text:
best luck in anything you go onto tom. you have been one of, if not the top name in the industry. you have brought the game many great inventions. dont be a stranger to the forum though!
best luck in anything you go onto tom. you have been one of, if not the top name in the industry. you have brought the game many great inventions. dont be a stranger to the forum though!
"You have not converted a man because you have silenced him." -John Morley
wow tom , i didnt expect this.
well we all appreciate so much what you have done for us as a community.
as you can see all the heavy posters have shown how much they will miss you.
Best of Wishes
Silvestre Da Costa
Aced/predator Adrenalin LCD
2k Dark Angel [
98 LED Angel ( kinda )
shark attack X-MAG
Eclipse Factory Eblade
"We Want More Squeege!! (rawwk)" - AGD
"I'm looking for an xmag in excellent or perfect condition. I have a black 2k3 mech cocker with Palmer everything (worth about US $800) I can trade, which is in excellent condition, well timed, reliable, and pinches all but the oldest super brittle paint." Flyboy771
Back when I started playing the top two choices were either a Mag or a Cocker. I went with a Mag because I thought the design was better. I still feel that way. I played for awhile then took a break as many of us have. I started to get back into it in 2001 and found my way to AO. It was great to hear AGD was still out there.
I started to upgrade my MiniMag with some of the new options AGD was making. Tom decided to hold one of his famous �pop parties� and I rushed home from work to see what it was all about. I was lucky enough to win the Emag given away. I could hardly believe it. I was a new member and the PRESIDENT of the company I had known for years gives me their top of the line gun in a random drawing.
I really enjoy the community that is AO, and am always amazed that Tom has time to answer peoples questions. It has a coolness factor that is hard to explain. It really makes the customer feel like they are not just a number, but a person.
I was lucky enough to meet Tom at the big NorCal/SoCal AO day last January. When Tom walked into the hotel and everyone was introducing themselves, I was again shocked when Tom actually remembered my screen name and commented on how long I had been on AO.
Those two events will always stand out in my mind. I�ll never sell the Emag I won. I have upgraded it over the years, but I�ll always keep it.
Tom, you have always been and always will be a class act. You are too modest if you think a whole generation of paintballers will forget you. I know I speak for more than myself when I say I�ll never forget what you have done for the game.
Good luck in whatever life has in store for your future. I can never thank you enough for the enjoyment the things you have done for the paintball community has brought to my life.
Rick �Blennidae� Salazar
Even though I knew about this a while back, I am all busted up reading these posts from all these guys who love the same thing as I do...AGD. You have taught me almost everything I know about mags, and no one could have ever done a better job. I just want to thank you for everything you and your company has done for me. No other company has ever given me what AGD has given me. I will devote the rest of my paintball career to the AutoMag. It shall never die as long as I am alive to keep it going. Tell Dave to hold the fort, as he very well knows already that we are behind him 100%. Anything he needs just let me know. Let the good times roll now, and best of luck in all you do from here on in. Lots of love and best wishes from all of us here. Long live AGD!
Oh...now you have time to go Tuna Fishing so dont give me any crap. Mark the calendar for late august 2005. Talk to you soon.
Email me for low prices on ALL AGD Products and more. email@example.com
Tom, you have my utmost respect and gratitude. I wish you nothing but happiness and sucess in your future endeavors!
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin
My Feedback
Tom, thanks for the innovations that you've brought to Paintball. Thanks for the quality products that you and your company have designed over the years.
I hope that retirement treats you well and I know I speak for more than just myself when I say, "thanks for being you".
You've made the past 7 years fun for me
Splat Entertainment
Yellowknife, NT Canada
later Tom. Thanks for the Mags and the awsome company you built.
good luck on the fossil digging and telescope making......
good trades: caliwagon31, coffey[NITRO], dnxleemz, B.C.,CoolHand, RogueFactor
automags.org backwards
Tom, I wish I could say this is a huge surprise, but its not. I remember having a conversation with you in the bar at IAO, and it just left me with a feeling. I can't say I expected this, but it isn't all that surprising.
Over the years, you've been a lot of things to the paintball industry. An innovater, a player, and advice-giver, a gun-maker, a proof-seeker, and most importantly, a friend to a lot of people. You may think you'll be forgotten in a year, but I doubt thats possible. You've had too big an impact upon this sport that even in its changing / decaying form, you're name will still be heard and recognized for years to come.
There's a few things about you that stand out to anyone who meets you.
First is your approachability. At every event I've seen you at, you take time out to talk to those who want to talk. Whether its just for a quick hello, or eating donuts and gossiping, or hosting tech classes out for free on your own time, I've never seen you turn anyone away or tell them you were too busy. Tons of industries leaders don't make themselves approachable to their customers and fans, your friendliness has always made you stand out amongst your peers.
Another thing is your enthusiasm for the sport. I don't think I've met many people who I can honestly say are as in love with paintball as you are. I've seen you up late at night plotting how to best destroy Shatner, seen you getting excited over new breakthroughs in technology, and I've unfortunately seen you deeply hurt about the direction the sport is heading in.
You've invented technology that has changed the face of paintball, but I think perhaps your greatest contribution may have been your involvement in acquiring and promoting AO. Building a business is an accomplishment, but one lots of people are capable of. Building a community that has grown in so many ways is amazing.
AOers are more than just people who talk on the internet. A lot of us have formed tight and meaningful friendships with people who live halfway across the country, or sometimes halfway across the globe. And you've played a part in that. In a lot of ways, you're the father to the AO community. I can't even count the number of kids I see on AO who look up to you almost as a second father. I know right now you are probably feeling kind of low, but just try to think about the positive effect you have had on so many people. You've become a part of peoples lives. And thats something no one will forget.
I truly hope that while you and AGD may have parted ways, you can still find time to stay in contact with all those on AO who still consider you a friend and a role-model. I know at times through the years we've put you through hell, but we're still here for you and I hope that doesn't change.
The community you've begun won't die, it won't fade away or be forgotten. AO is your legacy, and in my opinion, thats something to be truly proud of. When you think about whats been done on this website, its awe-inspiring.
I wish you luck in all your future endeavors, I'm sure with your intelligence and enthusiam you'll be able to accomplish whatever it is you set your mind to.
Brian "Thordic" Casani
wow.... I wish I had the chance to meet you and pick your brain like I always hoped I would... I know I am fairly new to the sport, but I know when a class act is a class act.
Thank you for beginning this journey that all of us now enjoy walking on....
P.S. if you ever need a hand I would love to join you on a bone hunt.. lol I think alot of us would.
Good luck to you, and know that all the hard work you have done is apreciated by many.
ICON-E (Upgraded enough to PwN jOo...)
Mostofamag, My logic-framed,railed,and foregripped Mag
Click here to see pics of the guns!!!
Well who am I going to bother now? Whats the new guys e-mail address?
Hope it wasnt me that drove you Crazy?
Hey you are the only KING that would climb off the thrown to meet the people and fight right with us. it has been an honor to have known you and I will never forget what you have done for this industry. We all know you have to do what you have to in life, you are # 1 and you have to look out for #1. thanks for looking out for all of us all these years.
I will still stalk you at the Shatner events though!!!!
Where's my signed rail TOM?
I could start a museum of signed Tom Kaye stuff in my Rec Room, $3 bucks at the door!
You are the Man and always will be the MAN!
Words escape me on how I feel at this moment. Its a sad truth that paintball is not how it was before. I have only played since 2000 and I have seen changes I dont like. I can just imagine how it feels to be at the beginning and see how it is now. What is sad to see though is that Tom Kaye was the last cowboy. And I believe that he did not lose that fight. He did not give in, he merely left. This is a truely sad day, but AGD is still here.
Carry on what you have been taught from this man. That we must look above hype or fads and seek what is real and what is true. I will not forget his contributions to the sport and neither should any of us. When someone says "whos Tom Kaye?" you tell them. When someone snubs your mag, you own them. This is how we dont lose. This is how we keep the legacy alive.
Tom, I have only met you on a few occasions and all of them were a great honor. The first time I met you was the weekend after the 1st Shatnerball at Bad Boyz Toyz in Lansing, IL. I was walking to my car and I noticed you, and could not believe it. But when I was snooping about you asked me to come on over and hang with a few others. We got donuts from your truck and sat around talking about what happend at shatnerball and I got to see the Shanter Xmag in person, and got to hold an Xmag before any of my friends even knew what it was. That day will be with me as long as I live. Meeting a legend and eating donuts with him.
Good luck with whatever path you choose. You shall be missed.
My friends and I both were priveledged to play along side you at Shatnerball 3 and at the AO-IL day at CCP. And in the future we would be honored to play at your side whenever that may be.
Thank you for everything you have done for us and the paintball community.
Well, I know I'm not exatcly a regular here but its still disheartening to see first generation pioneers fade away. I wish the best for you, your family, and AGD.
