Ú¿ÀÀÙ¿ ÀÚÙÄ Robot Protection Agency ÄÚ¿Ù³Ú¿Ùijij À¿Ú¿ Ú¿ÚÀ¿Ú Ú¿ÙijڿٳÄÀÙ Ú¿ÀÀÙÀ¿Ú¿À ÄÙÚ³³Ú¿³ÄÚÀÙ³ Ú¿ÀÙÙÚÙ¿ÀÙÀ ijÚÙÀ³Ù³ÄÚ¿ÀÙ Äij Ú¿ÀÀ¿ÚÀ ÚÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁ¿ ڳĿÙÀijÚÙÄ³Ú Ú¿³³ ÄÀ ¿Ú¿ ³ ³ ¿ÙÚÚÀÙij³Ú¿ÄÙ ÀÙÚÀÚÙÀÙÀ³Ú ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ÚÙÀÀ¿Ù³ÄÀ¿ÙÚÄ Ú¿ÙÀÀ¿ÙÚÀ³Ú ³ ³ Ú¿ Ú¿ ³\ ³ ³ ¿ÙÀÚÀ¿ÚÙijÀÄÙ Ú¿ÙÀ À¿¿³Ù ³ ³ ³\ ³/ Ãij ³ ³ Ú¿ÙÀÚ³ÄÀ¿ÙÚij Ú¿ÙÀÀÙÚÀÙÚÀ ³ ³ ³ ³. ³. ³ ³. ³ ³ Ú¿ÙÀÀÙij³¿ÄÀÚ Ú¿ÙÚ¿ÙÀÀÙÚÙ ³ ³ ³ ³ Ú¿ÙÀÀÚÙ³ÚÄ¿Ù³ Ú¿ÙÀÚ¿ÙÀÚÙÀ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ³ Ú¿ÙÀÚÄÀ¿Ä³Ú¿Ù ÚÚ¿ÙÀÚÀÙÀÚÙ ³ RPA microdevices Made in Barrhaven³ ¿ÙÚÀ³ÄijÄij³Ä ÚÀÙÚÀÙÚÙÀÚ¿ ÀÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÙ Ú¿ÙÀÀÚ³ÚijÄÚ³ ÚÀÙÚÀÙÀÚÀÚ¿ Ú¿ÙÀij¿Ù³ÚÀij Ú¿À ÙÀÄÚÄÚÀÀÚijڳÄÙÚijÙÀÚijڿ³ÄÙÚ¿ÄÙ³ÚÄ¿Ù¿³Ù¿ÚÙ³ÄÀÚ³Ùij¿ÚÄÙ³ÚijÚÙÄÙÀij1Ú³ÄÚÀÀÚ 0Ä1¿ÙÀÚ³ÄÚ¿³¿ÙijÚ0³³1ijÚÄÙÀÚ³Ä0Ú³ÀÙ³ÄÚ³ÄÙÚ¿1ÀijÚÀ³ÄÚÙ¿³ÄÀÙijÀ1ÚÙÄÚÄÙÚÀijÀÙ1³¿³ ³ÄÚ¿Ù³ÚÀ0Ù³ÄÀÚÀÙÄÚÀÙÚ³ÙijÚÀ1³ÄÚ0ÄÙÀijÙÀÙÚÚÙÀÚ0ÄÙÚÀijÀ0ijÙÀ¿³ÙÚÙÚÄÙ0ÙÄÚÀÙijÚÙÀ 1³0¿1Ä0À1³0Ú1Ù0Ä1Ú0Ä1À0³1Ä0Ä1¿0Ä1Ú0À1³0Ù1Ä0³1Ä0Ù100Ä1Ù0Ú1Ä0Ù1Ù0³1Ù0³1Ù0³1Ù0³1³ 101001100101111010100101011010010010101100100101011010100101010101010100101010 010101010111101010101001010101101001010100101011010011010101101010010110010101 010 101101 010 10 101010 0101 101 0100 101 010101 10 10 101 10 1 010 10 1011 0 10 01010 10 01 101 01 1 1 0 0 1 01 01 010 1 0 01 01 1 1 01 01 01 01 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 01 0 1 1 1 01 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 01 0 01 1 1 1 1 00 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 11 1 1 1 0 0 10 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 RobotProtectionAgencyMonthlyElectronicMagazine=============================> ____ __ __ __ I 222 /\RPAID:GY444/\ || \ |\ || | | \ | \ | | S T 2 2 ||---|| \|| | |---|| _/ |__/ S W => 2 \__/ | || |\__/ | || \_ |thirty-fourth U O 2 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%\ E 22222 \%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% RPA is: Triffid Nowcaster Alpha-Trion Strafe MotherRaz Spriggan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CONTENTS <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 1. Official RPA / New Times statement 2. In the beginning... Alpha-Trion 3. Nooooooooootropics Triffid 4. The best products of the cold war...... Triffid Arrrgggghh!!!! There were supposed to be about 10 articles this issue, but they're all late. Oh well, RPA #3 will be phat- and ON TIME!! Woo hoo!! ;) ****************************************************************************** ******************** ************** 1997, Robot Protection Agency. ********** "Robot Protection Agency Monthly Electronic Magazine" ********* 1996-1997, New Times Communications. ******* RPA is affiliated with NT Com. in Canada ******* If you have any questions or comments ******* concerning RPA or NT Com. please contact ******************** New Times Communications WHQ BBS @ 613 445 1326 ****************** OR contact Triffid (Director, RPA) ************** Alpha Trion (System Operator, NT Com.) ********** ****** ** ============================================================================== 2. - CREATION MYTH #42 - ============================================================================== In the absolute beginning of this current time, there were only two beings alive. One being was named Gilbert Drimlincon, the other was Quinn Trinden. The being named Gilbert Drimlincon was forever expanding in all directions, he was expanding at a slow but steady rate and showing not one sign of disruption. Gilbert Drimlincon was also slowly becoming less and less solid, and more and more fluid. Gilbert Drimlincon was not happy with his transformation from a solid being to a fluid being, however he was happy with becomming larger and larger, because it allowed him to bully Quinn Trinden around. Also it allowed him to see far beyond whatever his friend could see. Gilbert, however, began to notice some disturbing changes in his friend Quinn Trinden. He noticed some very strange things, and to him everything aside from his own existance was strange since there was only him and Quinn to keep each other company. Despite all of Gilbert's vision, he could not see into the future, and he could not see what would become of Quinn's bizzare transformations. Out of the two strange entities that existed at the dawn, Quinn Trinden was the smaller one, and he was constantly becoming smaller and smaller in relation to Gilbert thanks to his expansion. Gilbert often pushed Quinn Trinden around, mainly as a means of entertainment because there was absolutley nothing other than them in existance. They, themselves existed in a void which was seemingly being filled by Gilbert. Quinn began to