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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 27 JUN 85 ************************************ 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 *********************************************************** 19 20 sssssssssssssssssss 21 Please excuse the above. I did not notice the enter only note, and 22 I usually change my border from nineteen s characters to the usual border of 23 SageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSage 24 The Sage and his chess companion huddled over their board. The sun 25 was hidden behind clouds as it set over the horizon, and the birds were landing 26 in the nests. 27 The Odd One sat tense, and his fingers looked as if they might crush a 28 piece rather than simply move it. The Sage though was sitting peacefully, and 29 did not seem to be scrutinizing the borard as much as the Odd One. 30 Finally, the Odd One snapped out and moved his peice, while grunting 31 something about Checkmate. Then he made sure of it, a pathetic sight to see 32 someone gloatingly observing their handy work. 33 34 The Odd One noticed at that moment that the Sage was not even paying 35 attention to the game, but was congratulating his opponent on his game. An 36 odd thing for someone to do, thought the Odd One. 37 Later that night, after iconsidering it, Odd One decided that the Sage 38 was exhibiting the fine quality of sportsmanship, while he had been scavenging 39 his mind for every scrap of strategy. 40 There was little question as to who enjoyed the game more. 41 SageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageSageisatthetop 42 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$This is a test. T 43 44 BLEW THAT ONE, DIDN'T I? 45 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$# 46 LIFEFORCE 47 you know a movie is in trouble when the audience laughes during the serious 48 parts. You know a movie is REALLY in trouble when the audience laughes during 49 the love scenes. 50 This is not a movie to see if you expect to take it seriously. The acting is bad, 51 and the editing is worse. Special effects are fairly well done (Dykstra - 52 Star Trek I & Silent Running?). The alien spaceship looks Very much like the 53 one from Alien (internal), crossed with V'ger (Star Trek I, exterior). 54 LOTS of blood, gore, more blood, dessicated bodies, blood, more dessicated bodies, 55 and bad acting. 56 The one redeeming feature (for some of us, anyway), is that the female lead, 57 Mathilda May, is nude through almost the entire movie. Even that gets a bit 58 much, though, eliciting more laughter from the audience. 59 I'd give it a "can miss". 60 ----------------------------Not FILM FAN------------------------------------- 61 just a note to the Not FILM FAN: and Mathilda May is only attractive to those 62 of us that like women in pancake make-up that have red pupils. 63 -------------------------Not the Not FILM FAN-------------------------------- 64 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 65 Not Film Fan: Don't worry. I wasn't planning to see it anyway. 'eard it 66 was awful. Guess I was right! 67 Sage: Odd one? Please explain. 68 Themnax: Where are you? 69 Minstrel: ok poetry so far. Work on your spelling! 70 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 71 A cold breeze flurried in as the door to the Inn opened. A lone figure, wrapped in furs and carrying a sword entered 72 and sat down. He ordered some ale and some "fish(?). The warm fire crackled, singing it's song that only the empathetic 73 could hear. People looked at him strangelhen he didn't remove his furs. He drank his ale and sat back, 74 his face shadowed by a plumed and feathered hat. He listened to the fire, felt it's heat against him. He relaxed. After 75 that spot of hunting he had done, he needed a bit of relaxation. People all around him were wondering WHY this newcomer 76 didn't remove his coat. It was then, to their amazement, that they realized that he wasn't wearing a coat, the coat was 77 ON HIM! `"Top o' the evenin', mate!" Mudge (the newcomer) said to the inneekeeper. "Wot be 'appenin' 'round 'ere that I 78 might be interested in? I'm an 'unter. Is there much game 'round here?" 79 Cistop Mikey and all: Please. Continue from whence I left off! PLEASE!!! 