27 June 2009: Walpole

[13:51] Jago Constantine: hey, purple, welcome :)
[13:51] Purple Baum: hi
[13:51] Jago Constantine: this is our steampunk airship :P
[13:51] Purple Baum: `So let me change into something that matches the decor, brb
[13:52] Jago Constantine: heh ok / eddi put on your suit :P / the one from made men lol
[13:53] Eddi Haskell: oen second
[13:53] Jago Constantine: ok
[13:53] Eddi Haskell: its messed up now / ok
[13:53] Jago Constantine: we can always re-rez the airship / Welcome back :)
[13:53] Purple Baum: I'm back
[13:54] Jago Constantine: cool outfit
[13:54] Purple Baum: Here is my steampunk backpack, it's still a work in progress
[13:54] Jago Constantine: it's great!
[13:54] Jago Constantine: is it a jetpack or for breathing?
[13:54] Jago Constantine: or something else
[13:54] Purple Baum: I am also working on a gun. I just started building it today so it's very basic
[13:55] Purple Baum: It's the powerpack for the gun
[13:55] Jago Constantine: ah cool / it might be tricky connecting the two
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: im gonna log in again
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: im using snowglobe and it is very pretty
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: but
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: i cant figure things out
[13:55] Jago Constantine: Hey, Jack, welcome :)
[13:55] Eddi Haskell: snowglobe looks good / be right back
[13:56] Purple Baum: Yeah. I am pretty new to building so I am still looking for ideas (and tutorials) on how to connect them
[13:56] Jack Ozigard: hi all
[13:56] Jago Constantine: maybe something like lockmeister
[13:56] Jago Constantine: this is our steampunk airship, jack
[13:57] Jago Constantine: feel free to take a seat, both of you :)
[13:57] Purple Baum: ty / Here's the gun
[13:57] Jago Constantine: very nice
[13:58] Jack Ozigard: nice ship :)
[13:58] Jago Constantine: Yeah, it's amazing ... Eddi was given it for free I think
[13:58] Jago Constantine: he did some photography in the creator's vessels
[13:58] Eddi Haskell: back
[13:59] Jago Constantine: Welcome back, Eddi :)
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: snowglobe looks great but it is confusing
[13:59] Eddi Haskell: the new viewer
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: ive come out with two new videos in the past two days
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: one on caledon
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: the steampunk community
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: and one on steampunk airships
[14:00] Eddi Haskell: they are really just photo montages
[14:00] Jago Constantine: hey, melch :)
[14:00] Melch Savon: Hey Everybody!
[14:01] Jago Constantine: Ok, well we can start
[14:01] Jago Constantine: For new attendees - basically, we go 'round the circle and each talk about what we read last
[14:02] Jago Constantine: that's the basic framework but there's a lot of latitude in our conversation :)
[14:02] Melch Savon: We're 300 feet up -- don't you mean altitude?
[14:02] Jago Constantine: lol / I've been reading some of Kevin Anderson's novels
[14:03] Melch Savon: Which novels are those?
[14:03] Jago Constantine: his fat space opera - The Saga of Seven Suns
[14:03] Melch Savon: ah
[14:04] Jago Constantine: I admire the man for being able to write so much
[14:04] Jago Constantine: but he's very workmanlike, I don't think anyone would accuse him of being a poet
[14:05] Purple Baum: This is the same Kevin Aderson that was co-writing the new Dune noverl, right?
[14:05] Jago Constantine: yeah / I really can't forgive him and Brian Herbert for those
[14:06] Purple Baum: I agree
[14:06] Jago Constantine: I've said before in these meetings that Brian Herbert was developing his own, distinct whimsical style
[14:06] Jago Constantine: which I really enjoyed
[14:06] Purple Baum: I enjoyed the first on mostly because of the novelty but after that it was not good
[14:07] Jago Constantine: but obviously the $$$$ were too enticing
[14:07] Purple Baum: *one
[14:07] Purple Baum: I am reading Illium by Dan Simmons
[14:07] Jago Constantine: Great!
[14:07] Jago Constantine: I love it
[14:07] Jago Constantine: How are you finding it?
[14:08] Purple Baum: I'm about a 200 pages in. So far it's interesting
[14:08] Jago Constantine: It's one of my favourites - although I was disappointed by the sequel, Olympos
[14:09] Purple Baum: I enjoyed Hyperion / and most of it's 3 sequels
[14:09] Jago Constantine: for those of you who haven't read it, Ilium is set in the far future
[14:09] Jago Constantine: and somehow in ancient troy
[14:09] Jago Constantine: where the greek gods are real
[14:10] Jago Constantine: welcome, don :)
[14:10] DonJuan Writer: allo
[14:10] Purple Baum: Hello
[14:10] Jago Constantine: is that a new moustache?
[14:11] DonJuan Writer: it's a dali handmedown
[14:11] Jago Constantine: nice
[14:11] Jago Constantine: I liked the hyperion series too, Purple
[14:11] Jago Constantine: but some of Dan Simmons' works I can't get into
[14:12] Jago Constantine: there was one about a retired astronaut, I can't recall the name
[14:12] Jago Constantine: I loved The Terror
[14:12] Jago Constantine: about an expedition to find the northwest passage
[14:13] Jago Constantine: Ok, Eddi - have you read anything this week?