Proud Member:
The Paintball world will miss you. Here's to Teknut's new life
Now the old gaurd have all gone west. I feel almost as if middle earth has faded a little.
Who misses splatmaster?
I know I do!
sad to see you go.. but atleast i got to meet you and play alongside you at the big game at PB sams in october... that was alot of fun.... good luck on whatever you persue.....
My friend got me in to paint ball about 3 years ago. I got a Piranha for my first gun, I had my fun with it. Than I wanted to move up in the paint ball world and got a Green rat impulse. It was nice. But I wanted some thing different. My cousin [zeke1975 here on AO] Got a retro Minimag I loved it so much just the looks and how it shot. So the search was on I register here on AO and found a Minimag with x valve and I frame, I bought it. I like it but than the chance for a Emag came up so I bought that. I was selling' it so I could get a new Emag from Tunaman or an Xmag. I sold it . Than I saw that openboater had his Xmag for sale. I made an offer he took it so I had my Xmag. That was it I loved it, so Later on I got my 2nd Xmag. Tom you have done many things for the sport of paint ball. I hope Dave will try and do the same.
OmniM and I have worked and we came up with the Xmag User List
We dedicate this list to you Tom.
Thanks for all that you have done
ANYONE CAUGHT STARTING *poof* IS GONE, PERIOD.
Tunamart for all of your mag needs
Team Magfiea
Long Live Tom Kaye
Long Live The Mag
For a while i really resented you Tom. I hated you for not improving the mag, not apealling to the public, for not fitting in. I met you last D-day but you didnt come in gloriously in a huge semi truck with tents and displays, i resented you more for it, for not fitting the role you deserved.
Now i cannot hate you, I can only think of praises for your genious, insight, and modesty. Aslong as i can still hold my Emag, you will not be forgotten. It was an honor to meet a founder of the sport even though at the time i didnt know it. Thank you for all that you have done.
Long live the Tom!
Long live AGD!
Long live the MAG!
this is an uber sad day....im really bummed, i dont have anything fancy to say execpt i have nexer shot anything "high end" execpt for a mag and i have no desire to ever. Not because of anything about the marker, but because of the man behind it...i was sad to see that mags dident thrive in the new world of paintball, and still am. Paintball has forgotten its past, and with the situation as it is now i dont see much of a futhure that i want to be a part of.
Bye tom, i hope to see you again sometime, to me you are all that was decent in paintball.
Tom was the last of a now extinct breed, a breed of players who build a community, a breed of owners who gave to the sport never taking more than what they deserved. I hope to see you at the feild again some day....
I don't know you and we have never met, but I am one of your newest customers. I purchased my Rogue built mag and an very happy with this marker. I wish I could have joined the family alot sooner, but I joined PB later than most (38). I too am a businesman and understand all too well the whole bottom line thing. But please take this from a fellow businesman and PB'r.....You have impacted greatly the market you were in. You created what is now a cult of Mag users. You have in your way affected something much larger than you-and you did it very well!
Thank you for doing all the crap that we'll never know about, the long hours and the sacrafices you have made for what you have created and we take for granted. Good luck and God's speed in your new direction.
I never thought I would see the day...
Good luck in all your endeavors Tom. In the few times that I've met you, you've always had an enthusiasm for one thing- paintball. I certainly hope that you don't lose this.
If you ever make it to NJ/NY, let us know. There are TONS of AO guys who would treat you like a king!
Best wishes & warmest regards-
Nick "Dayspring" Papandria
To Tom Kaye-
I'm not a regular poster here but I've always been a fan of your work.
There is no way as long as paintball is around that people will forget you or the other founders of the game. Things you did have changed the very face of the game and have sent it in directions noone has ever thought of. One of the first times I ever saw someone dressed in obnoxiously colored outfits ready to get on a field, the person was holding a mag. Every step in paintball was helped by you and the industry and players as a whole are being dealt a great loss with you leaving. Good luck and rest assured if you ever continue down this road there are many people that will be happy to see you back.
wow this has got to be the worst paintball related day i have ever had!!! and i do mean ever..first the field i work at is getting the boot cuz of some enviromentalists and now we lose the most influental person in paintball.. it blows the mind!!! please do as my granddad and take on civilan work for agd we cant lose your knowlegde!!! but ofcoarse good luck with anything that you choose to do and i hope to finally meet you at shatnerball thanks for everything.. closest thing to a deserved solute!!!!
VV04962 yeah thats my Pewter CnC X-mag
Looking for a milled 04 featherlight viking!!!
my feedback!!!http://www.automags.org/forums/showt...84#post1584884
bye tom! have fun diggin those dinos!
always remember the foo that inspired you to try out the megameet!
Good Traders:
Tunaman, K-villeplayer, Magman007, Mastersconi, Jon/xpm, Kenndogg
My feedback if you've dealt with me, leave some...
Fruitcat: it's what AO doesn't like.
Dear Tom,
I have only been in paintball for a little less than a year, and i just have to say that I am sadend by this news. I have read everything you have wrote, wacthed all your videos on this website, and fell in love with your products. You are a standard in which is rarely met in the business world. To my knowledge you have never "sold out", and i respect that. As so many companies have just tried to make money; you have truely cared about the sport and your products. In this day of sorrow I tip my hat to you.
Yours Truely,
My Feedback
Team: iNvIsIbLe sOuLs
I've only had a mag for a bit over a year and a half, now, but from the time I first saw my friend's RT Pro for the first time, I was amazed at the quality of it, having only seen spyders before then. Even now, I can look at both my Classic valve and X-valved Mags and be amazed that indeed, Quality always shoots straight. I want to thank you for never sacrificing that quality.
I want to thank you for my warp feed, which although I don't use it much, it can give me that edge when I use it properly.
I want to thank you for pushing for the use of Nitrogen, despite everyone making unfounded, paranoid claims.
In short, I want to thank you for everything you've done over the years, even when some others did not think it 'profitable.'(My words.) You truly gave the sport a great gift that it can never repay you for, and although many of us on AO know it, I think there is a large group of people who don't.
In short... Thanks for everything you've given paintball.
Automag RT-Pro
68 Classic
BE 1999 Rainmaker
PMI Trracer
So many guns, So little time.
What's to say that hasn't been said. Other than two things.
Everyone, Tom's not dead. He's just getting out of paintball's limelight. I'd like to see him at a few of the local events, but I'm not going to be shocked if he doesn't. Either way, he's still around. Just not in the 'biz as it is. And I can respect someone who knows when to call it.
Second, to Tom Kaye, thanks for the ride. Ups, downs, it's been one hell of a ride, and I thank you for it. May yours continue many more years.
"Oh, you're wearing a tail and ears, you're a freak."
"No social change has ever come about without freaks. Einstein was a freak. Ben Franklin was a freak. Martin Luther King was a freak. ...be proud to be included in those ranks."
-2, The Ranting Gryphon
Tom you're one of the original paintball fathers. I remember reading about you in black and white paintball magazines (papers) late 80's, early 90's.
You've always been on the cutting edge. Even with whats happening now in the industry.
I'm sad to see you retire, but best of luck with your new endeavors. All of our best wishes for your future.
Thank you!
Markers of Massacre
AGD Minimag, Level 10, Lapco Bigshot
MacDev Cyborg, 7 Piece MatchStik, 04 Conquest, 25g Trigger Mod CyborgOwner.com
I remember the first time I went to play paintball. One of my brothers-in-law couldn't go that day and I got to use his 'Mag! From that day forward I knew what I wanted. I had a Spyder and bought a second one. I then sold both and added some tax return money to buy the gun I use today. I worry that the company will continue. Where will we get quality replacement parts? One thing that a lot of people forget is that Tom wasn't the original CEO of AGD. In my ancient 'Mag maintenance video, Tom was only in charge of R&D.
The news of Tom's retirement shocked and bewildered me. But, as I think of the way that paintball has changed since '92, I don't blame him. You will be missed and if you ever come out to WA, email me and we will get together.
God Bless You, Tom!!
CPPA Member #1875
good luck Tom
dont be a stranger
"The Few Who Do Are The Envy Of The Many Who Only Stand And Watch"
Alway Remember *343*
Si vis pacem, para bellum


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|Send News. Want a reply? Read this. More in the FAQ. News Forum - All Forums - Mobile - PDA - RSS Headlines Twitter
GameSpot has an interesting quote from GameStop CEO Paul Raines, who describes their interest in getting into the (currently nonexistent) market for selling pre-owned digital content. "It's very interesting," he said. "There are some technologies out there in Europe, and we've looked at a couple that are involved. We're interested; it's not a meaningful business yet. Right now we're not seeing that as a huge market, but I think we're on the leading edge. There are a few companies, a few start-ups, out there that we've talked to that are doing this."
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A website called badassdigest.com says it has "Star Wars: Episode VII" plot details.
This is the part where I'm legally required to write, in all caps, SPOILER ALERT, even though there's no evidence anything about this story is ruining anything.
