[14:53] Alyria Bovarro: darn, I work every second week
[14:53] Jago Constantine: Aw thats a shame / At the moment the story will be 'The Love Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake' by Robert T. Jeschonek / It's told from the point of view of a snack cake ...
[14:54] Alyria Bovarro: LOL
[14:54] mersilkee Restless: Interesting.
[14:55] Jago Constantine: ... and it IS science fiction, not fantasy :)
[14:55] Alyria Bovarro: :)
[14:55] Jago Constantine: A transcript of today's meeting will be up soon at http://sciencefictiondiscussion.blogspot.com/ / Do either of you want invites to the science fiction discussion group, Alyria and mersilkee?
[14:56] Alyria Bovarro: Sure / Thanks :)
[14:57] Jago Constantine: Ok ... so same time next week or the week after / hope you can make it!
[14:57] Alyria Bovarro: Thanks guys!
[14:57] Eddi Haskell: bye all see you next week
[14:57] Jago Constantine: Thanks for coming!

29 May 2010: 'Cinderella Suicide' by Samantha Henderson

[13:57] Jago Constantine: Hi, Devani, welcome to sci fi discussion :) / We're waiting a few minutes to start the story
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: hi devani hello seb . How is everyone today?
[13:57] Jago Constantine: hey sebastian how is the rabbit breeding going?
[13:57] Sebastian Diranovitz: I am great! Thank you... *Smiles pretending to be shy* / It's going great! Ask Sora / I have 4 / Eggs, Lunch, Dinner and Bacon
[13:57] Devani Ohmai: hi Jago / hi Eddi
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: hi devani nice to see y ou
[13:58] Jago Constantine: hey eppie :)
[13:58] Eppie Shoreman: hi
[13:58] Jago Constantine: we're just about to start the story
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: hello eppie
[13:58] Jago Constantine: everyone should hear piano music on the music stream / and should have their music stream on I guess / ok I think we can start now / hmm / Sora? / Hi, Xzena, Rae
[14:01] Rae Larkham: Hello :-)
[14:01] Xzena Zabelin: hi
[14:01] Jago Constantine: we're about to start listening to the story ... when our DJ gets back :)
[14:01] Eddi Haskell: hi azena and rao / my friend mani from vienna is coming
[14:02] Jago Constantine: For anyone new to the group, we listen to a recording every second week / and the other weeks we talk about books we've read
[14:02] Sebastian Diranovitz prods the DJ with an electric rod
[14:02] Jago Constantine: all science fiction
[14:03] Rae Larkham: Ooh. That sounds fun :-)
[14:03] Jago Constantine: Sora there is our DJ and I think he got called afk right when I asked him to start :P / yes it is fun :)
[14:03] Mani Canning: hi all
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: Hay mani!
[14:03] Jago Constantine: hi, mani, welcome to the group
[14:03] Sebastian Diranovitz: Hai Mani
[14:03] Rae Larkham: Hiyas Mani!
[14:03] Jago Constantine: if you turn on your music stream you'll hear some piano music
[14:03] Mani Canning: hi eddi, seb, rae, jago / i hear :)))
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: the story sounds very german, full of agnst Cindrella suicide. It is a german conceptt.
[14:03] Xzena Zabelin: I hear it now
[14:04] Mani Canning: i see
[14:04] Jago Constantine: the story will come through the music stream, its an mp3 DJ Sora will play / eventually :)
[14:04] Mani Canning: lol
[14:04] Sebastian Diranovitz: Maybe before xmas?
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: jago takes notes and will call on you to speak, he is very strict.
[14:04] Jago Constantine: lol I do not
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: :)
[14:04] Jago Constantine: well I do call on everyone during the book discussions
[14:04] Sebastian Diranovitz: Only strict to you, Eddi
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: actually he is
[14:04] Jago Constantine: thats next week / Hi, Tansy :)
[14:05] Sora Bluebird: ok here goes
[14:05] Jago Constantine: wb sora
[14:05] Mani Canning: hi tansy
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: hi tansy welcome!
[14:05] Jago Constantine: put on your music stream Tansy we're about to start the story
[14:05] Rae Larkham: Hiya Tansy!
[14:05] Tansy Galaxy: hi, sorry to drop in late!
