Hello, my name is ...

Filk discovered by NPR ...

Science-Fiction Music: Monsters, Aliens In 'Filk'

Audio for this story from All Things Considered will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET, Tuesday, 09 February 2010

NASA recently announced that a significant amount of water has been found on the moon, leading to speculation that we might someday populate our orbiting friend. The idea sounds far-fetched, but it's the type of thing science-fiction fans have been dreaming of for many years. In music, stories of space travel and extraterrestrials date back further than listeners may think. ...

My father during World War II

Two (2) photographs of my father, Paul H. Madden, Jr. taken during his time in Europe during World War II (WWII). There are also his notes on the back of the photos which I transcribe. He was nineteen (19) years old at the time.

1. Saarlautern, Germany Jan. 1945 (Note gas mask and top button of jacket is buttoned. Two means of I.D. for American soldiers during Battle of the the Bulge.

[During the Battle of the Bulge, German infiltrators dressed in American uniforms were a problem. So, gas masks, which had not been needed, were issued to all U.S. soldiers in the area and their were instructed also to button the top button of their tunics/jackets. These two actions would help distinguish the true G.I.s from German imitators.

He is carrying an M-3 submachine gun AKA "grease gun"; it was not his issued weapon, M-1 Garand, but it looked cool.]

2. April 1945 (On Pass from "Reppel-Deppel")

["Reppel-Deppel" was shorthand for Replacement Depot or Repo Depot.]

Pay-For-Delay Phamaceutical Deals

From: jrmaddog@aol.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:12:48 EST
Subject: Pay-For-Delay
To: edit.cen@acs.org


C&EN Editor,

RE: Questioned Deals In Europe, C&ENews, 88(3), January 18, 2010, p6. &
FTC Seeks Ban On Pay-For-Delay Deals, C&ENews, 88(3), January 18, 2010, p22.

When an individual offers to not release information about another individual in exchange for money (e.g., the David Letterman incident), it is called extortion.

When a generic pharmaceutical maker agrees to not release its own, legal product in exchange for money from the original patent holder, it is called business.

What am I missing?

Regards,
J. R. Madden

My thought on The Book of Eli ...

Re: Irony with the Bible

by jrmaddog 4 days ago (Thu Jan 7 2010 13:56:51)

Personally, I think the book was chosen because of its dimensions. It has been hollowed out to hold the trans-dimensional, warp-induction, dislocation projector powered by a Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator which will result in a really big kaboom!

The fact that it was a Bible is just a red herring.

Message Board at IMDB.com

From Southern Fandom Classics Yahoo Group ...

cc2a.
Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "J. R. Madden"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:42 am (PDT)

Bathurst Fans Face New Not-So-Limited Alcohol Limits
October 7, 2009

Authorities cracking down on drunkenness in Australia are focusing on the fans the Bathurst 1000 auto race. In order to cut back rowdy behavior, authorities have put a strict limit on alcohol. Each fan can now drink only one slab (a 24-pack) of beer or four liters of wine — per day.

http://www.npr.%20org/templates/%20story/story.%20php?storyId=

Yours in thirsty fandom,J. R. "Mad Dog" Madden

2b.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "Guy Lillian"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 10:39 am (PDT)

For Aussies, that's the equivalent of a sip of water.

2c.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "absarka_prime"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 11:33 am (PDT)

Well! And here I *was* thinking about standing for DUFF, but now... I dunno...

Curt Phillips

(ATTN: John Purcell: Any news yet?)

2d.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "Rusty"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 1:24 pm (PDT)

Yeah -- and these are *car racing fans*. Consider that the average NASCAR fan -- that is, those who actually go spend all day at the races -- can consume a case before breakfast. Then multiply that times Aussie....

Rusty

2e.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "John Purcell"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 2:15 pm (PDT)

This law might affect my decision to stand for DUFF. I notice it talks only about beer and wine. What about Scotch? Being not mentioned, am I to assume there's no limit?

- John Purcell

2f.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "absarka_prime@comcast.net"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 3:57 pm (PDT)

What could possibly go wrong in making that assumption? Besides, I have great faith in Australian Fandom. They'll make sure you don't dry up and blow away into the desert...

Curt Phillips

2g.
Re: Keep these guys away from the Con Suite!
Posted by: "John Purcell"
Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:37 pm (PDT)

The Aussies I have met over the years are some of the best fen. Great people, loads of fun.Do you remember Anti-Fan? I forget the chap's name, but he looked remarkably like Minn-stf's Denny Lien. Minicon was always on DUFF winner's intineraries. I wonder why...?

- John Purcell

I do not think Mr. Cheatham is ... accurate.

ASK THE ADVOCATE

Every Monday through Friday, The Advocate will answer questions from its readers. One question will be answered per day. Send questions to asktheadvocate@theadvocate.com.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Q: For some weeks, I have noted the absence of the special recycle collection truck with the grabber side arm that would empty the recycle bin into the truck and replace the bin curbside. This truck had a single operator. Instead, there has been a “regular” trash truck with a crew of three, with two fellows manually dumping the often heavy recycle bins into the truck. When the bin is loaded with magazines and paper, it can be very heavy. The manual dumping of the recycle bin is resulting in deep gouges on the sides of the bin and will probably greatly reduce the life span of the bin. When the bin can no longer be used, will a replacement be provided and the old one recycled?

A: Steven Cheatham, vice president of The Recycling Foundation, wrote in an e-mailed answer that the curbside recycling has always been collected with regular garbage trucks. 

“The Recycling Foundation does this for many reasons.  First, the manual collection allows us to also collect the cardboard boxes that are left beside the carts. With automated collection the only materials that are collected are those that fit inside of the cart,” Cheatham wrote.

“Secondly, it allows us to examine the materials in a cart to see if they are recyclable.  If they are not we will not collect the cart, but will leave an informational tag. Thirdly, it helps the environment because we are able to collect the route only going down a street one time instead of having to work both sides,” Cheatham wrote.

“We have had several conversations with the cart manufacturer concerning scratches and gouges on the carts due to our collection method. They have assured us that structurally this is not harming the cart and that our method of collection is actually better for the carts.  They have far more warranty claims and damaged carts from the automated ‘arm’ collection than from manual collection.  The carts have a 10-year warranty, so any cart that is damaged beyond use is covered under that warranty if the damage occurs in normal wear and tear,” he wrote.

If the bin is not useable because of defective manufacturing then it is replaced, he wrote. When the carts are recovered they are recycled, he wrote.