vol. 16 no. 1 - January 2000
The U.S.S. Alaric is a North Carolina chapter of STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association. Starfleet and the Alaric recognize Paramount’s sole ownership of all Star Trek copyrights. Annual individual member dues to the international club are $15.00 per year.
U.S.S. Alaric
How To Join:
U.S.S. Alaric
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Carolina Communicator
Carolina Communicator (c) 2000 by USS Alaric. Promotional materials copyrighted by Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and other companies, and selected submissions copyrighted by individual contributors. INTERIM EDITOR: Fleet Captain Richard Heim
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The views expressed in the Carolina Communicator do not necessarily reflect those of the staff, or all of the members of the Alaric.
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Alaric
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ELECTED OFFICERS:
President (Captain) - Richard Heim
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FCapt. Richard Heim |
Greetings, everyone! And welcome to the premiere issue of the new electronic version of the Carolina Communicator! For the last 15 years we've been printing the CC as a paper publication. With this 0001 (January 2000) issue, we are entering the 21st Century as a web based newsletter. The reasons why we're doing this were explained in the 9911 issue, so I won't repeat them here. We do hope that you enjoy both this issue and the new format!
The January 2000 meeting has been canceled. We're doing this because both elected officers won't be there--I'll be on my way to Long Beach, CA, on a work-related trip (to present a paper on the Climate Reference Network at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society) and Cmdr. Krell will be working that day. We prefer to have at least one of the elected officers (CO or XO) at the monthly business meetings. I may be out of town on work-related travel at the end of February and first half of March, so the March meeting is also in jeopardy. We'll let you know well in advance if it's canceled, too.
Congratulations to the following Alaric personnel on their recent promotions: Dale Anderson to Lieutenant JG on completion of Officer Command College, and Richard Heim (hey, that's me!) to Fleet Captain!
9911.13 Regular Monthly Meeting: David Moxley reported that our canned food delivery to Manna Food Bank was 36 pounds. They provided us with a nice thank you letter. David's mother is recovering from her surgery. Also on the medical front, our CMO, Susan Bolick, was having shoulder surgery this week. We conducted four door prize drawings this month. Reports were made on plans for the electronic CC, auctioning the Chase Masterson autographed photos, and club treasury. We had a fun and interesting discussion on Who Would Win? in confrontations between: the Organians vs. the Talosians, the Dominion vs. the Borg, and Apollo vs. the Jedi Knights. Also, who would make a better jury, Betazoids or Vulcans? We also had a short impromptu ST trivia contest with questions being: Which ST character (regular actor) has been in the most episodes of all of the ST series taken together? (we figured it was a contest between Worf and Miles O'Brien) Which ST:TNG characters have appeared in ST: Voyager? (our answers: Riker, Q, LaForge, and the two Ferengi wormhole travelers).
9912.11 Regular Monthly Meeting: We discussed possible futures for the Region One Summit and had our regular monthly door prize drawings. Real life obligations are intruding more and more into our members' lives, so this year we didn't have our regular Christmas party since there wasn't anybody available to organize it. Instead, we adjourned to Quincy's Steakhouse for a club Christmas meal.
The Region One Mile of Dollars project was recently re-activated. Our new R/1 Awards Program Director, Victor Swindell, has put a PDF version of the Region 01 Awards Program manual on the R/1 web site. The Manual file is about 7 megabytes zipped. Robin Pillow is in charge of a committee to draft the R/1 Handbook.
Effective this month, Starfleet will have new membership classes and criteria. Some U.S. examples: Individual Membership $15; Family of Two $22; Family of Three $25; Family of Four $28. Details will appear in a forthcoming Starfleet Communique.
The Admiralty Board has approved a new Starfleet Membership Handbook. You should be receiving a copy with your membership renewal. Or you can go to these url's: http://www.sfi.org/html/docs.html or ftp://ftp.sfi.org/Documents/MHB/mhb2000.pdf.
Standard news: please everyone get their Starfleet membership renewals in a couple months early. A membership renewal form was in the 9909 CC. And remember to give me your Little White Card when your renewal packet arrives.
Speaking of renewals, the following memberships will expire within the next four months: the Bolick family, Ian Johnsson, Joe McCollum, David Moxley. Please renew soon!
