MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 918 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Circles by ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com 2) Re: My Savior by ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com 3) Brvaes Gets Cursed With Addiction To Espresso by Korendil 4) The truth about cats and dogs.... by Morgana 5) kestra'chern, sexual preference, and matings by singer-+AT+-iglobal.net 6) A Moderate Dissenter by "Hth." 7) Mini-Braid: Romeo&Juliet/Thanks/perfection by myktshr-+AT+-ldd.net (miyako hirao) 8) Re: My Savior by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA 9) BDay warning by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA 10) Re: Brvaes Gets Cursed With Addiction To Espresso by ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com 11) Kestra'chern sexuality by "Hth." 12) lots of things by "Emily L Cartier" 13) duane/Silverfox by Mat the Cat in Green 14) Re: Mini-Braid: /perfection/data by "JAIME HATHAWAY" 15) Re: lots of things/hyperbolas by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA 16) Re: My Savior (really the circle discussion continued) by khu286-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu (Kay Huang Perry) 17) Re: Storm Breaking *SPOILER* by Nina M Ehgartner 18) Re: My Savior (really the circle discussion continued) by dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA 19) Re: Storm Breaking *SPOILER* by ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 19:05:58 -0500 From: ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Circles Message-ID: <961103190558_1680183108-+AT+-emout07.mail.aol.com> Cennydd, we can tell you're cranky. I can't answer for Kory or any of the others, but when I put my .02 cents in, I didn't mean for everyone discussing it to shut up. I think that I have been very goodnatured in my criticism. In fact, I was half teasing. Just because I personally, gladly forgot everything I ever knew about geometry, and have never taken physics, is no reason for those who know what they're talking about, not to discuss it. I was simply saying that, in my very humble opinion, the point had been made. I skim through the stuff I don't understand, and am truly grateful for the translations some people put in. I guess what I was trying to say was that, for future discussions of this nature, please everyone remember that not everyone understands it. I personally, feel that it is Rude to discuss things like that completely disregarding those who don't get it, and if anyone complains, oh well, just delete it or don't read. I seem to remember certain people reacting quite badly to such statements in the past. I know that I would appreciate it if translations were included, and if people would sit back when they read something they don't like and think about it logically instead of reacting emotionally. Thank you . One more thing, none of this is meant to offend anyone. Kindly remember that all statements made by me are just an opinion, that's all. And my earlier ranting post was just a suggestion, and a half teasing one at that. And another thing, certain people should avoid posting when they're feeling cranky due to a cold, and obviously feeling the need to take it out on others. There is more than one person who needs to take a "chill lozenge". Cen, we were just stating Opinions, there was no need for such massive overreaction. Last I heard, stating opinions was allowed. They are, aren't they, or are some peoples opinions just more important than others. Sorry, guys, if this comes across as whiny, but I'm feeling just a little singed. That would be okay if I had done something to deserve it, but I honestly feel that I haven't. Blessed Be, NightShade OIB and LotPW ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 19:28:10 -0500 From: ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: My Savior Message-ID: <961103192809_344934868-+AT+-emout05.mail.aol.com> Thank you very much, Deniz. I appreciate you outlining it so that those of us who don't understand math and science, can understand. As I said earlier, it wasn't my intention to tell everyone to shut up, I just don't understand most of it and I had *thought* that the point had been made. Since your post, you can consider me duly corrected. Here's a question for everyone, in my original post on the subject, how many people understood that I wasn't completely serious, and wasn't trying to offend? I normally am very careful to avoid stepping on peoples toes, so I think it's understandable that I'm feeling like I've been stomped down and told not to utter my opinion because other people don't like it, and disaggree. Oh, and Deniz, I didn't delete any of your posts, I read them, I simply skimmed the parts I didn't understand. And, for what it's worth I am very impressed at all the knowledge out there, those subjects just happen to be a little over my head. Since I try so hard to be considerate of others, I don't think it's that much to ask for some consideration in return. Blessed Be, NightShade OIB and LotPW ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Nov 96 22:21:17 -0500 From: Korendil To: "Misty List" Subject: Brvaes Gets Cursed With Addiction To Espresso Message-ID: <9611040326.AA20108-+AT+-raptor.icubed.net> >Ahh, the joys of long, philosophical conversations with a keyboard at 5 >a.m. Heather? How in the 5 Havens do you write posts like that so often? Teach me;> >Close, Kory. However.... Argh! How'd I MISS those?! >Someone said, and Mat replied: ><< Segue: Just saw Romeo and Juliet tonight....if you can survive the first >20 > minutes, which are *horrendous*, I recommend it. The rest of the movie > more than makes up for it, once you get used to the style. And some parts > are literally stop-your-heart wonderful. God, I love Shakespeare.