LASH is a Z-Code game made by Paul O'Brian. Baf's guide says:
"The Second American Civil War has passed, and you're picking through the rubble for loot, via satellite link to your trusty robot. An interesting spin on the division between PC and protagonist, since the game actually involves a character manipulating a machine (and certain key points indicate that the analogy is no accident). The second half or so of the game takes a sharp turn, one that some have called heavy-handed; whether or not you find it that was, it's the sort of story that needs emotional impact to make it work, and the impact wasn't really there for me. Your mileage may vary, of course, and it's certainly a well-crafted work: the writing is impeccable, the setting thoroughly described, and generally there's plenty of attention to detail. Alternate endings abound, and it's impossible to see even most of the text on a given play through, so there's lots of replayability. In short, it's well put together, even if the message doesn't resonate in quite the way the author intended.
Rating: ****
Reviewed by Duncan Stevens (22 Jul 2000)"
quoted from Baf's guide to the interactive fiction archive
Storyline
The storyline in the beginning of LASH is seemingly nonexistent. In fact, all evidence points to LASH being a simple treasure hunt, untill the diary of the previous owner of the house being explored is found under a matress in the master bedroom. Reading the diary reveals the ethnicity of the previous owners, and talks about a project they were working on, called the "TimeSpace". It works on causing the user to dream a controlled dream. The diary then reveals the code for acessing the attic, where the machine is located, allowing the MULE robot to enter the system and dream of being a slave before the first civil war. The mule malfunctions, due to the immense pain it's human body recives, but manages to overcome the pain. It then must be ordered into the house for the story to continue, having the MULE (in human form) and another slave called Momma being sold down the river. At this point, the MULE wakes up, and finds the TimeSpace system to be open. It removes the core of the machine, and allows you to controll it. However, it has changed, hinted at by the change in it's reaction to the "attack" command (before dreaming it mentions it's programming, afterwards it says it can't see any good reason) and is completely revealed when it is ordered into the living room containing a dead corpse, which causes it to resist orders and print white on black (insted of black on white)text, and completely refusing to manipulate the skeleton (although it has no objections to removing it's leather jacket and gold bracelet).
Winning
There are four ways to end the game, all somewhat sucessfull. In one ending, the MULE never is placed in the TimeSpace, and simply tells the player it enjoyed working with him. In another, the player notices the MULE's erratic reactions to commands in the living room and orders an emergency shutdown, to which the MULE protests. The third ending is similar to the second, and constitutes continuing normally and ordering an airlift to take the MULE and salvaged objects back to headquarters. The fourth ending results from placing all the salvaged objects on the airlift platform, then giving the command "FREE MULE", which is the only end (exept the first) which the MULE does not angrily protest. Endings 2 and 3 result in a cash reward from the salvage company for taking back the "malfunctioning" MULE.
"The Second American Civil War has passed, and you're picking through the rubble for loot, via satellite link to your trusty robot. An interesting spin on the division between PC and protagonist, since the game actually involves a character manipulating a machine (and certain key points indicate that the analogy is no accident). The second half or so of the game takes a sharp turn, one that some have called heavy-handed; whether or not you find it that was, it's the sort of story that needs emotional impact to make it work, and the impact wasn't really there for me. Your mileage may vary, of course, and it's certainly a well-crafted work: the writing is impeccable, the setting thoroughly described, and generally there's plenty of attention to detail. Alternate endings abound, and it's impossible to see even most of the text on a given play through, so there's lots of replayability. In short, it's well put together, even if the message doesn't resonate in quite the way the author intended.
Rating: ****
Reviewed by Duncan Stevens (22 Jul 2000)"
quoted from Baf's guide to the interactive fiction archive
Storyline
The storyline in the beginning of LASH is seemingly nonexistent. In fact, all evidence points to LASH being a simple treasure hunt, untill the diary of the previous owner of the house being explored is found under a matress in the master bedroom. Reading the diary reveals the ethnicity of the previous owners, and talks about a project they were working on, called the "TimeSpace". It works on causing the user to dream a controlled dream. The diary then reveals the code for acessing the attic, where the machine is located, allowing the MULE robot to enter the system and dream of being a slave before the first civil war. The mule malfunctions, due to the immense pain it's human body recives, but manages to overcome the pain. It then must be ordered into the house for the story to continue, having the MULE (in human form) and another slave called Momma being sold down the river. At this point, the MULE wakes up, and finds the TimeSpace system to be open. It removes the core of the machine, and allows you to controll it. However, it has changed, hinted at by the change in it's reaction to the "attack" command (before dreaming it mentions it's programming, afterwards it says it can't see any good reason) and is completely revealed when it is ordered into the living room containing a dead corpse, which causes it to resist orders and print white on black (insted of black on white)text, and completely refusing to manipulate the skeleton (although it has no objections to removing it's leather jacket and gold bracelet).