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: sorry
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: phone
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: ok
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: Professor Panini
by Matthew Grigg
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: isa s short story
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: its set in 2028
[14:14] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: and some professor has made a machine
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: that allows you to exchange your thought , actually your brain
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: with someone else
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: so first he tries it on a duck and a dog
[14:14] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: it works but / the dog goes crazy / cause hes a duck / and tries to fly / but ducks cant fly / so / he runs into the maching / machine / before the dog kills himself jumping off the balcony
[14:15] Jago Constantine: so he's chased by a vicious duck dog
[14:15] Eddi Haskell: the nachine / yes
[14:15] Jago Constantine: :)
[14:15] Eddi Haskell: well he has a special machine that makes toasted bagels
[14:15] Eddi Haskell: all he has to go is say
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: buttered sesame
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: and the machine gives you a buttered bagle
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: so
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: he accidentlaly changes minds
[14:16] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: with the machine / and he dont know what to do / so / he gets the maching to call 911
[14:16] Jago Constantine: welcome back, jack
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: the emergency service
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: hi
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: by flinging bagles at the telephone
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: they police come
[14:17] Eddi Haskell: and he keeps on flinging bagels at the police
[14:17] Eddi Haskell: and they cant figutre it out
[14:17] Jack Ozigard: (the region was suddenly gone)
[14:17] Eddi Haskell: so / at the end of the story he accepts his fate / and spends the rest of his life as a butter toaster making bagles for some rich family
[14:17] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:17] Eddi Haskell: iom not making that up / deep hih
[14:18] Jack Ozigard: which book is that eddi?
[14:18] Jago Constantine: that's pretty weird lol
[14:18] Melch Savon: now that is a funny story
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: ill give you the rul
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: url
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: i liked it
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/ProfPani724.shtml
[14:19] Eddi Haskell: jago if i had to pick a story to read would it be that one?
[14:19] Jago Constantine: for the group?
[14:19] Eddi Haskell: yes / i thinik it is very me
[14:19] Jago Constantine: it is :P
[14:20] DonJuan Writer: reminds me of red dwarf, there's a manically bored toaster in that
[14:20] Eddi Haskell: yeah / i thought it was an allegory
[14:20] Jago Constantine: yes lol / I like the toaster from red dwarf
[14:20] Eddi Haskell: its my birthday / lol
[14:20] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:20] Jago Constantine: happy birthday again, babe :)
[14:21] Purple Baum: Happy Birthday
[14:21] Eddi Haskell: thanks!
[14:21] Melch Savon: Happy Birthday Eddi -- doing something fun I hope!
[14:21] Jack Ozigard: happy birthday!
[14:21] Eddi Haskell: thanks people
[14:21] Jack Ozigard: I forgot to bring presents
[14:21] DonJuan Writer: I raise my glass to you
[14:22] Eddi Haskell: aww thanks
[14:22] DonJuan Writer: every seven seconds
[14:22] Jago Constantine: lol don
[14:22] Melch Savon: here it is -- bday cake all around
[14:22] Jago Constantine: So, Don - what did you read last?
[14:23] Melch Savon gave you Slice of Birthday Cake.
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] DonJuan Writer: I'm writing at the moment, reading tends to remind me of things I haven't thought of and slow me down
[14:23] Jago Constantine: heh cool cake melch
[14:23] Slice of Birthday Cake whispers: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, & Best Wishes
[14:23] Melch Savon: Always be prepared with da props
[14:23] Eddi Haskell: yeah it is
[14:23] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:23] Melch Savon: What are you writing donjuan?
[14:24] DonJuan Writer: working on a sci-fi story about the deepest hole in the world
[14:24] Melch Savon: ... a tunnel to the other side?
[14:24] Jago Constantine: is this a bottomless pit?
[14:25] Melch Savon apologies -- he is doing matrix math at the moment, and his mind is all logical
[14:25] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:25] DonJuan Writer: well, was summising on this, what would happen if one jumped into a tunnel through the world, would you bounce in and out through the different polarity of gravity until you levitated in the middle?
[14:25] Jago Constantine: That's what I assume
[14:25] Melch Savon: Ignoring heat and pressure in the center of a huge gravity well
[14:25] Jago Constantine: Actually, wouldn't the deepest hole only go to the centre? If it went further it would be getting shallower again
[14:25] DonJuan Writer: so, there is a gravitational singularity going on there
[14:26] Melch Savon: There is a centerpoint where the forces balance out
[14:26] DonJuan Writer: where the force balnces out, luke?
[14:26] Jago Constantine: yeah, zero g in the centre
[14:26] Melch Savon: Right
[14:26] Purple Baum: Wouldn't you shoot out from the other side?