[14:06] Rae Larkham: I will brb. Having audio trouble :-(
[14:06] Jago Constantine: ok
[14:07] Xzena Zabelin: can hear it ok
[14:08] Jago Constantine: here is a text version if you want to follow it at the same time http://www.strangehorizons.com/2006/20060515/suicide-f.shtml
[14:08] Devani Ohmai: thank you Jago
[14:09] Xzena Zabelin: thanks
[14:10] Jago Constantine: hi, gardin, we're listening on the music stream / and reading as well http://www.strangehorizons.com/2006/20060515/suicide-f.shtml
[14:10] Gardin Foresight: ahhh cool, I can hear the reading / Jago, what's the name of book?
[14:11] Jago Constantine: Cinderella Suicide
[14:11] Gardin Foresight: nods
[14:11] Jago Constantine: by Samantha Henderson
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: oh good someone is named eddi in the storie :)
[14:12] Gardin Foresight: thanks
[14:26] Jago Constantine: when you read at the same time you notice mistakes in the reading :P
[14:28] Mani Canning: lol / ::::::::::>>>bye bye<<<::::::::: / sorry i have to leave now
[14:36] Jago Constantine: cya mani :)
[14:36] Eddi Haskell: bye mani schuss!
[14:42] Jago Constantine: let me know when the story finishes for you all
[14:42] Eddi Haskell: finis
[14:43] Jago Constantine: I found the slang words hard to get into at first
[14:43] Devani Ohmai nods
[14:43] Xzena Zabelin: yes, you are right there
[14:43] Jago Constantine: even reading at the same time
[14:43] Xzena Zabelin: I agree
[14:43] Jago Constantine: when they began their mission it got much easier
[14:44] Devani Ohmai: excuse me, twas lovely meeting you all, I'd like to come again next week, maybe I'll see you there :D
[14:44] Jago Constantine: see you same time next week :)
[14:44] Eddi Haskell: bye devani
[14:58] Jago Constantine: ok I turned off the story now :)
[14:58] Gardin Foresight: mm nice, enjoyed being here myself.
[14:58] Xzena Zabelin: this is my first time here. Enjoyed the book.
[14:58] Jago Constantine: great / we listen to another one in 2 weeks
[14:58] Gardin Foresight: thanks for invite Zen
[14:58] Jago Constantine: and talk about physical books next week hehe
[14:58] Xzena Zabelin: great
[14:58] Eddi Haskell: yeah t ws good
[14:58] Jago Constantine: anyone have any more thoughts on the story?
[14:58] Gardin Foresight: I have bookstacks as LM but wasn't aware this was happening.
[14:59] Jago Constantine: do you want an invite to the sci fi group?
[14:59] Dana Dawg: ty
[14:59] Gardin Foresight: sure
[14:59] Xzena Zabelin: sorry what is this group called again so I can let my friend Gardin know about it?
[14:59] Jago Constantine: gardin is behind you
[14:59] Xzena Zabelin: yes
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: sci fi dicussion group
[14:59] Jago Constantine: Science Fiction Discussion
[15:00] Xzena Zabelin: thanks
[15:00] Jago Constantine: or if you are in the Bookstacks group I send notices there too
[15:00] Xzena Zabelin: ok
[15:00] Gardin Foresight: yeahh I use to be in the group, did some house cleaning
[15:00] Jago Constantine: I really noticed mistakes by the reader having the text in front of me
[15:00] Gardin Foresight: but I'm back in!
[15:00] Jago Constantine: it must be hard
[15:00] Xzena Zabelin: yes, saw them after you said about them
[15:00] Jago Constantine: sometimes you say what you expect the text to be / once he said passenger instead of pensioner for example
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: im heading off poeple see you next week
[15:01] Jago Constantine: cya eddi babe
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: bye jago / bye everyone / seb and sora
[15:01] Jago Constantine: yes I think we can wind up now / I'll get breakfast :)
[15:01] Gardin Foresight: enjoy everyone

22 May 2010

[13:46] Jago Constantine: Hey Eddi babe :) / Are you there, Fleche?
