### Apollo BBS Archive - August 28, 1989

    Mail from Peter Petrisko
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 12:12:41

         We need to start planning this performance art piece for the show at
    the end of October....  I've spoken to a gentlemen whose video company
    produces segments for CNN, and will try to get him there that night...
    [A]bort, [C]ontinue, [I]nsty-reply or [Z]ap:Insty-reply

    Enter a line containing only an [*] to stop
     1:I need my 'fucking' work tools.
     2:
     3:Okay on the planning.

    Mail from Todd Reese
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 13:44:39

    Someday I'll have to dig out those old printouts.  I have some that Carol
    Graham sent me after I was in Hawaii, and some of Edward Degraaf's big thing
    about me charging a fee.  I'm sure I have some other ones.  I just don't
    know where they all are.

    Carol sent me some print outs with messages from you leaving HEX codes
    saying, TODD IS AN ASSHOLE.  I was able to decode it in Hawaii without a
    conversion chart or anything.  Do you remember that?

    That time I said you looked like Manson was just after I returned from
    Hawaii.  January, 1986.

    See you later...
    [A]bort, [C]ontinue, [I]nsty-reply or [Z]ap:Insty-reply

    Enter a line containing only an [*] to stop
     1:Blax days were some fun times.  I had purchased six different passwords
     2:therefore I had six votes.  I couldn't believe the BBS's were so cheap and
     3:that is why I gave extra money.
     4:
     5:Yes, I remember the HEX codes.  I was just learning them at the time and
     6:thought it would be fun to see who could decode them.  I see you spelled
     7:DeGraaf's name correctly.  He is, last I heard, in Michigan.  I'll get out
     8:some of my posts......by the way, my first posts on Blax and Apollo were
     9:really, 'stoned' posts.  I would usually smoke a 'joint' then log on and say
    10:whatever felt weird.
    11:
    12:Craig White and Carol went bowling together quite often.  Do you remember
    13:him now?
    14:
    15:One of the 'funnest' times I had on Blax was discovering, while logging on,
    16:that I had captured the remainder of Bob Jiles' time period.  I sure had fun
    17:under his name.  I even entered a message 'for him' that said in effect, "I
    18:now understand Rod Williams and I agree with everything he is saying.  He is
    19:a genius."
    20:
    21:Of course, Bob would never see the message because when he logged
    on, the
    22:system would treat him as having posted it.  Pretty funny, eh?  I later
    23:told him about it, after it was too late, of course.   Later -Rod
    24:Next, I'll tell you about how I used my votes and fooled some of the people.

    Computer Hacker SIG Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 302
    Author: $ Jeannie Innajug
    Category: Commodore/Amiga
    Subject: last
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 07:12:03

    Hey...........................Roddy.....................

    That figures!

    See Y'aa..............
    jeannie

    Message: 303
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Bit Bucket Talk
    Subject: Roddy/cover
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:00:29

    A plastic garbage bag?? How uncouthThat would be like putting a paint drop
    cloth over my Corvette! (eat your heart out Nick!) -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 304
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Bit Bucket Talk
    Subject: Computers
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:02:20

    Ahhhhhhhh! It's so nice to finally have the ideal computer - where no one is
    gonna tell you what you what you should have instead of a Tandy! After the
    demo at the GT - who could cut this one down? Perfection! -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 305
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bit Bucket Talk
    Subject: Jeannie
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:01:29

            And I think that a 33 qt. garbage bag over your head would greatly
    improve your looks.  You may even look sexy, then.

    Message: 306
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Commodore/Amiga
    Subject: Garbage
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:03:09

    Well, it may not look as good as those elusive custom covers but the dust
    doesn't know the difference and I ain't trying to impress anyone.

    Ann, buy yourself a good VIC -20.

    The outer COSmos Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 3365
    Author: $ Jeannie Innajug
    Category: Cosmos-Chatter
    Subject: Official Gibberish
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 07:13:06

    Uff Da!

    Message: 3366
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Cosmos-Chatter
    Subject: Rod & Todd
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:04:25

    Ojdhe mdje lued, doenndd aine did 'lewd' - gjehd  emted kidienns didiii
    dientd did 'lude'??? dje -=*) Kidhjre (*=-

    Message: 3367
    Author: $ Ralph Blehm
    Category: Answer !
    Subject: All
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 11:01:30

    NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Message: 3368
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Cosmos-Chatter
    Subject: Ralph/last
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:04:20

     Thank you for shooting us all, Ralph.  Yer quite a guy.  -Rod

    Message: 3369
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Cosmos-Chatter
    Subject: Ann/dydky
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:05:34

    Ann, Todd and I ARE communicating in Tonga, honest to Bob.  And remember,
    Bob spelled backwards is still Bob but God spelled backwards is Dog.