<< > > Ok. I want to go see it anyway. I like Shakespeare. > > I really want to see that movie. It sounds really good, plus I like >Shakespeare as well. I think I'm the only one in my class who does. I >certainly seem like the only one who understands it. We didn't spend too >much time on Romeo and Juliet last year though. Ooo..it WAS good...and while sometimes the original language sorta clashed with the setting, it usually worked very well...and the gun models Sword, Longsword, and Rapier, were semi-kewl..hmm...I wish we got a better look at the gun at the end to see if it was a Dagger model;> In fact...if DiCaprio ISN'T on the casting list, I petition he be added as Stef IMMEDIATELY! >What's wrong with AOL ? Oh, plenty of things....but we shouldn't get into THAT.. >I think that's enough. So, what say you, oh Majestic Pointy Eared One? did say I could tease you>. Ok...as soon as Ken re-explains the whole Thee/THou thingy with explainations of the different cases, I'll annoint you... >Oh, and since you want a book on Wicca, have you tried telling your mom it's >for a report you're doing for school? Just a thought. Hmm..Good Idea(TM)..next time I go bookstoring, which won't be for awhile, I'll attempt that.. >Anyway, This Is A Flame: Telling people who are engaged in a non-fluffy, >on-topic discussion to shut up, because you aren't interested is rude! >Don't do it anymore, please. Ken, for gods' sakes...sheesh..I should really just shut up for awhiles, shouldn't I? sigh...I didn't mean that I thought people shouldn't have the conversation, just that..well..hmmm...I guess the whole thing DID come out wrong..oh, hell..I didn't mean it that way, k? >I will now take this opportunity to say what I think the main points of this >argument are: Which I had understood--I might not understand the posts, and my eyes might glaze over, but that doesn't mean I automatically skip them..I skim them, and pick out what I can get. >In >fact, I was half teasing. Just because I personally, gladly forgot everything >I ever knew about geometry, and have never taken physics, is no reason for >those who know what they're talking about, not to discuss it. I was teasing too--or so I thought. sigh. And I've yet to even take Algebra 1, so all the math is Karsite to me...but it IS rather amusing to see people put SO MUCH energy into MATH...wait. I shouldn't be talking. I'm putting a lot of energy into a compendium of magic in Misty's works, of all inane things...at least your discussion has SOME value.. -+AT+-LIDNEROK___________/ KORENDIL-+AT+-ICUBED.NET \_____________KORENDIL-+AT+- I|Korendil, Knight of Elfhame Sun-Descending, Squire of the High|I C|Court, Magus Minor, One In Black, Firstborn Child of Danaan, |C U|God of All Things Nocturnal, Ailurophile, and #Macintosh Op. |U B|______________________________________________________________|B E|"This was a providential oppurtunity to eat one more apple |E D| turnover before embarking on the unknown. Gavroche stopped, |D .| fumbled in his trousers, felt in his fob, turned out his |. N| pockets, found nothing in them, not a sou, and began to cry, |N E|'Help!' It is hard to just miss out on the ultimate cake." |E T| --Victor Hugo's _Les Miserables_ |T -+AT+-__________________/ KORENDIL-+AT+-ICUBED.NET \_____________________-+AT+- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 19:22:18 -0800 (PST) From: Morgana To: mailinglist Lackey Subject: The truth about cats and dogs.... Message-ID: Yipppeeeee!! Hooray!!! My cat's back home with me!! After half of a year, I can finally live in harmony with the world. Hoorrah!! Until she digs the trash out. Anyway, am happy, am owned by my cat again... Hm... obmisty... I wonder how closely bonded Karal and Altra are, and if long times apart, or distances will affect them now, that they've gone thru what they've gone thru. Does that tell anyone who hasn't read the book anything? Morgana, Goddess of Things Unseen and depressed student of the hectic lifestyle ** Except for the boy in the belfry he's crazy, he's throwing himself down from the top of the tower like a hunchback in heaven He's ringing the bells in the church for the last half an hour. He sounds like he's missing something or someone that he knows he can't have now, and if he isn't I certainly am. ** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 23:05:44 -0600 From: singer-+AT+-iglobal.net To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: kestra'chern, sexual preference, and matings Message-ID: I know there has been discussion on the list about sexual preferences of different Velgarth characters, and which way certain characters swing. I honestly can't remember now what was out of the archives, and what is current on the list, but this is on topic, so no shooting, please. The Star Eyed might take it amiss. It started when the Ladies of the Pink Wand were deciding whether they could worship Silverfox or not. It was determined that he was bisexual, and thus disqualified. There have been similar discussions about Amberdrake at one time and another. Now, I have to defend the boys, and say that I don't think the kestra'chern can be assumed to be bisexual because of a particular function of their craft. Some may be, but not, IMHO, the two in question. Silverfox has always had the feel of she'chorne to me, despite his profession. He would have "that duty" to some of his clients regardless of gender, but it is Firesong, who is beautiful and blantantly shaych and sexual, that he chooses. And I do think they are a pair, despite Misty having never spelled that out. There is further evidence in the