[13:47] Eddi Haskell: hi! / i am stifll rezzing
[13:47] Jago Constantine: Ok :) / So ... have you read any science fiction lately, Eddi? :)
[13:48] Fleche Xeno: I'm here. :)
[13:48] Eddi Haskell: okj / im not rezzed but its coming in / i have been reading quite a bit of alternative history
[13:49] Jago Constantine: Cool
[13:49] Eddi Haskell: there was an incident / not known to many / which almost set the USA and UK to war in the 1880s / in Venezueala / the orinico incident / there is a story / in What If part 2 / about wha would have happened / if a war erupted / a Virctorian was
[13:50] Jago Constantine: Hi, Eppie :)
[13:50] Eddi Haskell: a Victorian technology war / and rereading what i read / with some real steam punk implications
[13:50] Eppie Shoreman: hi
[13:50] Jago Constantine: What was the orinoco incident / and what is what if
[13:50] Eddi Haskell: What if part 2 / is the second novel / in a series about alternative history / there are about 5 / i had the book in front of me a few minutes ago / they came close. / but as everything else it cant find it now il get the author in a bit / mostly military / The orinico incident / was about oil / in the 1880s / the boundary between / British Guyana / and Venezuala / was not set firmly / The US backed Venuzuela / and there was almost war / the conclict was peacefully settled
[13:51] Jago Constantine: was this related to the monroe doctrine?
[13:51] Eddi Haskell: most in venezualeas favor / i think it was related more to oil / since british guyana was there already
[13:52] Jago Constantine: yeah
[13:52] Eddi Haskell: the monroe doctrine would not apply / the US wanted venezuala to win / but here is the rub / from the period 1865 - 1890 / more or less / the US disarmed / after the civil war / the US had no navy / or strong military / to speak of. / the us grew unsular / after such a vilent war / and did not start coming out as world power
[13:53] Jago Constantine: heh
[13:53] Eddi Haskell: until the 1890s / so / in this story
[13:53] Jago Constantine: the great white fleet
[13:53] Eddi Haskell: admiral thomas mahan / yes that started in the 1890s / I can remember btw as a kid / My great uncle ben who lived to be like 104 fought in the spanish american war in 1898 / or was he a grea great uncle i dont know / lol / so / there is war / the us has no navy to speak of / but it is an economic power / the British Battleship Resolution / the most advanced warship in the world / sails into New York harbour / the Statue of liberty has just been built by the French / the the destroy it / they destroy it / they also destroy the tallest structure in new york at the time / the 300 foot high spire of trinity church / its still there, its by the world trade center. / The americans surrendur / what can they do ?
[13:55] Jago Constantine: hmm that seems implausible
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: they cannot touch this british battleship / new york is the biggest cityin the us in 1880
[13:55] Fleche Xeno: wait for it to leave due to lack of supplies?
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: well / it can just sail to halifax and come back / takes two dayts / there is no american navy then / basically none
[13:55] Jago Constantine: hey the US should have backed britain anyway lol
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: and this is a huge advanced 12000 ton battleship
[13:55] Jago Constantine: they'd rather have British Venezuela than Hugo Chavez :P
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: the us and the uk were enemires then / lol / well the end of the story is / is anyone here french candadian? / well the guy is joking / the british get most of venezuela / and give the US quebec in trade / but
[13:56] Jago Constantine: lol
[13:56] Eddi Haskell: when it comes to sci fi / hey I LOVE montreal / they would ruin it as a state / lol / now / this is so similar to sci fi / an advanced technology / a massive ironclad battleship / that there is no / countermeasurrs fror / for / there WAS but the us did not have a decent navy in the 1880s
[13:57] Jago Constantine: well I think the similarity is more with Japan
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: there was the 32 largest in thew rold / yeah? / how
[13:57] Jago Constantine: Perry's black ship / ships
[13:57] Eddi Haskell: which sails into tokyo bay / in the 1850s / with commodore perry / and opens jagpan up / to trade / yeah / but
[13:58] Jago Constantine: oh we lost fleche and eppie
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: i ws thiking / see / i can go and on / jago
[13:58] Jago Constantine: lol maybe I should have stopped you / hi shera :)
[13:58] SheraGolden Infinity: Hello :)
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: hiya
[13:59] Jago Constantine: We're discussing sci fi novels if you're interested :) / go on eddi
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: Hi ya shera
[13:59] SheraGolden Infinity: :)
[13:59] Jago Constantine: do you read sci fi shera?
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: nice to meet you
[14:00] SheraGolden Infinity: I dont know that i have ever.