    Apollo Underground Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 369
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: last?
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 01:08:43

            Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha......  Loved it!

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 370
    Author: $ Todd Reese
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Rod
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 13:40:02

    That's ok.  You want to get rid of that gross flesh anyway.

    Message: 371
    Author: $ James Taranto
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Cliff
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 15:46:23

    The correct spelling of my name is "James Taranto."

    Message: 372
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Last/spelling
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 16:08:54

    But I have it correct....????   I re-looked at it and I can't see where I
    have it wrong....?

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 373
    Author: $ Beauregard Dog
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: GT/introductions
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 18:56:48

    I loved the puzzled, searching look on Ralph's face when I was introduced as
    "Ron Harvey"

    I also loved the first time at Ianuzzi Ristorante when Nick wanted to
    introduce me but could only think of "Beau" (and didn't want to use that)

    Message: 374
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Beau....
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:07:22

            So, what did Nick do?  How embarrassing, eh!

    Late Night Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 1670
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Insomniac & inspired
    Subject: Tonight...
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 01:12:07

    Sigh, last night was the GT...  I stayed up so late playing with an art
    program after the GT was over, I ended up sleeping most of the day.  Now the
    problem is, I am wide awake when I should be asleep.   Grrrrrr

    Now what do I do?

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 1671
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Cliff/last
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:08:48

    After the GT I came home and played around till 5:30 a.m. and I slept till
    1:30.  I like staying up in the dark.

    Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 60559
    Author: $ Jeannie Innajug
    Category: Get-Togethers (GTs)
    Subject: Last One
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 07:10:11

    Ok.........................Everyone...............

    Those of you that were invited secretly to this big GT I hope you had a
    great time.  But if you're not going to invite the public, don't you think
    you ought to talk about it on a private sig?  Seems like if a user pays for
    status she/he ought to qualify for your secret little clique, huh?

    See Y'aa..............
    Jeannie

    Message: 60560
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: JT/OOPS!
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 07:54:12

    That word was ment to be signature! (Typo error) -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 60561
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Jeannie/last
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 07:56:50

    I thought you were invited?? I ask where you were and someone said out of
    town - Florida somewhere. Would have like to meet you. -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 60562
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Get-Togethers (GTs)
    Subject: Jeannie
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:48:19

            It was a party for someone else we knew....  It was not just a
    regular GT.  But...you let me know when you are going to be in town and we
    will hold a GT for you as guest $tatus user and invite ALL the other $tatus
    and regular users...  How does that sound?

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 60563
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Paul/WAR!
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:52:51

            I bet that opened his EYEs.......   "What the......." he mumbles to
    himself.  Hey, someone throw a SLUR his way and get him to post!

    Just kidding...  being quite are you?

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 60564
    Author: $ James Taranto
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Oudin
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 15:45:07

    I realize my handwriting is not great.  Your sarcasm is unwarranted.

    Message: 60565
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Last...
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 16:10:14

    I saw nothing wrong with your handwriting at all....  What seems to be the
    problem?   The card looks great!

    Cliff

    Message: 60566
    Author: $ James Taranto
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Last
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 18:37:23

    My handwriting is messy.  I am not physically graceful.

    Message: 60567
    Author: $ James Taranto
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Sri Lanka
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 18:38:44

    I believe that, if it is successful in putting down the Tamil insurgency
    during the 1990s, Sri Lanka will emerge as the world's leading political and
    economic power in the 21st century.  Indeed, I believe the 21st century will
    come to be known as the Sri Lankan Century.  You can read all about it in my
    forthcoming book, "Sri Lanka: The Sleeping Giant."

    Message: 60568
    Author: Stewart MacCabbee
    Category: Answer!
    Subject: Rod/weirdos&crazies
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 22:04:40

    And Ceylonese nationalists.

    Message: 60569
    Author: Stewart MacCabbee
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: huh?
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 22:06:10

    I am feeling phthisical.

    Message: 60570
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Chit Chat
    Subject: Astrology
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:14:03

     In Thursday's Az. Republic, August 24th, Section F, there is, what I would
    call, a all time great article that deals with astrology.

    It was meant to be a primer for astronomers who find themselves in a
    position of debate with an astrologer.