So just for fun, know that badassdigest.com reports that the film takes place 30 years after the events in "Return of the Jedi," and Daisy Ridley and John Boyega will play two main characters in the new movie. Which we kind of already knew.
However ... Luke Skywalker's severed hand and lightsaber, which he lost, thanks to his dear old dad in "The Empire Strikes Back," have been found by the characters played by Ridley and Boyega on an unnamed desert planet.
The pair supposedly try to return the lightsaber and hand to Skywalker, which doesn't make a lot of sense, since he had his hand replaced and, really, what's a guy going to do with a third hand? Keep it around as a spare in case he loses another one?
Anyway, Skywalker supposedly hasn't been seen in 30 years. Somewhere along the way, they meet Han Solo and Chewbacca, who supposedly "aren't flying around in the Millennium Falcon anymore" but on another ship instead. Which, again, doesn't make a lot of sense, since we already know from leaked photos that the Millennium Falcon will be in the new movie.
Or do we?
Ridley and Boyega's characters aren't the only ones looking for Skywalker. A new group of baddies stationed on an ice world have their paws on a big weapon that can destroy more than just a planet.
Badass Digest writer Devin Faraci allegedly kept details of the film's plot "vague" to not spoil things. Which is also not very believable. But I'm just the messenger.
Disney has not commented on the supposed leak.
However ... a website called firstshowing.net supposedly has inside information confirming what Badass Digest is reporting.
We'll see ...
Tony Hicks provides celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Contact him at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/insertfoot.


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|Send News. Want a reply? Read this. More in the FAQ. News Forum - All Forums - Mobile - PDA - RSS Headlines Twitter
Battle.net now offers the promised first installment in their new "ask the devs" Q&A series for Diablo III. This points to this page with the answers to community-submitted questions about the upcoming version 1.07 patch for the action/RPG sequel, divided into sections concerning Brawling, new item crafting, gems, and classes, including first concrete discussion of proposed changes for the Monk "One With Everything" skill. Additionally, this post discusses how Blizzard is discontinuing the practice of reviving Hardcore characters as part of their account rollback service, so softcore hardcore players will no longer be able to perform CPR on their dead characters by calling Blizzard support. This change takes effect with version 1.07, and the post says the new version is expected to go live tomorrow in all regions.
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EAU CLAIRE — Flames destroyed a community mainstay Thursday night but not the memories.
Delisio's Market — the former Thompson's Market and before that Beatty's Market — was emblematic of the old country store in rural America.
The three-story building on Main Street, around for generations, went up in smoke and fire despite the efforts of more than 100 firefighters from nearly 20 departments in five counties.
"This is where you'd get your milk, your bread, whatever," said Chief Dale Sellers of the Eau Claire Volunteer Fire Department. "I got penny candy here as a kid. It's been here forever."
Though the landmark building is gone, firefighters earned high praise for saving another business, an automotive painting and detailing shop, just feet away.
"There aren't many businesses here," said Chief Reid Campbell of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department. "The town lost one but the guys save one, too."
The fire broke out shortly after the store closed at its normal 9 p.m. time, authorities said. It didn't take long for the blaze to grow into something not seen for some time in these parts.
"It's the worst one I've been to," said Sellers, who's been fighting fires since 1989.
It appeared the fire started in the corner of the building, possibly in the basement, where the electrical boxes and furnace were located, fire officials said.
But what ignited the blaze is not known. The state police fire marshal's office is investigating.
The extent of the damage also was not immediately known. Authorities guessed it could be $200,000 or more.
The fire was finally out around 1:30 a.m. today. There were no injuries.


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There's just something about M.O.T.
Some of my earliest memories involve treks across muddy plywood through a wetland front yard to higher ground, where I watched my father and his friends build my family's new home from foundation to shingles.
There's just something about M.O.T.
Some of my earliest memories involve treks across muddy plywood through a wetland front yard to higher ground, where I watched my father and his friends build my family's new home from foundation to shingles.
When we moved from Newark to Middletown, I had no idea that seemingly magical land where I was raised was embedded in an area I would come to adore.
This isn't the first Transcript column I've written that outwardly admits my love of southern New Castle County. I wasn't quite sure how I would write something I haven't written before … until I got back in the swing of interviewing some my "contacts" who became more like friends during and after my time working for this paper.
Speaking with Dr. Tony Marchio brought memories of my years in the Appoquinimink School District to the forefront of my mind.
It was probably his very first week as superintendent when he walked into Mrs. Ahmed's sixth-grade trailer classroom to introduce himself to us. Just four years prior I finished the second grade at Silver Lake Elementary and entered brand new Cedar Lane Elementary. It was already overcrowded by 1995, as was Redding Middle School, which is why four trailers full of my classmates and I didn't get to go to middle school at an actual middle school until grade seven.
Dr. Marchio spoke then of a new building under construction – Middletown High School, from which I graduated in 2001. Those high school years were highlighted by three consecutive Division II varsity football championships; we screamed for our boys from the southeast end of the old wooden bleachers of the Cavalier stadium as we watched them dominate game after game. Nobody topped Middletown football; they never really could.
I spent most of my youth falling for the endless landscapes of farm fields, many of which no longer exist. We didn't have much to do growing up in southern New Castle County, so we built and grew friendships so strong that we became an almost extended family, hundreds deep.
During my time at college in Salisbury, Md., new friends would comment to my fellow MHS alums and me that we were of a different breed. We were a type of characters they enjoyed having around – a type that could only come from a "Middletown" cultivation. There's just something about M.O.T.
Every time I drove home from Salisbury I was met with a new neighborhood, stop light, and even a few stop signs I blew through unaware they had even been erected.
I worked for the Delaware State News after college and felt my blood pressure rise as I sat in Route 299 traffic on my way home. There were no traffic jams in high school, and we knew the occupants of nearly every car we passed in town.
My time at the Transcript helped me see the silver lining of the area's growth. I learned and wrote about many of our new residents (you're still "new" even if you have been here since 2000), and started to appreciate that I rarely had to leave my little M.O.T. bubble. Everything I needed was right here.
I became immersed in the history of Odessa while reporting on their Town Council and the Historic Odessa Foundation, and eventually came to adore the place I now call home – Townsend.
Several years ago, my significant other and I walked along Broad and Main streets during our first "date" and ended up at Cochran Square, where I told him all about the area. He said, "You really love this town, don't you?" I do. There's just something about M.O.T.
My first thought when Jimmy Reynolds told me during his interview that he always sees the same people at the grocery store was that I always see strange faces; but this past weekend I ran into three friends within 10 minutes at Walmart.
Sometimes I still can't believe we have a Walmart, or Amazon.com, or nearly anything that looks like it was built in the past 15 years – because it was.
These days I take every chance I get to revere the remaining farm fields and landscapes. They still surround us, as does the charm that makes southern New Castle County what it is.
If you haven't noticed that charm, I invite you to slow down, look around, talk to neighbors you may not know, and breathe in the place so many of us love unconditionally, because there's just something about M.O.T.
Shauna McVey worked for the Middletown Transcript from 2006 through 2010, first as a reporter and then as managing editor. She grew up just north of Middletown town limits and currently resides in Townsend.


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What in the wide wide world of sports is going on with Alec Baldwin?
(If you didn't get that, go to YouTube and type in "Blazing Saddles Slim Pickens.")
Anyway, Alec Baldwin apparently went on a 24-hour tear where he confronted reporters in at least four separate incidents, shoved one or two, knocked the camera out of a photographer's hand, issued gay slurs, pulled his gay hairdresser outside his shop to tell the world he's not homophobic, almost beat another reporter up, and hit a parked car.
It's a good thing Alec Baldwin is a gentle liberal.
The fun started Thursday when, just hours after Baldwin's stalker was convicted and sent to jail for seven months. One would think the guy would be in a good mood.
Things started to get a little wild when Baldwin felt a photographer got too close to Baldwin's wife and baby outside their Manhattan apartment. Video on TMZ shows Baldwin taking off in angry pursuit of the photog, yelling, cursing and calling him a "(expletive) (gay slur)."
TMZ pointed out that the photographer -- who wasn't theirs -- did get really close.
A rep for GLAAD told TMZ, "Mr. Baldwin can't lend his support for equality on paper, while degrading gay people in practice. It's clearly time he listens to the calls from so many LGBT people and allies to end this pattern of anti-gay slurs."
Baldwin, who initially said he used the term "fathead" instead of the slur, apologized Thursday night on Twitter.
Fast forward to Friday, when Baldwin was walking to his apartment and was approached by a reporter from FOX5. According to TMZ, as the reporter tried to ask a question about the stalker case, Baldwin said, "If you're still here when my wife and kid come out, you're going to have a big problem, you know that don't ya?"
As Baldwin walked away, he reportedly said, "You ARE as dumb as you look. You are with Fox, right?"
See? He IS a gentle liberal.
Later Friday, Baldwin reportedly shoved a photographer outside the apartment and smacked a camera out of his hand. Once again, it was all caught on tape.