[14:00] Jago Constantine: hehe ok
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: well im boring / i just drove two people away LOL
[14:00] Jago Constantine: lol eddi
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: i did / i feel bad lol
[14:00] SheraGolden Infinity: I did take a crash course on supergirl this morning, does that count?
[14:00] Jago Constantine: maybe they left for other reasons during your talk
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: yes it does
[14:00] Jago Constantine: Is supergirl superman's sister?
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: can you tellus about it / you look hot in that outfit
[14:00] SheraGolden Infinity: TY :)
[14:00] Jago Constantine: lol and he's gay
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: uh
[14:00] SheraGolden Infinity: Well...
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: how do you know? / lol
[14:01] SheraGolden Infinity: They say i am from another planet
[14:01] Eddi Haskell: me too!
[14:01] Jago Constantine: yeah superman is so I guess supergirl would be
[14:01] SheraGolden Infinity: And that i am totaly innocent because my superpowers have insulated me from danger.
[14:01] Jago Constantine: I think there's a superdog too
[14:01] Eddi Haskell: have they dicussed where you are from?
[14:01] Jago Constantine: lol that sounds like a fetish ... a totally hot and innocent superbabe
[14:01] SheraGolden Infinity: kryptonia? / giggle
[14:01] Eddi Haskell: your father is joel?
[14:01] Jago Constantine: krypton?
[14:01] SheraGolden Infinity: yes the man who taught me was all about the fetish
[14:02] Jago Constantine: haha
[14:02] Eddi Haskell: jago looks like superman doesnt he? / i bought him a costume but he wont wear it
[14:02] Jago Constantine: hi, paolo :)
[14:02] SheraGolden Infinity: Eddi, have we met, your name is very familiar / ?
[14:02] Eddi Haskell: coulda / ive been around
[14:02] Jago Constantine: eddie haskell is a tv character
[14:02] SheraGolden Infinity: Oh
[14:02] Jago Constantine: eddi is named after him
[14:02] Eddi Haskell: oh yeah from leave it to beaver / let embarass him more / im a smart alec punk / on tv
[14:03] Jago Constantine: I don't have it anymore
[14:03] SheraGolden Infinity: Oh i saw the movie, with Janine Turner as the mother,
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: really there is a movie?
[14:03] SheraGolden Infinity: mmmhmmm
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: hi paola welcome / well for these meetings
[14:03] SheraGolden Infinity: wow its getting warm here
[14:03] Paolo Alfa: hello, sorry to be late
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: at home?
[14:03] SheraGolden Infinity: I was sitting in the fire
[14:04] Jago Constantine: Supergirl is superman's first cousin
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: oh i see
[14:04] Jago Constantine: thats ok paolo / we're discussing supergirl lol
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: i drove people away eariler
[14:04] SheraGolden Infinity: So.... no kissing with superman. I'm glad we cleared that up
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:04] Jago Constantine: actually there's a funny piece by sci fi author larry niven about superman / Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex
[14:30] SheraGolden Infinity: These seats are rarely flattering for a girl wearing a skirt
[14:30] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:30] Jago Constantine: "Ejaculation of semen is entirely involuntary in the human male, and in all other forms of terrestrial life. It would be unreasonable to assume otherwise for a kryptonian. But with kryptonian muscles behind it, Kal-El's semen would emerge with the muzzle velocity of a machine gun bullet."
[14:30] Eddi Haskell: if you turn your ao off you will sit better
[14:31] SheraGolden Infinity: As long as my knees are toucj=hing it's okay.
[14:31] Jago Constantine: its about how it would be impossible for superman to have sex with an earth woman
[14:31] Eddi Haskell: yes but he would have control
[14:31] Jago Constantine: no he wouldn't
[14:31] Eddi Haskell: or maybe he would lack self control
[14:31] Jago Constantine: well unless he withdraws
[14:31] SheraGolden Infinity gasps
[14:32] Jago Constantine: then he wouldnt need control so much
[14:32] Eddi Haskell: have you read anythting abour sci fi paola (eddi hides his ears)
[14:32] Jago Constantine: here is that essay / http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html
[14:32] SheraGolden Infinity: I was recently reading about the mayan prophecy, that might be considered sci fi
[14:32] Eddi Haskell: is there any serious sci fi genre with superman / yes / that the world is over in 2012
[14:33] SheraGolden Infinity: yes that very one
[14:33] Eddi Haskell: do you beleive it?
[14:33] SheraGolden Infinity: Not really.