[14:27] Melch Savon: Purple, no, because once you go through the center the net pull is back to the center
[14:27] DonJuan Writer: oh, well, it's all an unfolding story, like the Kraken Wakes, about the build up to and the eventual digging
[14:27] Jago Constantine: In Iain Banks' non-culture novel The Algebraist, everyone in the universe uses warp from deep space except for one group who cleverly use it from the core of gas giants where they live
[14:27] Melch Savon: oh, I like that premise
[14:27] DonJuan Writer: cleverness in a darwinian sense there
[14:28] Jago Constantine: that's kind of a spoiler actually, but not too big / so this hole gets dug in your story? / that would be a monumental effort
[14:30] Jack Ozigard: it reminds me of the hollow earth theory though
[14:30] Jago Constantine: yes ... journey to the centre of the earth
[14:30] DonJuan Writer: yes, it's a desperate measure to solve a problem... don't ask me more 'cause it aint writted yet
[14:30] Jago Constantine: this is beyond the centre of the earth :P / Ok, Melch - your turn :)
[14:31] Melch Savon: This week I re-listened to the original Hitchiker Guide to the Galaxy radio broadcasts
[14:31] Jago Constantine: nice
[14:31] DonJuan Writer: oh, had those on lp as a kid
[14:31] Melch Savon: Everyone here is probably familiar with them, but I still think they are the best telling of the story
[14:31] Jago Constantine: I like the books best :P
[14:32] Jago Constantine: hehe
[14:32] Melch Savon: Arthur Dent remains beautifully clueless
[14:32] DonJuan Writer: if the radio series is the same as the lp's, I agree with you melch
[14:32] Melch Savon: Beyond that, I noted that the USA gave us Indiana Jones with a big whip; the Brits gave us Doctor Who with a big scarf (Tom Baker). I am wondering how to interpret that
[14:33] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:33] Jack Ozigard: lol
[14:33] Jago Constantine: Was the scarf ever used as a weapon?
[14:33] Jago Constantine: I mean more than for tripping or blinding people
[14:33] Melch Savon: no, but often as a tool
[14:33] Purple Baum: USA also gave yes Yogurt with a big schwartz
[14:33] Purple Baum: *us
[14:33] DonJuan Writer: as a segue, an american invited me (a brit) to his fourth of july picnic... my Russian friend said, "Was he too cheap to rent a clown?"
[14:34] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:34] Melch Savon: flip switches from a distance without exposing yourself to the laser ray, that sort of thing
[14:34] Jago Constantine: that's a good line I might use that
[14:34] Melch Savon: donjuan, we have presidents to play that role every day of the year
[14:34] Jago Constantine: I can totally see Tom Baker strangling someone with a scarg
[14:34] Jago Constantine: f
[14:34] Melch Savon: doctor who -- serial murderer
[14:34] DonJuan Writer: what? I thought there had been a change?!? ;)
[14:35] Jago Constantine: the perfect crime
[14:35] Jago Constantine: locked room mysteries are easy with a tardis
[14:35] Melch Savon: Same basic policies, same general disillusionment, some destruction of the dollar. No, not really much of a change.
[14:36] DonJuan Writer: There is a new president called Obama, who came claiming change to the drama, there's a stock-market crash, so he's printed some cash, now we're pinning our hopes on his karma
[14:36] DonJuan Writer: boom-boom
[14:36] Melch Savon thinks that might be an amusing bit of fan fiction -- Dr. Who, aka Jack the Ripper?
[14:36] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:37] Melch Savon: Pretty much. Started printing money Bush's last term, went into overdrive under Obama
[14:37] Melch Savon: anyways that was it for me this week
[14:37] Jago Constantine: The Doctor was seen at the garden party at the same time as the murders occurred ... so he has an alibi
[14:37] DonJuan Writer: but an enjoyable limmerick, noe-the-less?
[14:37] Melch Savon: *grin* Of course he does!
[14:37] Jack Ozigard: yes
[14:38] Jago Constantine: then explain the distinctive scarf-hairs on the victim's throat
[14:38] Melch Savon: Reasonable doubt. The Queen herself was visiting him in his cell at Torchwood
[14:38] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:39] Jago Constantine: then he regenerates and blends into the crowds like hannibal lecter
[14:39] Melch Savon: Now I think we confuse him with The Master
[14:39] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:39] Melch Savon: Who, ironically, is the true hero of our story
[14:39] Jago Constantine: ooh what a twist
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Anyway ... Jack - read any good books lately?
[14:39] Jack Ozigard: well, no
[14:39] Jack Ozigard: that is
[14:40] Jack Ozigard: I don't read a lot of books but rather short stories from amateur writers
[14:40] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:40] Jack Ozigard: and I was workling on my owen story which is incidentally a jack the ripper meets steampunk thing
[14:41] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:41] Jago Constantine: feel free to use our idea :P
[14:41] Melch Savon: I've infected the room with a meme!
[14:41] Jack Ozigard: it seems to be very difficult to do
[14:41] Jago Constantine: just make it HG Wells' time traveller
[14:41] Jago Constantine: and voila
[14:41] Melch Savon: Oh, Jago, how *original*
[14:41] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:41] Jack Ozigard: people keep telling "that is not how it was with jack the ripper"
[14:42] Jack Ozigard: readers know the facts
[14:42] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:42] Melch Savon: fine, change the character to ... Mina Harker?
[14:42] Jack Ozigard: I do too, and avoidthed the name jack, set in in 1915 or thereabout
[14:43] Jack Ozigard: no, I introduced rabbi löw into the story :)
[14:43] Eddi Haskell: was he a haskellski?
[14:43] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:43] Jack Ozigard: he raised the golem
[14:44] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:44] Jack Ozigard: I will think about the Dr Who vs Jack the ripper thing
[14:45] Melch Savon: Hey story ideas are bountiful. good ideas less so, but still ...
[14:45] Melch Savon: /ao off
[14:46] Jago Constantine: Ok, Purple - what did you read this week?