The photog said, "You shoved me into a car," to which Baldwin responded, "You tried to hit me with a camera."
The photog said, "I didn't try to hit you with a camera," to which Baldwin said, "You take a walk ... you don't wanna get hurt, do ya?"
I actually went to journalism school to write this stuff.
According to TMZ, Baldwin then went into his hair salon, eventually bringing out his gay stylist to prove to whomever was around that he likes gay people.
No, I'm not making that up.
Baldwin asked the man, "Am I a homophobe?" To which the hairdresser jokingly said "Yes, big time."
Afterward, Mr. Hairdresser told TMZ, "I don't think he's homophobic. I don't at all. Whenever he is in here, we are always talking and cutting hair. He booked an appointment for today, he always does and he is a good tipper."
Oh ... well, OK then.
But WAIT, the day wasn't complete. Baldwin got into his third confrontation of the day, screaming at a female reporter and demanding nearby police arrest her. TMZ said it was unclear what set him off -- and, really, at this point, does he even need a reason?
He then reportedly screamed "(expletive) you" at another reporter, before hitting a parked car
Baldwin supposedly went after the female reporter because his wife Hilaria pointed out the reporter and told Baldwin "That's the one that almost hit me."
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Alec Baldwin may have anger issues.


text:
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
"NASCAR Now" Preemptions Continue
Monday should have been a huge day for ESPN's NASCAR Now. Host Allen Bestwick has worked very hard to put together a 5PM Monday hour of solid NASCAR TV. Normally, Bestwick and three panelists review the weekend, preview the upcoming races and talk with a NASCAR newsmaker.
This Monday, ESPN2's time-shifted coverage of the NHRA US Nationals was scheduled until 6PM. Instead of airing NASCAR Now at that time, SportsCenter crossed over from ESPN and took the 6PM timeslot. SportsCenter then jumped over to ESPNEWS at 7PM and ran for three additional hours.
Once again this week, the Tuesday through Thursday 5PM editions of NASCAR Now have been preempted. The US Open tennis tournament also pushed NASCAR Now off the air last week. Tennis has not been kind to the series this summer.
ESPN switched most of it's Sprint Cup Series races from ABC to ESPN in order to deliver a more focused audience, be more flexible with time issues and keep NASCAR content on cable.
ESPN2 is home to the only "support programming" that NASCAR gets on the ESPN family of networks. The single TV series that has aired in support of the sport since 2007 is NASCAR Now. There are no other regularly scheduled NASCAR programs on the ESPN networks.
In 2006, ESPN became the major TV rights holder for NASCAR in a multi-year contract that exceeded a billion dollars. ESPN was back and NASCAR was elated. Just last week, NASCAR media executive Paul Brooks spoke to reporter Dustin Long from Landmark Newspapers.
Brooks told Long that the cross-over promotion on ESPN programs will really help the TV ratings for the actual Sprint Cup Series races. "They're turning the dial up at a time when we need it most," Brooks said of ESPN. "We've worked pretty hard with ESPN to get this to a pretty good place. We're anxious to see the results of this."
Well, Brooks is going to have to stay up late to see his results. The Tuesday through Thursday NASCAR Now shows air at midnight Eastern Time or later with no re-airs. The Monday show was cancelled.
After racing since February, this is the week leading up to the final race before The Chase for the Championship. The entire point of ESPN returning to the Sprint Cup Series was to provide a comprehensive multi-network media platform for NASCAR content.
Once again preempting the original airing of ESPN's daily NASCAR TV news program at this critical time does not seem to fall in line with "turning up the dial."
We welcome your comments on this topic. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
28 comments:
- Adam Wood said...
I miss the Monday recap shows, rather it be NASCAR Now or This Week in NASCAR or one of it's predecessors. If I missed the race, they were great shows to fill me in on what I missed. Now, I guess I am to use the web service in my non-3G coverage area to watch a 10 minute NASCAR.com recap.
- September 7, 2010 at 2:09 AM
- KoHoSo said...
As for the issue of cross-promotion, it seems to me that there have been a lot more NASCAR race promos shown on the "ESPN Family of Networks" this year especially on ESPN-U. However, I don't think that is going to help much as it is all in commercial breaks that get ignored more and more as each year passes. Where the cross-promotion needs to come from (in addition to having a stable schedule for NASCAR Now), is during the heart shows and games that people actually watch. Unfortunately, that's hard to do when so few of ESPN's "stars" actually understand auto racing or at least give it a little respect.
- September 7, 2010 at 5:10 AM
- GinaV24 said...
somehow I am just not surprised to hear that NN is pre-empted again. As I've stated before, I am NOT "chasing" programming around on ESPN's channels and timeslots.
I can find Racehub on every day at the same time and the same channel. If I'm not going to be home at 7 p.m., I can set the DVR and know that I'll record the program I wanted to see. Steve is doing a great job and I really am enjoying the show.
I do like Allen Bestwick as well and its a shame that ESPN has decided to do this to the program. I agree that if this is ESPN's idea of turning up the dial to get viewers to watch the chase (who might not already do so), then they have a weird way of looking at things.
But then again, considering the disrespect that NASCAR gets from the hosts on SC, why should I bother tuning in to the post-race coverage either? Turn up the dial? How about if someone gives those 2 clowns a smack on the head?
- September 7, 2010 at 9:19 AM
- Anonymous said...
In this age of DVRs, does it really matter what time NASCAR Now is on? Who actually watches it live any more? I have my DVR tape it whenever it is on, and I watch it in my free time. It really doesn't matter to me if it is on at 6pm or midnight - it will be on "tape" for me to watch at my leisure.
- September 7, 2010 at 10:48 AM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 10:48AM,
Of course it does! You can't record the 5PM show and then get the NASCAR news when you come home from work if the show doesn't air.
The late show is actually the re-air slot for the 5PM ET program and will only let West Coasters get NASCAR news that day.
The exact reason that the 5PM show is so vital is that it let's East Coast NASCAR fans come home from work and do exactly what you described, watch the program at their leisure.
- September 7, 2010 at 10:57 AM
- JohnP said...
I'm with GinaV24. I've stopped chasing Nascar around the dial. I know right where and when the NFL will be this fall. The times, the channels. I don't have to look it up to see where everything is. Because with Nascar, it changes everyday.
On a somewhat similiar subject of viewing Nascar I have a question to anyone here. I have a friend in Australia in love with Nascar. They don't air the race untill about a week later there for some reason. I told him about TrackPass and was asked to check into it more. So I have. The question is: Is it just a cartoon racing video image?? Because it looks that way to me from the advertising on Nascar.com. If so I can not recommend it at all. We grown ups. Or is it a real racing video stream like TNT had?? Thanks to anyone that answers.
- September 7, 2010 at 11:00 AM
- BToS JD said...
ESPN management not at all oriented toward NASCAR beyond PROFIT from NASCAR.
ESPN IS ESPN...they do things THEIR OWN WAY and nothing else matters!!!
I only watch ESPN for NASCAR races when I have no other choice, I use them for nothing else. They are entirely too SELF CENTERED for my taste and especially for my TIME.
If more folks would turn them off and their revenues drop, they might respond to viewers. They have no need to with today's 'tuned in' viewers.
- September 7, 2010 at 12:10 PM
- PammH said...
Gina sums up my feelings perfectly. If they didn't air the races, I would NEVER turn on BSPN, because I don't watch any other sports.
- September 7, 2010 at 12:46 PM
- TVtrucker said...
JD, so when do all the Network contracts expire? Then we can watch online like the rest of the modern world.
When does the contracts for the FOX talent renew. My guess they were contracted for 7 years in 2006 so that should bring some chance too!
- September 7, 2010 at 12:59 PM
- Dannyboy said...
I've said it before, but I'll say it again; no - actually, GinaV said it for me!
And for Anonymous re: DVRs: Well, I've had one for about a month now, and even though I'm on the West Coast AND get home late evening, the late re-air almost NEVER comes on at its "as listed" time due to carryover from other events. So therefore I have to set the recorder from before the listed time until after the listed time. Since I might also want to record something else, and my DVR will only tune 2 signals at one time, either I have to stop watching tv during the overlapping record times, or drop one of the recordings. My choice has been as Gina's: I ain't chasing ESPN around the dial (or the DVR schedule), as much as I love AB, RC, et al. ESPN is for my sports viewing purposes a "necessary evil".
- September 7, 2010 at 1:52 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
TV trucker, four more years on the TV and five on the online deal.
- September 7, 2010 at 1:52 PM
- TVtrucker said...
That's a long time to wait on online viewing.
They need to grow fast with the times and get something going on the internet by next year and help the sport.
Or, will it hurt the sport?
That is a good question.
- September 7, 2010 at 2:11 PM
- Lisa Hogan said...
As others have said, I only watch ESPN when it is the only option to watch a sporting event.
Although I enjoy Bestwick, I gave up on Nascar Now some time ago.