80 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE *%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 81 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::82 FOR INFORMATION ON THE HLMO(HOMOSEXUAL LIBERATION MOVEMENT OF OREGON)83 CALL US AT 638-8210 84 MON-FRI: 8 AM - 4 PM 85 SAT : 11 AM - 3 PM 86 SUN : CLOSED 87 88 89 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::90 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 91 "This is your captain speaking. We're now entering Australian air space. 92 The landscape we are passing over is dotted with sheep ranches, kangaroos, 93 and..." Petrov, mesmerized by the thought of ranch-hopping in a land with 94 softer animal protection laws, tuned out the captain's voice. His attention 95 alternated between the window and a brochure in his hand which read: 96 Bruce's Sheep Ranch 97 World famous home of 98 Australian Virgin Wool 99 100 Unfortunately, from ecstasy to anguish in a matter of seconds, Petrov's 101 anticipation was crushed by a vile act of terrorism. A heavily armed man with 102 a half-grown beard grabbed the microphone from a startled stewardess. "Due to 103 circumstances beyond your control this airplane will not be landing in Sydney. 104 We are now headed for Albania. You have only your decadent, capitalistic 105 lifestyle to thank for this problem." 106 Two more armed men entered the compartment and the one who seemed to be 107 the leader took control of the intercom. "I'm sure you're all wondering what 108 your weak, capitalistic governments are going to have to do to keep us from 109 blowing your decadent, capitalistic heads off of your bourgeois, capitalistic 110 shoulders." 111 Getting dangerously excited, the third terrorist interrupted the leader 112 and, thrusting his rifle triumphantly into the air, proclaimed "We are FALO!!" 113 Petrov needed to hear no more. While the terrorists began waving their 114 weapons menacingly and shouting at the passengers, Petrov reviewed what he knew 115 about FALO. 116 After the fall of McKane Industries, many of the empire's crumbling 117 companies were taken over by certain aggressive Japanese conglomerates. One 118 such troubled company was Albanian Earmuffs Unlimited, which raised and h 119 harvested small furry animals for obvious purposes. Rising in protest of furry 120 animal exploitation was the Furry Animal Liberation Organization, or FALO. 121 122 "You," the leader said, grabbing a stewardess by the arm. "You will go 123 through the passenger list and pick out all of the Japanese names. We have 124 special treatment planned for them!" 125 What name am I using THIS time? Petrov wondered. Pulling the passport 126 from his purse, he read: KIM LEE HIROSAKI. It figured. There was nothing to 127 do but sit, wait, and wonder if there were any sheep in Albania. 128 Petrov 129 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 130 To all who tried to get onto the board in the dead of night: I'm terribly sorry 131 about the lengthy time I monopolized the system; it shouldn't happen again. 132 ///////////////////////////// 3:01 AM/////////////////////////////////////////// 133 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<3:15 AM>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 134 THE THREE OF THEM DESIDED THAT THE CLEARING WAS THE BEST PLACE TO STOP FOR T 135 HE NIGHT. THEY PLACED THEIR BED ROLES BETWEEN THE FIRE AND THE HORSES. 136 FREENDRIN,BEING THE YOUNGEST OF THE TRIO,WAS NEVER TAKEN QUITE SERIOUSLY BY 137 BELETHNER AND DRAGGOSE. HE KNEWTHIS,BUT HE FELT THAT WHAT HE HAD SEEN THE 138 PAST FEW DAYS SHOULD BE KNOWN. 139 "DRAGGOSE," HE SAID,"THE PAST FEW DAYS I'VE NOTICED SOMETHING ODD," 140 "WELL WHAT IS IT BOY? MORE OF YOUR MONSTERS?" DRAGGOSE BEGAN TO CHUCKLE. 141 "NO," HE SAID,TRYING TO KEEP CONTROLL,"I'VE SEEN A...A HAWK,IT SEEMS TO BE F 142 OLLOWING US." 143 "FOLLOWING US?" HE BEGAN TO ROAR WITH LAUGHTER AS BELETHNER WALKED UP. 144 "WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF SUCH LEVITY?" HE YELLED AS HE APROACHED. 