beginning of Storm Breaking (this is Not a spoiler) when Silverfox is enjoying the relief from his duties as a kestra'chern that being at the tower allows, and Firesong is ashamed of his "demands" on Silverfox. And Silverfox says something like, "No, ahela, those are mutual desires." I think they will remain a pair. In the same vein, I think Amberdrake was absolutly straight; you have to look at the man outside his profession for this. If sex were not a duty of the kestra'chern at certain times, I do not think Amberdrake would have sought to be with other men for that part of his life. He chose Winterhart, and maybe had a bit of a crush on Silver Veil when he was a young boy. Again, it is just the feel of the whole situation. What may be confusing this particular issue is that the discipline of kestra'chern, and sometime intimate duties attatched to that discipline, have no paralell in our world. Sex does not seem to be an issue of morality or preference.....I don't know how to say this very well. I hope you all can understand. It just *is*, a part of being a healthy and functional human. Remember, friendly fire isn't. So please be gentle with me on this. Go Gently, Tresta %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Tresta shena Jor'ethan "Love must live free." Healer to horses -Shin'a'in Teaching %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "To be tired of horses is to be tired of life; horses are a gift to us." %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Nov 1996 23:12:49 CST From: "Hth." To: Subject: A Moderate Dissenter Message-ID: <03NOV96.25070881.0235.MUSIC-+AT+-ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU> I agree that the Circle People should feel free to discuss the science and geometry of the Mage Storms. Go for, guys. It's on topic, it interests you, and there isn't a single reason you shouldn't pursue it. However. I do not feel *obligated* to read through it just because it was written. Likewise, I'm sure not everyone feels obligated to read through my longer posts. This is fine. I am not entitled to attention; I receive it when I say things that in one way or another rouse the interest of the other listmembers, and those that I do not interest just don't pay attention to me. Nor is anyone else entitled to my attention. Please be satisfied that your posts are being eagerly awaited and considered by many of your listsibs. I read Deniz's summation of the argument, because, well, okay, *now* I feel guilty for ignoring the thread. I don't know why, but I do, so you win. It was a bunch of physics that I marginally understood and am still not interested in. I'm glad you're having fun! Leave me out of it! The point is, please do not get your feelings hurt because different people on this list have different interests. There is no reason to feel badly about it, and just because some people may delete your posts does not mean that they were a wasted effort. Other people will appreciate them. People who have not failed Physics 100 two semesters in a row. And I tend to agree that people with an interest in science fiction really ought to understand the scientific principles involved. Guess what? I don't much care for science fiction -- guess why? Too much science. This is fantasy, and I reserve the right to remain blissfully unaware of the parabolas and wave theory of Velgarth. I would never dream of telling people they *shouldn't* discuss it just because I'm not interested, but please return the courtesy by not telling me I *should* read all the posts just because you are. God gave us subject lines for this very reason. And yes, if there was more than one subject in the header, I kept the post and read the other parts. Okay? HTH r618-+AT+-academic.truman.edu "You never know what goes on inside a giant badger." --Third Rock from the Sun ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 23:48:42 +0000 From: myktshr-+AT+-ldd.net (miyako hirao) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Mini-Braid: Romeo&Juliet/Thanks/perfection Message-ID: <199611040543.XAA20256-+AT+-cdale3.midwest.net> Deniz wrote: >>>I love him, too. Uhh, would that be the new version set in modern times >>>that just came out? I'm not sure, is that out in Canada yet? I know I'm not the only Canook on this list.<<< It's the modern version with the original dialogue (how the hell did they pull that off?) with Leonardo DiCaprio (yum!) and Clare Danes. I heard the beginning wasn't all that great, but I plan to go see it anyway 'cuz my bud made me promise I'd go. Oh well. I'll just have to kill time before Star Trek: First Contact comes out. BTW, Brent Spiner fans -- did you see the Borg Queen kissing Data in one of the promos for HBO's First Look? That really pissed me off. And I'm still pissed about the Tasha Yar incident even though she was really cool. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to all you people who wished me a happy birthday. I'm now recognizing everything & everyone: Glith (I think) Thanks for the bright day -- it was a bit chilly, but otherwise, it was perfect! Nightshade (ditto as above) The magickal book -- I'm trying to coax it into turning into SB, but it keeps wanting to turn into the new Star Trek: Voyager book. But I love it. Thanks! And the Enchanted Chocolate (Kory -- I remembered!!!) -- I'll try not to sneak into Van's room or Data's quarters , but I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Again, many thanks! Deniz, thanks for the cloaking device. Hey, maybe I will get to sneak into Data's quarters:). Maybe this time, Spot will be male, and Spiffy would have a reason to go, too. I'll keep it out of her reach, but I'll take her with me if she's good. I need to really start learning Klingon... Lady Silvermoon -- Thanks for the ring. I bet it's gonna come in handy the next time I talk to Carlydoodle (my little secret). