Lunatic Fringe 2
LUNATIC FRINGE 2
LF2 * October 7, 1991
Information concerning Lunatic Fringe can be found at the END of this file.
AT LEAST WE KNOW SOMEONE READS THIS
The old LF mailbox was just stuffed full of reader response to LF1, let me tell you. Below, as requested by the author, is the text of the one and only first-hand critique of our beloved first issue. He was kind enough to send both a hard copy and 3.5-inch ecopy. Note: The font change is only for conserving space, not to serve as some sort of editorial comment. Remember, reader input matters. Even when it gets a little harsh!
*To the Anonymous Editor:
A quick read of issue #1 of Lunatic Fringe makes it clear that your ego is a few orders of magnitude larger than it should be. Somehow, you have endowed this leaflet with an ego of its own.
You simultaneously identify with and bash the pioneers of new science. I am sure they would want neither your company nor your inane and pathetically unoriginal ideas. You seem to think that you are above the people who do the research and engineering- an overseer who directs the hapless scientists toward a particular goal. Therefore, you can manage these people without understanding the science. In practice, this brand of management serves to hinder technological progress and infuriate scientists.
My guess is that your technical background consists of an intro philosophy course, a back-issue of Mondo 2000 and a perusal of Gibson's Neuromancer. Your ideas for VR indicate a lack of comprehension of the complexities and mechanics of the human brain. Of course- it's not your problem to make sense of the mess- those Brain Connection people will figure it out (under your firm direction). You may argue that the greatest breakthroughs in science were dismissed in much the same way during their formation. However, the people creating the new concepts and ideas thoroughly understood the old paradigms and had firm scientific basis for their groundbreaking work. You clearly grasp neither, as far as VR goes.
The three tenets (a fair assumption, since they appear in bold on the cover) of this magazine are quickly abandoned. Technology, Information, and Reality have been replaced by Mediocre Sci-Fi, Misinformation, and more Mediocre Sci-Fi. Technical inaccuracies ooze from each paragraph. This tripe is much worse than New-Age pseudo science- worse because you seem to see it as useful and viable. This zene is the informational equivalent of Alan Landau's Daily cartoon- pretentious, unoriginal, and brimming with 3-rd Grade insights.
It is also curious that a publication that is 'made possible by the vastness of the Informational Universe' doesn't have a Compuserve (or other electronic information service) or Internet address (a UB account is on this net), nor voice/fax phone number (this is fairly understandable) nor a voice-mail box (about $10 a month from our friends at AT&T). One final query: since UnderWorld Industries claims not to be 'so uptight about copyrights and secrecy,' why is your name nowhere to be found?
Love,
Well, sometimes you wonder if some people take things a little too seriously. At least he spared the time and the stamp [hint] ... ahem.
SPEAKING OF READER INPUT
Lately, LF got some long-distance interest in submitting articles (after an impromptu emag version of LF1). Can this be done, you ask? Sure! Why not, anyway; surely it could only make Lunatic Fringe a little less confusing and a little more fluid. So, why not be bold? Why not show off your talent? Why not send in something? Anything. Please?
Change the world. Use up toner. Send your techno-prose and techno-poetry in today. Just remember, chances of rejection are very slim.
VIRTUAL PARTIES
Seems like those crazy netrunners are at it again. Once upon a time, people would meet other people through various electronic methods, and everything would build up to an annual/monthly/weekly face-to-face/personal/prove-I-am- real meeting/gathering/picnic/party. This proved both exciting and often frightening to meet the man/woman/? behind the machine. And they all lived happily ever after.
But, as networks grew (and the people realized talking was not as much fun), it seems a new facet to these gatherings evolved. At the gatherings appeared a terminal or two, and suddenly an on-line, real-time play-by-play was being broadcast for those un(?)fortunate enough to not be there. Who, you ask, would want to go to a social gathering and immediately sit in front of a computer? Rumor has it, people were/are fighting to get on the party-terminals. Watch your email for invitations! And think, no drunken drive home--you just pass out right on your keyboard.