[14:46] Purple Baum: Well, before Illium I was reading "Venus on a half shell"
[14:47] Purple Baum: It's by Kilgore Trout
[14:47] Jago Constantine: cool
[14:47] Purple Baum: But the real author is Philip Jose Farmer
[14:47] Jago Constantine: I never read that one
[14:47] Jago Constantine: but I've heard of it a lot
[14:48] Jago Constantine: what's it about?
[14:48] Purple Baum: He got permission from Kurt Vonnegut to use the Name Kilgore Trout as a psudoname
[14:49] Purple Baum: It's about the last human travelling through space with an owl a dog and a female robot trying to figure out the meaning of "everything"
[14:49] Jago Constantine: nice
[14:49] Jack Ozigard: a female robot?
[14:50] Purple Baum: He encounters weird civilizations and pokes fun at government, sex and other things
[14:50] Jack Ozigard: it sounds odd
[14:50] Purple Baum: It's pretty amusing and very sarcastic
[14:51] Jago Constantine: sounds like Farmer
[14:51] Purple Baum: And yes a female robot. Her story is another bit of sarcasm
[14:52] Purple Baum: The book has been out of print. I got a used copy off of amazon
[14:52] Jago Constantine: yeah that's why I never read it
[14:52] Jago Constantine: hard to find
[14:53] Purple Baum: I'm not sure what I'll read next, but I am interested in reading "Roadside Picnic"
[14:54] Purple Baum: It's the book that is the base for the story of the movie and videogame "STALKER"
[14:55] Jago Constantine: I love roadside picnic
[14:55] Jago Constantine: strugatsky brothers
[14:55] Jago Constantine: I think that's the name
[14:55] Purple Baum: So I'll probably get it but it's also out of print
[14:55] Jago Constantine: I think it's available again
[14:55] Jago Constantine: in one of those sci fi masterworks kind of editions
[14:55] Purple Baum: I'll check it out
[14:57] Jago Constantine: Ok, it's getting on to 3pm - time to wind up :)
[14:57] Eddi Haskell: before everyone goes would you like to see this picture i found?
[14:57] Jago Constantine: I have to go have some breakfast
[14:57] Jago Constantine: lol eddi
[14:57] Eddi Haskell: of my haskell family ancestors arriving on ellis island in 1914
[14:57] Melch Savon: DonJuan, Jack -- I am curious, do you two use writing software?
[14:57] Eddi Haskell: from Eastern Europe
[14:57] Melch Savon: Eddi - sure!
[14:58] Eddi Haskell: thats my great grandmother
[14:58] Jack Ozigard: picture - yes please
[14:58] Eddi Haskell: ida haskellski
[14:58] Eddi Haskell: they say we look alike
[14:58] Jack Ozigard: software? no. I can do a bit of programming though
[14:58] Jago Constantine: A friend of mine writes using this
[14:58] Jago Constantine: http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html
[14:58] Jago Constantine: It's a free program
[14:58] Jago Constantine: lol eddi
[14:59] Jack Ozigard: a in that sense.
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: and that is great uncle yankel haskellski. They cold only afford a girls outfit
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: he went on to invent the junk bond
[14:59] Melch Savon: Thanks Jago. I've seen it, but find my spreadsheet is better. I have been thinking about buying a Mac program, like StoryMill
[14:59] Jack Ozigard: I was used to use a typewriter. that did not have any software
[14:59] Melch Savon: Eddi - are you kidding?
[14:59] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: well
[14:59] Jago Constantine: yes he is
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: people say i look like them
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: lol
[15:00] Eddi Haskell: isnt that photo priceless?
[15:00] Melch Savon: It is pretty cool
[15:00] Jago Constantine: hehehe
[15:00] Jago Constantine: Anyway, I'm not sure where next week's meeting will be ...
[15:00] Purple Baum: I can see the resemblance
[15:00] Eddi Haskell: yes
[15:00] Eddi Haskell: welljago isnt it july 4?
[15:01] Jago Constantine: we are planning to move our land to the new adult continent
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: we have to have firworks
[15:01] Jago Constantine: is it? what is the significance of that date>
[15:01] Melch Savon: Identical faces -- you photoshopped them in?
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: there is a program photofunia that is an effect they have
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: online editing
[15:01] Melch Savon: ah
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: i have to admit its funny
[15:02] Eddi Haskell: this is one of my photos
[15:03] Eddi Haskell: we can meet in caledon sky steampunk city
[15:03] Eddi Haskell: thats cool
[15:03] Eddi Haskell: that is it
[15:03] Jago Constantine: I'll think about it ... maybe in caledon, or maybe insilico again
[15:03] Melch Savon: Insilico is a truly amazing place
[15:03] Jack Ozigard: the picture reminds me of early online porn: waiting ages untill you get to see something
[15:03] Melch Savon: But it's less blocky
[15:03] Melch Savon: Not even ASCII art
[15:04] Jack Ozigard: indeed melch
[15:04] Jago Constantine: the picture is changing too fast to see lol
[15:04] Jack Ozigard: it is a grey screen most of the time
[15:04] Purple Baum: I recognize that NCI place
[15:05] Jack Ozigard: from caledon yes
[15:05] Eddi Haskell: i interviewed the guvnah and the vicereigne this week for vr style
[15:05] Jago Constantine: Ok, I'm going to log and have breakfast
[15:05] Eddi Haskell: jago dont go yet
[15:05] Jago Constantine: ok
[15:05] Eddi Haskell: need to ask you
[15:05] Melch Savon: Ciao all -- it's been fun as always
[15:05] Jago Constantine: See you next week!