Winning
There are four ways to end the game, all somewhat sucessfull. In one ending, the MULE never is placed in the TimeSpace, and simply tells the player it enjoyed working with him. In another, the player notices the MULE's erratic reactions to commands in the living room and orders an emergency shutdown, to which the MULE protests. The third ending is similar to the second, and constitutes continuing normally and ordering an airlift to take the MULE and salvaged objects back to headquarters. The fourth ending results from placing all the salvaged objects on the airlift platform, then giving the command "FREE MULE", which is the only end (exept the first) which the MULE does not angrily protest. Endings 2 and 3 result in a cash reward from the salvage company for taking back the "malfunctioning" MULE.
The Scare Factor is a satirical play written by Robert Mauro published through Meriwether Publishing Ltd., in 2002 parodizing the reality TV show Fear Factor. The one act play portrays the TV host, Biff Boo. and hostess, Lana Bright, forcing hesitant TV audience members to do things they're terrified of doing.
Performance and publication
The Scare Factor was published in 2002 through Meriwether Publishing Ltd., intended for students from junior high up to college. The author, Robert Mauro, has written several other plays parodizing television shows. On Contemporary Drama Service's Website, The Scare Factor has been discontinued. (However, some copies are still available through e-mail request.)
Character list
* Biff Boo, Emcee of The Scare Factor TV Show
* Lana Bright, ditzy supermodel hostess; assistant to Biff Boo
* Mindy Miterbox, contestant; afraid of having green glop poured all over her head on national TV
* Dill Glump, contestant; afraid of cleaning up messes of green glop
* Sandy Jones, contestant; claims to have no fears- afraid of ghosts
* Sue Dew, contestant; afraid of fake spiders
* Joey Bumpkin, contestant; afraid of being on national TV
* Paramedic 1
* Paramedic 2
Note: Some performances of this play may include security guards in order to stop any "audience members" that tried to run away.
Plot summary
The play begins when the emcee, Biff Boo, explains how the show works to the TV studio audience. When he finishes, Lana Bright, his sidekick, isn't on stage as she's supposed to be. After he calls for her, she doesn't have the index cards Biff needs to call up contestants; the index cards have each audience members' biggest fear, amongst other things like their next of kin. The first contestant is Mindy Miterbox, who is terrified of green glop. After talking much about herself and complaining about how gross green glop is to her, green glop is dumped on her head and she runs off screaming.
Then the next contestant jumps up in fright before Biff can say his name- Dill Glump, who is terrified of cleaning up green glop, tries to run away until Lana Bright catches him and takes him onto the stage. After much hesitating and stalling, he cleans it up (by folding up the cloth it had landed on) and drags it offstage as Lana Bright forces him to her dressing room for additional cleaning.
After announcing what Dill Glump will receive for appearing on the show, Biff rummages through his index cards and finds one saying that the person who wrote it is afraid of nothing, who happens to be Sandy Jones. Biff requests that she comes on stage, and then begins to list things that she might be afraid of. As he is doing this, Lana slowly walks on stage with a white sheet draped over her body, and then Biff asks if she's afraid of ghosts; she says no, but then he asks her if she's afraid of the ghost on stage- then he turns her around, and when she sees Lana she screams loudly and runs off stage after running in circles, begging from help from anyone.