feel odd, and complained about his feelings to Gilbert who became worried. Gilbert was not worried that something bad would happen to his only companion but that Quinn would experience the same changes that he has. The two often wondered if there was any silent entity that controlled them secretly, and Gilbert felt that if Quinn experienced the same changes but at a faster rate then that would be proof, not only that an entity exists, but that the entity is angry with Gilbert, most likely due to his treatment of Quinn. He was afraid that Quinn would eventually be larger than him, which would, he believed, be justice to the higher athority. Quinn did not go through the same changes however, he changed in a much more different manner. Quinn Trinden had begun to expand in the most pecular ways. He expanded at two points. He expanded into Gilbert at the same rate that Gilbert was stretching out in all directions. Quinn was also expanding into at one point into a sort of circular opening. Quinn had become an abyss stretching into Gilbert. Gilbert was very displeased with this, although it put his mind at ease concerning any higher power. After a great deal of time passed Quinn Trinden lost consciousness and became a part of Gilbert. Gilbert was troubled by this new development, mainly because he lost his one and only companion and also because Quinn has become physically irritating to him. Quinn however had become the most important being to exist at the time, for within the abyss was existance for all. Gilbert began to peer into Quinn, he was trying to comprehend the metamorphosis that Quinn was undergoing. Gilbert had also hoped that through Quinn he would understand why he began expanding. Regardless of this, Gilbert couldn't understand why anything was happening, and this caused Gilbert great depression. Gilbert had wished for his friend to awaken so he would have some companionship, but he had the notion that his friend would never return. Gilbert had also wished that Quinn would stop expanding in the strange way that he has. Quinn's expansion was becoming more and more of a discomfort to Gilbert. Gilbert spent much of his time staring deeply into the abyss of his friend, which was all he could do since there was nothing else to occupy his time. After much straining, Gilbert focused on Quinn's sleeping face. Time passed, and much to Gilbert's surprise and enjoyment, Quinn's eyes opened. Gilbert was overjoyed at this sight. He had believed that his friend had returned to keep him company throughout existance. Quinn had opened his eyes merely because he had sustained an enormous shock as a result of his metamorphesis. Suddenly Gilbert was in great pain which seemed to be caused by whatever had happened to Quinn Trinden. Gilbert was suffering from immense pains, he reasoned that Quinn must be experiencing much worse, for the pain came from Quinn. Gilbert looked into Quinn, and tried to focus on his face. When Gilbert saw his face he was astonished at what he saw, a frozen face, the face took the form of a scream, and there was no scream to be heard. The mouth seemed to be slowly opening wider and wider. Gilbert thought that the mouth would eventually consume the entire face. The mouth eventually did consume the entire face, Gilbert watched as the face changed from a reasonably normal face (by the standards of Quinn and Gilbert which, as faces go, are the same standards as ours today) to just a deeper and darker hole. Gilbert focused past the face and down the throat, which was all there was to focus at. Gilbert saw strange moving forces within Quinn's throat. Quinn had completed his transformation. Gilbert was curious, and scared, of what he saw. He was still trying to understand what was happening to them. He considered the fact that maybe whatever he was seeing was causing Quinn pain. He also considered the possibility that whatever he saw was keeping his friend alive and if he removed it, Quinn would expire. Gilbert decided that he had to do something. Gilbert reached deep into the abyss that was his friend, he tried to take hold of the forces that he saw within Quinn. There was more than one force in him, but Gilbert got a hold of one and he slowly pulled out whatever it was. Whatever it was that Gilbert pulled out slipped from his grasp immediatley after release from the abyss, it was hydrogen. One after the other Gilbert would pull the forces from Quinn Trinden, still trying to understand the changes, still hoping that Quinn would come back. Gilbert pulled out other elements, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, gold, lead, iron. Stars formed and collapsed, planets formed, things began shape as gravity sculpted everything. Planets