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singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora
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OSOAWEEK--ISSUE 060--9/15/95
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(Cup OWis060, Created v1 (4/27/99), Copyright 1999)

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[[BEGIN060OW]]



[[01060CV]] * * * O S O A W E E K 0 6 0 * * * September 15, 1995
"The weekly ezine of Obliviana Super Occult Amusement!"
by Frank Edward Nora

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

01 060 CV--Cover
02 060 LA--Lord of Obliviana
03 060 SU--Superior

GET THIS COOL EZINE MAN YEAH. G'BYE ENNUI!!!

INFORMATION: OsoaWeek060, September 15, 1995. Published weekly by Obliviana Super Occult Amusement, obliviana@aol.com, 1-800-OBLIVIANA. All contents copyright 1995 Frank Edward Nora. This release is Predatorware--you are free to make digital copies, so long as they're not altered or sold. All other forms of reproduction require permission. You're Prey unless you get a Predator Deed for this release. Contact us for more on this concept.

Check out Obliviana on the WWW at:
http://www.obliviana.com/~osoa

Character count: 14645 / Line count: 379

*OW*



[[02060LA]] Lord of Obliviana

Monday, October 9, 1995, 9:01:59 PM

Rolling right along. Getting issue after issue done.

This issue should have been completed three-and-a-half weeks ago. So I am still catching up, see. I was supposed to catch up in a matter of a week or two in the early part of September, but I didn't see. And now I'm getting tired. But maybe just one more.

Monday, October 16, 1995, 11:08:45 PM

Guess I was gonna end it there, but it never got done.

Huh. Look at that date. Four days till Book Six is scheduled to begin. Huh.

I have failed to do the things I set out to do in the time period of Book Five. I have, essentially, lost it. OsoaWeek is in real trouble. I am in real trouble. I don't know what the future holds.

My girlfriend Kerri went to stay with her parents "for a few days" because she felt we weren't getting along. A sign that my life is falling apart? Or a sign that the winds of change are upon me strong?

I think the latter. My plan is to finish up Book Five in whatever way I can. Then, Book Six will emerge on time.

Book Six will focus on Severe Repair. My goal is to write a chapter of Severe Repair in each issue, and also build the Severe Repair Almanac each week. The only other features I plan to have in each issue are Lord of Obliviana and Superior. Superior, which is, I believe, the ONLY feature to have appeared in EVERY issue of OsoaWeek so far.

It has been 50 days since I finished up Obliviana Year One. Huh. Seems like a lot more than that. So yeah--50 days of rest for 395 days of true effort. Not too bad, eh?

But I have lost my pace. Right now, I don't really know where Obliviana is going.

A few weeks ago, I was sure I'd be renaming Obliviana Super Occult Amusement to "Obliviana Cup--Super Occult Frontier Amusement". But now, I have decided to stay with OSOA.

But this potential name change highlights two important new concepts in Obliviana--Cup and Frontier. Cup is a structure for the management and distribution of digital infostimulation, and Frontier defines the Super Occult Frontier--the place you get to when you get into Obliviana.

My life is indeed something of a mess right now. As is Obliviana. But being here is not necessarily a bad place to be. I have disconnected myself from a whole bundle of preconceptions and paradigms. I am, hence, free from the bonds of the milieu I had established by OsoaWeek052.

And I have made use of this new position. For example, I've totally reassessed the role of the World Wide Web in Obliviana. I now pretty much hate the World Wide Web. And I think there are sound reasons for this, not just a knee-jerk reaction, or a response to information-overload.

The World Wide Web is a place where all page owners are on equal footing, both the talented and the untalented. Both people with something going on and people with nothing going on. Both people with something to say, and people with absolutely NOTHING to say. This creates, as one of its many drawbacks, an image problem.

Another big problems with the World Wide Web is that as yet, it is no place to conduct commerce. There is an assumption that everything is free. And that's fine if you use it as an adjunct to your main business, but if selling digital infostimulation IS your business, it is a place where not only is commerce nearly impossible--but is viewed with great hostility.

So--if not the World Wide Web--what then?

My core business idea is that digital infostimulation must be sold in a different way than physical containers of infostimulation are sold. Because, no matter what you might want to do in terms of copy protection, hardware specific encoding, etc., infostimulation will always have to wind up being output to an analog output device, and this will always facilitate digital reproduction.