[14:33] Jago Constantine: no one really does / its like nostradamus / or horoscopes
[14:33] SheraGolden Infinity: And even if i did, so what?
[14:33] Jago Constantine: its fun to talk about
[14:33] Eddi Haskell: i do not beleive it / you know why?
[14:33] Jago Constantine: the good thing about the so-called mayan prophecy is
[14:33] SheraGolden Infinity: why? / yes?
[14:34] Eddi Haskell: well jago is speaking so
[14:34] Jago Constantine: that the world is ending and unlike the christian apocalypse there's nothing you can do about it / like you don't have to reform your life / you're not going to be punished or whatever
[14:34] SheraGolden Infinity: What of the islamic prophecy of the 12th Imam?
[14:34] Jago Constantine: so you have the fun of the end of the world with any obligation / without any / I don't know much about that prophecy shera
[14:34] SheraGolden Infinity: Fear of commitment anyone? ;)
[14:34] Eddi Haskell: i do not beleive iin prophecy and if I did it was not be mayan for one reason
[14:34] Jago Constantine: let me guess / they didn't predict the spanish
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: no / the reason is that committed human sacrifice
[14:35] SheraGolden Infinity giggles / eeuuwww
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: any culture that did this does not have knowledge of anything
[14:35] Jago Constantine: why would that negate their prophecy?
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: well
[14:35] Jago Constantine: thats an ad hominem argument
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: because i tihnk so
[14:35] Jago Constantine: I think my reason is better
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: because it is evil / well ok
[14:35] Jago Constantine: sure but evil people could theoretically make prophecies
[14:35] Eddi Haskell: sure / or someone from the future / came and told them
[14:35] SheraGolden Infinity: Aliens
[14:36] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:36] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:36] Eddi Haskell: i think time travel is possible / i think time can be done in either direction
[14:36] SheraGolden Infinity: That is a bold statement
[14:36] Eddi Haskell: iyes / yes / it all depends on what your perspective is / this sounds crazy / but there is something i cant get out of my head / the universe is expanding / faster / most poeple thought 50 years ago / the unvierse is slowing down as it expands / and at some point
[14:37] Paolo Alfa: the latest theories on time travel think it's a mental ability, not a technical thing
[14:37] Eddi Haskell: it will collapese / what is the latest theory?
[14:37] Jago Constantine: yeah now it will expand forever / faster and faster
[14:37] Eddi Haskell: it depends on your perspective / if you are vieing it from a reverse future / its coming back to one point / like it you were to make a movie / of the universe expanding
[14:38] Paolo Alfa: the one by Finney, "Time and Again"
[14:38] Eddi Haskell: if you run it in reverse its contracting / tima and again is a book?
[14:38] Jago Constantine: I think I read that one whats it about?
[14:38] SheraGolden Infinity: This is a lovely home.
[14:38] Eddi Haskell: its like a store
[14:38] SheraGolden Infinity: Nice
[14:39] Paolo Alfa: About a way of Time Travel by disciplined thinking
[14:39] Eddi Haskell: yeah / so what if you lived in a world / where all the projectors ran in reverse / where time ran in reverse / the universe was contracting as far as you were to lknow right? / here is the getchya / according to proponents of some modern physics / such a world exists / what if someone could travel to that world? / an alternative dimension / hence time travel
[14:40] Jago Constantine: hmm ok
[14:40] Eddi Haskell: and here is another gotcha / all that alternative world is / is another interprietation of the energy and matter and laws of physics of this one / what if a viewer can be consturcted
[14:41] Jago Constantine: hmm
[14:41] Eddi Haskell: the numbver one thing in physics today / is called string theory / that everything we see / is constucted of vibrating "strings" / perhaps 13 or 47 / they dont know / and it is how they interact with each otgher / that determines our existence / jago thinks im crazy when i talk this way lol / so
[14:42] SheraGolden Infinity: I'm confused
[14:42] Eddi Haskell: so is eveyrone else about string theory / that is why its theory / all matter / energy / time
[14:42] Jago Constantine: yeah me too / lol
[14:42] Eddi Haskell: everything is related / matter and energy are the same thing
[14:42] SheraGolden Infinity: That makes some sense
[14:43] Eddi Haskell: string theory is this / 13 - 47 "forces" / not energy / or strings / are the common base for eveyrthing / how they interact determines everything / as soon as they discover a part of something
[14:43] SheraGolden Infinity: Is it random?