grouped around stars, and became individual, some planets were ice, others were gas, others were stone. Some stars were red, and gigantic, born on the verge of death. Nebulas formed, everything was happening now at a rate much too fast for Gilbert to even try to understand. Gilbert reached the last of the forces in Quinn, the final forces were life forms, different kinds of life forms immediatley took to different kinds of planets, Gilbert had hoped that he would have new companionship in these new living beings, however they seemed to have fairly low intelligence. That was only, until Quinn had produced the final force of existance, intelligent life. Gilbert pulled out intelligent life, which immediatley inhabited the planets with the finest living conditions. After time the life had begun to develop technology by exploiting the forces that came from Quinn. Gilbert had noticed that these beings had devloped sophisticated forms of communication through language, and he thought that he could communicate with them but for some reason he couldn't. They just couldn't hear him. Eventually the intelligent life's technology had grown to a fairly impressive state, and the beings began to wonder about their origins. Many different stories were developed by many different people. Gilbert hated the fact that people had such stories for their existance, because he was their origin and he was watching all the time, it irritated him to hear other stories and he wanted so much to tell them. Gilbert realized that he couldn't speak with the life, he only provided space for it and with that, the stories continued. The stories eventually stopped being unlikley explanations to an unanswerable question, and became an unquestionable truth which people would fight and die over. Gilbert was still trying to comprehend everything, and was now looking to the intelligent life for answers, and he saw them fighting, and he saw them creating answers to things they knew nothing about. Just then, Gilbert smiled, once and for all, he understood. Alpha Trion 1997, New Times Communications. ============================================================================== 3. SMART DRUGS: HMMMM....... ============================================================================== HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING ABOUT "NOOTROPICS"? "SD's"? "THINK PILLS"? WONDERING WHAT, WHY, OR HOW? WELL I CERTAINLY HAVE. SO, AFTER SIFTING THROUGH PILES OF INFORMATION, WEIGHING OUT BIASEDES, AND CONSIDERING THE CONTRAVERSY, HERE IT IS. A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE CHEMISTRY AND POLITIKS OF SMART DRUGS Smart drugs (aka- SD's, nutrients, nootropics, think pills, etc.) can be one of or a combination of many chemicals. Some of the most common ingredients include amino acids, vitamins, light stimulants and horomones. They can be taken to improve (temporarily OR permanently) many different physical and cognitive conditions. Users have reported hightened alertness, improved memory, clearer thought and less depression, depending on which types and combinations are used. Some have been suspected to have medical use in treatment of alzhimers and senility. Some of them are thought to be the 'super drug' miracles needed to fight AIDS. How? To understand the chemistry of SD's we will first look at the brain. The components of which our nervous systems are constructed are called neurons. Each neuron is a highly specialized living cell. It contains all of the organnels typical of an animal cell, but it's function is quite unique. It serves to conduct electrical impulses and transmit them to other neurons in the form of ions and specialized compounds called neurotransmitters. These are necessary because the tips of neurons do not actually touch. This allows them to regulate the passage of impulses and as a result, form the complex information patterns of thought. It is on this level, at the neuron sysnapses that psychoactive drugs act (by inhibitting, producing or mimicking different neurotransmitters) When our nervous systems are fully developed (early in our lives), we contain about 100 billion neurons in total. The vast majority of these make up our brain. However, when a neuron dies, it is NOT replaced- and neurons are VERY delicate cells. To keep alive and functioning properly, a neuron requires many special vitamins and minerals, and it's blood supply must be efficient and reliable- they die quickly without oxygen. So, through a healthy diet, we can elongate brain life and maintain proper brain function. The idea behind SD's is to feed the brain supplemental to higher than normal doses of the chemicals it requires. However, the functions of these chemicals