Tin cans on horses...

[Sableneko]

They also tended to DIE a lot younger, something you didn't mention.

I'm rather tempted to think that it's similar to shelf life - a human body, no matter how well you treat it, is only good for so many units of time/effort.

They died younger for two major reasons.
1: The political climate hosted a lot of very bloody wars, in an era when it was considered honorable to die in combat.
2: Medical science wasn't exactly all it was cracked up to be. Neither were simple aspects of life we take for granted today, such as sanitation and clenliness. People died younger because of the stress their bodies were put under because of disease and poor sanitary conditions.

Eh. Science marches - or would that be 'staggers'? - on, and we learn something new every day. With luck, we can do something about the relatively puny lifespan we currently have.

...Excuse me?

Humans are one of the longest-lived animals on this planet. Very few animals can claim to have a lifespan longer then 80 years, which is the current human average.

Most notably, the only animals to surpass the human lifespan are tortoises (188 years) and whales (210 years).

Just because we don't live for centuries like elves doesn't mean we're nothing special. I frankly hate elves anyway. Arrogant twits, all of 'em.

[Squeaky Bunny]

Frankly, I don't think plate armor is that attractive. Even if it doesn't weigh a ton, it's still encumbering, limiting your movement. Not only does it not provide protection against things like electric bolts, it would actually make you slower to dodge so you'd be more vulnerable to them.

True, but the knights of Earth didn't have to worry about electricity very much. And based on anticdotal evidence, the humans "Outside" don't, either.

-- I spotted a human in armor down on the ground--

So much for Mr. Can-Dell (a knight in a valley -- I'll bet he's a real light-weight ) being there just for the atmosphere.

Oh what a knight! Late December back in '63 . . . Sorry, wrong Valli.

That depends, does rumor fly faster than a balloon? That knight might stir up a welcoming committee or at least suspicious natives as far away as that first landing point.

Considering both have greater lift and volume with the amount of hot air involved it's hard to say. Then again, if the armored one saw Quentyn and dropped to the ground gobsmacked, then the rumors would abound by knight fall.

[Dapple]

..Excuse me?

Humans are one of the longest-lived animals on this planet. Very few animals can claim to have a lifespan longer then 80 years, which is the current human average.

Most notably, the only animals to surpass the human lifespan are tortoises (188 years) and whales (210 years).

And some speices of parots. We still have my Grandads Parot and he buaght it at 32. He died at 69. and it was already 40+ years old.

Grandad died about 20 so thats 97.
Asked a guy about it said this speices can live to be 120.

[Nick012000]

I'm rather tempted to think that it's similar to shelf life - a human body, no matter how well you treat it, is only good for so many units of time/effort.

Or, as Dr. Tyrell put it in the movie, "The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long."

Actually, that theory has been disproved. I can't remember the name of that theory, though, or I'd link to its wikipedia article.

[Kerry Skydancer]

Disproved? Current speculation is that lifespan is ultimately limited by telomere failure in the body cells, backed up by the fact that the kids who age rapidly and die young have very -short- telomeres. What's been disproved?

[Sableneko]

And some speices of parots. We still have my Grandads Parot and he buaght it at 32. He died at 69. and it was already 40+ years old.

Grandad died about 20 so thats 97.
Asked a guy about it said this speices can live to be 120.

Heh. I forgot about parrots. I usually try to. Those things are bloody evil.
But yeah, they're pretty long-lived as well. Still doesn't change the fact that, as far as animal species go, we humans have above-average lifespans.

[Squeaky Bunny]

And some speices of parots. We still have my Grandads Parot and he buaght it at 32. He died at 69. and it was already 40+ years old.

Grandad died about 20 so thats 97.
Asked a guy about it said this speices can live to be 120.

Heh. I forgot about parrots. I usually try to. Those things are bloody evil.
But yeah, they're pretty long-lived as well. Still doesn't change the fact that, as far as animal species go, we humans have above-average lifespans.

Parrots have often been called a cross between a 2 year old and an alien. I knew of one who could imitate the neighbor's car alarm. It faked them out more than once too.

[TMLutas]

In another forum, I asked how much would a soldier would carry, and the answer varies from 50-90 kg. They also provided a link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... 85/IDC.htm

50kg = 110 lbs
90kg = 198 lbs

A 50kg pack would be appropriate for a 330lb juggernaut of a man. Even in the military, such specimens are pretty rare.

[Nick012000]

Disproved? Current speculation is that lifespan is ultimately limited by telomere failure in the body cells, backed up by the fact that the kids who age rapidly and die young have very -short- telomeres. What's been disproved?

That the length of your life is related to the intensity with which you live it.

[The JAM]

Yes, it was 50-90 lb. My mistake.

[EdBecerra]

They died younger for two major reasons.
1: The political climate hosted a lot of very bloody wars, in an era when it was considered honorable to die in combat.
2: Medical science wasn't exactly all it was cracked up to be. Neither were simple aspects of life we take for granted today, such as sanitation and clenliness. People died younger because of the stress their bodies were put under because of disease and poor sanitary conditions.

