THE MINT HOUSE

[npap]

Blimey Ken!
Last night, observing the activities of Vezuvius, I saw some strange signals: Three puffs of smoke, three flame shoots and three puffs of smoke again.
What would you suppose they could mean; you being an old navy man should be able to decipher them.



Do you BTW have any news of Blogger's whereabouts? Have you used your own UPS contraption yet or is it still under development. We could use some Enlightenment here.

Hope Blogger is OK.
Saludos,
npap

PS Perhaps we should request the services of agent Verdegal 007 I wonder what has happened to him
He hasn't been around for some time now.

[kenetics]

Uh oh... Looks like Blogger is in trouble and needs to be rescued! Maybe we could get Verdigal 007 to "draw up" some rescue plans.

[verdegal37]

Hello Ken , You do not worry already I have some 300 plans of rescue by if they were necessary.
My friend npap , I always am reported of all what happens in The Mint House , the problem is that I am camouflaged
Greetings:
Agust

[npap]

Good news
A message from the Hollow Earth expedition has been received and we are trying to decipher it.
We will finally learn what happened to Blogger and the rest of the explorers.

[npap]

A message from Blogger

(Credit should be given to agent Verdegal 0007 for his success in smuggling out the message that follows from the Under World of the Hollow Earth.
It must be stated here also that the information that follows has been collected by Dr. Jules Verne, the historian of our expedition.
Dr. I. Jones has played a major role in our exploratory venture, also.)

The message follows:

From the inner world of the Hollow Earth.
Greetings to all my Mint friends.
Please, do not come to our rescue since your return to the surface may not be possible.
Here is my first report:

Introduction
The expedition to the Hollow Earth was met with great success.
But we were unfortunately confined and detained for decontamination and 'debriefing'.
Entrance of foreigners to the 'Inner Surface' world has always been discouraged and is considered a compromise of security.
It is generally thought that 80% of humans living on the Outer Surface are afflicted with 'dementia gravis'

Historically the inhabitants of this world have been here since the first deluge that occurred on the surface of the Earth 123,000 thousand years ago.
They had to abandon their planet when it was made non-inhabitable by the extreme abuse of energy resources and the deterioration of the environment.
The Elite managed to abandon their home planet just before it exploded into pieces because of human intervention in the core.
Their scientists were trying to exploit the energy that was stored in the center of the planet.

What we now call the asteroid belt are the remains, composed of thousands of pieces of this world, orbiting around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Looking for climactic conditions that might be similar to the ones in their planet, they first settled in the areas of the earth with the highest altitude.
They were unable to cope with diseases caused by unknown viruses, and after the great catastrophe that followed another deluge in the new home, they were forced to seek refuge in the center of the Hollow Earth.

They established a new world which they called Eutopia. And having had a great deal of experience gained by their mistakes in the past, they decided to adopt a new world order.
Humanity would never again be left to its own fate. All defects of the human species were
corrected by the most advanced of scientific methods.
Everyone would become a useful member of society and deviation from this concept would be a serious violation of the Law.

Quite often reconnaissance flights on the 'Outer Surface' are organized in order to observe progress of the human race.
The pathetic condition of humanity is of great concern to the scientists who fear contamination through contact with the 'dangerously insane' humans living on the Outer Surface.
Their vehicles are mistaken by us as being extra-terrestrial and we call them UFOs.

They can intercept radio and television programs; only to verify the sad situation of a disorderly, mad world which they long have suspected.
So, a great number of security measures have been taken. Communication or contact with the 'Uppers' is strictly forbidden. If this occurs accidentally, the person involved is sent to the 'Quarantine Authorities' for decontamination and perhaps annihilation.

Their greatest concern is the accidental use by the 'Uppers' of nuclear weapons; this action would destabilize the entire system.
The scientists here are well aware of the use of 'dirty' nuclear energy, especially if it involves other than peaceful uses.
Scientific progress has succeeded in Nuclear Fusion techniques for energy as well as for other purposes. Thus, this clean form of energy is used for industrial purposes and transportation.
The use of nuclear energy as an aggressive weapon is considered insane. The concept of war has been abandoned here since it serves no logical purpose.

To be continued.....