vary so much, it is almost ignorant to label them all "Smart drugs" (especially considering most of them have little to no psychoactive effects.) I actually prefer to refer to them by their specific names, since there is little to generalize about ALL of them and 'smart' is a pretty 'stupid' and virtually useless word. For these reasons, I will adress them individually. The following are breif descriptions of some of the most widely used 'cognitive enhancers': HYDERGINE: Taken orally in daily dosages ranging from 9 to 30 mg, at different times. Effects may take weeks to manifest themselves. Hydergine is known to do many things and suspected to do many more. Some of the functions that it is known to perform include: Increasing blood circulation in the brain, strengthen neuron structure, decrease aging pigment in brain, help repair damaged neurons and possibly having the same effect as NGF (nerve growth factor- stimulates protein production in neurons and helps them grow out and reach other neurons- a process which wich we know as learning.) Side affects can include nausea, cramps or headache if too high a dose is taken. It is non-toxic at any dose. Not recommended for individuals suffering accute or chronic psychoses. Hydergine is legal by prescription in the US, but illegal in Canada. VASOPRESSIN: Taken as a nasal spray, 3-4 times a day. Enters blood stream immediately- effects noticed in seconds. Vasopressin is a natural chemical found in the brain that helps 'imprint' new information in the brain- it aids the memory functions. Users claim that it helps them take in and understand more infirmation at a time. The use of alcohol or marijuana supresses vasopressin, temporarily making one feel noticibly less intelligent and slower. The use of LSD and other psychadelics cause a large release of vasopressin, leaving one with a temporarily depleted supply and making one feel 'burnt' the next day. Vasopressin is legal by prescription in the US and illegal in Canada. DHEA: Taken orally in doses anywhere from 50- 5000mg / day. DHEA is a natural steroid (the most abundant one in our blood) secreted by the adrenal gland. It is being deeply looked into for its wide range of effects. Some include anti-aging, anti-cancerous and anti-obesity properties. DHEA concentrations are higher in the brain than in the blood stream and it has been inconclusively tested for its ability to grow and strengthen neurons. Some argue that it may be the fountain of youth while others insist that it can be toxic and damaging. DHEA is illegal in the US by FDA regulation, but can be aquired through special groups who recieve it for AIDS patients (for it's anti-viral and immune system boosting properties) PIRACETAM: Taken orally in doses ranging from 2000-5000 mg / day. Piracetam is used for treatment under oxygen deprevation conditions- where it effectively enhances brain function. It has been used in the treatment of sickle-cell anemia, stroke, senility and alcoholism. Under normal conditions, it has the effect of increasing communication between the 2 hemispheres of the brain- which has been described by users as an enthrilling experience. Some say they feel more 'alive' and 'awake' and that their ability to concentrate is boosted. How the substance works remains a mystery. Piracetam has virtually no toxicity. Not available in the US. Over the counter in Mexico and mail order from England. CHOLINE: Taken orally in doses of about 3 grams / day + 1 gram vit. B5 Choline has a positive effect on the whole body, but most notably the brain. There it improves memory and is thought to boost thinking power. It's effects on the rest of the body can include regulation of fats and cholesterol. Choline must be taken with vitamin B5 for its cognitive effects to take place. Choline can be purchased at health food and drug stores as it is accepted as a nutritional supplement. SO what is the FDA's big problem with SD's? It could be a number of things. First of all, the FDA has to be VERY careful about what they legalize. If a drug or other product that they approve harms or kills someone, well, they get in big trouble (funny how that works, huh?) As well, the FDA claims to have found no conclusive evidence that any SD's even work. So if a product (that MIGHT be harmful) can't possibly do good, then why risk it? Of course, how do you judge boosts in something as subjective as intelligence? Exactly. It's near impossible- and to a group like the FDA, who HAS to look at a new chemical as pesimistically as possible, the results of their own and others don't seem to be convincing enough. In Canada, Vasopressin, Hydergine and DHEA cannot be purchased. But what does this mean? Do they work or not? The