[15:05] Purple Baum: OK, cya everybody
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: hey guys
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: before you go
[15:06] Jago Constantine: thanks for joining the group, Purple
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: we have a cool museum here
[15:06] Purple Baum: ty
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: jago dont talk it up
[15:06] DonJuan Writer: cheers. got called away. see y'all
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: if yo uwant to see it
[15:06] Purple Baum: I'll check it out

7 March 2009: Insilico (Blue Ant Bar)

[14:03] Jago Constantine: What was the last science fiction book you read, Eddi :)
[14:03] Eddi Haskell: i hve to think / not for a while / you should recommend some / probalby something by thomas pynchon / is there a sci fi group? / you should put me in ti
[14:04] Lewis Luminos accepted your inventory offer.
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: i want to read snow whatever
[14:04] Eddi Haskell: the vrr book
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: nope
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: i know which books i read
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: a big series
[14:05] Lewis Luminos: lm works :)
[14:05] Jago Constantine: Hi, Lewis :)
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: its about lizards
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: hi lewis
[14:05] Lewis Luminos: hi Eddi, Jago
[14:05] Jago Constantine: Lizards?
[14:05] Eddi Haskell: who change the outcome of world war 2 / hi lewis
[14:06] Jago Constantine: Oh by Harry Turtledove
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:06] Jago Constantine: Did you like the series?
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: world war
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: in up to volume 2.5
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: i need torfinish it
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: i have all of them
[14:06] Jago Constantine: heh I didn't :P
[14:06] Eddi Haskell: yeah it is hard to read 2000 pages of one author
[14:07] Jago Constantine: lol yes / I don't like his books generally
[14:07] Lewis Luminos: (still can't see anyone yet)
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: it is very slow to rez
[14:07] Jago Constantine: Yeah but it's worth the wait lol
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: and slow to teleport here i crashed
[14:07] Jago Constantine: did you set your graphics low?
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: hi lewis
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: no
[14:07] Lewis Luminos: now I see you :)
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: they were on ultra
[14:07] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:08] Jago Constantine: lol eddi / no wonder / Lewis this is my partner, Eddi / Eddi, Lewis is a regular for the group :)
[14:08] Eddi Haskell: hi lewis
[14:08] Lewis Luminos: hi Eddi.
[14:08] Eddi Haskell: nice to meet you
[14:08] Lewis Luminos doesnt usually dress like this
[14:08] Jago Constantine: How was your philosophy discussion group?
[14:08] Eddi Haskell: how do you usually dress
[14:09] Lewis Luminos: not too shabby. Actually had people turn up which surprised me
[14:09] Jago Constantine: Hi, Arch
[14:09] Jago Constantine: We're using the Blue Ant for a science fiction discussion, if you want to join us
[14:09] Lewis Luminos: usually just flanell and jeans :-D
[14:09] Eddi Haskell: yeah like me / hi arch
[14:09] Lewis Luminos: <= grungy old hippie

[14:10] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:10] Jago Constantine: Well you look pretty cyberpunk today
[14:10] Jago Constantine: Heh
[14:10] Eddi Haskell: = space cadet
[14:10] Lewis Luminos: heh
[14:11] Jago Constantine: Anyway Eddi so you like Harry Turtledove and I don't :P
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: well its ok
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: i liked the scene where the lizards became sushi
[14:11] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:11] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:11] Jago Constantine: Well I was going to read an anthology of short stories
[14:12] Eddi Haskell: which one
[14:12] Jago Constantine: but ended up reading Sidney's Comet by Brian Herbert / It was Galactic Dreamers, secondhand one I found
[14:12] Eddi Haskell: iven been reading alot of alterntative history but that it not necessarily science fiction
[14:13] Jago Constantine: I say it is :)
[14:13] Lewis Luminos: it can be
[14:13] Jago Constantine: What have you read?
[14:13] Jago Constantine: lately
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: a series of short essarys on alternative history but it is in the past
[14:13] Eddi Haskell: i dont know the author i read it last night
[14:14] Jago Constantine: Essays so not stories?
[14:14] Eddi Haskell: i want to read virtual reality alternative fiction / yes / science fiction / i should wirte a novel about my experiences here no one would beleive it
[14:14] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: if I wrote about my experiences in SL no-one would want to read it
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: no-one wants to be that bored
[14:14] Jago Constantine: ha
[14:15] Jago Constantine: Are you having trouble sitting, lewis?
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: no but the seat made me sit with my back to you and it felt wrong
[14:15] Jago Constantine: there's a seat behind eddi that might suit / cool
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: ah thats better
[14:16] Jago Constantine: Anyway this book Sidney's Comet
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: the experiences that ibm has had here in sl would make for an interesting novel
[14:16] Eddi Haskell: yes
[14:16] Jago Constantine: it's by Brian Herbert, who is Frank Herbert's son
[14:16] Jago Constantine: who wrote Dune
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: does he show any influence?