The following paper copy subscribers' subscriptions will expire with this issue: M. Helene Roehm, Durant Setzer, George/Lou Smith.
(from the 10/7/99 Bits and Pieces)
- Love grows best when watered daily with kind words.
- Words have power. Words have altered the course of history and changed forever the destiny of individuals who spoke out. [Terrence J. McCann, Executive Director, Tostmasters International]
- Philosophy begins with wonder. [Socrates (469-399 B.C.), Philosopher]
Live Long and Prosper,
FCapt. Richard Heim, CO and Editor
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Cmdr. Ian "Krell" Johnsson |
Let’s see...my computer still works, my VCR still works, I still have power, the phone line isn’t dead, there aren’t any riots or terrorists out on the streets... I hereby proclaim the Y2K panic over! Now let the law suits for inciting public fear and panic begin!
Hopefully we have all heard the last of all this Y2K/Millennium business, at least until next year when the media finally realizes that the new millennium actually starts in 2001. Forget “kill all the lawyers”, let’s start with the media!
Seriously, here aboard the Alaric we have taken our newsletter boldly into the next century with the premiere of our brand new on-line edition... sort of a CC2K if you like. I have a few more comments about this new format, but you can read those in my CompOps report further along in this issue. Right now I’d like to say a few words on a more serious topic: club meeting attendance.
Naturally during the holidays we all get caught up in shopping, baking, gift wrapping and so on and as a result we have to cut back on our so-called leisure activities. But even before the Xmas rush our attendance at the GBMs dropped drastically. Now it’s just getting pathetic. I can remember a time when we regularly had 10 to 15 people at each meeting. Now we sometimes can’t even manage 4.
I don’t know what the solution is, that’s why I’m bringing it up here. As you hu-mons say, I’m all ears. Let me know what the problem is. Is the meeting time/place not convenient any longer? Got too many other things going on to attend meetings? Are the meetings just too boring? Just click here and let me know. We’ll see what we can do to fix things. Otherwise, perhaps it’s time we started considering changing the Alaric to a correspondence club...
That said, here’s hoping that you and yours have a wonderful (and profitable!) New Year!
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Alaric Department Reports |
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DEPARTMENT HEADS:
Chief Science Officer - Richard Heim
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| Computer Operations Dept. | Cmdr. Ian "Krell" Johnsson |
http://home.sprynet.com/~ian/alaric/alaric.htm
Welcome to our very first on-line edition of the Carolina Communicator! New technology for a new century! No doubt we’ll be ironing out a few publication bugs as we go along, but I think this new format is going to work out a lot better for us.
Aside from saving us the cost of printing (which is no little consideration), it also allows us to prepare and distribute the CC much quicker. Not only that, but now we can also include color text, hyperlinks to take you directly to where the action is (like our club web page), and even stunning full-color graphics!
Exciting stuff! Plus starting with this issue we’ll be able to compile all our back issues on CD-ROM, making it much easier to store and distribute them. But of course there will always be room for improvement. If you have any suggestions or ideas, be sure to let me know! (krell@mindspring.com)
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| Chief Science Officer | FCapt. Richard Heim |
Science Officer's Log, star date two zero zero zero zero zero ... um, zero, and, uh, maybe a couple more zeroes, zero one point zero one. This millennial changeover in star dates appears to have affected our chronological systems. At least locally. System can't keep track of how many zeroes should be there.
Astrometrics reports an apparent malfunction in their gravimetric monitors. Diagnostics indicate that it is definitely not related to the millennial changeover. They are continuing to look into it.
Other systems appear to be malfunctioning, including the replicators, but I won't go into details here, as they are in the Quartermaster's logs.
In more serious matters, the Alaric's science departments now have a web page. It can be found at the following url: http://alaricrh.home.sprynet.com/science/AlaricSci.htm Additional content will be added as the science department heads and other crew members prepare it.
Speaking of department chiefs, if you're interested in running an Alaric department, we have plenty of positions open to you. The following departments need chiefs: Communications, Flight Operations, Recreation/Entertainment, Recreation/Gaming, Recreation/Sports, Science/Fortean Research Dept., Planetary Sciences, Security, Starfleet Marines, and Weapons. Let me (since I'm CO as well as CSO) know which one(s) you want: by email, AlaricRH@sprynet.com, or regular mail, P.O. Box 2072, Asheville, NC 28802. Check the Alaric Handbook for requirements. Two important requirements are: you must be OTS-qualified, and you need to make regular reports.