145 "THE BOY SAYS WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWED BY A HAWK!"DRAGGOSE LAUGHED OUT. 146 "THAT'S ABSURED!" 147 "IS IT?"A STRANGERS VOICE FROM THE FOREST."ACTUALLY IT IS TRUE," THE STRANGE 148 R WALKED OUT OF THE FOREST, A WOMAN, NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 149 150 151 152 HELP 153 154 155 WELL GANG,I'M SORRY I MESSED UP, BUT PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR RENO AND TELL 156 ME WHAT YOU THINK TANQ 157 RENO 158 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*Meeeeoooooowwwwwwrrrrrrlllllll!!!!!!!!*=*=* 159 in an oddly contoured chair, in an odly contoured room a LARGE soft furry 160 citti unfolded his front pads, retracting, symultaniosly his overnails. 161 the fingers, six per hand, one thumb each, one midwrist dewclaw, now fully 162 extended rested lightly on the two pairs 163 of three rows of six keys. 164 long agile delicat fingers flayed subtle at the keycaps. On the screen an 165 immage formed. It grew in detail and completeness. 166 Reflected in the eyes of that feline face, itself reflected on the screen's 167 surface. Three soft fluffy small mammels ran across a field. Suddenly a door 168 opened in mid air. They jumped through. At the same time citti's reflexon 169 dissappeared. The cross current intersection was wide open, if only for the 170 briefest of instants. That was as long as he needed! 171 Fingers forgotten, the great dark furred form leaped, clawing his way 172 over keyboard and through suddenly yealding opening. 173 Steady as a rok, citti landed on all fours on the oaken flooring of the 174 INN! 175 He turned to one of otter vissage. 'I have many forms, this one is new' 176 the great feloid spoke in remarkably gentle and human sounding voice. 'You were 177 looking for a certain Lananaran?' 178 'I see you in new form, will this form of mine do? I don't even know 179 what its capabilities are yet. I've only 180 just now tried it on for the first time.' 181 'Lets find a table, tried the INN's best yet?' 182 'Two specials please' he asked of the INNkeeper, lying a huge galactic nin- 183 gy on the counter in payment. this was only possible owing to the INN's unique 184 aggreement with time and space. 185 in a corner a small twisted tough leathery form played on a ceramic rube 186 goldburg what came out sounding to each listner their favorite most exciting AND 187 pleasing sounds. 188 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 189 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 190 Hi folks. I did make it back! Any excitement while I was gone? 191 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 192 masak, koo ini sama kaya seorang jang aku kenalan di indonesia. Mungkin sesuatu 193 peingin menelepone saja? Siapa tau? 194 And besides all that, what kind of place is this? 195 %*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 196 Cor! C'mon, mate! No hijakings over tmy home please! Why don't you LET them la 197 land in Syndey? AND A GENERAL DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT ALL NAMED BRUCE!! 198 THAT IS VERY WRONG! NOT ALL AUSTRALIANS 8Myself being Australian) ARE NAMED B 199 BRUCE! THAT'S AN OLD JOKE! LOK AT ME! I'M NOT NAMED BRUCE!!!!! 200 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 201 %*%*%*% THE AUSTRALIAN OTTER!! %*%*%*%* 202 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%**%*%*%*%* 203 *@*@*@*@*@*@* Hoojib @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@* 204 A small furry white creature entered from the door that had been left 205 ajar by the otter. He seemed to float across the ground as he walked. His 206 antenna bobbed a bit. An energy flux floated past and the little Hoojib ate it 207 hungrily. He hadn't tasted a good energy flux in ydays. Out searching for his 208 comerad kept him fmehnjvjjbnbf 209 (sorry about line interferance) 210 comerad kept him from enjoying such pleasures. Hoojib examined the room he was 211 in. An otter drinking and telling a tale. A catling paying the Innkeeper. He 212 turned abruptly whenn the familiar sound of a duar permeated his senses. 