After Lana and Sandy are gone, Biff proudly states that everyone is afraid of something. He looks through his index cards once again and finds one about an entomologist. He begins reading it, and before he can get to her name, Sue Dew jumps up and runs for the doors to escape. Biff reads from her index card that she is afraid of fake spiders, and then finally convinces her that there is no escape from The Scare Factor, and she walks up to the stage. After a while, Biff and Lana strap her to the "spider chair", an ordinary chair with straps (or handcuffs, ropes, etc.) attached to it. Fake spiders fall from the ceiling onto her, and Lana is not on stage; so Biff calls for her, and she comes out carrying a bucket, saying "Here I am, Biffy Boo!" He becomes angry with her for calling him that on TV, and then denies that they are engaged (because this, assumingly, hadn't been told to the public) and then Lana becomes very angry. Sue interrupts and asks what is in the bucket, and then after replying "You'll see..." they walk over to her and then start placing the fake spiders all over her body. After they do this for a short while, Sue faints (but they think she was scared to death.) As Biff tries to act calm and keep the show moving along, Lana takes her backstage. Biff rummages through his index cards, but then stops and walks backstage, and from offstage can be heard asking if Sue is ok, and if Lana called 911. Lana says that she did, and then Biff angrily tells her to get the spiders off the stage, and then notify Sue's next of kin.
Biff walks back on stage with a big smile on his face and assures the audience that Sue is ok, and looks through his index cards once again. He then pulls out one written by an astronaut named Joey Bumpkin. He jumps up in a fright and then hides under his chair. Biff, trying to convince Joey to come on stage, asks how scary can being on a nationally syndicated TV show viewed by millions across the world be for an astronaut. Before Biff can get Joey onto the stage, Paramedics 1 and 2 come in, looking for a "victim." Biff acts like he has no idea what they mean and asks what victim they are talking about. Lana then says to him that she thinks they're talking about the "spider lady", and when the paramedics hear "spider" they are frightened and run away. Lana follows them, and Biff wraps up the show and then leaves. But then, Sue walks out on stage in a daze with a tarantula in her hand (which is "real") and says to 'him' that she loves him, and "listening" to him, she says that there is no large, furry, fake spider on her back. She then looks behind her and sees it and runs off stage.
Performance and publication
The Scare Factor was published in 2002 through Meriwether Publishing Ltd., intended for students from junior high up to college. The author, Robert Mauro, has written several other plays parodizing television shows. On Contemporary Drama Service's Website, The Scare Factor has been discontinued. (However, some copies are still available through e-mail request.)
Character list
* Biff Boo, Emcee of The Scare Factor TV Show
* Lana Bright, ditzy supermodel hostess; assistant to Biff Boo
* Mindy Miterbox, contestant; afraid of having green glop poured all over her head on national TV
* Dill Glump, contestant; afraid of cleaning up messes of green glop
* Sandy Jones, contestant; claims to have no fears- afraid of ghosts
* Sue Dew, contestant; afraid of fake spiders
* Joey Bumpkin, contestant; afraid of being on national TV
* Paramedic 1
* Paramedic 2
Note: Some performances of this play may include security guards in order to stop any "audience members" that tried to run away.
Plot summary
The play begins when the emcee, Biff Boo, explains how the show works to the TV studio audience. When he finishes, Lana Bright, his sidekick, isn't on stage as she's supposed to be. After he calls for her, she doesn't have the index cards Biff needs to call up contestants; the index cards have each audience members' biggest fear, amongst other things like their next of kin. The first contestant is Mindy Miterbox, who is terrified of green glop. After talking much about herself and complaining about how gross green glop is to her, green glop is dumped on her head and she runs off screaming.
Then the next contestant jumps up in fright before Biff can say his name- Dill Glump, who is terrified of cleaning up green glop, tries to run away until Lana Bright catches him and takes him onto the stage. After much hesitating and stalling, he cleans it up (by folding up the cloth it had landed on) and drags it offstage as Lana Bright forces him to her dressing room for additional cleaning.
After announcing what Dill Glump will receive for appearing on the show, Biff rummages through his index cards and finds one saying that the person who wrote it is afraid of nothing, who happens to be Sandy Jones. Biff requests that she comes on stage, and then begins to list things that she might be afraid of. As he is doing this, Lana slowly walks on stage with a white sheet draped over her body, and then Biff asks if she's afraid of ghosts; she says no, but then he asks her if she's afraid of the ghost on stage- then he turns her around, and when she sees Lana she screams loudly and runs off stage after running in circles, begging from help from anyone.
