FLOOBYDUST #33
by Avery Davis and Debbi Golden-Davis

Copyright (C) 2000 by Avery R. Davis, all rights reserved.
Intended for inclusion in MYRIAD #203, March 15, 2000.
This publication is drafted and composed using MS WORD 97 SR-1.

"Floobydust" is a contemporary term derived from the archaic Latin miscellaneous, whose disputed history probably springs from Greek origins (influenced, of course, by Egyptian linguists) - meaning here "a mixed bag".

USPS ate my 'zine! Again!

My contribution to Myriad 202 got lost in the mail just like my Myriad 201 contribution. This is why I had nothing in 201, and my 201 'zine was in '202. Hopefully, this and my 202 'zine will both be in 203.

Soon, It Will Be One Year

For our first wedding anniversary on May 22, Debbi and I are planning to stay at a bed-and-breakfast that is also an astronomy observatory. The Skywatcher's Inn includes the Vega-Bray Observatory. It is located in a town whose name is familiar to all fans of classic Sci-Fi movies, Benson, Arizona. This is only about an hour's drive from Tucson. Photos and descriptions are available on their web site, http://www.communiverse.com/skywatcher.

Tucson SF Activities

I am a minor player on the committee for the local, annual, SF conventions, TusCon http://www.azstarnet.com/~basfa/. Recently, I volunteered to operate "computer gaming" at the convention. What I have proposed is to host a Lan Party. The essence of this is that convention attendees are invited to bring their own computers to the convention and set them up with a local area network. What the convention offers them is a place to set up the computers. This provides an opportunity to engage in multiplayer games without the delay problems of Internet gaming. Certainly, there are numerous details that have to be dealt with, but some excellent guides are available at the website, <http://www.lanparty.com>. Of course, I will be promoting my favorite games, such as HEXEN II. If I get poor response, I might bring my two old 486 computers along with my iP200MMX, and just play DOOM II and HEXEN.

Recently Read

The End of Science by John Horgan (Little, Brown and Co., 1996). Subtitled, "Facing the Limits of Knowledge in the Twilight of the Scientific Age", it is not an anti-science book. The author is a staff writer for Scientific American magazine, which is very definitely a pro-science magazine. It is mostly a survey of the opinions of leaders in several scientific fields and philosophies. The author does have an "agenda", but he is honest and open about it, describing his viewpoint in the introduction. The title came from the title of a symposium held in 1989. That meeting was based on the "premise that belief in science - rather than science it self - was coming to an end." Horgan takes this to the next step, and interviews leaders in science and philosophy with the question, "Do you think science itself might be ending?" The result is an intriguing overview of modern scientific and recent scientific history.

Scam Alert

I got the following as email SPAM. There is so much wrong with this, I hardly know where to begin:

SAFEGUARD AGAINST CANCER that may be caused by cordless & cellular phones, as seen on the 20/20 T.V. series on October 20, 1999, with a new patented product. Researchers are afraid cellular and cordless phones cause cerebral tumors.

EVERSAFE is a electrically conductive net-like protective device made by weaving carbon, lead and potassium fibers. EVERSAFE sticks to the earpiece of any cordless or cellular phone and intercepts the Electromagnetic Waves which reach the brain by passing through an unprotected ear. Since it is a net-like device there is no interference in hearing. In the United States there have been lawsuits relating to cellular and cordless phones causing braincancer.

For more information go to www.askjeeves.com and type Cell Phone Cancer. You will find many articles on Cell Phone Cancer in Web Resources on that website.

First of all, if you wanted to protect your brain from the electromagnetic energy radiated by a cell phone, putting a small shield disk at your ear would have no effect. Cell phone radio waves would not be confined to the ear canal, but would penetrate skin, bones and brain tissue with about the same absorption rate. Now, the "electrically conductive net-like protective device" described above would offer protection if it were large enough to cover the entire head and face.

Second, there is no confirmed scientific proof that cellular phone radiation can cause cancer. Remember, cellular "phones" are two-way UHF radios, and the hand-held units are relatively low power, ranging from a few watts for an analog unit, to about 0.3 to 0.6 watts for a digital PCS unit.

Mailing Comments - #202

Daniel Taylor

RE: Zoning. Now you might understand why Libertarians are against zoning regulations. There was an excellent article in the March 2000 issue of Libertarian Party News, "Zoning alternatives give power to people, not to bureaucrats", by Peter Orvetti. About zoning regulations, he says, "It sounds good. It doesn't work." He offers two solutions. "One solution: Let neighborhoods decide for what is best for themselves." "It would take the form of voluntary agreements entered into by people choosing to live in particular types of communities." "Like zoning, deed restrictions provide continuity within a given area; unlike zoning, deed restrictions are governed by market considerations." "Another option: Follow the lead of Houston. The bustling Texas city has very little zoning - but it has been a boomtown." "Houston's freedom from zoning and other municipal regulations set off the biggest apartment construction boon in the nation." He concludes: "When the Supreme Court opened the door to zoning laws in 1926, Justice Willis Van Devanter warned that the decision would 'place all property in a straitjacket.'"

Oreta Taylor and John Campbell

RE: Wheels. Thanks for the warning about AutoNation. You know, this just reinforces the stereotype about used car dealers in general. Personally, with a couple exceptions every car I have ever owned was purchased directly from the owner via a classified ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I have only purchased one vehicle new from a dealer, ever.

All the rest: RAEBNC