[14:17] Jago Constantine: It's nothing like Dune, it's a satire
[14:17] Jago Constantine: or a parody
[14:17] Lewis Luminos: cool
[14:17] Jago Constantine: or silly / kind of funny / I'm enjoying it, basically in the future, the human race sends garbage into space
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: why is it funny
[14:18] Jago Constantine: then aliens send it all back at once in a huge asteroid, so we have to try and deflect it
[14:18] Jago Constantine: it's written humorously
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:18] Lewis Luminos: haha
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: i dont think people in new jersey wuold like it
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: cause they get all new yorks garbage
[14:18] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:18] Jago Constantine: lol / In this future, everyone shares jobs / so a typing pool in an office have like a 50th of a job each and type different keys
[14:19] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:20] Jago Constantine: it's pretty silly
[14:20] Jago Constantine: It was Brian Herbert's first book ... recently he's been writing new books in the Dune series
[14:20] Lewis Luminos: sounds like fun.
[14:20] Jago Constantine: they suck :P
[14:20] Eddi Haskell: lol
[14:20] Lewis Luminos: hmm someone else writing Dune stuff sounds less fun
[14:20] Jago Constantine: lol / yeah, he's basically capitalising on his father's work for cash / he co-writes with kevin anderson / their books are nowhere near as deep or detailed as the originals
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: theyre a hard act to follow
[14:22] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: phenomenal world-building there
[14:22] Eddi Haskell: most sequels are
[14:22] Jago Constantine: it's a shame because Brian Herbert clearly has a unique voice as an author, distinct from his father's
[14:22] Jago Constantine: as shown in this book and his other non-dune ones
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: maybe he should have stuck to writing comerdy
[14:23] Jago Constantine: yes he should have ... but they wouldn't sell as well / lol
[14:23] Eddi Haskell: there is nothing wrong with being an A plus writer of B material
[14:23] Lewis Luminos: Terry Pratchett did fine...
[14:23] Jago Constantine: I suspect that Kevin Anderson writes the new dune books and Brian Herbert puts the name herbert on the cover
[14:24] Jago Constantine: I loved terry pratchett for about the first dozen books
[14:24] Lewis Luminos: I actually never could get into them at all
[14:24] Jago Constantine: but he went downhill for a patch
[14:25] Eddi Haskell: can you guys give me someting to read
[14:25] Eddi Haskell: im serious
[14:25] Jago Constantine: when the books started being 'this one parodies opera', this one parodies rock, this one parodies australia
[14:25] Jago Constantine: a suggestion?
[14:25] Eddi Haskell: lol / yes
[14:25] Jago Constantine: Why not read Snow Crash you keep saying you want to
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: hmm, the last book I read that I really enjoyed was Perdido Street Station
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: oh yeah thats very good too
[14:26] Eddi Haskell: what is perfido about
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: a must-read if you want to read on Virtual Worlds
[14:26] Jago Constantine: Oh Lewis, next time we have a group excursion, there's a China Mieville-based sim we can visit
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: perdido, is a sort of steampunk city bug-hunt
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: ooh
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: :)
[14:26] Jago Constantine: It's based on The Scar actually lol / so you need to read that :P
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: I need to get a copy of that
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: yeah definitely
[14:27] Lewis Luminos: one to buy
[14:27] Arch Optera watches the humans chat as she idly lies there.
[14:27] Jago Constantine: the sim is a bunch of boats joined together
[14:27] Jago Constantine: Hi, Miroirs, thanks for coming :)
[14:27] Miroirs Hax: hello
[14:27] Jago Constantine: Slow rezzing here, set your graphics low for a bit
[14:27] Eddi Haskell: hi miroirs
[14:27] Lewis Luminos: hi Miroirs / so my latest book wasn't as good
[14:28] Jago Constantine: ok what was it again?
[14:28] Lewis Luminos: Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
[14:28] Jago Constantine: oh thats right
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: supposedly a thriller but it wasnt very thrilling
[14:29] Jago Constantine: would you recommend her works?
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: I wouldnt reccomend this one unles you've got a particular interest in the topic
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: which in this case is autism and medical ethics
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: set in the near future
[14:29] Jago Constantine: hmm not really
[14:29] Eddi Haskell: i just read it
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: where they've inventd a cure for autism
[14:29] Eddi Haskell: the synposis
[14:29] Jago Constantine: though I liked The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time / Hey Miroirs, have you read any good books lately?
[14:30] Lewis Luminos: and its an exploration of whether it's right to make people have the treatment against their will
[14:30] Miroirs Hax: think i'm almost rezzed, woa, nice location!
[14:30] Jago Constantine: yes isn;t it cool :)
[14:31] Lewis Luminos: while at the same time convicted criminals get forced to have their brais altered, and it's practically the same thing
[14:31] Jago Constantine: This is our first meet where we visit a new location
[14:31] Lewis Luminos: *brains
[14:31] Arch Optera: Welcome to Insilico.
