Blakes7

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[SF-LIT] OED Project (fwd)
by sjk3＠cornell.edu 06 Dec '01

06 Dec '01

Just in case anyone hasn't seen this project/request. The OED is looking for earlier citations for words in SF, or in some cases, any citation! Do read the introduction before sending anything, as some words are fully covered (and thus not on the list). Sandra Kisner sjk3(a)cornell.edu -----Original Message----- From: Bud Webster Follow this URL (http://66.108.177.107/SF/sf_citations.shtml) and help the OED people find whatever citations they need in the sf field. We were BORN to do this.

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orac and bringing down the federation
by linda joyce 06 Dec '01

06 Dec '01

Hi I'm very much a newbie to the list so a short introduction. I have been a fan of Blake's 7 from the first showing but only bought the series on video about a year ago and though I have watched it incessantly since my knowledge is not as encyclopedic as the rest of you. I also only discovered fan fiction at the same time and have sinced overdosed on it so this reply will be somewhat vague. I am sure though someone will fill in the blanks:-). I remember reading a story in a paper fanfic slash content which stated that Orac was programmed not do anything that would in anyway harm the federation since the origional aim was to sell him ( yes him inspite of my darling's insitence on "it")to the Federation, and that reprogramming him would not only be time consuming but dangerous to the programmer, (Avon does have a very great sense of selfpreservation)and possibly to the haunted fishtank himself. I cannot be more detailed with the story as I am in work and my zine's are at home. IMO this is a very likely reason he was not used to bring down the evil empire internally. Though in the story Avon did manage to do the reprogramming safely for love of Blake. Linda ______________________________________________________________________________ Send a friend your Buddy Card and stay in contact always with Excite Messenger http://messenger.excite.com

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Re: Orac
by Steve Rogerson 06 Dec '01

06 Dec '01

Tony wrote: "Do people consider Orac an original crew member?" Well it wasn't an original crew member because it didn't turn up until the end of season one. However, was it a crew member at all? The question I think lies on whether Orac was a sentient being. On first inspection, one would have to say yes. However, its personality could have been a fixed programme with numerous replies. It could have been programmed to seek out new phenomena at the expense of other issues. In fact, it is hard to think of anything it did that could not be the result of a programme rather than consciousness. -- cheers Steve Rogerson http://homepages.poptel.org.uk/steve.rogerson Redemption 03, 21-23 February 2003, Ashford, Kent Celebrating 25 years of Blake's 7 and 10 years of Babylon 5 http://www.smof.com/redemption

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Re: [B7L] orac and bringing down the federation
by Sally Manton 05 Dec '01

05 Dec '01

Hi Linda, and welcome to the Lyst! <I remember reading a story in a paper fanfic slash content which stated that Orac was programmed not do anything that would in anyway harm the federation since the origional aim was to sell him to the Federation> Nice idea, but I can't help thinking he blew any such program round about Redemption (saving the crew, albeit just so he could say "I told you so") and quite a few times thereafter (albeit because he was told to :-)) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

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Re: [B7L] orac and bringing down the federation
by Alison Page 05 Dec '01

05 Dec '01

>I'm very much a newbie to the list Hi Linda >I remember reading a story in a paper fanfic slash content which stated that >Orac was programmed not do anything that would in anyway harm the federation >since the origional aim was to sell him to the Federation Which would make three members of the crew constrained by 'limiters' imposed by enemies (if you include Zen). >IMO this is a very likely reason he was not used to bring down the >evil empire internally. It's a much better explanation than any they gave on the show. Perhaps it is impossible to create a device intelligent enough to be useful, but without an agenda of its own. Your only solution is to try and build in a 'personality' that means its agenda ties in with your needs. Thus you make Slave subservient, or make Orac selfish, proud and inquisitive. Alison

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RE: Re: [B7L] Mission to Destiny
by jacquispeel＠netscape.net 05 Dec '01

05 Dec '01

Harriet Monkhouse <hflysator(a)jarriere.demon.co.uk> wrote: >Dana wrote: >>Sometimes I think that Arlen's last name is Kendall. > >Guy, is there anything you would like to tell us? >-- >Harriet > > So would Blake & friends have got involved in the 'clean up program'? -- __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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RE: [B7L] Ora a crewmember?
by jacquispeel＠netscape.net 05 Dec '01

05 Dec '01

M <nova_m1(a)excite.co.uk> wrote: >I tend of follow the idea - it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, I take >it therefore it's probably a duck. As in, although it might be >sophisticated programming, there are enough quirks and incidents I'd >definitely say Orac has a personality. However I'm open to devil's advocate >the other way. > >Also the AI thing. I thing that headless android had a personality - >meglomaniac plus, and the way Orac doesn't want to give in. And the end >'yes Master' reply - oh definitely Orac one point. > >M. > Vinni had to operate independently - so would need a personality - robot Avalon was short operational use, and did not. Orac 'Seek, locate, understand'? Jacqui -- __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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Ora a crewmember?
by M 05 Dec '01

05 Dec '01

I tend of follow the idea - it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, I take it therefore it's probably a duck. As in, although it might be sophisticated programming, there are enough quirks and incidents I'd definitely say Orac has a personality. However I'm open to devil's advocate the other way. Also the AI thing. I thing that headless android had a personality - meglomaniac plus, and the way Orac doesn't want to give in. And the end 'yes Master' reply - oh definitely Orac one point. M. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% private, FREE email for life from Excite UK Visit http://inbox.excite.co.uk/

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RE: Re: [B7L] Re: Orac
by jacquispeel＠netscape.net 04 Dec '01

04 Dec '01

Anna Simpson <anna(a)moglit.demon.co.uk> wrote: >At 18:15 04/12/01 +0000, you wrote: > >>In fact, it is hard to think of anything it did that could not be the >>result of a programme rather than consciousness. > >Of course, considering the canonical existance of androids as sophisticated >as Vinnie and Avalon, the same could be said of any of the rest of the crew. > >>cheers >>Steve Rogerson > >love >Anna > Isn't this a variant of Turing's test (about apparent sentience of computers)? Jacqui -- __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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Re: Blake bashing v. Avon worship
by Alison Page 04 Dec '01

04 Dec '01

Mel said - >> I do think it's a tribute to his guts that he keeps going by S4, when everything has fallen apart around him so often Good point. 'Guts' as opposed to 'bravery' - i.e. dogged persistence without much hope of success or relief, is an under-rated virtue, which is well expressed in B7 by many of the characters. It is difficult to celebrate stoicism and guts in any show where success and quick results are written into the series premise. You have to have a series where they fail and fail again. Alison ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. Becta www.mimesweeper.com **********************************************************************

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