213 "Probably their villiage Minstrel and not the one I seek* thought Pliff (the 214 Hoojib) But he knew for sure that he was wrong when the voice so familiar to 215 him said "Pliff! You ol' son of a gun! Where have you been?" Pliff smiled and 216 sthought *Hi Minstrel! I've been around. Your songs are the same as always! 217 What have you been up to sincewe parted?* The Minstrel smiled and plucked a 218 string of his duar. "Singing, living, Dyig, Laughing, and crying. " he said. 219 *Ahh..the same riddle personality I see!* said Pliff. Pliff hopped up on the 220 Minstrel's shoulder. Plucking a tune on his duar, the Minstrel smiled. 221 @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ Hoojib @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ 222 Minstrel: Good to see you again, chap! Your poetry is always the way it is 223 now. o on.... 224 All: What happened? I was yping and suddenly the screen went 6 feet down! 225 @*@*@*@*@*@*@ Hoojib @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ 226 Dan: type SEX at the > prompt to get a complete listing of all nationwide 227 sexually oriented BBSs. 228 229 @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ 230 ppppppp l eeeeeeeeee a ssssssssss eeeeeeeeee 231 p p l e a a s e 232 p p l e a a s e 233 ppppppp l eeeeeeeeee aaaaaaa ssssssssss eeeeeeeeee 234 p l e a a s e 235 p l e a a s e 236 p l e a a s e 237 p lllllllll eeeeeeeeee a a ssssssssss eeeeeeeeee 238 239 comment on my work. 240 he pleading minstrel. 241 @*@*@*@*@* I want to come back , pleading minstrel @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ 242 @*@*@*@*@*@ THE TRUE MINSTREL! *@*@*@*@ 243 WHO SIS THIS IMPOSTER! NAVE! I AM THE 244 TRUE MINSTREL AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT! 245 NAVE! 246 WHO DID THAT? 247 @*@*@*@*@ The true Minstrel @*@*@*@*@*@ 248 *Hoojib!* said txe Minstrel. "So good to see you here! I just got--" 249 That's as far as he got before a horrible creature burst into the Inn. 250 "Gods save us! 'tis a TWIT!" The twit 251 laughed, pulling out a duar and playing horrible notes. Then the twit took on 252 the appearance of the Minstrel. 253 It then began to scrawl messages allover the walls of the Inn. It 254 danced in evil glee. It bobbed and swayed and played it'S evil duar. 255 Ddisgusted, people began to leave the inn. 256 @*@*@*@*@*@*@* The REAL Minstrel @*@*@*@ 257 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 258 saw the Twit. Quickly he pullgd out xihis daggar,. The Twit turned long 259 enough to see the dagger flash into him. The Twit's evil lifebloods left him. 260 It fell dead at their feet. "There, mate!" said Mudge. "That should 'andle 'im 261 right proper!" 262 %*%*% %*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE *%*%*%**%*%*%*% 263 264 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 265 266 You will hear everyday the maximums of a low prudence. 267 You will hear that the first duty is to get land and money, 268 place and name. "What is this truth you seek? What is this beauty?" 269 men will ask with derision. If, nevertheless, God has called any 270 of you to explore truth and beauty, be bold, be firm, be true. 271 When you shall say, "As others do, so will I. I renounce, I am 272 sorry for it, my early visions; I let learning and romantic 273 expectations go, until a more convenient season"; - then dies 274 the man in you. Then once more perish the buds of art, and poetry, 275 and science, as they have died already in a thousand men. 276 277 Ralph Waldo Emerson 278 279 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 280 281 @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@* 282 Ach, it is a twit disguized as the minstrel 283 killing me, the true one and only minstrel 284 who they thought someone was a twit!!!!!!!! 285 stop and decist, knave (not nave you phony 286 real twit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 287 Please all help me find out who is damadging 288 my nam ebecause I want to find out who it is 289 so they will stop. 290 @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@ the TRUE minstrel, the REAL 291 one is a faker @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@* 292 ????? The Doctor ????? 