Let me be more specific. Say there's a "set-top-box" which has a hardware decoding chip with a unique see code in it. Then, suppliers of DIS (digital infostimulation, here being coined as an acronym for the first time) could create an encoded file of the "double keycode" variety--nearly impossible to crack without the hardware chip--and transmit the file--with no fear of copying, because it can only be played by the unit with that specific crypto-chip. Well, let's say it's a movie. Eventually, it has to hit analog in a monitor and speakers. This analog signal could be intercepted, digitized, and distributed by pirates with some loss in quality, perhaps, but maybe not enough to warrant the cost of obtaining a legitimate viewing.

The point is that there's really no way to control digital piracy. And now that a 1GB hard drive costs less than a 20MB hard drive did 5 or 6 years ago, imagine the hard drive you'll be able to get in 2000 for under $500. So, I say, forget about controlling copies of DIS that you release. You must develop another means of deriving income.

One strategy is to provide DIS in a way that's cheaper and easier than piracy. But if folks have a $20 piece of media, say, that can hold ten Hollywood movies, how many people out of a circle of friends are gonna shell out even 25 cents for a single movie?

So this strategy, "cheaper and easier", is also pretty much doomed.

What can be done then? I'll tell you. First, allow unrestricted free copying of you DIS, so long as the files remain verbatim and they are not sold. Next, create a "game environment" in which DIS is a major element. Establish "official" standards for drinking DIS. That is, drink a pirate copy, okay--but it doesn't count. And official drinkings cost money, but they also advance your position in the game.

But the game is not totally arbitrary. The individual creators of the DIS are some of the stars of the game. The money you spend is going in large part to these individuals, who you hopefully like.

My manifestation of this game is Obliviana. It is a commercial venture. It is designed to make money for me and my company. And in making money for me, it will provide an excellent DIS product to people for a reasonable fee. As well, because of those playing the game and paying, a huge outflow of DIS will be available to those unable to pay.

But it is not charity that will drive the players of Obliviana--it is the thrill of playing--and winning--the game.

I believe that this is a sound business model, and one that will work in the coming turmoil of the emerging DIS market. And as well as my own DIS in Obliviana, I believe it will be an effective way for owners of DIS libraries to peddle their wares.

Well people, there's my plan in a nutshell. Maybe I'm not so lost after all!

10/20/95
7:23 AM train

Last time I worked in my PowerBook was September 7--43 days ago. Not that long a hiatus, eh?

I bought this PowerBook on credit--you know--six months interest free--well, the six months is up! And I already owe like $80 in interest alone!!!

Okay, by the date above you can see that today is the day that OsoaWeek Book Six is to begin.

Oct. 20, '95. 10:12 PM

Just wandered around Manhattan in the rain, Davidoff of Geneva, 57th Street, Lincoln Center, and finally to 23rd St. to a movie theater, all in the rain. I saw "Mallrats". Really good flick. If I may say "flick". I know if you do it in all caps--FLICK--the L and the I kind of merge together and you get... well, you get the idea.

I don't think the conductor on this train is too good. I just heard the door opening, and we were above a treacherous drop to the streets of Rahway below.

Yeah, I was smoking a cigar whilst walking in NY and I got kind of stoned off it, y'know wha'I'm sayin'?

Now I'm on my way home to be alone. Girlfriend is gone, you know. Like I didn't tell you this a million times already. It's a really complicated situation. I feel like, I better try and keep things going between us at some level until I find someone else. Yeah. Am I scared she's gonna read this? F*ck! She doesn't read my stuff! She hates it! And that's one of the scariest things about Kerri. She hates Obliviana.

If I really still love her, why would I look for another girl? Shouldn't I try my hardest to get her back? No. I'm not the stalker type. I say "f*ck it" too easily. If she doesn't f*cking want me any more, f*ck it. I guess.

Man, I gotta get my sh*t in order. All my physical possessions, holding me down. This has gotta stop! I mean, come on, here I am a pioneer of the digital age, and I have a big, big problem with physical, ANALOG objects. Yeee-yeee-heee (like a heebie jeebie kind of noise, was what I was looking for there).

If Kerri's through with me, I gotta get my life back on track. She's been treating me like SH*T. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. That describes me, all right. I felt I was being a great boyfriend. Guess she didn't.

So what's the answer? Guess I'll just for it all to "work itself out". You know? Like, everything just works out in the end. What's that all about?

It's like, if I ever had any thoughts about breaking up with Kerri, like, at some level I'm celebrating that SHE did it while I just stood by, innocently.