RDC REGION ONE SCIENCES NEWS
The 9912 Region One Sciences newsletter will be published near the end of January 2000. The December holidays delayed work on it last month and I'll be in Long Beach, California the second week of January attending the annual conference of the American Meteorological Society.
I have also created a web page for Region One Sciences (in addition to the one for Alaric Sciences). It is at the following url: http://alaricrh.home.sprynet.com/science/R1Science.htm
SCIENCE NEWS
I found an article, MENSAN DEVELOPS LASER-BASED "PHASER", in the December 1999 issue (# 432) of The Mensa Bulletin, page 7. It's a neat little article because, as the title states, it deals with another fictional aspect of Star Trek becoming scientific reality!
HSV Technologies, Inc., of San Diego, Calif., has developed a nonlethal weapon that sends two beams of ultraviolet light toward a target. The UV beams ionize paths in the air, along which an electrical current is conducted which can temporarily immobilize people and animals at a distance. Eric Herr, the inventor and also a member of Mensa, said the phaser-like device's "beams create wires through the atmosphere wherever they are pointed."
The article states that the current directed along these beams is a close replication of the neuroelectric impulses that control skeletal muscles. It is imperceptible to the target because it differs from the neural impulses only in that its repetition rate is sufficiently rapid to tetanize muscle tissue. (Tetanization is the stimulation of muscle fibers at a frequency that merges their individual contractions into a single sustained contraction.) The current is too weak to affect the smooth muscles such as the heart and diaphragm, and the UV radiation takes several minutes to damage the cornea at the low intensity the lasers produce, so the phaser is otherwise harmless.
This electrical beam weapon has a far longer range -- more than 100 meters -- than its nearest competitor, the wire-based Taser (R). Moreover, its theoretical maximum range is approximately two kilometers.
Although the smallest laser now available for this application is the size of a carry-on suitcase, a hand-held version should become feasible with only modest advances in laser technology. An engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of automobiles is also under development. This anti-vehicular version is able to operate with off-the-shelf lasers because it will be carried in police patrol cars.
All I can say is, Wow! Rather, make that, "Fascinating!"
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| Social Sciences Dept. | LT.jg. Dale Anderson |
'Seahenge': Prelude to Stonehenge
In a December report in 'Science News', a nature warden walking along an isolated stretch of the eastern English coast in August 1998 came upon a startling, slightly eerie sight. With the tide drawn back, the huge, inverted stump of an oak tree appeared, inserted tike a giant peg in the marshy soil. A ring of 55 oak posts surrounded the stump, forming a rough circle about 21 feet across.
The sea had gradually washed away a peat layer that had protected the mysterious wooden circle, exposing it to the damaging effects of saltwater and air. Local officials quickly contacted English Heritage, a London-based organization specializing in archaeological and historical matters. At that point, scientists recorded the site's layout and brought the threatened timber to a laboratory for study and preservation.
A new analysis shows that the timber circle---dubbed Seahenge, in a nod to England's famous Stonehenge site---was constructed ca. 4000 B. C. - ca. 1500 B. C. The tree that provided the central stump either died or was felled in the spring of 2050 BC, and the oaks for the surrounding posts were chopped down the next spring, according to a report in the Dec. 2 NATURE.
Thus, construction of the timber circle occurred at the start of Europe's Bronze Age, when metal tools and weapons debuted. "These people were farmers who cleared much of Britain's forest land, and now we've dated one of their religious temples," says David Miles, chief archaeologist of English Heritage.
Initial tree-ring analyses failed to yield a precise date for the timber circle. A tree adds a ring for each year of its life, and that ring achieves greater thickness when the climate favors growth. Comparisons of thickness patterns of tree rings with ice-core and other data on a region's past climate changes often can produce an age estimate for a tree. Researchers could not find clear links between the oak stump's rings and Britain's past weather swings, but all was not lost.