WHAT NEXT
Well, to touch upon some up-and-coming goodies, looks like the old network has taken email one step further. There are reports of email-order pizza places (makes "fax your order" signs a little less exciting, huh?), Internet-linked alarm (fire, etc.) systems, faxes through the network, more emags than you can shake a stick at...
What IS next? Chances are, someone is already using it. Maybe V-Sleep? V- Frisbee might be nice; an old buddy of mine has moved away.
A related note: keep an eye out for more and more cable-less networks. Seems the FCC is trying to calm down the tons of vendors/groups/etc. fighting over the frequencies. They are even talking of auctioning them off. So many technologies; so little airwaves. Networking through the skies...the world goes wireless. Sounds like a good article for LFn...
LF3--A GUESS AHEAD
Next issue, we will be dealing more with fun and games on the networks of the world, more VR (of course), and any other technology-related topics that roll in. If you have ANYthing to say, say it. Heck, we even take nasty letters, and anonymous articles (maybe there are even some of both in this issue).
EMAGAZINE STANDS
So, you say you are interested in electronic-mags? Well, even if you aren't, you might want to read this.
The idea is old; it has just been upgraded as technology has grown. It is a product of bulletin boards and downloading "g-files". What is it? Electronic magazines.
Emags (what these electronic publications are sometimes refered to as) range from simple text files that are about a dozen pages long, to beautifully formatted multi-font documents complete with illustrations and cover art. Their topics range from "amateur" fiction to humor to educational to the insane.
Some of the newer "advances" (actually old ideas people have just now realized would work well with emags) that have lended to the "boom" in emag publication are the use of PostScript files and increased network usage.
Before, where there used to be dry and hard-to-read 80-column text, there are now wonderfully formated articles with bold headers and comfortable text. This can be contributed to the PostScript printer language. Emags that are distributed in this format can usually be spotted by there ".PS" extension. Once a reader has this file, a quick copy to the printer (PostScript- compatible) and the masterpiece rolls out.
Access to the emags, through an increasingly available network (Internet, Bitnet, UUCP, etc.) has allowed for growth in emag circulations. Two common methods of distribution include emailing the publication to subscribers, and allowing access to the emag at anonymous FTP sites where the readers can retrieve new copies, as well as back-issues, of the emag. Often, both methods are employed.
There are several obvious benefits to electronic magazines:
- Large circulation - world-wide computer networks give access to a wide variety of people
- Low cost - no postage or reproduction costs; low cost of creation
- Response - networks give easy access for contributors and letters
If you are interested in electronic magazines, see the ad for emags on this page. In particular, take note of Packet, which is an emag dedicated to electronic publications.
LF'S NEW LOOK AND FORMAT
You may have noticed the exciting(?) new look for LF. Well, if you weren't one of the 3 people who read LF1, then it is all new for you.
Anyway, the reason for the new look is because of the new standard format LF is going to be taking on: electronic PostScript. file. Yes, right into the technological race. (See "Emagazine Stands", this page.)
What does this mean for you? Well, for one, we hope to phase out hard (paper) versions of LF. So, no more checking anxiously at the newsstands. We will be available only in virtual reality! So, if you don't have access to the net, get it! You're going to need it sooner or later, anyway. Also, for the time being, an ASCII version will be available as well.
Send email (see page 2) for more info.
CONTRIBUTED POETRY
"Sundial"Bright and shining,
Your face,
On the other side
Of the wire.Beaming at me
Through optical fibre;
Sharing your space
With a thousand memes.And I'm picking up on you,
Pulling you out
of the tube
out of the wine bar
and back into
the shining light.by Doktor-Pete (Thanks a lot! -LF)
ENTERING THE FOURTH AGE
I propose that we are now entering a fourth age of computers. Of course, there are certainly other standard phases the computer era is broken down into (the "generations", for example). This is mine, and it concerns the computer from the user's point of view.
First, I shall go over the first three ages, and then go on, in a little more detail, about the fourth.
- Development. This is the birth of the computer. Using computers were often harder than understanding them. "User-friendly" was unheard of. Anyone who remembers when programming was re-wiring a machine, knows this age well.
- Introduction. This is when computers started popping up in "the real world". It spans from the first IBM mainframes to the day of the early home computers.