[14:43] Eddi Haskell: a quark / yes and no / it is at the point where "string theory" / is the only thing you can get a postion in at a university in a phycsics deparement / i will be honest with you / i dont get it / i do know / if you take a movie projectro / and run it backwards / that is a time machine / it shows images going backwards in time
[14:44] Jago Constantine: hehe
[14:44] Eddi Haskell: taking that logic / why cant there be others?
[14:44] SheraGolden Infinity: I have a confession to make...
[14:44] Eddi Haskell: what
[14:44] SheraGolden Infinity: I am a time traveler
[14:44] Eddi Haskell: yes / how do you know? / tell us / i feel that way / sometimes
[14:45] SheraGolden Infinity: So far i can only travel forward in time and it takes 24 hours to move forward a single day... but it works
[14:45] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:45] SheraGolden Infinity: That was a joke ;)
[14:45] Eddi Haskell: hello lizz welcome
[14:45] SheraGolden Infinity: Say hello to me dear friend Lizzz
[14:45] Eddi Haskell: oh sometimes i think i am / hi lizz!
[14:45] Lizzz Gothly: hello all
[14:45] Jago Constantine: Hi, Lizzz :)
[14:45] Eddi Haskell: this is actually a cool meeting / i susually do ims
[14:45] Jago Constantine: we're discussing science fiction / well actually a whole range of things
[14:46] Lizzz Gothly: right
[14:46] Jago Constantine: So Paolo have you read any sci fi lately?
[14:46] SheraGolden Infinity: I think science fiction and real science get mixed up
[14:46] Paolo Alfa: I'm rereading Lord Valentines Castle
[14:46] Lizzz Gothly: anybody read and see "the time travellers wife"?
[14:47] Jago Constantine: Oh I haven't but I want to :)
[14:47] Eddi Haskell: its a movie?
[14:47] Jago Constantine: I love Lord Valentine's Castle
[14:47] Lizzz Gothly: a book firstly.. a move after that
[14:47] Jago Constantine: the later books get progressively less good though hehe
[14:47] Lizzz Gothly: movie / taps the microphone
[14:47] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:47] SheraGolden Infinity: :)
[14:47] Jago Constantine: so what is time travellers wife about?
[14:47] Lizzz Gothly: just testing
[14:47] Paolo Alfa: They always do
[14:47] Jago Constantine: apart from the obvious
[14:47] SheraGolden Infinity: Shhhhh Lizz is about to speak
[14:47] Lizzz Gothly: I wasn;t about to / but the time travellers wife is about.. time travle / in a rather chaotic state
[14:48] Jago Constantine: chaotic in what way?
[14:48] Lizzz Gothly: in that the travel is uncontrolled
[14:48] Jago Constantine: oh cool
[14:48] Lizzz Gothly: not only as to what time is travlled to but when it occurs too / however it is as much a romance as a sci fi
[14:48] Jago Constantine: wow / ok ... so that would put a strain on a marriage / :P
[14:49] Lizzz Gothly: a considerable one yes
[14:49] Jago Constantine: I suppose you recommend it if you've seen the movie and read the book?
[14:49] Lizzz Gothly: what about that quaint english film .. called "all about time travel"?
[14:49] Jago Constantine: I haven't seen that one
[14:49] Lizzz Gothly: yes I would / thats a comedy, romance and sci fi
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: ii like english movies
[14:50] Paolo Alfa: how does he travel, just randomly?
[14:50] SheraGolden Infinity: What a delightful combination
[14:50] Lizzz Gothly: so... do androids dream of electric sheep?
[14:50] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:50] SheraGolden Infinity: :)
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Ok folks it's 3pm and I have to log
[14:50] Lizzz Gothly: in the time travellers wife yes, he travels at random and his clothes etc cannot travel with him
[14:50] SheraGolden Infinity: awwwww :(
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: bye everyone
[14:50] Lizzz Gothly: Bye bye
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: ifyo come next week there may be a reading
[14:50] Jago Constantine: we meet here every week at 2pm saturday
[14:50] Lizzz Gothly: oh... ok
[14:50] Jago Constantine: yes next week we'll be listening to a recorded story / a podcast episode
[14:50] SheraGolden Infinity: It was nice meeting everyone :)
[14:51] Jago Constantine: nice to meet you two, too
[14:51] Eddi Haskell: nice meeting you too
[14:51] Paolo Alfa: thank you, nice meeting
[14:51] Lizzz Gothly: yes.. delighted
[14:51] Jago Constantine: cya next week paolo!