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hth -- that "Everything's up to minute in Kansas City" song is from Oklahoma. I really didn't like the movie, though, and I think the song was fun at best, annoying at worst. I liked The Sound of Music better. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On perfection: In her recent Velgarth books, she does seem to take the "easy road". Seems like the Herald characters are achieving perfection, and many of the others are also reaching there. That sometimes confuses me. I don't think anyone, no matter what age, can be perfect. I mean, can't a main character be depressed/bitchy/worrisome/or have a major fault or two? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That was fairly short. Thanks to the countless others who gave me a birthingday gift, but I failed to recognize . And I got that Star Trek Movie Collection, the one with Generations in it! YAY!!! Now I get to watch (for the first time) the scene where Spock is brought back to life. Don't you love the man? Live Long and Prosper (it was inevitable), Summersong & Spiffy the Cat, Lady (kind of) of the Pink Wand & Cat of the Pink Wand, respectively ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 96 00:37:35 -0500 From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: My Savior Message-ID: <199611040558.AAA18136-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA> Actually, I thought of another point to add to my list of ideas. My whole hyperbola thinger-ma-doodle was assuming that the waves were being produced continuously. However, after thinking about it, didn't Misty imply that these waves were occuring one at a time (as in, drop one set of rocks at a time)? If so, then the strongest interference spots would be along the perpendicular bisector (or upright plane along perpendicular bisector if in 3D). The confluence points from the "after-shock" waves would be significantly weaker (after-shocks are weaker than shocks), and might not even be significant in the scheme of things, or might be spaced so far after the initial shock as not to interfere with the first set of waves. Oh, for people who haven't taken geometry, a definition. Perpendicular Bisector (strictly in 2 dimensions (Cartesian)): - A line is called the perpendicular bisector of a segment if it is perpendicular to that segment and passes through said segment's midpoint. - Any point on the perpendicular bisector of a segment is equidistant (equally distant) from the endpoints of the segment. - Conversely, any point which is equidistant from the endpoints of a segment lies on said segment's perpendicular bisector. - The locus (set of all points) equidistant from two given points is the perpendicular bisector of the segment defined by said points. How to construct the Perpendicular Bisector of a segment using only a compass and a straightedge (in other words, no rulers for measuring lengths or protracters for measuring angles) - Label the points A and B (this is to make the explanation easier. - Set the compass so the distance between the tip and the pencil is more than half the segment. - Place the tip of the compass on pt. A. Describe a circle using the compass (twirl the compass around so that you get a circle around pt. A) - WITHOUT CHANGING THE WIDTH OF THE COMPASS, Place the tip of the compass on pt. B, and describe the circle again. - You will notice that there are two intersection points between these two circles. - Join these two points with your straightedge. You have just constructed the perpendicular bisector of a segment using the properties you learned about in the definition. (Both of those intersection points were equidistant from the two points, because the circles hade the same radii, because you didn't change the compass's setting.) Bravo! / Brava! Coming next... hyperbolas! love, deniz sarikaya, High Priestess |I was a brassbound Idealist in those days. of Procrastination and Holy |If you are an Idealist it does not matter Custodian of the B-Day List. |what you do or what goes on around you Confused? Write me! |because it isn't real anyway. dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA -- Robert Penn Warren ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 96 00:56:28 -0500 From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: BDay warning Message-ID: <199611040606.BAA20100-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA> Sorry so short, Sorry so simple, 2-day (6/11) birthday warning for Ke'leecha! Get your gifts ready! love, deniz sarikaya, High Priestess |I was a brassbound Idealist in those days. of Procrastination and Holy |If you are an Idealist it does not matter Custodian of the B-Day List. |what you do or what goes on around you Confused? Write me! |because it isn't real anyway. dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA -- Robert Penn Warren ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:06:34 -0500 From: ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Brvaes Gets Cursed With Addiction To Espresso Message-ID: <961104010631_1914287096-+AT+-emout10.mail.aol.com> Kory wrote: > Ken, for gods' sakes...sheesh..I should really shut up for awhiles, shouldn't I? Yeah, me too. Since, what I was trying to say was misunderstood, in future I shall endeavor to either keep my mouth shut and do my ranting to people who aren't going to bite my head off for it, or phrase it in such a way that it cannot be taken to mean something it doesn't. This is the last time I'm going to say this . I didn't mean to offend anyone, and