Below, one of the vent holes of the Hollow Earth

th_HollowEarth.jpg (6.69 KiB) Viewed 1455 times

[attachment=1]

[npap]

To the newcomers to the Mint House, a big Welcome
Baron Minthausen wishes you all the best.
Please feel free to visit our humble abode. We have an abundance of goodies and surprises in our dungeons

[deadguy]

To the newcomers to the Mint House a big Welcome
Lord Minthausen wishes you all the best.
Please feel free to visit our humble abode. We have an abundance of goodies and surprises in our dungeons

MINTHAUSENMANTION-1.jpg

cool!!! I love dungeons

[npap]

Well Deadguy,
As you can see I also love mystery besides music. Delving into the unknown, once in a while, helps to get away from harsh reality.
Besides, no matter if we grow older, the child in us comes out of hiding quite often.
I have always been a fan of Jules Verne and I love anything that has to do with fantasy.
Maybe I haven't grown up yet.

See you at the Mansion,
Cheers, npap

PS. BTW, the Baron holds Vampire meetings when there is a full moon, if you're interested in meeting some of the most famous ones.
Mr. Boris Carloff attends very often.

[deadguy]

Well Deadguy,
As you can see I also love mystery besides music. Delving into the unknown, once in a while, helps to get away from harsh reality.
Besides, no matter if we grow older, the child in us comes out of hiding quite often.
I have always been a fan of Jules Verne and I love anything that has to do with fantasy.
Maybe I haven't grown up yet.

See you at the Mansion,
Cheers, npap

PS. BTW, the Baron holds Vampire meetings when there is a full moon, if you're interested in meeting some of the most famous ones.
Mr. Boris Carloff attends very often.

@Npap,

I am a huge science fiction fan as well as a horror fan!!!
Jules Verne is great
I know I haven't grown up yet

cheers,

Deadguy

[kenetics]

I love Jules Verne also. Some of my favorites are: In Search of the Castaways, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Off on a Comet.

Npap, does Lord Minthausen have anyone in particular in the dungeon and does it have a torture chamber?
I would suggest to him some of the new low-end laptops with Vista installed as torture devices.

[npap]

The Baron wishes to inform everybody that he is honored by the presence of an M$ head (incognito) who will be initiated tonight at midnight in the Dungeon.
Torture methods have been devised by the Vista Corporation and will be distributed to any persons interested, under the GPU (General Public Undertakers) license.

Medussa will be our hostess

medussa_wig.JPG (7.44 KiB) Viewed 1641 times

Here she is at one of her best moments
Grrrrrrrrrreetings!

[deadguy]

[npap]

BTW, A large collection of shrunken heads will be displayed at the above meeting . They of course will be offered to registered members at a discount.
So do attend this special meeting.
Also, orders may be placed for special heads if you have anything in mind.

Free samples will be given away also.

[npap]

DOCTOR VERNE'S RESEARCH:

Dr. Jules Verne's study and comments, based on the Philosophy of the Council of the Wisdom of the Elders.

Introduction
The following facts are the result of an extensive study of the Wold that we can only see in our imagination. It is a description of the civilization called EUTOPIA (Eu= ideal and Topia = place), a world extremely different from ours, which exists in the center of our Hollow Earth.

Below are, in brief, some of the aspects of the system in this extremely advanced world.

Human Sciences
1)Genetics
This is the basic branch of Human Engineering that is a part of Biotechnology.
Scientists here have managed to intervene with nature and alter the structure of human genes so that diseases and physical abnormalities may be eliminated or corrected to a great extent before birth.

2)Eugenics ( A healthy human race )

The philosophy behind this concept involves correction of malformed or defective human genes. Scientists have discovered that abnormal social behavior is mostly due to defective gene structures.
To maintain a normal and healthy society, they examine the human embryo for possible defects.
Defective genes are removed and substituted by genetically-treated healthy ones.
The animal instincts that were once needed for the survival of the species are neutralized before
birth, as they are no longer needed and considered dangerous to society.
Thus, criminal and abnormal behavior are prevented from expressing themselves in the later years of an individual's life.

3)Euthanasia ( Population Control )
It is believed that incurable diseases as well as very old age only contribute to needless suffering. So every individual may decide to ask for his privilege to end his life peacefully. This of course is taken care of by special Social Clinics at no expense to the persons involved.
It is also a part of the Population Control program. And it may not be forced on any person who does not wish to make use of it
It is important to mention here that an individual may donate various organs of his body to a central bank; the sale of such items is unthinkable.

4)Diseases

Disease, though it is a very scarce phenomenon here, is not a subject of Trade.
To be precise, doctors and the Pharmaceutical Industry can not use it as a source of profit
in any form.
It is believed that disease in the Upper Surface of the Earth is a very profitable source of wealth.
Doctors, it is thought, assume that it is to their interest to keep their patients alive but not
altogether well. This fact ensures that they will not run out of patients.
On the other hand, Pharmaceutical companies are producing medicines that will keep the public alive so that they will continue to buy their expensive products until they run out of money or until they leave this world.