Radiocarbon analyses of the central oak indicated that it had died between 2200 BC and 2000 BC, says Alex Bayliss of English Heritage. Bayliss' team then used a mathematical model to identify particularly strong consistencies between the tree-ring and radiocarbon findings. This allowed them to pinpoint the death dates for the stump and surrounding posts to a period of a few months in 2050 BC and 2049 BC, respectively.
The central oak may have blown over in a storm, since it bears no ax marks, Miles says. Microscopic examination of the stump indicates that people hauled it into position with ropes made of honeysuckle. Broad gashes on the bark-covered outer posts resemble damage done by Early Bronze Age axes.
The correlation between this discovery and Stonehenge is evident in that the markings of Bronze tools is clearly matching. This fact is what makes this discovery truly remarkable.
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| Quartermaster Dept. | Capt. Janice Self |
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Captain Heim
FROM: Quartermaster Self
STARDATE: 00.01.01 (looks more like transporter coordinates than a date)
SUBJECT: Replicators
There has been a growing strain on the replicator power cells over the past several weeks. Within 60 hours the replicators will be beyond normal repair procedures and will have to be completely replaced. The power cells must be recharged at a Federation spacedock before this deadline, unless Engineering can rig up a power converter from the engines that won't damage the more delicate replicator circuitry.
Fifteen out of twenty main stations, including three in the Officer's Mess, will need replacement parts. A dozen stations used by on-duty personnel are also showing signs of stress. The subroutines are having difficulty handling voice commands and distinguishing between animal, vegetable and mineral elements. There have been numerous reports of unfortunate combinations. An extensive diagnostic and database upgrade will also be necessary.
I don't have enough parts in Stores to meet these repair demands, unless I scavenge components from non-essential systems, i.e. the holodeck, laundry, sonic showers. A 30% cutback in the heating and illumination systems would be another stopgap measure. We have sufficient emergency rations to meet the nutritional needs of the crew for two weeks, but food pills and lukewarm recycled water may compromise moral. Telling the crew "Pretend you're camping," won't diffuse the situation for long either. I suggest that this information be restricted to the senior officers until a viable solution is found. This may prevent, or at least delay, the crew from hording supplies.
I have investigated the development of this situation. Here are my findings:
Logs show heavy usage of the system from late November through the first of January. Though this is a normal period for increased demand on the replicators due to various religious and secular festivities, the replicators have been going double time for the last two weeks. I have found evidence of tampering in the security systems of four main stations. There has been an override command used repeatedly in dozens of replicator ration accounts that would permit a person(s) to take more than his/her fair share as often as they wanted. This has set up a cascade effect that has engulfed replicator reserves. The system has been trying to "borrow from Peter to pay Paul so that Mary can party." Breakdown as follows:
- Food (other than standard menu) -- pies, puddings, cakes, candies, cookies, chocolate, popcorn, nuts, potato and corn chips, and assorted dip concoctions.
- Alcoholic Products -- The list is too long to be included in this report.
- Non-Edible Items -- paper, ribbons, bows, tags, banners, strings of colored lights various sizes, whole trees (fir, spruce, aluminum 2-7 feet in height*), decorations (glass, plastic, fabric, wood, baubles, bangles, beads), candles, incense, boughs of holly**, Yule logs***, flowers, personal adornment items (non-regulation clothing****, jewelry, exotic toiletries, glitter*****, and body paint???), musical instruments******
- Medicine (When Sickbay ran out of non-prescrips, the crew resorted to the replicators, mostly pain and nausea relief, i.e. aspirin, seltzer, indigestion tablets.)
With all due respect Sir, if you want to continue to have three square meals a day, and I don't mean food cubes, please steer a course for the nearest Federation port.
* Just how do you squeeze a seven foot evergreen tree out of a replicator?
** Life Sciences had to lock their doors to keep crew from sneaking in and clipping samples from the greenery section. I hope no one tries to eat the berries.
*** This explains the fire alert on Rec Deck.
**** There's been enough party clothes replicated that we should be the best dressed crew in Fleet!
***** It's everywhere, including the therapeutic whirlpool in Sickbay.
??? I don't want to know.
****** I suspect the tuba fried the circuits in the Officer's Lounge replicator.
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| Chaplain/Counselor | Ens. Shirley Heim |
that life was joy,
I awoke and saw
that life was service.
I acted and behold,
service was joy.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)