293 howdy 294 295 hi 296 297 guten tag 298 299 gut gross 300 301 guten aben 302 303 ich bin krocnh oft das system 304 305 bye 306 307 s 308 t 309 u 310 p 311 i 312 d 313 314 p 315 e 316 o 317 p 318 l 319 e 320 321 f 322 o 323 r 324 325 u 326 s 327 e 328 i 329 n 330 g 331 t 332 h 333 i 334 s 335 s 336 y 337 s 338 yt 339 em 340 ex 341 342 @*@*@*@*@*@*@ The honest Minstrel @*@*@ 343 I drop lines and he doesn't. It's spelled "disguise." I'm the real one 344 And I'm goi~g to prove it! 345 Blue Waters 346 By the Minstrel 347 Blue waters on the face of Earth, 348 they mix with moonlight making, conjuring, 349 Caling forth good souls, 350 to drink from them. 351 352 Moonlit waters on the Earth, 353 Like moonlit hearts in lovers, 354 Turn and intertwine together, 355 to form something different, 356 something new. 357 Moonlit waters. 358 359 Blue waters running down a hill, 360 singino a song of olden times, 361 Until our hearts have had their fill, 362 and txe waters recoil to their homes, 363 In the rivers and lakes, 364 So much like a human's soul. 365 Fi 366 There. That should prove WHO the Minstrel is! 367 @*@*@*@*@*@*@ The actual Minstrel @*@*@ 368 369 THIS IS SAD! All this 'junk' about the two Minstrels, I think I'm going to 370 throw up! What is it looks like here is that the Minstrel wasn't getting the 371 attention that he wanted. So now he has created an alter ego that's pretending 372 to be another Minstrel. And above all that, they are arguing between himself. 373 Sounds funny, but it's still a little weird. I just hope his psychologist is 374 wearing a flack jacket... 375 Anumi. 376 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 377 378 @*@*@*@*@*@ The saddened Minstrel @*@*@*@ 379 Anumi: I assure you that I am NOT the other minstrel. That person is the 380 one who should be locked up. I simply wish to write. To sing, live, and laugh. 381 and cry. I didn't want attention. I wanted comments. I got them. But I don't 382 see why this person had to do what he has done. 383 @*@*@*@*@*@*@ The Depressed Minstrel @*@ 384 ------------- 385 Gosh,why doesn't the Minstrel just move into Mike's home and use the system 386 24 hours a day. It looks like he has done that already, he just sits around 387 and waits for mail. If he writes in after this I'm with Anumi! 388 ------------- 389 The problem with the two Minstrels reminds me of the biblical story of Solomon 390 and the baby. Two women were claiming possession of the child, so Solomon 391 decided to split the baby in half so each woman would have an equal share. 392 Since we seem to have to people here, each claiming to be The Minstrel, and 393 each wanting the other to depart, I suggest they BOTH leave. Justice would 394 be served, and BackWater would be a better place with one less source of 395 bad 'poetry'. 396 +DANTE- 397 398 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 399 I'm with Dante! Make BOTH Minstrels leave. I just wish txey would either 400 go away or leave us alone! Or at least they could STOP WRITING POETRY! 401 That way we'd be spared from a life of poetry most terrible. 402 I agree witx both of the above entries! 403 Minstrel: You write too much! Give someone else a chance, huh? 404 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 405 bo 406 PS. I HATE FREE-VERSE!!! YUCH!!! ICK, PATTOOI!!! 407 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 408 I DID NOT WRITE THE ABOVE P>DS>. 409 *%*%*%*%*%*%*%* MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 410 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 411 A suggestion to keep peace: how about just limiting entries to about 50 lines 412 per disk? That way more people could make entries. This is the first time in 413 two days I've been able to log on to Backwater. 