I certainly didn't mean for anyone to shut up. I was teasing, even though that apparently wasn't clear, I guess my humor might be kind of strange to some . . . So, I will label my teasing from now on. It may not have been noticed, but I really, really don't like getting flamed, and am much too polite to flame back. Anyway, that's it, I shall say no more on this subject. Blessed Be, NightShade OIB and LotPW ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 1996 00:52:34 CST From: "Hth." To: Subject: Kestra'chern sexuality Message-ID: <04NOV96.00946334.0103.MUSIC-+AT+-ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU> The theory seems quite sound. I would agree that you can't assume a kestra'chern to be bisexual simply on the grounds that they sleep with both men and women as part of their kestra'chern services. That would be like assuming Vanyel was bisexual because he was a father. Sexual orientation depends on how one views oneself, really, and Vanyel obviously considered himself solidly shay'a'chern. However, we don't really *know* how Silverfox and Amberdrake view themselves. Now, I may be missing information here, since I haven't read WhiteG, SilverG, or SBreaking, but as far as I know, neither of those characters ever identify themselves as one thing or another in that respect. What makes us think that Silverfox is shaych instead of bisexual? He only has one serious relationship, and the fact that it's with a man doesn't provide much of a clue. Likewise with Amberdrake and Winterhart. They could well be respectively gay and straight. Or both bisexual. Or bisexual and straight. Or gay and bisexual. There's really no text evidence of any kind -- again, unless it was in one of the books I missed. I really don't think we have anything to go on here. It's one thing to think that a character has the "feel" of shay'a'chern, but 'tisn't really evidence. And just because someone ends up in a strong, committed, passionate relationship, with either a man or a woman, doesn't mean they aren't "really" bisexual; that's not exactly evidence either. HTH r618-+AT+-academic.truman.edu "You never know what goes on inside a giant badger." --Third Rock from the Sun ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 08:22:50 -0500 From: "Emily L Cartier" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: lots of things Message-ID: <9611041324.AA11079-+AT+-udecc.engr.udayton.edu> On the topic (sorta) of those circles Deniz said: >If you want to write Science Fiction, you have to understand Science, >or else >you'll be unbelievable and torn apart. That's what one of my English >teachers >told me, and this looks like a case in point. I thought Misty was writing FANTASY!?!?!?!?!?<--5 of each) I think we might be getting our genres a little confused here. If Velgarth was a world where they called the magic a strange form of tech and had explanations thereof, I could see getting bent cause Misty forgot to check her math and physics (I'm studying to be an engineer and I get as bent as anyone when the author makes a mistake in science that I can catch... In science fiction). But Misty calls it fantasy. Cynnedd, do you happen to have a good definition of the difference between sf and fantasy? And I am thanking the Mage of Green Silences for his flame about being complaining about being on topic cause I sort of complained about the on topic discussion and I think I deserved it. Lady Silvermoon made this comment: >It does seem like Misty is taking the easy road. She found >something that works, and she doesn't want to take risks on >something new. I think that Karse would be better off without >Companion-like Firecats. It makes them seem too simliar. The >bondbirds border on that too...they aren't spirits, but they are >a mindlinked animal. I'm not sure that Karse is better off without Firecats, but I think they were better off as monotheists (no that is not influenced by the fact that I am one). They had a reason to be different and they had a reason for a different world view. Now they just look like a different kind of Shin'a'in to me (read SB and all will be explained, especially my fits of swearing about that book) and I don't like it. I liked them better when they were strange and fearsome with the crazy monotheistic religion (partially cause I think it was better for Christianity when it wasn't the establishment). Now they're getting all nice and normal on us. Yuck! Kalenel was lost to them a long time ago, and she oughta keep her nose out of her brother/ husband/ lover/ father/ son/ whatever's country. I find the Firecats believable and consistent with the rest of Velgarth. True Gods on Velgarth give their followers some sort of tangible sign of the fact that they are the Chosen People. The Star- Eyed interferes fairly frequently, the Deity or Deities responsible for Valdemar gave Baron Valdemar the Companions... So it makes sense that Vkandis would grant his believers something. Why not Firecats? My books are-+AT+- home and dorm, I'm -+AT+-computer lab, so please pull my ideas apart, but don't ask for text evd. Gotta go now or I'll never get to Precalc. Emily the invisible ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 09:30:05 -0500 (EST) From: Mat the Cat in Green To: Mercedes Lackey mailing list Subject: duane/Silverfox Message-ID: > From: Emily L Cartier > Thank you Great God of Procrastination (whom I worship just by > writing this as I have an essay on Yentl due Wed. for religion that I > am putting off) for defending me (and Diane Duane). Gloating about > having _A Wizard Abroad_ does count as torture (I've been waiting for > that book since about 1992). I am just praying to the God of ISBN > numbers that the