- September 7, 2010 at 2:25 PM
- Anonymous said...
Here in SF Bay area - DirecTV - all last week even though it showed Nascar Now on at 9:00 pm or 10:00 pm (to match midnight or 1 pm Eastern broadcasts) - every show recorded was something else - didn't see a single Nascar Now.
Same problem as Dannyboy except I refuse to do the manual record and tie up hours of DVR space.
Will it be the same this week??????
- September 7, 2010 at 3:46 PM
- David said...
My question is just how much "swing" the personalities have. You have to believe AB, Marty Smith, DJ, etc. have voiced their displeasure. Surely someone of importance at Disney reads blogs like this to figure out what they're doing right/wrong. Say what you want about Fox, but there is no way Mike Joy, DW and Larry Mac would sit around and let these problems happen week in and week out. Maybe it's just because of the difference in timing of th season? Maybe ESPN should kick off the season when nothing else is on and let FOX pick up the rest of the season. I just feel like at some point, AB or someone of his stature and credibility has to stand up, give the finger to an ESPN exec and say "Stop destroying the sport I love."
- September 7, 2010 at 3:53 PM
- Anonymous said...
Time shifting might be OK... provided you're cool with that, I'm not, and provided the show actually airs in the secondary time slot. Unfortunately, ESPN has shown little interest in airing NASCAR Now no matter what time you're talking about. Often NASCAR Now's secondary slot also get's preempted by something else... usually something totally arcane which only adds insult to injury.
I never thought I'd say it but they actually make NBC and FOX NASCAR coverage look good.
- September 7, 2010 at 5:33 PM
- boyd said...
ESPN has shifted not only NASCAR NOW, but Qualifying, Practice and even pre race for years.
This support program appears to be on life support.
- September 7, 2010 at 6:15 PM
- Haus14 said...
I will concur with those who rightly pointed out that the DVR doesn't do you any good if NN doesn't show in the listed time slot.
Also, it seems that ESPN needs to re-evaluate their programming priorities. How SportsNation keeps its timeslot over Nascar Now is beyond me. Nascar Now is a show that is directly linked to a sport that ESPN has a vested interest in having views watch.
It just seems there isn't much consistency or rhyme and reason to the way ESPN chooses to shift and move their regularly scheduled programs when there is conflicts with live sporting events.
- September 7, 2010 at 6:44 PM
- Anonymous said...
And they want me to buy what?
A "Checkered Flag ESPN® "Cause its Racing" Hat?" Are they catering to the Fox viewers that bought DW's Digger & Friends crap?
By the time I DVR a midnight version of NASCAR Now, it's stale news.
My captcha word was "icalic" - kinda sums up how I feel about NASCAR on TV.
- September 7, 2010 at 6:55 PM
- Anonymous said...
An absolute shame! People will not chase this show for much longer :(. It's like when it seems networks want a show canceled they give it the death kill by putting it on at a time they know no one will watch.
@boyd--yup :(.
I 'member I think their first year CFB (as usual) went long and then the N'wide race went long so they delayed the already tape delayed HH to around midnight. I know folks who recorded/stayed up and were PISSED. TV never said that HH would be interrupted half way through for some silly Baseball show. So folks who stayed up on the East Coast were pissed that it was interrupted and folks who recorded only got half of HH. We have to chase N'wide every Saturday and came close to it on Sunday. I wonder how much longer folks will be willing to Chase N'wide especially since if we're lucky Countdown gets put on a channel that some don't have :(. And a lot of folks skip Countdown since 99% of the time it's All Cup Drivers All The Time & if a N'wide regular is featured it's a true miracle! With one exception (that I recall) they've missed a GF for all markets.
- September 7, 2010 at 6:56 PM
- 51 yr. fan said...
I can't believe all my Planeteers
would not tune in NN. You may miss
a chance to hear Brewer explain
brake bias or why wheels wooble
when the lug nuts are loose.
Seriously, I gave up on it a long
time ago, unless I stumble on it.
Lots of coverage in Race City on
the HOF and how they may be short
on "donors". Few are reporting
that NA$CAR takes 10%.
- September 7, 2010 at 7:01 PM
- hotaru-hockeymaiden87 said...
They don't seem to care, as much as they tell us they do.
But I'm up late, and since there's nothing on at that time, I keep track of how late the delay from the actual scheduled time is. (unless I fall asleep)
- September 7, 2010 at 7:58 PM
- Sally said...
ESPN finally had a good quality show about Nascar, and they are killing it. You can't record a program that isn't on when advertised. It's as big a joke as most of the race 'coverage'. Nascar is the only thing I watch on ESPN. Now I can eliminate even that.
- September 7, 2010 at 8:20 PM
- PammH said...
Sally-it's pretty sad, isn't it? AB had made a credible show on Mondays & the addition of Ricky Craven was gold! All for naught, since BSPN thinks Nascar sucks! I say that from the way they treat the fans. And they really don't give a @@@!...sad.
- September 7, 2010 at 9:05 PM
- boutitbenza699 said...
i bet Speed is gaining viewers for NASCAR Race Hub in both it's 6PM CT and 1AM CT time-slots since ESPN2 like to mess up the schedule for Tennis and then lets other sports run over and screw the late night pre-taped lineup.
- September 8, 2010 at 2:53 AM
- Donna in FL said...
I'm sick of chasing NASCAR Now. I really like the show, Booo ESPN for not finding a different predictable slot for it.
Thank god there's RaceHub snug & secure in its slot when scheduled. Guess they get my whole weekly NASCAR attention NOW.
- September 8, 2010 at 10:08 AM
- saltsburgtrojanfan said...
ESPN should not have acquired U.S. open tennis as a matter of fact they should not try to be big bad ESPN and acquire TV rights for sports because there have been issues with airing other programming that people seem to like such as NASCAR Now. ESPN is not the only TV channel under the sun
- September 8, 2010 at 5:52 PM
- FloridaMatt said...
I chased NN when Racehub was not all that good, and all I got for my efforts were hours of dvd recordings that often didn't have a smidge of Nascar in them.
And even now, when Racehub is a lot better than it used to be, I still have a slight preference for most of the folks on NN. Nevertheless, the dvr's been switched to racehub instead of NN.
Heh. capchta word is "voiding"
- September 8, 2010 at 6:48 PM


text:
Dear Editor:
This Monday, PATH riders began paying even more for their daily commute. It's a shame, during these difficult times that working families will be squeezed even harder by toll hikes and fare increases.
What is especially disparaging is that a package of reforms to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) that the Legislature passed, and I sponsored, did not earn the governor's approval. After this latest round of toll and fare hikes, I joined my colleagues on the Assembly Transportation Committee to put together some tough, common-sense measures to end the political cronyism, wasteful spending, and the history of allocating funds on projects that do not necessarily improve transit that have plagued the Port Authority. As I have said time and again to leaders at the Port Authority and in Trenton, before the Port Authority institutes crushing toll and fare hikes, the public deserves to know that the authority's funds are being spent efficiently and properly.
The aforementioned PANYNJ Transparency and Accountability Act would give the public greater accountability, disclosure, and training for Port Authority officials. Under a separate bill, the NJ Legislature has the ability to subpoena and review Port Authority records to ensure toll money is not being wasted. Further, I have sponsored a package of bills to curtail excessive pay, eliminate outrageous agency perks such as free EZ Pass devices and require the PANYNJ start making payments in lieu of taxes on their real property located within our state.
Further, the bills I took a part in authoring will end conflicts of interest between employees of the bi-state transportation authority and contractors that often lead to wasteful taxpayer funded contracts. If these bills are made law, there will be a two-year waiting period for former employees seeking employment with companies that do business with the authority, and a bar on gifts or discounts on items that may influence decisions or a bidding process.
Now, if you believe last week's rosy picture painted by an audit paid for and directed by the Port Authority official themselves, you won't have any problem paying extra on your ride to work. But, if you're like me, and think the credit agency that just downgraded the Port Authority's credit rating has a better idea of the waste continually perpetuated by this authority, then I need your help.
The simple, common-sense measures that I helped pass would bring much needed reform to the wasteful PANYNJ. The governor and Port Authority see things differently. I urge you to call them and tell them it's time to get behind real reform and end the waste at this agency.
The PANYNJ has become a professional patronage mill and its executives are resistant to change, but commuters should know that I will continue to seek legislative action so a hard-working man or woman is paying reasonable tolls and fares to get to work and not to finance bloated salaries, outrageous benefits and giveaways to preferred contractors.
I hope you'll join me in this fight.
Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
Deputy Majority Whip
Assemblyman, 33rd District


text:
I'm not happy about the U.S. Postal Services decision to stop mail delivery on Saturdays.
I'm not happy about the U.S. Postal Services decision to stop mail delivery on Saturdays. Mail will cease to be delivered on Saturday, beginning Aug. 1.