[14:32] Eddi Haskell: i like to photo here
[14:32] Jago Constantine: Basically Miroirs, we go through what we read last, then what we're going to read next at these meets :)
[14:32] Miroirs Hax: sounds nice, sorry for being late
[14:32] Lewis Luminos: I dont have anything else lined up yet, will have to see whats int he library on Monday
[14:33] Jago Constantine: no worries, Miroirs
[14:33] Lewis Luminos: unless I can buy a copy of Scar
[14:33] Jago Constantine: You could try it as an ebook / it might be online
[14:33] Lewis Luminos: trouble with that is I do all my reading while I'm commuting
[14:33] Jago Constantine: ah
[14:33] Lewis Luminos: and I dont have anything I can use to take an ebook with me
[14:33] Jago Constantine: I wish we had Kindles in australia / I use my pda sometimes
[14:34] Lewis Luminos: to be honest I prefer my books to be made of paper
[14:34] Jago Constantine: me too, but a lot of people say that then love kindles :P
[14:34] Eddi Haskell: xerox has has paper that can change text electronically for many years
[14:34] Eddi Haskell: it will come to the market soon
[14:35] Jago Constantine: cool / There is an ebook of The Scar available for the record :)
[14:35] Lewis Luminos: I'd like to have a pda that never runs out of battery, and is still easy to read when the sun;s shining on the screen
[14:35] Lewis Luminos: then I'll be happy :)
[14:35] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:36] Jago Constantine: Once I finish this Sidney's Comet book I will read the sequel The Garbage Chronicles :P
[14:36] Jago Constantine: I picked them both up at once
[14:37] Jago Constantine: Not sure what the sequel is about, apart from garbage again and the same characters
[14:38] Jago Constantine: Hey Miroirs, are you rezzed? Would you like to discuss a book or are you happy to listen :)
[14:39] Miroirs Hax: i've not been able to read any sci-fi lately, sadly, so i'll mostly listen if that's ok
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Sure
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Oh can I invite you to join our group?
[14:40] Eddi Haskell: invite me please
[14:40] Miroirs Hax: sure, thanks
[14:40] Jago Constantine: Great / I send out notices for our saturday meetings through it / also, if you want to discuss sci fi in chat, feel free to use group / So you all like the venue for this week's meeting?
[14:42] Lewis Luminos: it looks great
[14:42] Eddi Haskell: i do
[14:42] Jago Constantine: take some time to look around later it's worth it
[14:42] Miroirs Hax: yes, sure sets the mood, did you create this?
[14:42] Jago Constantine: oh no
[14:42] Jago Constantine: I just asked the creator if we could meet here
[14:42] Jago Constantine: it's a roleplay sim
[14:43] Jago Constantine: this bar is Out of Character
[14:43] Miroirs Hax: :)
[14:43] Jago Constantine: or its allowed here / This isn't book related, but I went to see The Watchmen yesterday :)
[14:44] Lewis Luminos: so did I :)
[14:44] Jago Constantine: I really liked it
[14:44] Eddi Haskell: is it good?
[14:44] Jago Constantine: It's kind of like Sin City
[14:44] Lewis Luminos: I... actually didn't, to be honest
[14:44] Jago Constantine: with superheroes
[14:44] Lewis Luminos: though I didnt like the book much either
[14:45] Jago Constantine: I never got a chance to read the comics
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: I'd hesitate to use the word "heroes" in there
[14:45] Jago Constantine: well yeah / the characters are all flawed
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: very much so
[14:45] Miroirs Hax: i've only just learned about the watchmen, i sure liked sin city though
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: If you like very, very dark, and very very gruesomely violent
[14:46] Jago Constantine: yes, this is just as stylised and violent
[14:46] Jago Constantine: its from the director of 300 I think
[14:46] Arch Optera: Frank Miller, yes.
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: then you'll like it
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: and you dont mind that the "heroes" are rapists and murderers
[14:47] Arch Optera: Don't mind me boys since we're ooc here I am just listening.
[14:47] Miroirs Hax: that's a lot of criticism in a recommendation Lewis :)
[14:47] Jago Constantine: I understand that it was kind of the point of the comic to try and depict the kind of people who might become masked vigilantes in RL
[14:47] Lewis Luminos: no I actually do think its a good film, just not my type of film
[14:47] Lewis Luminos: it was very true to the book, well-executed
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Feel free to comment, Arch :)
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Some criticism I heard was that it was too true to the books
[14:48] Lewis Luminos: could that even be a criticism?
[14:48] Lewis Luminos: heh
[14:49] Jago Constantine: well I read a quote once, a book is hundreds of pages
[14:49] Jago Constantine: a script is 40 pages
[14:49] Jago Constantine: you can't try to force everything in
[14:49] Arch Optera: I always like to see how they translate book to film, unfortunately sometimes they suck. But each director always has an interesting interperetation.
[14:49] Jago Constantine: Hi, Ji NI, thanks for coming
[14:49] Lewis Luminos: I'm not particularly squeamish but there were several scenes I just couldn't watch
[14:49] Ji Ni: hello :)
[14:50] Jago Constantine: there were times when I felt the movie was trying to fill in a lot of backstory
[14:50] Eddi Haskell: hi Ji Ni
[14:50] Miroirs Hax: hello
[14:50] Jago Constantine: I didn't mind that
[14:50] Lewis Luminos: the movie was easier to follow than the book
[14:50] Lewis Luminos: maybe it was dumbed down a bit
[14:50] Jago Constantine: We're talking about The Watchmen movie, Ji
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Definitely
[14:50] Lewis Luminos: or maybe I was too young when I read it
[14:51] Ji Ni: i havent seen it yet :(
[14:51] Jago Constantine: I think they wanted Terry Gilliam to film it at one stage, and he said it was unfilmable :P
[14:51] Lewis Luminos: probably was, then. Movie-making technology has come a long way since then
[14:52] Jago Constantine: no cgi :)
[14:52] Jago Constantine: yes, Terry Gilliam would have done it old school :)
[14:52] Eddi Haskell: with humour
[14:52] Jago Constantine: this had humour, as dark as Gilliams
[14:53] Jago Constantine: well darker maybe
[14:53] Jago Constantine: less absurd
[14:53] Jago Constantine: How are you going, Ji, rezzed?
