From - Wed Jan 14 17:05:51 1998 Return-Path: Received: from relay1.UU.NET by mrco.carleton.ca (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA29965; Tue, 9 Feb 93 13:31:35 EST Received: from nyx.cs.du.edu by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-internet-primary) id AA09106; Tue, 9 Feb 93 13:31:13 -0500 Received: by nyx.cs.du.edu (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA25454; Tue, 9 Feb 93 11:30:33 MST From: ahawks@nyx.cs.du.edu (andy) Message-Id: <9302091830.AA25454@nyx.cs.du.edu> X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University of Denver. The University has neither control over nor responsibility for the opinions or correct identity of users. Subject: FutureCulture Digest #222 To: future-digest@nyx.cs.du.edu Date: Tue, 9 Feb 93 11:30:32 MST X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11] X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 ______________________________________________________________________ |______________ / | | / | | u t u r e <___________ u l t u r e | _______________________________________________________________________| Issue #222 Tuesday, February 9th 1993 Today's Topics: --------------- RE:BAD VOLTAGE Computers in Every + Co-House/Dorms Re: Hot Head -- Simon Ings Re: re: PoMo essay thingy Re: something interesting send agrippa Somebody type something interesting (for a change) __________________________________________________________________________ Date: 09 Feb 1993 01:48:54 -0500 (EST) From: "Michael J. Current" Subject: Re: re: PoMo essay thingy Steven, _PostModern Culture_ is published in pure ASCII format, and the ftp site just has the contents broken into a file for each article. In fact, unlike most e-journals, when you subscribe, you don't get e-mailed a full copy of each edition, but simply a Table of Contents describing the various articles and giving their filenames, so you can get them by ftp. (I guess you *can* get the whole thing via a listserv request). In any case, the copy of the essay that I read came directly from the ftp site, via an ASCII transfer, in ASCII format. I didn't have to do anything except load it into my text editor. So I don't know why you are having trouble with your copy. As to whether it should be posted to the list, I'd be happy to do so if people want me to. It is about 35 K. I tend to be conservative in this respect not because I am considered about bandwith, but because I access the Net via a commercial service. I download the Digest before reading it to save charges, but still, the bigger the Digest, the more connect time I have to pay for. Free the Net! If you haven't figured out a way to read the essay yet, let me know, and I'll be glad to either post it or e-mail it to you. Michael -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael J. Current Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Resource Center mcurrent@nyx.cs.du.edu / iamichael@delphi.com 4211 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50312 (515) 279-2110 "There's no revelation forthcoming - *that's* the revelation!" -Avital Ronell -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________ From: zamboni@ap.cl.msu.edu (happy zamboni) Subject: Computers in Every + Co-House/Dorms Date: Tue, 9 Feb 93 1:40:51 EST Hello all, Two quick thoughts: In a previous post, mcarpent@en.ecn.purdue.edu says: {begin quote} Just think, in maybe say 10 or so years, the new dorms might even have ETHER running to each room along with the HDTV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Looks at university administration, and laughs histerically to himself) {end quote} They already have this at Carnege Melon, at least. (Plus, I was also told that if you don't have a computer of your own going in there, you are given one, and the price is tacked onto your tuition.) But I don't know if dorms are a good model for co-habitation. How many people do you know that would like to be living with wife and kids at age 40 in (the equiv. of) a college dorm? (Or younger than that, for that matter. Here at Michigan State, they just changed policy forcing Fresh and Sophs to live in the Dorms, as opposed to just Freshmen - too few people wanted to stay, and the dorms were emptying out...) It just seems that there are some deeper psychological and cultural elements here. Although the "efficency" of the co-hab arrangement seems logical to me, another section of me has the heeby-jeebies at the thought of been forced to deal with my neighbors (at least my current ones) on a daily basis. Anyway, maybe this is an American thing, not a general human thing, or maybe a result of me growning up in a small-ish town with a good deal of space. Computer in Every Home : Now, this seems like an interesting direction... By say, giving a tax cut for part of the price of a new computer (and modem), the Clinton admin would be acheiving several goals : "Furthering the Data Highways", or however that quote goes...; Promoting and pumping money into the Computer Industry and it's support Industries, helping the economy as a whole, blah blah (Imagine how much demand for new phone lines there would be if the numbers of modems in the country tripled in a years time.) I know very many people who simply didn't know what was available "out there" ("out here" what ever...), and when exposed to it, have the "slap-yourself-in-the-forehead" feeling - "Why didn't I know this was here SOONER!!" I would venture to guess that this would be a very common occurence. BTW- _The Media Lab_ by Stewart Brand has an interesting section about the different ways different governments have dealth with computers/networks/et al. The bit on the public French E-Mail system, I thought, was good - and pretty indicative of where a similar one would go towards in the U.S. Thas it. -zamboni ______________________________ From: u9009914@athmail1.causeway.qub.ac.uk Subject: Re: Hot Head -- Simon Ings Date: Tue, 09 Feb 93 10:39:48 GMT CONCEPCION%BABSON.