There are some exceptions to the new ruling, like mail-order packages, medicine and express mail. But items like bills, cards, letters, catalogs and junk mail will not be delivered on Saturday as of August.
The only thing even remotely good about this idea is one less trip to the recycling bin to throw outmy junk mail.
Is this really necessary? Has it truly gotten this bad? I can't honestly say, but it certainly is a shame.
I'm not so sure a move like this can actually occur without the powers that be, Congress, giving it approval. I can see a battle here in favor of both sides of this issue. Regardless, USPS officials say the decision can save as much as $2 billion a year.
The U.S. Postal Service is yet another victim of technology. Someday we'll pay the price for our reliance on technology, and it won't be pretty. We are putting way too much stock into its reliability. People are using e-mail and social media to relay information that would have normally been sent via a postal letter. That's all fine and dandy until Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Twitter or what-have-you decides to charge for such services. Don't tell me it won't happen someday. Everyone will probably have to have a PayPal account or use iTunes to use the services at some point. This is America and it's all about the God-almighty dollar.
I hope companies (places to whom you owe money) will readjust their payment practices to allow for delayed payment situation, considering mail won't be delivered on that day, which means most items will be behind at least one day in transition. Some companies won't tolerate payments if they arrive past their due date as it stands currently — I can only imagine how this will impact that issue come August.
I can't help but think of the Pony Express days and how important it mean to get the mail there on time.
What do you think about this news? How will it affect you?
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Facebook.com/DavidT.Farr


text:
The interview was conducted in July 1987, a few months after the first release of the Psychological Horoscope Analysis. While some information given by Alois Treindl refers to this time in the 80s, most of what he said is still valid and interesting background information.
Since March 1987, Astrodienst Zürich has been offering its own development of horoscope analyses. What was the reason for this development?
Alois Treindl:
The aim of astrology is to make statements on a person's personality and problematic issues in life by means of the birth chart. There are two ways to attain this: either one studies astrology oneself or one turns to a person who is knowledgeable in this area. Until recently, Astrodienst was offering its services mainly to people involved in astrology themselves. There are many who study astrology as a pastime but also many who work with astrology, e.g. astrologers and psychologists, doctors and natural healers for whom astrology serves as an additional diagnostic means. Apart from these, however, there is a larger group of people interested in what astrology can tell them. So far, we couldn't do much for these people apart from sending them to an astrological consultation or to seminars. In order to be able to offer something to them, we developed - in co-operation with a worldwide leading astrologer - the Psychological Horoscope Analysis by Astro*Intelligence.
Why did Astrodienst only now develop such a project? The need for this service must have existed much longer.
Some firms have been offering so-called computer horoscopes for some time, i.e. computer-made astrological interpretations. The methods and computer technologies they employ lead to results which in our eyes are rather unsatisfactory. Astrological consultations should be held with the same sense of responsibility as for instance medical diagnoses or psychological consultations with a marriage counsellor. An astrologer shouldn't come up with off-the-cuff statements. Before counselling people, a serious astrologer will generally have interested him- or herself in astrology and, hopefully also psychology, for years, but will also have dealt with the question of what counselling actually means. Astrologers also need a fair amount of life experience. When setting up a computer programme to make astrological statements on an individual, one has to ensure that the programme possesses as many abilities of a human counsellor as possible. Until recently, this was impossible for technical reasons. In the last few years however, methods of information technology have been developed which aim at imitating an expert's ability with a computer. This area is generally circumscribed as 'Artificial Intelligence', although a better name would be 'knowledge based systems', 'knowledge processing' or 'expert systems'. The problem is to teach a computer knowledge in a certain field so that it can fulfill an expert's function. Once achieved, the computer can then offer solutions to specific problems. Our task therefore was to make astrological interpretations with the computer by using this new technology.
What is the difference between Astrodienst's new horoscope analysis and other available computer interpretations?
I wouldn't want to run the other services down, but I think one can say that, qualitatively speaking, we are much more advanced.
Are the other services based on a cookbook principle?
The term 'cook book principle' doesn't quite convey the difference, because in the end we, too, work with text components, meaning that the final printout contains ready-made parts of text. More important, however, is the inner context of these components and how they are evaluated within the programme to make up a complete reading. One could say that, so far, cook book recipes were being used: take a certain text for Mars in Scorpio, a certain text for Mars in the Second House, a certain text for Sun in Pisces, a certain text for Sun in the Sixth House, take a text for the aspect between Sun and Mars and then string these parts of text together. No human astrologer would ever work like this, but this is exactly what computer horoscopes hitherto did. Our programme, on the other hand, has a complex mechanism to solve problems. It contains expert methods to solve problems, and our computer is capable of applying these abilities. If the comparison weren't so dangerous, I would rather compare it with a medical or a psychological diagnosis. In these areas one cannot work with a straightforward linear-additive method, i.e. a method which looks isolatedly at individual factors and then strings them together. It needs an expert to recognize connections and patterns. 'Artificial Intelligence' allows the computer to 'see' images, to recognize structures and to find analogies throughout the whole chart. The programme works with psychological models which it has saved. In that regard, the programme's method can be compared to the method of a human expert. It is rather a synthetic than an analytical method.
So the programme more or less simulates an astrologer's procedure?
When an astrologer looks at a horoscope, it means more to him than a mere compilation of various planetary constellations. Although s/he knows the individual factors that make up the horoscope, s/he also sees references and topical issues. S/he recognizes opposites and similar factors which are prominent in various constellations. Therefore s/he can relate factors to one another which at first glance don't seem to be connected. This distinguishes an expert from a layman simply using a fixed concept.
How can a computer do this? Doesn't it function by being told, if this is the case, do that, and if that is the case, do this?
This is exactly what became possible with the programming techniques of expert systems or Artificial Intelligence. One feeds the computer descriptions of such topical issues. In the computer jargon they are called 'frames'.
What do these descriptions aim at?
First of all, I have to clarify my view of the human soul or psyche. It is based on the perspective of Jungian psychology. We do not just have a single Ego, a conscious will, surrounded by an environment, but each of us contains a whole lot of forces, of facets. They are like a whole group of inner figures representing different roles and personalities, just like figures in a drama. Each person has something similar to his or her own individual drama of life. These figures differ somewhat in every person. Their co-operation and their conflicts represent the inner conflict of a human being which often reveals itself in his or her life. These inner figures combine to make up me and my character. Some of these figures are conscious. For instance, I am well aware of my rational side that thinks analytically, because I need it for my job, for programming. I live out my social side with friends. My 'joie de vivre' side is revealed when I cook a meal and invite friends round for dinner. Through these conscious figures I act within my life. But there are also figures I am not aware of. They are hidden and emerge only in certain situations such as crises, and I cannot determine when they surface. For instance, I might react aggressively to a certain irritation without this being part of my normal personality. That means there is something within me which can also be aggressive and destructive. These various figures and their individual weighting become visible in a horoscope. The inner figures correspond to certain constellations and patterns in the horoscope. This is the basis on which astrology functions. When looking at a horoscope, one recognizes certain emphases of planetary constellations, zodiacs, positions of houses etc. An astrologer is able to interpret these constellations and to comment both on the conscious and the unconscious side of a person. When these unconscious figures emerge suddenly, they can create problems in life. But there are also very positive, creative figures amongst them. Often a person isn't even aware of this creative potential. S/he was never really able to develop it because it never got called forth from the unconscious. So one cannot describe these figures as either positive or negative. The knowledge base of our programme contains descriptions of such inner figures and also describes which astrological combinations are related to such figures. The knowledge base of the programme also contains a description of the relation between the individual figures. Some form proper pairs of contrast - for instance, there is an individualist who has no illusions as regards the world and mankind, opposed by the social type. Or there is the conservative, fatherly type opposed by the youthful spirit, representing the typical conflict of irresponsible and overly responsible. Then there is the contrast of the soberly cynic and the romantic type or archetype. So the knowledge base of the programme contains descriptions of those conflicts which may arise through the antagonistic forces in a horoscope. But there are also descriptions of relations between the figures. The romantic type, for instance, is related to the youthful, adventurous figure, and in parts they have similar traits. On the other hand, the individualist and the traditional patriarch get on somehow; at least they don't interfere with one another.
Could one call these inner figures archetypes?
Certainly. The archetypes represent the basic figures of the human psyche. They are described particularly in mythology.
So the programme contains an extensive rule engine?
