All the time in the world

[JZimmer]

Greetings everyone!

Many of you know that I have been watching these forums for a long time now, and commenting from time to time. Generally for me, I find that to watch and listen is the most valuable activity that one can engage in, but every once in a while it is time to speak.

I have watched as this story has unfolded and thought about the implications of much of what has been presented over the time I have been involved in this story. The day that the FTM was announced, was a day of excitement, but at the same time one of deep thought.

I have seen much written in the forums since that announcement; how does it work, who knows about it, why are we finding out now, what comes next, and frankly much that has nothing to do with what in my opinion has to be the primary disclosure in the story.

So, just for a minute, each one of you reading this forum has been given one ticket for a flight…. Think carefully now, how would you use it?

A few simple rules if you all please. Since you have only one ticket, you have only one post. Please refrain from comments on other participants “rides” as we will save that for another thread. If you don’t wish to use your ticket, then don’t post. One week from today I will open a new thread to talk about what we all think. Until them, ponder what you have thought, read and spoken.

There is much of value here so lets use this opportunity wisely!

Last, since I started this, know that I already have thought about and used my ticket. Elizabeth has my thoughts and may post them when she sees fit. Everyone Enjoy!


Jim

[Trickfox]

I already used up my ticket
Trickfox

[Gewis]

I'd go to the Caroline expedition. That's the crux and the gateway for Dr. Brown. Then that's the crux and the gateway for me.

[Elizabeth Helen Drake]

I think I will just put a marker on this spot and save it for myself until I can get back with a better thought out idea, since I will only have one ticket and right now, I have too many thoughts. So I will edit in here when I figure it out. Within the week, I promise...........................................

Well after thinking about it very carefully I think that I have come up with sort of a renegade answer. Right here, right now. Thats where. All the wonders of the past spread out ... all the wonders of the future approaching. Nothing could be quite as fine as this exact moment. This time found between each breath. The centered present with the thought over riding that " All will be Well"

Then if I have a centered moment in the present ..... and the present is always with me ... then I have everything? forever? Elizabeth

[kevin.b]

I just went through chapter 53 again, as its sort of about this?
I have been trying to work out why I know things, the sort of thngs I have no previous knowledge of.
And why I feel as though I am been pushed along a pathway, that pathway may lead to when I use my ticket?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDX6f39ZAqY
kevin

[Mikado14]

I am asking if I can have a rain check.

I am the type of individual that normally takes at least 3 days to decide most important decisions. Making a decision to a destination with what would be considered to be the pentultimate in "E" tickets needs time (no pun intended).

The one thought I have is, does the ticket go in either forward or reverse and is it one way or round trip? That would be a determining factor, at least for me.

Mikado

* As Elizabeth mentioned, I will edit upon your answer

************Edit***********************

JZimmer,

Your proposal reminds me of a Lay's Potato Chip commercial, "betcha can't eat just one".

To take only one trip would be intoxicating but the decision is one that I feel would cause more regret than what it is worth. For upon returning there would always be the "Why didn't I go to....". The rare individual would be satisfied with one trip, then there are others that would be too scared to do it, and I am sure there are some that feel as I do.

After careful consideration I have decided that I do not wish a bite of the apple, I want it all or nothing.

Now, if it were like going on a cruise with stops at various times, I might reconsider.

Sorry to appear so selfish.

Mikado

[Mikado14]

Radomir, I see you are on, welcome back, what is your destination?

Mikado

[Paul S.]

So, just for a minute, each one of you reading this forum has been given one ticket for a flight…. Think carefully now, how would you use it?

Seems to me we have addressed this question before, or, at least, I'm pretty sure I have.

My best answer to that question is: Philadelphia, late June - early July, 1776. The real "Philadelphia Experiment."

But I also need a stop over -- to a small town near the seashore in New Jersey in about 1956. Sorta like that last scened in "Field of Dreams."

--PS

[Radomir]

I'm still catching up, Mikado, but thanks for laying out the gauntlet esp. when you've already taken the position that you can't eat just one, which would be my selfish tendency as well. Always prefer to have the keys to the E-ride myself, which is why I sold my car and ride my motorcycle every day.

A lot would depend on the variables, some of which you've already mentioned.

1. Is it only backwards in time, or can you go forwards? Is there a limitation on how far you can go in either direction (eg. does it take more energy to go farther, or is the same no matter when/where you go)?
2. Is it a one-way ticket? That would severely limit my choices given my very real responsibilities to family.
3. Can you only visit times and places where you cannot affect the major direction or outcomes of history? (or even correct some "mistake" you feel you have made at some point in your own life)
4. Would you be supplied with local/time-relevant clothing and funds?
5. Are we limited to this planet/solar system? (...ever read _Contact_?)
etc.

Some limitations around language surely apply. If you can't take a translator who speaks fluent ancient Greek, then what good is it to visit the library at Alexandria?