15 May 2010: 'Usurpers' by Derek Zumsteg

[13:25] Serene Bechir: hi jago
[13:25] Jago Constantine: hey serene :)
[13:25] Serene Bechir: im i louging in the middle of an upcoming event? i can move
[13:25] Jago Constantine: thats alright
[13:25] Serene Bechir: im just chillin til lthe poetry read at 3
[13:25] Jago Constantine: its not til 2pm / science fiction discussion
[13:26] Serene Bechir: ah .. well ill def move off the table in time for that / so do yall talk about the topic in general ? or a specific work? or stuff yall are writing?
[13:27] Jago Constantine: today we're listening to a podcast story
[13:27] Serene Bechir: oh i dont even know how those podcasts work .. but i need to find out
[13:28] Jago Constantine: hey ryce
[13:28] Ryce Skytower: hi
[13:28] Jago Constantine: I put the story on the music stream here in SL serene
[13:28] Ryce Skytower: i have a fashion show now
[13:28] Jago Constantine: so its easy to listen to in sl
[13:28] Ryce Skytower: hi selene
[13:29] Serene Bechir: hi .. but im not seLene .. not either one of them (selene the poet/storytellor nor selene ths musician)
[13:29] Ryce Skytower: oh its my typing / sorry lol / ok jago
[13:29] Serene Bechir: hehe np
[13:29] Ryce Skytower: ill see you later take care! / time for practice now
[13:29] Jago Constantine: cya :)
[13:29] Serene Bechir: i usually dont even say anything cos i speak fluent typonse
[13:29] Jago Constantine: thats fine serene :)
[13:29] Serene Bechir: but i think the other 2 might not like me taking credit for their work / so how do you listen to a pod cast?
[13:32] Jago Constantine: can you hear music now?
[13:33] Serene Bechir: yes / so its streamed
[13:33] Jago Constantine: then you'll hear the podcast when I switch it over / yes
[13:33] Serene Bechir: you just put the url in media?
[13:33] Jago Constantine: we download the mp3, and I get a DJ friend to play it over his stream / yeah I put the stream in media / hey simeon :)
[13:41] Simeon Beresford: Hi there
[13:44] Jago Constantine: hmm waiting for my DJ to come online to set up the stream for the meeting / hey kellan :)
[13:45] Kellan McKenna: hi :)
[13:58] Jago Constantine: hi, alyssa :)
[13:58] alyssa Ghostraven: hello Jago
[14:01] Jago Constantine: ok I turned off the music stream so you won't hear anything at the moment / oh now there is music lol / Thanks for coming folks / today we're listening to an episode of the escape pod podcast / 'Usurpers' by Derek Zumsteg
[14:02] Mayda Darkrose: hi all
[14:02] Jago Constantine: it's a near-future science fiction story with a sports theme / welcome eppie and mayda :)
[14:02] Eppie Shoreman: hi
[14:02] Jago Constantine: if you all have your streaming music on and can hear some piano music, I'll start the story
[14:03] Mayda Darkrose: I hear it.
[14:03] alyssa Ghostraven: i hear it too
[14:03] Kellan McKenna: id o
[14:03] Eppie Shoreman: I don't.
[14:03] Kellan McKenna: *i do
[14:03] Simeon Beresford: got it
[14:03] Jago Constantine: ok eppie go to edit > preferences > audio & video and click play streaming music / then press the little play button on your SL client
[14:04] Mayda Darkrose: Thats still around?
[14:04] Jago Constantine: whats still around?
[14:04] Mayda Darkrose: Azimov's mag
[14:04] Jago Constantine: oh lol
[14:04] Mayda Darkrose: I used to love that
[14:04] Jago Constantine: I think so
[14:05] Simeon Beresford: nods
[14:05] Serene Bechir: uh oh / oh its back
[14:05] Simeon Beresford: would have heard if it had shut up shop
[14:05] Serene Bechir: is a podcast live?