After Lana and Sandy are gone, Biff proudly states that everyone is afraid of something. He looks through his index cards once again and finds one about an entomologist. He begins reading it, and before he can get to her name, Sue Dew jumps up and runs for the doors to escape. Biff reads from her index card that she is afraid of fake spiders, and then finally convinces her that there is no escape from The Scare Factor, and she walks up to the stage. After a while, Biff and Lana strap her to the "spider chair", an ordinary chair with straps (or handcuffs, ropes, etc.) attached to it. Fake spiders fall from the ceiling onto her, and Lana is not on stage; so Biff calls for her, and she comes out carrying a bucket, saying "Here I am, Biffy Boo!" He becomes angry with her for calling him that on TV, and then denies that they are engaged (because this, assumingly, hadn't been told to the public) and then Lana becomes very angry. Sue interrupts and asks what is in the bucket, and then after replying "You'll see..." they walk over to her and then start placing the fake spiders all over her body. After they do this for a short while, Sue faints (but they think she was scared to death.) As Biff tries to act calm and keep the show moving along, Lana takes her backstage. Biff rummages through his index cards, but then stops and walks backstage, and from offstage can be heard asking if Sue is ok, and if Lana called 911. Lana says that she did, and then Biff angrily tells her to get the spiders off the stage, and then notify Sue's next of kin.
Biff walks back on stage with a big smile on his face and assures the audience that Sue is ok, and looks through his index cards once again. He then pulls out one written by an astronaut named Joey Bumpkin. He jumps up in a fright and then hides under his chair. Biff, trying to convince Joey to come on stage, asks how scary can being on a nationally syndicated TV show viewed by millions across the world be for an astronaut. Before Biff can get Joey onto the stage, Paramedics 1 and 2 come in, looking for a "victim." Biff acts like he has no idea what they mean and asks what victim they are talking about. Lana then says to him that she thinks they're talking about the "spider lady", and when the paramedics hear "spider" they are frightened and run away. Lana follows them, and Biff wraps up the show and then leaves. But then, Sue walks out on stage in a daze with a tarantula in her hand (which is "real") and says to 'him' that she loves him, and "listening" to him, she says that there is no large, furry, fake spider on her back. She then looks behind her and sees it and runs off stage.
Gwen Kaae was the first "stunt girl" in Hollywood in 1938.
Childhood
She was born Gwendlyn Lorraine Gillaspy at her parents home in Los Angeles, California on October 9 1926. Her father, Cranmer "Charlie" Gillaspy, was a casket maker and also worked for the railroads. Her mother, Agnes Zeta Kendall Gillaspy was a homemaker. Gwen was their third and last child; she was 18 years younger than her oldest sister, Florence LaVerne "Vernie", and nine years younger than her brother, William Kendall Herndon "Kenny."
All the Gillaspy children had strong musical abilities apparent at a young age. Vernie played and taught violin, Kenny played accordion, and Gwen played violin. Along with her musical talents, Gwen showed a strong interest and talent for acrobatics and dance. By the time she was 6, she was performing on stage. Gwen played violin in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. She could perform tap, ballet (toe) and modern dance.
Stunt woman
The movie Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus starring Spanky McFarland of Our Gang fame needed a stunt double for the 12 year old Anne Gillis, who was portraying a bareback rider in the circus in the film. The producers thought they could use a little person stuntman as Anne's stunt double, but none of them looked convincingly enough like a 12 year old girl. Then Gwen's dance teacher convinced the producers that Gwen could do this and she was hired.
Marriage
During World War II, Gwen was a member of the Civilian Air Patrol (CAP). In September of 1945 she met her future husband, United Statea Army Air Corps lieutenant Glenn Kaae, who proposed to her ten days after meeting her.
Gwen's mother died of cancer shortly before the wedding. Her last wish was that the marriage not be delayed. They were married in Hollywood on April 21, 1946. Gwen's father died six months after the wedding.
Family life
After six years of marriage and almost as long trying to conceive a child, Gwen and Glenn decided to adopt a child. Through the "Children's Home Society" their son, Kenneth ("Kenny"), was born on December 18, 1953 and came to live with them six weeks later. Their second child, Kathleen ("Kathy"), was born on September 8, 1956 and came home with her new family three weeks later.
In 1959, the family moved from El Segundo, California to Canoga Park, California (now West Hills). Glenn worked as an engineer at Litton Industries, while Gwen was a stay at home Mom.
Death
After a lifetime of smoking, which continued even after open heart surgery in 1977, Gwen was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1987. Since the cancer was inoperable, she decided there was no need to quit smoking. The cancer was very slow growing, but the chemotherapy weakened her immune system until she was totally septic. She died suddenly on May 25 1988.