I wouldn't call them sets of rules, although rules do play a part. It would be more precise to call them sets of patterns. That is the main thing. When the programme is fed the horoscope of a certain person for analysis, it goes through the whole range of archetypical figures and checks in how far the astrological combinations suggest their actual existence in this particular case. Actually the programme doesn't go through all types but makes choices and excludes certain figures from the outset. But it would be too complicated to discuss in detail how the programme works. The programme checks whether the described patterns exist in the individual and in how far they are appropriate. Generally it finds several such patterns in a horoscope. Then it has to decide which ones of these patterns are most important and how they are to be related. In doing that, the programme pays special attention to the ones that are most strongly opposed. It is an important concept of the psychology of the subconscious that inner oppositions will also become an issue in the external world. Therefore such pairs of opposition are of vital importance for the interpretation. The programme also checks relations. If e.g. three figures with similar traits appear, countered only by one opposite, it is likely that a character trait from the first group will find expression in a person. The shadow, however, is generally suppressed; it is not visible at first sight in the personality of this individual and often remains unconscious even to the person concerned. That means the recognized patterns are balanced against each other. In this way the computer decides on the issues which are most important for the person whose chart is being analyzed. These traits are then described. This is how the Psychological Horoscope Analysis is produced.
How does the programme determine the psychological type depicted in the first part of the horoscope, in chapter II?
Chapter II of the analysis deals with what C.G. Jung called the four psychological types. These four types correspond to the four elements fire, water, earth, and air. The intuitive type whose imagination is strongly developed, and the sensual type mainly guided by sensual perceptions, form a pair. The second pair is made up of the rational type, the thinker, and the emotional person whose foremost functions are feeling, sympathy etc. The programme assesses the distribution of planets in the various elements and draws conclusions as to the psychological type. Very often one finds imbalances, meaning that a certain element is represented only weakly or not at all. This is called the undifferentiated function. But another function will be the strongest one. Yet a second function can be just as strong and therefore must be considered as well. Liz Greene calls the psychological type the set within which the psychological drama takes place. This set in which the figures will act largely determines the atmosphere of events. In a sensualist, inner figures living more in fantasy, removed and not earth bound, will have difficulties living out their qualities. If the mental function is emphasized, inner figures more orientated towards emotion will not feel at ease. Therefore it follows from the first part of the analysis which figures will find it easy or difficult to enact themselves, which ones will express themselves openly and which ones are more likely to be pushed into the shadow. This basic determination already reveals very much. The four basic types also correspond to the four humours, the melancholic, the choleric, the sanguine and the phlegmatic, although these old terms are no longer valid for our modern way of thinking.
What is the function of the analysis' main part?
As already mentioned, the main part of the analysis, chapter III., determines astrological patterns corresponding to archetypical issues and balances them. The computer then decides which ones are most important and are expressed most strongly. It so say looks for the main conflicts of the inner psychic life. Sometimes the programme even finds two or three main issues.
Can the programme always decide amongst the various issues?
That isn't always easy. An astrologer actually facing the client could find a clue as to which figure eventually became predominant in the life of the person concerned by looking at his or her appearance and what they say. In such a case, the programme lists the descriptions of the opposing figures as equally important. It describes both, because we don't know which figure became predominant in the life or the momentary phase of life of the person concerned. But one can describe this pair, thereby offering the reader access to his or her own self-awareness.
What is the difference between a psychological consultation and the lecture of this computer-made analysis?
An astrologer coming from a Jungian background will approach his task with similar instruments and a similar method as our programme does. However, he has at his disposal a vital additional source of information: the client facing him. He can ask the clients questions, and this is a great advantage over the computer programme. If he finds that several issues in the horoscope are of more or less equal importance, he generally - merely by asking the clients questions - can determine which one they chose for themselves, with which of the two sides they identify most. This the computer programme cannot do. But basically it occurs only rarely that issues are of equal weight. Normally, one issue prevails. The astrologer can also focus much more intently on the things the client approaches him with. The client wants to know something that he doesn't know about yet. That's why he approaches the astrologer. Therefore the astrologer can limit himself to these aspects. Inevitably, the computer text contains much more information. It doesn't know where the client stands, what s/he knows and what else s/he would like to know. There are people who are not very aware of themselves. They know only very little about their own psyches. Other people know quite a lot already; perhaps they underwent several crises and found themselves in psychologically difficult situations. In a personal consultation, the focus is much stronger. That is why our text is so detailed; in a normal book, it would take up 40 to 50 pages, and one needs several hours to read it thoroughly.
Can this computer text replace an astrological consultation?
One must consider what actually takes place in an astrological consultation. It is not a situation in which mere knowledge is transmitted. Two people sit in the same room. The sympathy with which the astrologer considers the problems laid out to him by the client is of importance. A care machine cannot replace a nurse, and likewise, a human, sympathetic astrologer cannot be replaced by a computer.
You mean, the astrologer has also a therapeutic function which the computer cannot fulfill?
The astrologer is a fellow being, a sympathetic person whose task is helping others. Not every astrologer sees himself as a therapist, and not every client visiting an astrologer regards himself as consulting a therapist. The astrologer is a sensitive, counselling fellow being, a helper. This human function cannot be fulfilled by the computer, a machine. On the other hand books, e.g. psychological books on marriage crises etc. written by sympathetic authors can help us. Such books convey many human qualities, because behind them there is a sympathetic author writing from his own life experience, his expert knowledge and his experience in dealing with such problems. A book of this kind not only conveys knowledge but also enables the reader to find himself emotionally in it, to find himself in other people's problems described in the book. Reading a book can initiate important emotional processes. The same considerations apply to the Psychological Horoscope Analysis. It is not just cold paper printed by a cold computer. The author introduces her emotional intelligence, her sympathetic abilities into the text which is then printed out by the computer. After all, the texts weren't written by the computer itself. They were created by an extremely experienced psychotherapist and astrologer who wrote a number of psychologically astrological books that are internationally known. Through her text, many human qualities are conveyed in the analysis. As opposed to a book, however, these texts were selected specifically for the reader. When reading a book, you find certain paragraphs which touch you especially, which resound in you. In a psychological volume of some 500 pages, this will be only very few pages. This is where the Psychological Horoscope Analysis differs. As the texts were selected specifically for the reader by means of the above-mentioned process, he will find practically only such pieces of text which mean something to him and which tell him something personally. In this sense, the Psychological Horoscope Analysis was not made by a computer. Rather, we inserted parts of an astrologer's abilities into a computer model. Statements and texts written by an experienced astrologer were stored in the computer and are reproduced individually.
So the author of the texts and of the astrological knowledge is a key figure in the realization of the Psychological Horoscope Analysis?
The realization of a project such as the Psychological Horoscope Analysis requires two things: on the one hand the expert with the specific knowledge, responsible for the text, and on the other hand the information specialist, the so-called knowledge engineer. His job is to structure the knowledge of the expert and to give it a shape which the computer can understand. Only in this process between expert and computer specialist can an expert system come into existence. Both sides are necessary.
Who is Liz Greene?
Liz Greene is an internationally leading astrologer and astrological author. She is one of the main figures in modern psychological astrology and modern psychology of the subconscious. Dr. Greene is a psychologist and a trained Jungian psychoanalyst in London. She works both as a psychoanalyst and an astrologer. Her astrological activities include consultations and the writing of astrological books, but she also holds seminars in astrology on a regular basis and heads a school for psychological astrology. Her books have been translated into some ten languages. Apart from books on astrology, she also wrote two historical novels and children's books. With her ability to write and her widely developed psychological background she became the one person to unite astrology and Jungian psychology. Not that they ever were divided: C.G. Jung had always been interested in astrology and did horoscopes for many of his patients. His daughter then had to actually draw them. Ms Gret Baumann-Jung, incidentally, is one of the leading Zürich astrologers. But only Liz Greene made this area accessible to the larger, psychologically interested public. This is also due to her fluent style of writing; her books are very lively and make for fascinating reading. Her aim has always been to transport astrology back into psychology. In former times, astrology was an all-encompassing system of thought. It was connected with all other sciences, representing so say the earliest psychology. In former times there was no specific branch of science that dealt with the human psyche. Freud's modern analytical psychology developed for the greatest part quite rationally. It stems from a different source. It was formed by a rational, nearly mechanistic image of man. In C.G. Jung's psychology, the deeper, submerged sides of the psyche were expressed and came to the surface quite legitimately. Liz Greene sees her task in tracing these submerged areas by astrological means, thereby making astrology accessible and acceptable for modern psychology. She has a solid base in both areas and is therefore able to bring them together.
Can these analyses also be misused? Could they even be harmful for certain people?