414 ++++++++++++++++ 415 They were ugly, they were mean, biggest heads I'd ever seen, they made 416 everybody scream and shout. First they leveled Tokyo, then New York was next 417 to go, Boy I really wish- they'd cut it out! 418 (exerpt from "Slime Creatures from Outer Space", A.Yankovic's "Dare to be 419 Stupid" album) 420 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++ June 28, 1985 +++++++++++++++ 421 |}}}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}|}}}}}|}|}|}|}|}}}}|}|}|}|}}}}|}|}}|}|}}}}}|}|}|}|}|}}}}}| 422 HICKORY DICKORY DOCK 423 TWO MICE RAN UP THE CLOCK 424 THE CLOCK STRUCK ONE 425 THE OTHER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES 426 427 IHATE FRE EEVER SE 428 OH YESIDO 429 ANDMO DERNPO ETRY MAKESMES ICK 430 SO LETSALLSTOP 431 |}}}|}||}|}}|||}|}|}}|}|}|}||}}||}|}|||}}||}|||}}}|}|||||}}|}}|}|}}}||}|}||}|||} 432 ``````````````````````````````````````````````` 433 Poetry is very nice to reed when it is good. Feelings and emotions should 434 be a big part when writing poetry also. And the poetry brings out emotions and 435 helps us see some things that were foggy before. I like to feel that I have 436 learned something or that I feel better about myself after reading poetry. 437 When poetry sounds like a old football re-run, just goes on and on, it is 438 missing something that poetry is known for. When I find myself skipping lines 439 hoping to get to the good part something is either wrong with me, or the 440 poetry, I would like to think it's not me. 441 Write poetry if you like it and think others will like it too. Just 442 throwing something out in a hurry gives not only your own poetry a bad name but 443 all of the other poems that haven't been entered yet. 444 I like poetry, I realy do! But when it makes me wish I was doing something 445 other than reading it, it makes me think I'm crazy for liking poetry. 446 ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````alex`````````````` 447 Mudge: I'm *extremely* surprised that you don't like the Minstrel. 448 Minstrel(both): I can tell the difference between the two of you. I will not 449 disclose the technique here or the impostor will start doing it... 450 I have msgs for Minstrel & Mudge on the Messenger (yes, I know who you are). 451 ____________________________Leonard________________________________________ 452 A figure entered the Inn. Upon spotting the otter, he knew that he 453 ad found the person his master had spoken of. He went over to the table and 454 spoke. 455 "Art thou Mudge?" 456 The otter tensed up as he replied, "And who wants to know?" 457 "Ah! From what my master has said of you only, only you would 458 respond in such a manner." 459 "Now wait just a minute, guvnor!" 460 "Mudge.... must I use a spell to confirm your identity? And let the 461 entire Inn know?" 462 "#%^$#^&" 463 "I shall assume that you are indicating that you do not want the 464 rest of the patrons to know. My master was contacted by Clothahump..." 465 "Oh no ye don't! I'm not gettin' involved w'th the likes of HIM 466 again!" protested the otter. 467 "Clothahump has no interest in you, he was merely relaying a msg 468 from a 'Jon-Tom'" 469 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the apprentice~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 470 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/? ? ? ? 471 AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! 472 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/? ? ? ? 473 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 474 Sounds serious, MiG. After this lengthy absence (of the MiG personality, 475 if not other characters whose strings you pull) and now a blood curdling 476 scream! I'm interested in hearing some elaboration, unless of course, you'd 477 rather let the emotion speak for itself and keep the reason private. Whatever 478 tmorrow at PorSFiS (if possible). 479 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 480 Sorry, screw up last line. Make that "Whatever the case, I'll see you 481 tomorrow at PorSFiS (if possible). 