Uh, that was sort of my point... that the human body has a *loosely* set number of years, and depending on the stress, you might use up more than "one year per year" to coin a phrase. I've heard of Post-Polio Syndrome being described this way... the victim who has appeared to have recovered is basically running on the leftovers of the nervous system (or it's backup system), and the stress of using THAT constantly results in an eventual collapse.

I've heard several researchers state that they think the average human lifespan - WITHOUT the aid of medical science, sanitation or good diet - is about 32 to 40 years. Roughly two human generations, assuming you become fertile at the age of 16. This, of course, assumes that you're living like a friggin' caveman, or some Abo in the Aussie outback or Native American in the Amazon river basin.

Eh. Science marches - or would that be 'staggers'? - on, and we learn something new every day. With luck, we can do something about the relatively puny lifespan we currently have.

...Excuse me?

Humans are one of the longest-lived animals on this planet. Very few animals can claim to have a lifespan longer then 80 years, which is the current human average.

Most notably, the only animals to surpass the human lifespan are tortoises (188 years) and whales (210 years).

Just because we don't live for centuries like elves doesn't mean we're nothing special. I frankly hate elves anyway. Arrogant twits, all of 'em.

Not long enough for ME, sonny-boy. I consider the lifespan of the giant tortoise to be on the puny side. I want 300 years, MINIMUM. And I'll still feel gypped unless/until the average human lifespan is on the order of Methusula's, at least 969 years.

Still, I'd be willing to settle for a tripling of the base human lifespan... say, an average age of death to be 120, instead of around 80 years that civilization assists us in achieving, a mere doubling of the 40 or so years that seem to be the programmed "You've had your chance to breed, now die and get out of the way of the children" genetic schtick.

It might help to slow society down.

[Rokas]

Disproved? Current speculation is that lifespan is ultimately limited by telomere failure in the body cells, backed up by the fact that the kids who age rapidly and die young have very -short- telomeres. What's been disproved?

That the length of your life is related to the intensity with which you live it.

We all live the same length of time. Some of us just have more memories in between.

[BrockthePaine]

I frankly hate elves anyway. Arrogant twits, all of 'em.

Ayyyyymen!!!

[TMLutas]

Yes, it was 50-90 lb. My mistake.

My wife did the same thing with how much weight I have to lose. She was very amused by my bugged out eyes.

[TMLutas]

Not long enough for ME, sonny-boy. I consider the lifespan of the giant tortoise to be on the puny side. I want 300 years, MINIMUM. And I'll still feel gypped unless/until the average human lifespan is on the order of Methusula's, at least 969 years.

Still, I'd be willing to settle for a tripling of the base human lifespan... say, an average age of death to be 120, instead of around 80 years that civilization assists us in achieving, a mere doubling of the 40 or so years that seem to be the programmed "You've had your chance to breed, now die and get out of the way of the children" genetic schtick.

It might help to slow society down.

For those who believe in a Heaven, the right time to die is not time related, it's dying at your peak state of grace no matter what your age is.

[The JAM]

Or when your assignment on this planet is completed.

[Calbeck]

Oh what a knight! Late December back in '63 . . .

Must...resist...don't press the shiny, candy-colored button...

NO! I CAAAAAAAAAN'T! (press)

o/` Oh what a Knight
Took up the sword in 1363
Fought from Brighton down to Barbary
What a Lady, what a Knight!

Oh what a Knight!
By '65 the nation knew her name,
Drove the warlords to ruin and shame
They surrendered, what a fight!

Oh, I...
I never saw a princess with a mace
And mail on...
Who aspired to the art of arms
Like her...

Oh what a Knight!
Her battle standard captivated me
We stormed the ramparts of the enemy
And when we won, oh what a night!

Our horses charged
Like a rolling bolt of thunder
Smashing their infantry
Plowing the bodies under
What a Knight!

Oh, I...
I watched her in the victory parade
We rode on...
And I aspired to the art of arms
Like her...

Oh, what a Knight!
We were fools to ever call her weak
Graceful, gracious, but she's never meek
She's the Lady whose love I would seek
What a Lady, what a Knight!

Our battle ranks have never been torn asunder
When she's in charge our foes are always left to wonder
Oh, what a Knight!
(Do, do, do, do, do. Do, do, do, do, do, do.)
Oh, what a Knight!
(Do, do, do, do, do. Do, do, do, do, do, do.)
Oh, what a Knight!
(repeat to fade)

[Madmoonie]

Oh goodness sakes, please tell me you have a recording of that.

[TMLutas]

Or when your assignment on this planet is completed.

A distinction without much difference since part of anyone's assignment is to be in a perfect state of grace.

[Steltek]

What is that? Some kind of horrible feminist showtune? MAKE IT STOP!