    The article is five message bases long and I would suggest buffering it and
    reading it later.  A hard copy would also be a good idea for future
    reference.   -Rod

    Message: 60571
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bulletins
    Subject: Astrology 1-5
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:14:53

            STAR MAN STRIKES BACK  Astronomer Sees Flawed Zodiac
                             by Clarence Petersen  Chicago Tribune

          "It's a moment at social events that every astronomer dreads,"
    says Alan MacRobert, associate editor of Sky & Telescope, a monthly
    magazine read by 100,000 professional and amateur astronomers:
          "Oh, you're an astrologer?  So am I!  What's your sign?"
          A crowd gathers as the astronomer tries to explain that
    astrology has no validity, that it is a pseudoscience dating from an
    era when the Earth was thought to be the center of the universe, and
    that all it reveals is its believers' ignorance.
          Tempers rise.
          "Then how did that astrologer on Oprah know that Scorpios are
    just like my mother?"
          "My tennis buddy is a Ph.D. and he owns two companies.  And he
    *always* checks somebody's horoscope before he hires him."
          "If it's good enough for the president, it's good enough for
    me!"
          Overpowered, the astronomer heads for the nearest exit.
          "That kind of thing not only has happened to me in social
    situations -- it's happened in my astronomy classes," says Andrew
    Fraknoi, executive director of the Astronomical Society of the
    Pacific, with 7,000 members worldwide.
    next

    Message: 60572
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bulletins
    Subject: 2 of 5
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:15:32

          "And I can't tell you how many letters we get addressed to the
    'Astrological Society of the Pacific,' wanting to know how we can make
    their love lives better."
          Schools don't seem to be helping.
          A 1984 Gallup poll revealed that 55 percent of American
    teen-agers believe in astrology, far more than understand how a lever
    works.
          So Fraknoi and the editors of Sky & Telescope have developed a
    new tactic: an article by Fraknoi in the August issue, "Your Astrology
    Defense Kit."
          It arms astronomers with an up-to-date reading of astrology and
    what's wrong with it, but suggests a kinder, gentler approach to
    dealing with the superstition.
          "I took a course in astrology before I started debunking it,"
    says Fraknoi, a Harvard graduate with a master's degree in
    astrophysics from the University of California, Berkeley.
          "It does a disservice to everyone if you make a mistake.  It
    gives the astrologers a chance to say, 'See, those stupid astronomers
    haven't even bothered to find out what we know.'
          "The basis of astrology," Fraknoi says, "remains disarmingly
    simple: A person's character and destiny can be understood from the
    positions of the sun, moon and planets at the moment of birth."
    next

    Message: 60573
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bulletins
    Subject: 3 of 5
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:16:10

          Astrology divides the sky into 12 zones, or "houses," which were
    named by the ancient Greeks: Aries (the ram), Taurus (the bull),
    Gemini (the twins), Cancer (the crab), Leo (the lion), Virgo (the
    virgin), Libra (the scales), Scorpius (the scorpion), Sagittarius (the
    archer), Aquarius (the water bearer) and Pisces (the fish).
          Together, these make up the zodiac, from the Greek *zodiakos
    kyklos* ("circle of animals").
          "What's your sign?" is shorthand for "In which of the 12 zones
    did the sun appear on your birthday?"
          But astrological charts are outdated, critics say.
          The skies have shifted since the birth of astrology, and the
    real constellations and their astrological counterparts no longer
    match.
          On July 11, 1991, for example, when the moon passes between the
    sun and the Earth's Western Hemisphere, anyone with a good telescope
    will be able to see the eclipsed sun against the stars of the
    constellation Gemini.
          But astrological charts show the sun in Cancer, where it was
    3000 years ago.
          "Astrologers know that the constellations and the zodiac no
    longer line up," Fraknoi says.  "But they've gone on to develop
    systems -- what I think are bizarre systems -- to explain that away.
    next

    Message: 60574
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bulletins
    Subject: 4 of 5
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:16:48

          All the long-range forces we know in the universe get weaker as
    objects get farther apart.  Yet the importance of Mars in your
    horoscope is identical whether the planet is on the same side of the
    sun as the Earth or on the other side, seven times further away.
          *  "If astrological influences don't depend on distance, why is
    there no astrology of stars, galaxies and quasars?"
          It seems very small-minded of astrologers to limit their craft
    to our solar system.  "Has the client whose horoscope omits the
    effects of Rigel, the Crab pulsar and M31 really had a complete
    reading?"  Fraknoi asks.
          The kinder, gentler approach to debunking astrology gives
    astrology the benefit of the doubt.
          "But there is a devastating final point," Fraknoi says.
    "Astrology simply doesn't work.  Many tests have proven that despite
    their claims, astrologers can't predict anything.
          "We don't need to know how something works to see *whether* it
    works.  During the last two decades, while astrologers have somehow
    always been a little too busy to conduct statistically valid tests of
    their work, physical and social scientists have done it for them."
          Psychologist Bernard Silverman of Michigan State University, for
    example, looked at the birth dates of 2,978 couples who were getting
    married and 478 who were getting divorced.  He found that
    "incompatibly signed" men and women got married and divorced as
    frequently as "compatibly signed" ones.