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu - Briareos?? mentioned the book Hot Head by Simon Ings, saying that it was better than Bad Voltage. Now I haven't actually read Bad Voltage, but have read a review - I remember the comments on music. Hot Head is a really good book, plenty of interesting bits and pieces for thinking on -- genetically engineered dolphins which are orange and keep sinking :( -- I did give the book to some friends to read a few months ago some liked it some found it hard to identify with. It is fairly graphic/strong in descriptions. A lot of interesting science - would artificial life toy with us as we toy with rats etc. In regards to the back cover blurb I think that the publishers wanted to try to make the book a little different / seperate it from the "dreams of men and gods / dreams of sand and ??" Gibson rewrites -can't remember the author. The book is different, more emphasis on the culture / feel of society - it is about 7/8 months since I read it. Anyway damn good book do read it gavin u9009914@athmail1.causeway.qub.ac.uk <-- preferred gr.bell@v2.qub.ac.uk :: undergrad Psychology/CompSci Another day, same shit :( ______________________________ From: "Trond Buland" Date: 9 Feb 93 13:39:49 GMT-0100 Subject: RE:BAD VOLTAGE > Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1993 10:44 EST > From: CONCEPCION@BABSON.bitnet > Subject: RE:BAD VOLTAGE > To: future@nyx.cs.du.edu > To Michael and anyone else interested in gays & cp, > > Bad Voltage is a bad recommendation. Tcha, sure I got hooked when > I was fourteen and mindless, but looking back at it, it's an RPG game > session transcript with littel (that's the correct spelling of J.L.'s last > name) saving grace other than the music list in the back which is a good > start into the early Cyberpunk music of yesteryear (Cabaret Voltaire, VU, > Violent Femmes, Sex Pistols, etc.) [OK, & fine, it's more punk than cyber > but still makes a good resource for anyone w/o the convenience of a FAQ or > M2k Guidebook.] As one (of several?) that has been recommending Bad Voltage (in privat mail to Michael), I would just like to add that I did NOT necessarily claim that BV is a GOOD novel. (Whatever the meaning of that may be...) I just said that BV is a bit above average in the way that homosexuals/bi-sexuals are visible in the story. As to the quality of the novel, I don't know.... A year and a half ago I tried to review Bad Voltage for the norwegian science fiction magazine SIRIUS, and ended up writing TWO reviews. (Both got printed) I just could not make up my mind as to whether BV is something like ultimate postcybermodernpunkish piece of literature, or just a bucket full of RPG-style bullshit. I still can't make up my mind! Can anybody help me? > A better shot of cyberpunk homosexuality is Simon Ings's Hot Head. > Anybody who's read this book? No, but i'd like to read it. What I've read of Ings (not much, I'll grant you that...) makes me feel he could be a rising star. I seem to remember some excellent short-stories in INTERZONE?! TB ______________________________ From: stuartj@MENTORG.COM (Stuart John) Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1993 12:42:31 +0000 Subject: Somebody type something interesting (for a change) [ Ok i admit i'm bored, so i want to bounce some thoughts around for want of something to type...] --- Controlling computers with brainwaves --- Does anyone doing this research have *any* idea how scrambled the jellyware gets after starin' at a monitor all day long ? and stressing out when the compiler bombs ? why would anyone want to control computers with brainwaves ? mind you it would probably be more responsive than my Sun optical mouse... ~~~left a bit~~~no, up, bit more~~~THAT'S IT, CLICK~~~~ :-) --- I know more than you do... --- I was watching some docu about a famous physicist the other day and he was saying he hated being a member of some honorary society because you spend ages trying to get into it, then once you're there they spend the whole time discussing who they're not going to let in... ah, sounds familiar... Recent discussions about how bad the Time article was got me thinking... the culture *needs* to grow, and people *are* going to be inspired by media blanket terms like 'cyberpunk' so what easier way for people to fit in immediately than to label themselves 'cyberpunk' ? It's not the easiest of concepts to grasp because it covers a very diverse range of subjects, and the fact that a lot of the culture is just interaction with other people must seem very alien. These people should be encouraged to participate, it just no good pointing the finger and saying 'ha, cyber-wannabe'. The message should be OK so you're interested in and sci-fi films and books and whatever else inspires you towards the future, now come and discuss coz you're point of view is part of the fabric of the culture itself. *And* hopefully you can learn something which you never knew, or you'll pick up an idea which you never even considered... --- Cyberspace --- Someone typed yesterday words to the effect that the Matrix (tm) isn't up and running coz there's not enough resources and/or incentive. Which is a valid point. What company in their right collective mind is going to invest huge amounts of R&D in developing the technology, *then* chuck lots of cash into developing ice to protect their data, and more