Ah, I can't talk about this any more. Neither can I smoke a cigar on this train. Like, you thought it was bad trying to smoke cigarettes somewhere, you gotta try cigars--outside is the place. At least it's still okay outside. They better not ban tobacco, now that I'm into cigars. Ah, I'll be rich by then, and I'll just get my cigars on the black market. It'll be more fun that way.

So where am I going with Obliviana? This IS the official start of Book Six, even if it really ACTUALLY start this day. So where am I? I have an idea.

Dis (digital infostimulation) is the lifeblood of the Digital Superworld (Disuld?). Since there's no realistic way to control the flow of copyrighted material, businessmen have to find a new way to make money. The answer is to create a special kind of game. And the special game I'm developing is called... Obliviana (big surprise there, right?)

Oct. 21, 1995. 5:06 PM.

Okay. I've been trying to get my sh*t in order all day so far, with a little success. I haven't talked to anyone today--I've been in seclusion I guess.

I've been drifting along for too long. I'm 28 years old, for godsake! Ten years ago it was October 21, 1985. I was in college. The creation of Zope was 4 months off. I was a freshman. And I was amazingly naive and immature.

And here I am, ten years gone. But they have certainly not been years wasted. I've grown up, among other things. And I've constantly been pounding on my core endeavor, that which would become Obliviana, for the past ten years.

I started going out with Kerri on August 21, 1993. Where was I then? 11 months till the beginning of OsoaWeek. Three months after the Superior and ABM Packets. Two months before Fovy. I was working at Bengal Graphics, just up the street from where I'm working now.

Six years ago, Anything But Monday was in its death throes. It took five years for me to recover, with the commencement of OsoaWeek. Now here I am, a year and 3 months later, trying to breath life back into a stalled OsoaWeek. And also 3 months after Obliviana made its debut on the WWW, which has also been stalled for a while.

5:28 PM

I guess I'm trying to get some perspective on things and rev myself up for a new attack on the mount of success.

So let me continue where I left off yesterday.

Dis is the lifeblood of the Digital Superworld. Since there's no realistic way to control the flow of copyrighted material, businessmen have to find a new way to make money. The answer is to create a special kind of game. And the special game I'm developing is called Obliviana.

In Obliviana, Dis is stored in Cups. Currently, I am working on the various aspects of Cups. Right now, I'm working on relating the aspects to the four suits of Tarot cards:

Cup, as container.
Coin, as shape, currency.
Sword, as weapon.
Wand, as magic.

This is just a preliminary system, though.

Huh. Book Six of OsoaWeek. Kerri hasn't even been gone a week. Looks like the sun is going down. I've resisted going to the Echelon Mall, or Great Adventure, or anyplace like that. Gotta clean up my act.

So far today I've had cigars, beer, polenta with jalapenos, and herb tea. And water.

I should continue my vision for Obliviana...

The idea is that these Dis Coins are to be made available to anyone seeking electronic copies, free of charge. But in order to get and use them in the game, it costs money.

Your Fonosta Device--like a symbol or crest--is what others see when they see you in Obliviana cyberspace. This is part of it.

I can't go on right now. So...

Get All Obliviana.

*OW*



[[03060SU]] Superior

SUPERIOR 341
Yah-Yah--I em enthusiastic about this shooping flea market... I am pretending to stay calm BUT I CAN'T!!! Just like all those bad ly writted sitcoms on TV is how I feel. Cant not get thru. Help me yes do it help.

SUPERIOR 342
Yummy, I am kissing your pubic hair and your mound of flesh above your pussy. But soon I will be eating your pussy.

SUPERIOR 343
Only meature that has stood like standing stones the klost. I point it only under the hotel called Tara in Parsippany or somewhere I am schooling ij ij ij. Whoah, like a punch in the stomach little, took a little wind out of me but this is territory.

SUPERIOR 344
Sexxuality and meetings. Un controal in jisisis. Not and way of gont, willifint comstrink 223. Suoling ijnoy. Lack control gnowing the yi the mess ah and I am makings. Much way to kno. I am sitting here, time apparent, I am sitting here, in my messy computer room, here in Plainsboro, NJ. Deer Creek. I'm undressed and tired and not eriting too well. Now more! Likyt sjsusu and was funkih warny. I knewnhsu iiisjnf uajsnnueitr, amjds kifhjducm (a lot of deleted garbage).

*OW*



[[END060OW]]



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