    Message: 60575
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Bulletins
    Subject: 5 of 5
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:18:49

          Physicist John McGervey at Case Western Reserve University in
    Cleveland looked at the biographies and birth dates of about 6000
    politicians and 17,000 scientists, to see whether members of these
    professions were clustered among certain signs, as astrologers
    maintain.  He found both groups to be randomly distributed.
          "One argument we've gotten," says Sky & Telescope editor
    MacRobert, "is that some people treat astrology almost as a religion,
    and what are we trying to do?  Criticize people's religion?
          "We're not really aiming this article at people who are
    emotionally committed to it.
          "The readers we're trying to serve are those who may genuinely
    and seriously wonder: 'Is there anything to this or not, and how do I
    find out?'
          "A framework for understanding astrology's claims is available,
    but nobody seems to be making it available to the public in general,"
    McRobert adds.  "So, we figured this was a service we could do.  The
    astronomers who read it could then deliver this service whenever they
    get drawn into these debates."
          Then maybe they could stay for dinner, too, instead of driving
    home angry while the stars wheel silently above them.

    (I will put the Article, by the same writer, Astrologer Replies, on the
    board the next time I log on.)  -Rod

    Rod, God & Bob Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 554
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Rod/hell
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:10:15

    We all know your definition of hell - but what is you definiton of heaven?
    Doesn't have to be the Biblical one! Just your opinion. -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 555
    Author: $ Ann Oudin
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Rod again
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:11:10

    I did enjoy the joint we shared outside of Cliff's the other night! Didn't
    you? -=*) ANN (*=-

    Message: 556
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Heaven
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 08:50:00

            I already entered my formula for 'Heaven' and no one argued it.

    *=* the 'Mighty' Apollo SYSOP *=*

    Message: 557
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: Heaven
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:29:15

    Now it is my turn to enter my thoughts about 'heaven'.

    Yes, Ann, I enjoyed the joint.  Where did you get such, 'ass-kicking' stuff?

    HEAVEN -- off the top of my head.  By R. Williams

    First off, in order to have a true heaven I would say that the human, flesh
    and bone, body would have to go.  We would have to be of much lighter and
    finer 'ethers'.   In order to accomplish that, mankind would and will have
    to evolve much more.  Our diet would have to be of lighter but strong
    material.  Meat would be out.  As we grew lighter we would grow taller as a
    matter of course and our dicks would get longer.

    I would say that grain products would allow us to accomplish that goal.  Of
    course we would have to slowly evolve to it otherwise many would die
    'early'.   Once we achieved a better structual body we would find that
    staying awake would be easier and jumping higher would be fun.  Our overall
    health would be better and our canine teeth would dissapear.

    There would be many other benefits as well.  Too numerous to mention at this
    time.

    Again, in order to have heavenly conditions there would definitely have to
    be a true understanding of brother and sister-hood among all species.

    Message: 558
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: cont.
    Date: 08/28/89  Time: 23:37:00

    There could be no heaven environment if just a single life form was unhappy
    due to a cruel act.  All would have to be happy for heaven to exist.  There
    could be no place like a hell as just knowing that feeling lifeforms were
    unhappy, would make everyone unhappy.

    All children, whereever they were would be cared for by any grown-up who
    happened by.  A mother, for instance, would suckel a hungry child.

    There would be no capitalism, no communism, socialism or any of those other
    isms.  It would simply be lifeforms loving and working together in order to
    overcome nature's glitches and to explore the vast universe.

    Our present physical selves will never be good for space exploration.  When
    we develop the aforementioned bodies then space travel will be more of a
    reality.

    The human mind can do much more than what is previously thought.  All life
    is connected in its electrical energy and anything that can be imagined can
    be achieved.

    Eternity is a reality and life will be around even longer than that, if that
    is possible.  Nothing has ever been lost in the universe and nothing ever
    will.  Life will always be and the addition of affection will cause heaven
    to exist.   -Rod   (Well, that's it so far.)