482 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 483 OOops, I meant to say "I'm looking forward to seeing you at...etc." 484 ////////////// drat this enter only /////////////////////////////////////////// 485 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*MMMMMEeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooowwwwwwwrrrrrrrrRRLLLL!!!!* 486 how better vil it ket? (the free verse liberation army ( ) 487 ( ARGH ) 488 must be something in the air. ( ) 489 it IS. Nassssssty Baaaaaaaaaaaad petroffffffffff. 490 enoughenoughenoughenoughenoughenoughenoughenough. every summer someone dis- 491 couveres the control charicters (oh why oh why) 492 >>>>>>> oh yes citti needs a name. I mean citti is descriptive and all but ya 493 see there once was the lady who was fond of sharp pointy things who came up 494 with a soft fluffy Kzinti half-breed in a TREKKI universe and she called (HIM/ 495 HER/?) something simmiliar. I'll probably come up with a name sooner or later 496 or just drop the experiment but if any- 497 one has naming suggestions or maybe we could have a naming party after porsfis? 498 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 499 090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909 500 Charmicael and Freida (his brain-dead van) raced south accross the Black 501 Rock Desert. He didn't see any black rocks and it wasn't a true desert. 502 (The name comes from large tuffa formations that look dark off in the dis- 503 tance. While much of the area is anciant salt flats, these prehistoric lake- 504 beds are surrounded by a vast unearthly landscape of stunted sage. Geographic- 505 ly it is situated north of Gerlock which is north of Perimid Lake (Paiut res- 506 ervation) and south of Denio (which is near the Oregon boarder) and encompases 507 vertualy the entire area) 508 20 miles north of Gerlock agent Sean turned off the main highway (little 509 more than a wash-board jeep trail itself at this point) onto what appeared to 510 be no more than a pair of tire tracks heading off into the seemingly endless 511 distance. The east slope of the Sierra's which looked to be in walking distance 512 but was actualy well over 80 miles away was angleing in from the right. 513 Suddenly the road diped down about 40 feet, as if to cross the bottem of one 514 of the ubiquotus arroyos. Instead the depression proved large enough to hide a 515 small town were anyone who had ever seen it foolish enough to consider building 516 one here. Not bloody likely. 517 Near it's other side was what appeared to be some sort of dyke or levee, 518 obviosly man-made. The sand and rust encrusted end loader setting immobile as 519 a statue nearby. As Carmichael approached, the road turned and wound its way 520 to the left fallowing the man-made embankment on arround. 521 Within two hundreed feet of the opening but close enough to the bank of 522 the angle to hide frieda from enquiring eyes (as if the dust storm of his ap- 523 proach haddn't revealed his prescence to one and all). 524 Suddenly the sky was filled with the looming preasence of a Space-Going 525 merchant container ship, probably of vermillion registry and crew, obviosly of 526 lananaran manufacture. That is obvios to Carmichael only because of his 527 connection with Themnax's 'embassy'. This trade was still highly secret and 528 even NET was unawaire of it's off world origen! To most of humanity, extra- 529 terrestrial commerce is a highly questionably and speculative myth viewed with 530 suspecion of it's suggester's less than total sanity. Motivations to keep it 531 secret are many and a few are even passing legitimate. Thus any vessle plying 532 this trade must remain fully cloaked to all spectra until well within designated 533 safe areas. The nevada desert hides many secrets, some known only to a hand- 534 full of persons in one government agcency or another, many more unknown to any 535 agency of any government. 536 The remote site ware Carmichael must now elude guards and some-how warn the 537 non-human crew that security had been compromised and to turn back, was such a 538 'secret'. 