Childhood
She was born Gwendlyn Lorraine Gillaspy at her parents home in Los Angeles, California on October 9 1926. Her father, Cranmer "Charlie" Gillaspy, was a casket maker and also worked for the railroads. Her mother, Agnes Zeta Kendall Gillaspy was a homemaker. Gwen was their third and last child; she was 18 years younger than her oldest sister, Florence LaVerne "Vernie", and nine years younger than her brother, William Kendall Herndon "Kenny."
All the Gillaspy children had strong musical abilities apparent at a young age. Vernie played and taught violin, Kenny played accordion, and Gwen played violin. Along with her musical talents, Gwen showed a strong interest and talent for acrobatics and dance. By the time she was 6, she was performing on stage. Gwen played violin in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. She could perform tap, ballet (toe) and modern dance.
Stunt woman
The movie Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus starring Spanky McFarland of Our Gang fame needed a stunt double for the 12 year old Anne Gillis, who was portraying a bareback rider in the circus in the film. The producers thought they could use a little person stuntman as Anne's stunt double, but none of them looked convincingly enough like a 12 year old girl. Then Gwen's dance teacher convinced the producers that Gwen could do this and she was hired.
Marriage
During World War II, Gwen was a member of the Civilian Air Patrol (CAP). In September of 1945 she met her future husband, United Statea Army Air Corps lieutenant Glenn Kaae, who proposed to her ten days after meeting her.
Gwen's mother died of cancer shortly before the wedding. Her last wish was that the marriage not be delayed. They were married in Hollywood on April 21, 1946. Gwen's father died six months after the wedding.
Family life
After six years of marriage and almost as long trying to conceive a child, Gwen and Glenn decided to adopt a child. Through the "Children's Home Society" their son, Kenneth ("Kenny"), was born on December 18, 1953 and came to live with them six weeks later. Their second child, Kathleen ("Kathy"), was born on September 8, 1956 and came home with her new family three weeks later.
In 1959, the family moved from El Segundo, California to Canoga Park, California (now West Hills). Glenn worked as an engineer at Litton Industries, while Gwen was a stay at home Mom.
Death
After a lifetime of smoking, which continued even after open heart surgery in 1977, Gwen was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1987. Since the cancer was inoperable, she decided there was no need to quit smoking. The cancer was very slow growing, but the chemotherapy weakened her immune system until she was totally septic. She died suddenly on May 25 1988.
Major General Stephen Douglas Tom assumed the duties as Chief of Staff for U.S. Pacific Command August 2007.
He attended the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. In 1971, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps Program at the University. He continued his civilian education by entering Boston University School of Law, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.
After completing the U.S Army Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1975, Major General Tom has served in the following U.S. Army Reserve assignments with IX Corps (Reinf)/9th Army Reserve Command/ 9th Regional Support Command: Military Justice Officer, Document Control Officer, Personnel Actions Officer, Personnel Management Officer, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Commander. From April 1992 through July 1995, he commanded the 322d Civil Affairs Brigade at Ft DeRussy, Hawaii. In September 1999, he was assigned to Eighth United States Army, Yongsan, Korea as the Assistant Chief of Staff G5 (Wartime) and served in that capacity until July 2003. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in October 2000.
In addition to the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Major General Tom is a graduate of the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Officer's Advance Course, Command and General Staff College, the Civil Affairs Officer's Advanced Course, and the Army War College.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3 OLC), and Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon.
In his civilian capacity, Major General Tom is an attorney in the private practice of law, and is a partner in a law firm.
He attended the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. In 1971, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps Program at the University. He continued his civilian education by entering Boston University School of Law, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.
After completing the U.S Army Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1975, Major General Tom has served in the following U.S. Army Reserve assignments with IX Corps (Reinf)/9th Army Reserve Command/ 9th Regional Support Command: Military Justice Officer, Document Control Officer, Personnel Actions Officer, Personnel Management Officer, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Commander. From April 1992 through July 1995, he commanded the 322d Civil Affairs Brigade at Ft DeRussy, Hawaii. In September 1999, he was assigned to Eighth United States Army, Yongsan, Korea as the Assistant Chief of Staff G5 (Wartime) and served in that capacity until July 2003. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in October 2000.
In addition to the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Major General Tom is a graduate of the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, the Adjutant General Officer's Advance Course, Command and General Staff College, the Civil Affairs Officer's Advanced Course, and the Army War College.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3 OLC), and Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon.
In his civilian capacity, Major General Tom is an attorney in the private practice of law, and is a partner in a law firm.