University Bookstore can manage to get me a copy > before I am a sophmore (is there a God of ISBN numbers? and if so, > can I be their priestess? or did I just invent them?). Thou art most welcome my child. :) And if you need it, I've got the ISBN for the brit version of the book. =============================================================================== > From: "Hth." > What makes us think that Silverfox is shaych instead of bisexual? He > only has one serious relationship, and the fact that it's with a man > doesn't provide much of a clue. Likewise with Amberdrake and > Winterhart. They could well be respectively gay and straight. Or both > bisexual. Or bisexual and straight. Or gay and bisexual. There's > really no text evidence of any kind -- again, unless it was in one of > the books I missed. I personally think that Silverfox is bi. I even have some paraphrased textevd for it, circumstancial though it may be. In SR, he makes a comment to Firesong about how he [Firesong] is very limited in partner choice becasue he's "exclusively shay'a'chern". This scene implied that Silverfox was not exclusive, hence, bi. Mat Cat Person, Champion in Green, |"Won't you come, join, dance in the Adept, God of Procrastination | circle? The voices will make your Heathen #???, and OoUL/L of tLotPW | heart yearn. To please come, join, mtimme47-+AT+-magic.hofstra.edu | dance in the circle, but know that http://ada.hofstra.edu/~mtimme47/ | you'll never return." -- HA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 09:22:12 CST From: "JAIME HATHAWAY" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Mini-Braid: /perfection/data Message-ID: <5BCAE27EA5-+AT+-future.judson.edu> Wait a minute!!!! Data wasn't WILLINGLY kissing that Borg Queen, was he? No, he wasn't..I am in complete denial. She was blackmailing him. About the perfectionist turn of Misty's characters...I have to agree. I'd really like to see a major something-or-other shake the Heralds up and knock them down a bit from their pedestal. As a whole, not just a select few individuals. I don't know what...maybe have some kind of psycho-virus wipe out most of the Companions or something that will force the Heralds to deal with their people and themselves like the other worlds on Velgarth...without having beautiful talking horses to keep the society from falling on its face once in a while. To have them really get back to the "no one, true way" ideal, I think there needs to be a people introduced that really ARE different from Valdemar who show them that yes, they can function without spirit-beings, who don't get stagnant and complacent and unable to grow, and who don't evolve into Valdemar. On another line, the Heralds who do get reincarnated into Companions must go through some major changes in order to be the seemingly infallible beings that they are. They can't just be Heralds in horses bodies. Yet, Vanyel says of Gwena that she is young and makes mistakes, and she's Grove Born, so how much more prone are the non-GB Companions to making mistakes? Why is it that we never see the Companions EVER doing something wrong? They aren't perfect--Savil says that about Gala, so why don't they screw up more often, like people do? Wishful thinking, I suppose. It would make life more interesting, and much less...oh, what's the word?...cute? perfect? Jacquelle Oh, very clever, Worf. Eat any good books lately? --Q ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 96 10:28:01 -0500 From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: lots of things/hyperbolas Message-ID: <199611041537.KAA01457-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA> On Mon, 4 Nov 1996, "Emily L Cartier" wrote: >I thought Misty was writing FANTASY!?!?!?!?!?<--5 of each) I think we >might be getting our genres a little confused here. If Velgarth was a >world where they called the magic a strange form of tech and had >explanations thereof, I could see getting bent cause Misty forgot to >check her math and physics (I'm studying to be an engineer and I get >as bent as anyone when the author makes a mistake in science that I >can catch... In science fiction). But Misty calls it fantasy. >Cynnedd, do you happen to have a good definition of the difference >between sf and fantasy? Actually, I've always thought of Misty as SF/Fantasy. And I'm positive her magic is supposed to work like electricity (I'm an engineer, too, you know). Can someone textevd me, please? Okay, the promised hyperbola explanation. This is gonna be hard to explain. The mathematical definition will probably make you cry. I'm having problems translating this one. - a hyperbola is the set of points in a plane whose distances from two fixed points in the plane have a constant difference. The two fixed points are the foci (plural of focus) of the hyperbola. - x^2/a^2 - y^2/(a^2-c^2) = 1 or x^2/a^2 - y^2/b^2 = 1, where b = + squ. root (c^2 - a^2) - |c| is the x coordinate of the foci - |a| is the x coordinate of the x-intercepts (roots) of the hyperbola - A hyperbola is symetrical along two axes - one of these axes is the line joining the foci - the other axis is the perpendicular bisector of the segment whose endpoints are the focii. - A hyperbola has two asymptotes - an asymptote is a line that a function (graph) comes close to but never quite touches, because it is undefined there. - these two asymptotes are diagonal like. How to draw a hyperbola in the form x^2/a^2 - y^2/b^2 = 1. - Draw your x and y axes. - Mark the points (a,0), (-a,0), (0,b), (0,-b), and (a,b) - Draw the rectangle that goes through all these points. (a,b) should be a corner. - draw the rectangle's diagonals, extending them outside of the rectangle -- these are the