Socioeconomics
1)The Monetary System, Commerce and trading.

This highly advanced civilization, after having observed the 'Absurd' economic system of the Upper-Surface Earth, has abolished all kinds of currency. Instead, the Credit-Unit has replaced it in a very ingenious way.
As a result, wealth is not a very well known concept here since accumulation of credits is
not possible.
Exchange of goods and services is done in an advanced mode by using computers to handle and control the flow of Credit-Units.
A central National Bank stores the units owned by each individual in his personal account. Thus everyone can do his transactions by presenting a unique credit card.
For additional security the PIN is determined by a photograph of the individual's unique optical characteristics that is portrayed by the iris of the eyes.

Payments of salaries or services are done by deposits in the personal account at the central bank. Credit-Units can not be withdrawn by the individual.

The advantages are obvious:
-There are no Stock Markets. the only purpose of which is to profit by manipulating values for the sole purpose of accumulation of wealth at the expense and the welfare of the public.
-'Crime does not pay' here.
Dug traffic, prostitution, bank robbing, stealing and all other known evils are non-existent since
Credit-Units are not negotiable, they cannot be stored by individuals and wealth is not
a known concept.
The system of 'Profit' is also considered an obsolete and inhuman incentive.

To be continued.......

[deadguy]

Ahhh, Eutopia

welcome to the neo golden age

[npap]

Dr. Jules Verne's study and comments, based on the Philosophy of the Council of the Wisdom of the Elders.

2)Economic concepts (A comparison based on our present Economy structure)

a. Profit
Profit is one side of the same coin. The other side is Loss.
The concept of profit as a motive for development has been discarded as mentioned
above.
To profit, according to the Philosophy of the world of EUTOPIA, means to take
advantage of the basic needs for survival of the individuals who are members of
the same society.
The injustice is obvious. There cannot be any profit unless there is some loss.
And usually, the loss is on the part of the general, unsuspecting public.
The technocrats of EUTOPIA have been observing progress in the Outer Surface
and have come to the conclusion that the 'Outers' are still in a primitive state of
evolution.

b. 'Marketing'
According to the economists of EUTOPIA, 'Marketing' is nothing but a science of
deception used to promote commodities that are not necessary for one's well being
and survival.
For example, men are prompted to use cosmetics in order to appear more
attractive. (Unfortunately to the same sex).

An insidious form of deception is also making a product to look as something that it
is not.
Packaging a product, for example, is done in the way that will give the impression
that one gets a larger quantity if the size of the container is of larger than needed
dimensions. They ingeniously call the large container an “Economy” size.
Thus, one gets the impression that he gets more for his money. But he
just gets a larger container.

This method also servers to give the impression that prices are not increasing.
The larger container means “more contents” at the same price.

c. The 'Supply and Demand' concept.
(What determines the price of commodities?)
According to the EUTOPIAN economists the 'Supply and Demand' concept is a
completely illogical method of determining the price of a commodity which is basic
for survival.
It was tried once in the the days before the downfall of the older civilization of the
EUTOPIANS.
The absurdity of the concept, as any producer of goods knows well, lies in the fact
that an increased production (increased supply) results in an automatic reduction
of the price of his product and, of course, of his profit.
On the other hand, it would be to his advantage to create an artificial shortage
when the demand for his product is increasing. This will result in a higher profit.

In short, the “Supply and Demand” method of market control is illogical as well as
unfair. It does not always result in a healthy Market, since it can be manipulated
by those who seek to become rich at the expense of the 'consumer'.

[clem]

I always like to break the news in the same old places before the big public announcements.. the IRC chatroom and the Mint House

So anyway old friends.. here we are again, 12 hours or so before the public release announcements. "Le calme avant la tempete", when the servers aren't down and the downloads are still fast.

ISO and MD5: http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/5/
Release Notes (not finalized yet): http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_elyssa.php

Enjoy!

Clem.

[deadguy]

Right on Clem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'm drooling in anticipation


Cheers,

Deadguy

[npap]

THANK YOU OLD BOY. YOU ARE THE GREATEST.


Il est très calme à cette heure

It's Monday morning 08:30 local time and I am downloading at 450-490 KB/sec., 18 minutes remaining.
You will get my first impressions later today, since I'm going to install it on my test disk.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
npap

PS 70% downloaded

[npap]

So here she is. Just out of her box.
Reporting from Elyssa live. All is well.

Note: Some Iso files I downloaded were either empty or short in contents (353 and 208 MB)

Has anyone else had this problem?