to the point why would they put sensitive data into an abstract form in the first place. What possible advantage could there be in saying 'here's our database, don't come and look around it' when it's pretty damn obvious that most people/companies will. It's human nature. --- The latest software --- Anyone get the feeling that Microsoft's ultimate operating system NT is just a re-invention of the proverbial wheel ? --- Video --- Anyone know how VideoPlus (tm) codes work ? The numbers don't seem to correspond to anything and its bloody annoying me. --- Who are you ? --- So someone explain future culture identity. Obviously outrageous foil space suits are out, people are slamming 'cyberpunk' labels, the clothing thread seemed to suggest black jeans, but this isn't really sufficient enough..., individualism ? too many people subscribe to that view (a culture of individualists ?) how would you recognise someone in the street who shares a passion for all things futuristic and technological ? (would you want to ?) does the anonymity of the internet give people enough courage to speak up when they would not do so in the company of others ? is it a mind-thing with no relevance to a conventional form of identity ? ie. clothes, hair-colour etc. --- Future Culture --- What about non computer-literate people ? after all, there *are* more of them than there are computers... are they missing out ? i have friends who are studying for humanities degrees, and are quite happy in their ignorance of technology, they think computers are just toys for playing Sonic, or controlling microwaves... to be into Future-Culture seems to require an affinity with science/computers in the first place, which shuts out so many people who don't have this access, ( perhaps the people who would make the most valuable contributions since their chosen studies are more related to human interaction !? ) It's like discussing society in scientific terms without input from humanitarians who know what it's really about. --- Stereotypes --- Why are most scientists seen as being 'boring' ??? are we ? or is that just an English thing ? --- Hi-tech bio-tech --- Saw in the news today some American student took her own tonsils out coz she couldn't afford hospital treatment ?!?! argh Talking of body parts, which would be the best to be enhanced/upgraded ? Would infra-red vision be of much use to us ? How about not being dependent on food ?! *The ultimate merger of machines & man*, but is this really all it's cracked up to be ? general consensus seems to be for small invisible chips performing menial tasks (such as tattoo forming ?!). Hardly much of a leap forward for man/woman ?! do we still view machines as tools, and not as an extension of ourselves ? [goes off to have lunch...] -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mentor Graphics Corporation (UK) _ European Technical Centre, Hollybank House, ( `/_ Mount Lane, BRACKNELL, Berkshire. RG12 3BD (_)(_(/ Tel: +44 344 867555 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stuart_John@MENTORG.COM #include ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SATRIANISATRIANISATRIANISATRIANISATRIANISATRIANISATRIANI ______________________________ Date: 09 Feb 1993 07:44:17 -0600 (CST) From: "free agent .rez" Subject: Re: something interesting >--- Future Culture --- >What about non computer-literate people ? after all, there *are* more of >them than there are computers... >are they missing out ? i have friends who are studying for humanities >degrees, and are quite happy in their ignorance of technology, they >think computers are just toys for playing Sonic, or controlling microwaves... >to be into Future-Culture seems to require an affinity with science/computers >in the first place, which shuts out so many people who don't have this access, >( perhaps the people who would make the most valuable contributions >since their chosen studies are more related to human interaction !? ) >It's like discussing society in scientific terms without input >from humanitarians who know what it's really about. i'm working towards a HUMANITIES degree, and am now orienting the entirety of my studies on a project to model/examine VIRTUAL CULTURE. i'm curious about affinities, present or assumed, as well. i have plenty of *ideas* on how the Net functions as a cultural attractor and how it can be utilised for the purposes of constructing a "personal" culture person by person, but... as this environment becomes less alienatory to some folks, and when the kitschy ornamentation worn by many becomes less important/prevalent, we'll really begin to see the potentials of the Net as a cultural attractor, imho. until then, gotta work with what i got. but i've been exposed to enough of my OWN personal virtual culture via the Net to know that human culture and the humanities most *emphatically* has a stake in virtuality, and am of course doing my damndest to turn that into a self-fulfilling prophecy... ;) .rez ______________________________ From: sjd@post.att.com Date: Tue, 9 Feb 93 09:30 EST Subject: send agrippa thanks - sjd _________________________________________________________________________ | | | That's all for today! | | To send a message to the list: future@nyx.cs.du.edu | | To subscribe/unsubscribe/change format: future-request@nyx.cs.du.edu | | All other requests: future-request@nyx.cs.du.edu | | List Maintainer is: (andy [aka hawkeye]) ahawks@nyx.cs.du.edu | |_________________________________________________________________________| | | | The opinions expressed in FutureCulture are those of the individual | | author only. | |_________________________________________________________________________|