asymptotes. - Use the rectangle and asymptotes to guide your drawing (put your pencil at (a,0) or (-a,0), and draw what looks like a sideways parabola with the cup at the focus, and the arms extending outward, and make the far bits of it so close to the diagonals as not to make a significant difference. BRAVO! / BRAVA! love, deniz sarikaya, High Priestess |I was a brassbound Idealist in those days. of Procrastination and Holy |If you are an Idealist it does not matter Custodian of the B-Day List. |what you do or what goes on around you Confused? Write me! |because it isn't real anyway. dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA -- Robert Penn Warren ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 10:00:44 -0600 (CST) From: khu286-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu (Kay Huang Perry) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: My Savior (really the circle discussion continued) Message-ID: <199611041600.AA195773244-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu> > these confluences > - the hyperbolas which describe these intersection points are highly > idealized, and are based upon a number of factors: > - The distance between the two nodes...er, centers > - The speed of the magic through air/ground/water. The landscape traversed > will probably distort these lines a bit. A couple of dissensions on your portrayal of the topic... Whether or not the explosion occurred simultaneous, the expanding waves would still intersect, ie drop your pebbles at different points in time. The waves still intersect. They do. Really. From that statement, I put forth the next argument: Would the intersections be necessarily circular? I would say yes, but only roughly so. I would claim that having perfect 'circles' would not be possible (though this is fantasy, anything is possible :P), but the interferences of the two waves would form rough circles. Perhaps the circles would be so rough that they would be ellipsoidal, but no squares, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms. Something with a soft, round circumference. As for these things extending in 3 dimensions. I hold that yes, the circles would extend in 3 dimensions, but like either a cone or a tube, so that length and width would form the 'ellipsoid' while height would follow the shape of the ellipsoid upwards into the stratosphere for the depth of the wave. Let me point out that I don't feel that the 'height' of the third dimension is necessarily a tube or a cone, but something roughly in that shape. This of course, brings up another questions. Where is the center of these waves? At the level of the ground, above the ground, below the ground? The center of the undulating wave will decide how high above and below the ground the tube of magic extends at the intersection point. Therefore, if the tube of magic doesn't extend far enough down the earth, the Baires-Linneas heartstone might not be affected. Also, by Mage Storm time, the fault line might have also been fixed. Doubtful, given the impression of centuries required to fix the fault, but centuries have passed (5 or so?) since Vanyel's time and Mage Storm time. So, it could be fixed. And, of course, we never question whether or not the waves pass through the center of Velgarth. It seems that these waves are only spreading across the surface of the planet. Spencer PS - An intersection of a hyperbola with a second hyperbola will still create a point. The dimensions of the point depending, of course, on the strength of the wave, but on paper, it is still a point. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 10:05:07 -0600 (CST) From: Nina M Ehgartner To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Storm Breaking *SPOILER* Message-ID: SPOILER SPACE * * * * * * * * * * * * * > >> The sections with Melles were pretty boring, but it's kind of refreshing > to see a Misty-villian who isn't automatically sexually depraved, and who > isn't going to go completely insane with revenge.<< > They were boring but mostly because of the over use of description(IMO) in > those sections. Misty seemed to go hog-wild with the details. I kinda liked > Melles. He's a nice Machiavellian(sp?) type character. Not all bad and not > all good, just sorta self-centered. And yes it was extremely refreshing to > have a story without the sex crazed maniac bent on insane revenge!! > I agree. I thought that Melles was a lot like Ma'ar (as far as the latter's description goes, anyway). Melles wants revenge and has his own plans in mind, but he's sane. IIRC, there's a similar desription of Ma'ar in BG (books-+AT+-home, I'm-+AT+-work). Does anyone else feel the same? Nina ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 96 12:20:37 -0500 From: dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: My Savior (really the circle discussion continued) Message-ID: <199611041730.MAA23514-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA> On Mon, 4 Nov 1996, Spencer wrote: >A couple of dissensions on your portrayal of the topic... > >Whether or not the explosion occurred simultaneous, the expanding waves would >still intersect, ie drop your pebbles at different points in time. The >waves still intersect. They do. Really. From that statement, I put forth >the I'm not arguing with that. >next argument: > >Would the intersections be necessarily circular? > >I would say yes, but only roughly so. I would claim that having perfect >'circles' would not be possible (though this is fantasy, anything is >possible :P), but the interferences of the two waves would form rough circles. >Perhaps the circles would be so rough that they would be ellipsoidal, but >no squares, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms. Something