[14:05] Jago Constantine: no recorded
[14:05] Serene Bechir: oh thats good
[14:05] Kellan McKenna: drat....thunderstorm has moved right over me >:-E bye for now
[14:05] Serene Bechir: so is there a page you can go find them if you miss one?
[14:06] Jago Constantine: http://media.rawvoice.com/escapepod/media.libsyn.com/media/escapepod/EP177_Usurpers.mp3
[14:06] Serene Bechir: ty
[14:06] Simeon Beresford: http://escapepod.org/
[14:07] Serene Bechir: is the stream skipping for anybody else?
[14:07] Jago Constantine: not me
[14:12] Serene Bechir: it didnt cut off for a few secs just then for yall? / grrr must be me
[14:13] Jago Constantine: nope
[14:13] Mayda Darkrose: not me
[14:13] Jago Constantine: you might be lagging today
[14:13] Serene Bechir: lag shouldnt affect stream hell even if i crash i stil hear it for ages
[14:13] Jago Constantine: hmm unless its lag with your ISP
[14:14] Serene Bechir: oh it best not be that . i spent a day from hell getting my ISP issures reolved / they are just gonna have to come over here and fix it / cos SL isnt lagging at all to me right now
[14:23] Jago Constantine: cool :) / let me know when the story finishes for you all
[14:24] Mayda Darkrose: Its over
[14:24] Jago Constantine: simeon, eppi?
[14:24] Eppie Shoreman: yes / bye everyone
[14:25] Jago Constantine: bye eppie :)
[14:25] Mayda Darkrose: bye Eppie
[14:25] Jago Constantine: see you next time / So what did you both think of the story? / I liked it, except for a few points ...
[14:25] Mayda Darkrose: I'll have to listen again, to make more sense of it.
[14:25] Jago Constantine: the terse style
[14:25] Mayda Darkrose: I guess he was racing clones? / bioengineered bodies
[14:26] Jago Constantine: not clones, but they had their DNA modified to become better runners / gene therapy in china
[14:26] Mayda Darkrose: Was he older than the other runners?
[14:26] Jago Constantine: no, I don't think so / I think the constant references to his name being king were annoying
[14:27] Mayda Darkrose: I like audio books, but miss being able to go back to get a point I missed.
[14:27] Jago Constantine: heh yeah / oh, and him being the only black kid in the race was a little heavy-handed / well, maybe he wasn't / but it seemed that way
[14:28] Mayda Darkrose: Oh, I forgot that. I thought he won because he had greater willpower. Some people might think he won cause he was just stronger physically
[14:28] Jago Constantine: I think it was the willpower / it reminded me of that section of the movie gattaca / where the non GM hero is in the swimming race with his GM brother
[14:28] Mayda Darkrose: Great movie.
[14:28] Jago Constantine: and he wins because he doesn't save anything for the swim back to shore
[14:28] Simeon Beresford: i have not seen it
[14:29] Jago Constantine: its basically the same story: human willpower beats genetic modification / inspiring but implausible lol
[14:29] Mayda Darkrose: I'm not sure the premise is valid. Why couldn't the gm kids have equal willpower?
[14:29] Simeon Beresford: because the genetically modified have no will power ?
[14:29] Jago Constantine: well they didn't need it most of the time / they are good enough to beat most competitors / so don't need to push themselves
[14:29] Simeon Beresford: ah they live the easy life
[14:30] Mayda Darkrose: Ah, like the pretty girl (or boy) not having to try.
[14:30] Jago Constantine: yeah / complacent / I wonder what would have happened if King's sponsor had offered to pay for gene therapy though lol / actually now that I think of it / he was sponsored by asics / in their training program / but it mentioned that he stole and was wearing nikes identical to the other kids / I might have to go back and check that / ok so next week we'll be having a book discussion ... its been a while / so think about what you've been reading lately and be ready to discuss it :)
[14:32] Mayda Darkrose: Have you decided on the book yet?
[14:32] Jago Constantine: oh we just talk about whatever we each have read / whether we recommend it or not
[14:33] Mayda Darkrose: Oh, good. I'd like to hear what others are reading.
[14:33] Jago Constantine: what we liked about it / yeah / ok I have to finish up early this week ... I am have to go in to work for a couple of hours
[14:33] Simeon Beresford: ok / thanks Jago / I need to head off too
[14:33] Jago Constantine: see you all next week, same time :)
[14:34] Mayda Darkrose: Thanks. See you then.