FDA says NO, but the users say YES. Chemically, the concept of cognitive enhancement seems rather reasonable. As to the extent of their effectiveness, this remains to be seen- by chemists AND by users (since half of their effects may be placebo) To sum up my advice to you concerning SD's, if you are careful to observe toxicities, impurities and side-effects, a little experimentation never hurts. Don't think that you are missing out on vastly superior intelligence and defiance of a government conspiracy against SD's if you aren't taking them. But don't beleive anyone who says that they will drain spinal fluid, criple you or make you impotent. DONT LET ANYONE TRY TO CONVINCE YOU EITHER WAY! Find out for yourself. Triffid ============================================================================== TRIFFID'S HIGH SCORE IN ASTROSMASH: 104 500 - HA!!! BEAT THAT!! ============================================================================== ============================================================================== 4. NUCLEAR AFTERMATH: What the cold war left us with ============================================================================== The last time I visited the Salvation Army, boy did I find the jackpot. Hidden away in the piles of board games, covered in dust and probably not even touched since some disgusted mother brought it there in the mid eighties, there it was. 'Nuclear Escalation'. The board game, based on the (popular?) card game, 'Nuclear War'. In this game, 2-6 players build their nuclear stock piles, Titan launch vehicles, space platforms, and B1 bombers to achieve world domination through the complete anhialation of the enemy AND his entire population. Some of the cards have headings like: 'Propaganda' or 'Spy' which usually cause people to revolt or defect. Others say: 'Super Virus!!' where the enemies germ mutates and kills 10 million people. The goal for each party is to survive with the greatest population. The game was made in 1983. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this product is the tone of it- it is meant to be 'comical' and it is made for all ages. On the box, if one looks closely at the water painting of ICBM's and the firey Earth below, they will notice demented, psychotic looking smily faces on the warheads. The game was designed by a fellow named 'Blade'. When we humans are scared, we do strange things. Further proof of this can be seen in American early warning emergency broadcast system tests. Children were told (in a little rhyming song, of course) "Remember kids, what do you do when you see the flash? Duck! And cover!"  . There was even a little cartoon to go with it. In this little segment, a child riding a bicicle would jump off and run into a ditch and lye down. Yes, in the sixties many people even bought expensive (and completely useless) bomb shelters. So what about the arts media? What were they up to? The fact is, many of the popular shows and movies today, not to mention a whole slew of radiation induced super-heros, wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for the nuclear arms race. The following is my list of what I consider to be the best and most entertaining post-cold war media / entertainment / products: Superman 4 - We have decided to declare nuclear war against Russia. Help us, Superman! Nuclear Escalation - Push your self ahead in the world by completely obliterating everyone in it except yourself. A lesson in nuclear war AND capitalism! Bonus! The expression: 'Nuke' - Don't cook those potatoes. Nuk'em! Scorched Earth (PC) - If you missed with that MIRV, who cares! At least you discintegrated all the Earth around him! Tom Clancy - I don't remember. Do ANY of his novels not involve nuclear threats? Radioactive Man - Boooooommmmmm!!! "Aaaaarrrgghhh!! I feel.... radioactive...time to....fight crime! The incredible Hulk - Boooooommmmmm!!! "Aaaaarrrgghhh!! I feel.... radioactive...time to....fight crime! 2010 - Uh, oh....nuclear war! Tell us better, aliens! Duke Nukem - Senseless violence with radiation signs thrown in for originality. War games - Blah, blah, kid almost starts a nuclear war... Terminator - August 29, 1997, Skynet becomes self aware and lauches missles at Russian targets ...and that's the way it is. ^^ Triffid ^_ HETETHETHETHETHETHEHTETHETHEHTHETTHETHETHETHEHTETETETHHTEHTEHTEHTETHEHTEHTETHH NEDNENDENDENDENNDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENEDNDENDENDENDENDENDENDENDENNEDDENDENDN -- Alpha Trion, sysop: New Times (613)445-1326 H/P BBS Finger for Problems Writer for FHG, iXHS, and RPA Natural Order is a Joke PGP Fingerprint: 80 DC AE 73 6D 26 03 C6 BD 3A 50 C6 87 BC 37 B9 Alpha.Trion@pointbrk.erkware.com dr144@freenet.carleton.ca