From: Eric Jablow <ejablow at cox.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: M.U.L.E.
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:43:47 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

On Aug 27, 2007, at 7:25 PM, Mike B. wrote:

> At 8/27/2007 06:00 PM, Eric Jablow wrote:
>
>> Meanwhile, in the stupid naming front, Lockheed-Martin
>> is demonstrating a robotic Humvee-sized vehicle named
>> the Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment vehicle,
>> or M.U.L.E.
>>
>> The faint whirring noise you may be hearing comes from the
>> grave of the late Dan[i] Bunten.  Those of you who had Atari 800s
>> or Commodore 64s know why.
>
> Maybe it's lack of sleep, but my Atari 800 is in the closet here, but
> I don't know why...
>

Because, by rights M.U.L.E. stands for "Multiple Use
Labor Element", and should be used only for mining
Smithore, producing electricity, and harvesting grain.

M.U.L.E. was a classic computer game from the
early days of PCs, and was one of the few multi-
player games.  It had no violence, and in fact Bunten
refused to allow it to be revised because
Electronic Arts wanted to add weapons.  It had a
sophisticated economic model, but most of the
players didn't worry about that.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.U.L.E.

Respectfully,
Eric Jablow