- User-friendly. This started with the step from simpler home computers to ones almost anyone could use. It was brought on almost entirely by the Apple Macintosh computer and its point-and-click icon-based system.
Keep in mind that these are ages of user-interface. Of usability. This brings us to the fourth; one we are on the verge of today. The "Everyone" age. This is when computers become so easy, anyone can use them to their fullest capacities.
Some things are available that are direct lead-ins to this age. For example, touch screens, voice-recognition systems, and multi-media systems. Compatibility among networks and systems is key to this age (as in the joint venture by IBM and Apple, object-orienting programming, etc.).
In this fourth age's heyday, we will see a greatly decreased use of paper. The likes of file cabinets, corkboards, memos, and even paper mail may become history.
Information will be more widely available, and libraries, public archives, and government documents will be in every home.
E-COMIX
What could very well be the first of its kind (electronic graphic novels), the emag bitwise is in the last steps of production. It is available as a PostScript file for critiquing and/or enjoyment. See the adjacent ad for more info.
OTHER EMAGS
Put your ad here! (Electronic magazines only, please.)
- bitwise; electronic comic; contact kca@engin.umich.edu
- Packet; catalog of emags; contact kca@engin.umich.edu
- CORE; misc, fiction, etc.; contact rita@eff.org
- Dargonzine; gaming emag contact white@duvm.ocs.drexel.edu
- InterText; extensive fiction; contact jsnell@ucsd.edu
- Quanta; extensive fiction; contact quanta@andrew.cmu.edu
- Unplastic News; various, fiction, misc.; contact tibbetts@hsi.hsi.com
STANDARD FINE PRINT
Lunatic Fringe (LF) has no opinions. It just observes. Any "views" expressed herein belong entirely to the "reality" of the article's author(s). If you really feel like complaining, please feel free. All information is important in some way. Generally speaking, the purpose of Lunatic Fringe is to provide a medium where one may babble on about the wonders of technology. Those of you who get chills upon hearing the word "network" or "cyberspace" know what LF is about. Topics usually include: networks, virtual reality, cyber- anything, technology-for-the-general-public, and global technologies.
Cash contributions are accepted and are neither discouraged or encouraged. If you would like to receive hard-copy back issues of LF, please include sufficient postage (and envelope) or the monetary equivalent, along with some place to send it, and a good reason why you deserve it.* Please allow 4 to 6 random units of time for delivery. If you would like to receive electronic versions of LF, please send email* and instructions where to send it. ASCII and PostScript formats are available. An FTP site will soon be available-- stay tuned. Back issues available: Hard (LF1--a few), ASCII (LF1), PostScript (LF1--non-standard format).
Any written contributions* to LF will be processed and output to finished form as time, money, and good taste permits. Feel free to ask questions, or make comments on anything in the Universe. Information is (or should be, at least) free, as far as LF is concerned. Nothing really matters that much. Take it easy. Enjoy life as much as possible. Infringe on others' enjoyment as little as possible. Think freely, open-mindedly, and as much as possible--at least until it hurts. Observe; don't miss out. And, of course, Reality is (i.e., is equivalent to) Information. Live it. *Information on addresses, etc. are below.
LUNATIC FRINGE (LF) is a publication made possible by the vastness of the Informational Universe, technology, math, realities everywhere, and a bit of craziness and luck.
LF is "part" of UnderWorld Industries (UWI) and can be contacted at the following UWI address:
P.O. Box 4060
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-4060
Email should be directed to this Internet address: kca@caen.engin.umich.edu
UnderWorld Industries isn't so much a business or corporation, as an idea. It tries not to be so uptight with copyrights and secrecy and so on. Better known and in use, than hidden, copyrighted, and patented. Of course, the world is full of slime that will exploit everything for money or power or whatever, so this is not a very feasible idea. But it is an idea--part of what makes up the concept of UnderWorld Industries. UWI is no single person, and is made up of parts of nearly every person. It exists mostly as a common "reference" or "title" for the idea. It is growing and changing and accepts ideas that seem to be worthwhile. Those of you who are part of UWI know it. If you are curious about UWI, write to the above (or any) UWI address and hopefully some things will be cleared up.