[14:53] Lewis Luminos: I thought some of the humour in Watchmen was inappropriate
[14:54] Jago Constantine: Can you say without spoiling which bits?
[14:54] Jago Constantine: without spoilers
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: hmm... choice of certain bits of soundtrack
[14:54] Ji Ni: meh, holy rez mania
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: making reference to other pop-culture icons...
[14:55] Jago Constantine: Hmm I can't figure the parts you mean lol
[14:55] Jago Constantine: Did you set your graphics low Ji?
[14:55] Lewis Luminos: Apocalypse Now
[14:55] Jago Constantine: oh yeah
[14:55] Ji Ni: mine are low as they can go, shitty puter though
[14:55] Jago Constantine: I liked that bit
[14:56] Jago Constantine: I thought it was just how a superhero would be used in RL
[14:56] Lewis Luminos: yeah I agree
[14:56] Jago Constantine: but the music subverted it
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: but there I was laughing at the music and watching that, and suddenly thought "why the hell am I laughing at this?"
[14:57] Jago Constantine: yeah it was conflicting
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: it felt wrong
[14:57] Jago Constantine: one of the parts I felt worst seeing was the kennedy assassination
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: oh god yeah
[14:58] Lewis Luminos: worst bit for me was the prison scene
[14:58] Lewis Luminos: the bit with the saw
[14:58] Eddi Haskell: your making me want to see it
[14:58] Jago Constantine: lol eddi
[14:58] Miroirs Hax: heh, same here
[14:58] Jago Constantine: well that was so over the top
[14:58] Jago Constantine: you should go!
[14:59] Eddi Haskell: i will
[14:59] Jago Constantine: Ji, would you like an invite to our group?
[14:59] Lewis Luminos: yeah. I didnt actually like it but I still think it was a good film
[14:59] Ji Ni: sure :)
[15:00] Jago Constantine: We
[15:00] Jago Constantine: re winding up now, so this will help you know where the next meet is
[15:00] Ji Ni: Will you put it into the Search events listing?
[15:00] Jago Constantine: It could be back at my and Eddi's land, or it could be at a China Mieville theme sim
[15:00] Jago Constantine: yes, I will
[15:01] Jago Constantine: so it will be easy to find
[15:01] spyVspy Aeon: hi there
[15:01] Ji Ni: ok, that is best, i only have 25 group slots :(
[15:01] Miroirs Hax: hello
[15:01] Jago Constantine: sure
[15:01] Jago Constantine: it's the only science fiction event I know :P
[15:01] Jago Constantine: Hi, spy
[15:01] Lewis Luminos: I'm nearly out of group slots too
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: well
[15:01] Eddi Haskell: i am going to put more inisilico photos up at my gallery
[15:02] Eddi Haskell: so you can see my photos
[15:02] Eddi Haskell: there is an inisilico photo from me in metaverse
[15:02] Miroirs Hax: nice to meet you, thanks for the event
[15:02] Eddi Haskell: the sl newspaper
[15:02] Ji Ni: Its a great topic, I luvz the scifi
[15:02] Jago Constantine: me too ... I'm surprised there weren't sci fi discussion groups already
[15:02] Jago Constantine: I had to make one :)
[15:03] Lewis Luminos: I'm glad you did, its fun
[15:03] Lewis Luminos: its also got me reading more :-D
[15:03] Ji Ni: ive seen the odd sci fi book discussed in general fantasy groups but ya, its good to see specifically sci fi
[15:03] spyVspy Aeon: :) scifi lover too
[15:04] Jago Constantine: I think our next meeting will be at my land like last week, and we'll do the excursion after that
[15:04] Jago Constantine: would you like a group invite, spy?
[15:04] Jago Constantine: We have sci fi discussion saturdays at 2
[15:04] spyVspy Aeon: yay sounds really cool
[15:04] spyVspy Aeon: need to know if I have time lol too much things to do
[15:05] Jago Constantine: Sure
[15:05] spyVspy Aeon: thnks
[15:05] spyVspy Aeon: right now doing a machinima
[15:05] Jago Constantine: any time you want
[15:05] Jago Constantine: You can also discuss sci fi in group chat
[15:05] spyVspy Aeon: :) I will need for the storyboards
[15:05] Lewis Luminos: Jago I gotta say I love that Tony-Stark style heart thing you're wearing there :)
[15:06] Jago Constantine: heh thanks I bought it in the mall here
[15:06] Saskia Bowie: Hello everyone
[15:06] Jago Constantine: Hi, Saskia :)
[15:06] Lewis Luminos: hi Saskia
[15:06] Eddi Haskell: hi saskia
[15:07] Jago Constantine: Ok, I might log and have breakfast :)
[15:07] Saskia Bowie: hmm, no rp?
[15:07] Astolio Krell: hello
[15:07] Jago Constantine: thanks for coming I will send a group notice with the next location
[15:07] Jago Constantine: we just had a sci fi discussion event
[15:08] Lewis Luminos: I have to go too
[15:08] Lewis Luminos: nice meeting you Eddi