To hear the original teachings of the masters is not as good if you can't grok the local lingo. Perhaps merely being in the presence of a Patanjali, LaoTzu (assuming you could locate the actual original) or Buddha might be enough.

Let's assume a round trip ticket, that can only go into the past, and that you can only visit a time and region that you could reasonably get along under your own skillset (no escort bodyguard/translators). And let's assume you can't significantly affect the historical time-stream (which immediately eliminates many places/times I would try to go). And let's assume you can't visit yourself.

From a purely selfish family-related standpoint, I would like to visit and get to know my grandfather on my mother's side, who was killed when my mom was 15. He was a classical languages scholar and Naval reservist.

Hanging out and serving as a lab assistant with Nikola Tesla for a few years (didn't say how long the trip might last!) is a close second, assuming one could come back the same day you left no matter how much time was spent away. I'd like to visit Viktor Schauberger but of course the language thing gets in the way again.

I've always wanted to give Walt Whitman a great big bear hug, and say thanks for everything. In fact there are a lot of folks I'd like to go back and say thanks to, but I digress...

Enough for now.

Thanks for the great question.

R.

[Victoria Steele]

Hi!

I think that the biggest problem with most of us is that it would be almost imposible to choose. And then with only once choice ... sheeze ... not a whole lot of room to do the wrong things.

And as Radomir said, Theres alot of room to make a mistake. Like getting stuck for the rest of your life with cave men. It wouldn't matter how much you happened to know about technology. There would be no one who would believe you.

Same with going into the future and then coming home again. How do you explain your new knowledge?

Personally maybe I could just view things that were valid and be satisfied without actually going there. I would like to have been there when my great grandmother stood her ground with the Apaches. Standing on her own front porch. They left her alone. I would have liked to see that.

I would like to be able to see forward to that party on the beach that Morgan promised Paul. No doubt that would happen and damn ... I'd like to see that.

I would have liked to be a million places in a million times for my own curiosity with no real agenda.

And something Elizabeth said too maybe I could expand upon. I would like to look into the eyes of all of the great religious leaders of the world. Just to know that I had met them personally and could know that I had made that kind of connection.

And of course there are a handful of others that I would have liked to have been able to talk with. Josephine and Dr. Brown just a couple.

But I only have one choice. One ticket? It would be too personal a thing to talk about probably. Who hasn't been there. Go back in time. Change your words, change the results? That, probably.

Of course, I could be stupid and set myself up as the ruler/God of a primitive people, force them to build temples to me but then I would constantly know what the future would bring so I would be looking for that one person stepping out of the crowd, carrying the white spear. Messy. No ... not that direction, Victoria

[Radomir]

FWIW, my wife said she would either go to visit Iceland before it was deforested, or visit the steppes of Russia to see the Ur-horses before there were distinct breeds.

She pointed out the difficulties (a la Connie Willis) of appearing adequately local when dealing with other people if you had say, straight healthy teeth, no chillblains, no lice, etc. How do you keep from being burned at the stake on sight?

If she didn't have to have corporeal form, she said she'd like to visit and witness the moments after the Big Bang.

Having been well steeped in time travel fiction since Poul Anderson's _There Will be Time_, Zelazney's _Roadmarks_ and A.E. Van Vogt's _The Weapon Shops of Isher_ I found her responses pretty intriguing. But then, I married her.

R.

[twigsnapper]

Smart man.

Any lady who has an interest in thr Ur horses or Akhal Tekes or the pony breeds of the North instantly has my heart and my respect and admiration.

Trouble with looking adequately local would be a BIG problem in prehistory. Hello, its a big problem for anyone who is here he might not belong at the time.

AM would be interested to know that the nephew of a man he admires so much was known as the supplier of " proper clothing" for the French Resistance. Oh he supplied documents and anything else you needed. Down to the simplest things. Buttons had to be the right type, sewn a certain way. Little things would cast you out into the light. Thats really why the best operatives were ladies. Of course later when all of the men got their wings for their fine service, they were ignored.

Maybe why I am mentioning this is that we all lost another angel recently, deprived of wings. She blew trains and blew trains and could ride well too. Sold perfume right under their noses. Quite a lady. Drove the Germans into a lather trying to find her and though she is getting better known now the lady code named Pauline never got the recognition that she deserved when she should have. Just a nod in her direction. twigsnapper

[Mikado14]

Not only a nod, but a salute with a big Italian kiss on each cheek and ending with a "Thank You" in her eye.

Mikado

Yes, I remember talking about her.

[Chris Knight]

The New York Times article on Ms. Cornioley can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/world ... ei=5087%0A

The last paragraph and sentence probably describe her personality well.

As far as a trip is concerned:

Is there a "random" button ?

With so much time from beginning to end, any time for me would be an adventure.

[AM]

Dear Mr. Twigsnapper,

immediately when you mentioned the Akhal Teke, I was reminded of the victory parade in Moscow in 1945.

Zhukov rode a white Akhal Teke. Perhaps you were even personally there, but just for the old times sake I am drawing your attention to this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUw_wKYh3l8