with a soft, >round circumference. Hmm. I didn't think about this one. First, a clarification: I'm not expecting to see a big map of Velgarth with the hyperbolas drawn out on it. But, if there were one, the confluence points would all land on one of those lines. Not necessarily all along those lines, but they wouldn't land where there were no lines. Okay, so these intersections are points. The problem is, in Geometry, you can't define the size or shape of a point. They're a limited concept. So, by my thinking, the energy would channel into that point, and explode through it in a spherical shape. If you cut a sphere with a plane, you get a circle. So, disregarding air resistance and assuming the earth resistance to be constant in the realm of the confluence point's explosion (excuse the tech-ese) , you *would* get a perfect circle. Well, there might be slight imperfections, but they wouldn't be detectable unless you had a scanning electron microscope or something. Now, if it were right along a coast or the bank of a river, the part on land would be the arc of a circle with one radius, and the part in water would be the arc of a circle with a different radius (either bigger or smaller, depending on whether you think magic travels faster or slower through water than land, respectively.) >As for these things extending in 3 dimensions. I hold that yes, >the circles would extend in 3 dimensions, but like either a cone or >a tube, so that length and width would form the 'ellipsoid' while >height would follow the shape of the ellipsoid upwards into the stratosphere >for the depth of the wave. > >Let me point out that I don't feel that the 'height' of the third dimension >is necessarily a tube or a cone, but something roughly in that shape. Yes, they would look a lot like cones except near the apex, because the cones are the asymptotes of the hyperbolas. Near the apex is a bit easier to visualize, I think. >This of course, brings up another questions. Where is the center of >these waves? At the level of the ground, above the ground, below the ground? >The center of the undulating wave will decide how high above and below the >ground the tube of magic extends at the intersection point. Therefore, if the >tube of magic doesn't extend far enough down the earth, the Baires-Linneas >heartstone might not be affected. Also, by Mage Storm time, the fault >line might have also been fixed. Doubtful, given the impression of >centuries required to fix the fault, but centuries have passed (5 or so?) >since Vanyel's time and Mage Storm time. So, it could be fixed. >And, of course, we never question whether or not the waves pass through >the center of Velgarth. It seems that these waves are only spreading across >the surface of the planet. Good points, all. I'll tackle the center of Velgarth one, now. If Velgarth is round, then its center lies on the (you guessed it) perpendicular bisector. This presents some worry. But here are my theories as to why I think it won't happen. - magic travels slowly through earth. - magic loses energy faster travelling through earth than through air (more friction or resistance) Remember, these are theories, not facts. >PS - An intersection of a hyperbola with a second hyperbola will >still create a point. The dimensions of the point depending, of course, >on the strength of the wave, but on paper, it is still a point. Whoa! Yeah, sure, but where are hyperbolas intersecting with other hyperbolas? I think I've become a blue at the Rose Tavern. Somebody pass me a meatroll, please! Hey, watch your drink, I need that paper! love, deniz sarikaya, High Priestess |I was a brassbound Idealist in those days. of Procrastination and Holy |If you are an Idealist it does not matter Custodian of the B-Day List. |what you do or what goes on around you Confused? Write me! |because it isn't real anyway. dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA -- Robert Penn Warren ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 12:54:48 -0500 From: ShadowJaz-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Storm Breaking *SPOILER* Message-ID: <961104125447_1114471370-+AT+-emout07.mail.aol.com> Nina wrote: > I thought that Melles was alot like Ma'ar (as fas as the latter's description goes, >anyway). Melles wants revenge and has his own plans in mind, but he's sane. IIRC, > there's a similar description of Ma'ar in BG (books-+AT+-home, I'm -+AT+-work). Does > anyone else feel the same? Hmm, you could be right. I think that was pretty much the way Ma'ar was, in the beginning at least, obviously after all that time spent in the Void waiting for his next body, well, understandably that sorta messed with his head. I *could* look up text evd. for this, but . . . nah, don't feel like it. I'd just like to add one more thing, and please, no homing cocanuts, flames, or missiles of any kind, don't make me use my sheep !, but I actually liked, yes liked, Silver Gryphon, but then I'm not all that picky, not that I'm saying the rest of you are, just saying that I don't really mind if things are little too perfect every once in awhile. I Like happy endings, and I can't stand nasty realistic, sad endings. If I wanted reality I wouldn't be reading fantasy, would I? I read it because I enjoy it, and because it provides welcome relief from reality. I'm not real big on the nastier aspects of reality, can ya tell ? However, I do aggree that Misty is getting a bit lazy, and needs to take a break from Velgarth. Well, that's all for now. Blessed Be, NightShade OIB, LotPW, and (soon to be) High Priestess Of All Things Nocturnal ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 918 *********************************