539 090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909 540 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 541 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] 542 John looked over the report he held in his hands once again. He sighed 543 briefly, wondering if he'd committed a grevious sin recently that would require 544 such retribution. The papers outlined a previously unknown trade with other 545 races, ALIEN races. Just what he needed, another way for the government to 546 spend the money he was trying to save. For his department, of course. 547 Well, there was nothing to do for it. His best agents were all on assignment, 548 in a base near San Fransisco. John sighed again, and hoped that Arjusk's 549 crazy idea was going to work. Imagine! Trade with aliens! That material 550 should be handled by this department, John decided, or stopped. Perhaps he 551 could finagle the accquisition of some of the items in question, then decide. 552 He pressed his AGENT CALL button. "Weaver? In my office, please." 553 [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ UNDERGROUND [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ 554 %*%*%*%*%*%* MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 555 "Look, guvn'nor. I came to this Inn to relax! I want no bloo'y part in 556 whatever that &%"$! human has in mind! 557 'e 'as caused me enough bloo'y trouble as it 'tis! So just go away an' 558 ave me alone, wot." The otter abruptly 559 turned and began to drink his ale. "Must 560 I make you listen, Mudge?" asked the apprentice, in a tone that meant 561 that he would like to show the sarcastic otter a little demonstration. 562 "Or would you rather lose all your fur? Or e be turned into a "human?" 563 Mudge abruptly turned around and grabbed the apprentice by the shirt 564 "You wouldn't dare!!!!!!" he said,,anger showing in his eyes. "I just 565 might at that!" said the Apprentice, eyeiing th knife Mudge had in his 566 belt. The apprentice raised his hands and a familiar Wizardly gwlow began. 567 there. "Nuts!" said Mudge, dropping the Wizard'S apprentice. "Ok! Ok! 568 I'll listen. But that isn't to say txat I'll go off on any 'alf insane 569 adventure o' Jon-Tom's!" The otter sat back and said "So TALK,! I 'aven't 570 got all day, Y' e know, wot!" 571 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 572 WOT A'APPENED? THE SCREEN SCROLLED! 573 MUST BE MY BLOO'Y TERMINAL PROG', WOT! 574 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*% MUDGE %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*% 575 up 20 576 ABC 577 578 ABC 579 ``````````````````` 580 Mudge, if you hit a control L in a line the screen will scroll. It's not 581 your terminal program, but maybe those little fingures or yours... 582 WHY ARE WE AT 'ENTER ONLY'?? WHAT HAPPENED?? 583 Hmmmm. Certain signs indicate that Mudge and Minstrel are one and the sa 584 person. Interesting when you note on drive B that Mudge is one of the few 585 praising Minstrel's work. Desperate for praise, eh what? 586 +DANTE- 587 -------------------------------------- 588 589 -------------------------------------- 590 591 C-64 $50.00 OR LESS GUARENTEED. 592 593 24 HR. TURN AROUND TIME. 594 (SUBJECT TO PARTS AVAILIBILTY) 595 596 FREE ESTIMATES 597 598 1541 DRIVE ALIGNMENT INCLUDES CLEANING 599 AND SPEED ADJUSTMENT. $35.00 600 601 1541 FLASH- INSTALLED $78.00 602 603 SX-64 FLASH INSTALLED $92.00 604 605 --------------------------------------- 606 607 ALL WORK WARRANTED 90 DAYS. 608 609 VISA-MASTER CARD ACCEPTED. 610 611 MAIL ORDERS WELCOME.... 612 --------------------------------------- 613 614 CALL COMPUTER READY 775-xxxx 615 616 MILWAUKIE, OR 97222 617 618 OR CALL COMPUTER READY BBS 775-xxxx 619 620 AND LEAVE MSG. TO SYSOP (5PM-9AM) 621 (24 HRS. SUN.) 622 623 ---------------------------------------- 624 625 DONE 626 I'm with +Dante- in saying that they are the same person! And I'm also with the 627 fellow up a bit in saying that all would be a lot better if they both hit the 628 road. (not the person, but the characters) 629 Hey, it's the last line! I should end the disk with a happy note. Hmmmmmmm, there are you happy yet? Here's another one Hmmmmmmm TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629