Paracelsus already said that every medicine is also poisonous. It all depends on the dose. The same applies to astrological material. The analysis presents a large amount of psychological material. The text itself contains no astrology as far as planets, houses or zodiacs are concerned. The text deals with psychological issues and problems. Psychological material can indeed be harmful. It happens to every young person interesting him- or herself in psychology: you buy a book on inferiority complexes, you read it and are aghast to find that you suffer from the self-same complexes. One goes through a phase in which one finds within oneself all those dark sides described in a psychology book. Such a book can wreak havoc in somebody who is unstable. But in the hands of somebody seriously interested in the search for himself it can be of great value. In earlier times, many books were proscribed by the church because they were considered to be harmful to the general public and one didn't credit the normal people with the ability to cope with them. That was for instance the case with books on sexuality. Damage and harmfulness are therefore relative terms. Everything dealing with problems and conflicts in life can be useful und helpful, mainly because becoming aware of problems is always a better choice than suppressing them. So we should rather enquire about the usefulness. Nonetheless, if one discloses to a person who is on the brink that s/he also has a father complex, s/he might become deeply depressed. Insofar, every psychological text, even a novel describing a certain problem, can be just as dangerous or as useful. It can induce a crisis. But the question remains whether a crisis in itself is harmful. In itself, it is useful because it denotes a change. The Psychological Horoscope Analysis contains the potential to induce crises. However, there is no difference between this and anything else which functions as an impulse to the psyche. The authors are very much aware of the responsibility in connection with such a product. We do not know for certain who will actually receive the analysis. Mostly it will be people interested in psychology and astrology who want to know more about themselves. We state clearly in the information leaflet that the analysis will deal with the psychological issues of each individual. We don't send the analysis anonymously to somebody who never asked for it. We surmise that everybody ordering an analysis from us is aware of what they are ordering, what is awaiting them. The texts are developed with a great sense of responsibility. They are not intended to tell everybody they are a mass of complexes. The underlying idea is that many things submerged in the individual - treasures buried in the psyche or the unconscious - are worth bringing to the surface. Once they have surfaced, they can heighten a person's creativity and joy of life, for integrating the various submerged parts of a whole personality means raising the quality of life. When a person goes through a process of integration, a richer whole, a more mature personality emerges. These unconscious creative sides are stated expressively in the analysis. Not that the darker sides are glossed over - but every darker side also has a creative aspect. Dealing with aggressiveness for example doesn't make a person evil but makes him or her whole. Nonetheless, as I already said, anything can induce a crisis. This is the reason why we enclose a questionnaire with every analysis, offering people the opportunity to react. We think this is of vital importance. The reader doesn't just get something thrown at him. We are prepared to consider each reader individually, to an extent which depends on each case. We are very much interested in getting feedback from the readers. This also offers them the opportunity to send out an 'SOS' and to turn to us. If we receive such a signal of confusion and bewilderment, we don't leave it at that. We assess the feedback and deal with it accordingly.
The analysis is intended for adults. Can an analysis be made for children?
The Psychological Horoscope Analysis deals with the problems of adult life. It is intended as lecture for the person described in the text. The analysis deals very much with the unconscious side of the psyche. Therefore it's not particularly useful to have an analysis done on somebody else. Of course it can be interesting to find out what it reveals about one's boss. But that is not the aim. The analysis was written for the adult who would like to face himself. If the analysis is not to expand into a vacuum, life must have been lived, because otherwise there are no problems of life to be dealt with. To a child of ten, the analysis would mean as little as would a book on marriage counselling. That's the reason for imposing an age limit of 14 years. It is always difficult to draw precise lines. We believe that people reaching maturity should have access to the analysis. If we made the analysis only for people over 20, we would be disregarding all those bright seventeen- or fifteen-year-olds interested in psychology. But we are aware of the fact that setting up age limits is always arbitrary.
What did it take to develop the product as it is now?
It required two experts: the specialist who provided the expert knowledge and wrote the texts which eventually were selected. On the other hand it needed a computer specialist, the knowledge engineer, to structure this expert knowledge and transform it into a computer programme. Knowledge processing is a new field. Methods for setting up expert systems can't be bought off the shelf. It is not a widespread computer technology which every programmer knows about. One can't just buy a knowledge processing system instead of a text processing system. Expert systems are an area which is just finding its way from the universities into practice. A user wanting to work with knowledge processing systems has to create a great many software and programming tools himself. S/he could buy extremely specialised computers built only for Artificial Intelligence, but at a price. I have been dealing with the area of Artificial Intelligence for four years now and have acquired knowledge in this field. I learnt the relevant programming languages: at first Lisp, at Zürich University, then the language Prolog at the ETH. We eventually decided to base our project of astrological expert system on the language Prolog. This is a very modern programming language which was created specifically to combine logically rules, statements and logical thinking. Prolog is the language which a few years ago the Japanese decided on for their well-known Fifth Generation Computer Project. This is a combined project of the Japanese computer industry. Their aim is to promote a general breakthrough of Artificial Intelligence. It took roughly four years to create the basic programming techniques and the necessary software tools and to shape the programme. An important step was to re-write the programming language Prolog for the computers at our disposal. We had to develop a special language compiler for our Hewlett-Packard computer. We were in close contact with the ETH Zürich where a Prolog compiler was being developed for the computers at the ETH. I contacted these people and, in co-operation with them, ported and developed the language to adapt it to our computers. This Prolog interpreter became a software parcel for HP computers and is now on sale. It is so say a side product of our actual development. From 1983 to late 1985, we worked on these preliminary tasks: acquiring the technical know-how and creating the software tools. The time from late 1985 to early 1987 was spent on the actual realization of the project: setting up the basic knowledge, the programme and the texts for the production of Psychological Horoscope Analysis.
Are you a computer specialist, an astrologer. or both?
In the main part I was of course the computer specialist.
What is your educational background?
Originally, I studied physics. After graduating, I took my doctor's degree at the ETH Zürich in experimental solid state physics. That was in 1981. But all along I was strongly interested in computers. For me, physics was often secondary to the problems and the use of computers. But then I also was interested in psychology. There was always a certain tension between the psychological interest in people and the rational, scientific interest in physics and computers. There always were two sides in me that did not fit together. In 1979, I encountered astrology. That was a very intensive experience. Astrology has more or less two sides; it is a mixture of a symbolic psychological associative system which moves within the field of the irrational, of that which cannot be grasped logically and causally. At the same time, astrology relies on the precisely calculated orbit of planets which encompass in their astrological system also the Sun and the Moon; therefore, astrology has a mathematically correct side as well. In astrology, both these sides are necessary. An astrologer needs a precisely calculated chart in order to interpret it psychologically. Perhaps that is why I was fascinated by astrology from the very beginning. I then started to read books on astrology, to attend seminars. I transferred the calculation of horoscopes onto the computers, tools I was very well acquainted with, and from these playful beginnings, Astrodienst developed. That was quite early, in 1980. In those days I did that beside my work in the laboratory at the ETH. In the evenings, I used to develop the programme for drawing planets and their orbits. After taking my doctor's degree in 1981, I worked for Astrodienst Zürich, the astrological calculation service, and made this my main task. This service was very well received. Through mastering the modern, advanced methods of programming, I helped to raise the qualitative standard of astrological calculations, of graphical denotation etc. So I have been dealing with astrology for many years, but mainly with the technical aspects, the calculation of it. I always knew that the mere calculation would not satisfy me. I wanted to bring these worlds closer together. I wanted to join the world of the computer with this irrational psychological side which is so difficult to structure. I constantly educated myself further in information technology and very soon guessed that, by means of the new methods of Artificial Intelligence, one might succeed in tackling the Psychological Horoscope Analysis with computers in a responsible way - not just to paste together certain astrological text units with a cook book but to imitate the model of how an astrologer looks at a horoscope. In the following, I got more and more involved with this new field and I learnt about the methods of Artificial Intelligence, until it was time to start on a concrete project. That was, as already mentioned, in 1985. While working with Liz Greene, implementing her astrological knowledge on the computer, I intensified my involvement with astrological interpretation and learnt much more about astrology. I am not only a technician disinterestedly designing a programme. Not at all. In the process of transferring the knowledge of a leading astrologer to a computer, I developed into being an astrologer. Today, I am both an astrologer and a computer specialist. Recently, I began to do astrological consultations myself. A computer programme is always limited, whereas a personal consultation can impart something important for the person concerned. I learn a lot from my personal clients. But of course, a consultation costs much more than a computer analysis.
Are you happy with the product as it is on offer now?
Yes, I am very happy. And I am a very sceptical and self-critical person. I could explain that to you from my horoscope. Sometimes I might even be too self-critical. I hesitate for a long time before I find something good enough to actually offer it. And so, during the development of the programme, I received a lot of feedback from friends and through psychoanalytical work. Before introducing it, the programme was tested intensely. Already then we received a good deal of positive reaction. We didn't write the basic knowledge just like that but tested it time and again. We constantly ran through a great number of people we know very well and checked how well the models worked. We wanted to know whether the programme really found the most important issues within these persons or not. So we've always been involved in a process of learning, and still do so. I am happy, I am even surprised with what we have achieved. Of course we could continue working for another three years and make it even more detailed. But I believe that the current programme is very good and it would be a pity not to make it available for those interested in it. And then one also has to consider the costs: the development is very expensive and we have to appear on the market at one point.
Do you plan to develop the programme further or to add similar analyses?
Both. We don't see this programme at all as definite. The methods it entails are very good, they work, and in that sense they will remain. But the contents will become more detailed. Feedback from our clients enables us to find out where the programme grasps the least, where it may still be somewhat uneven, where it doesn't express itself clearly enough or where the presented material is met with incomprehension. Apart from developing the existing programme further there are of course other important issues in astrological counselling, for instance including the quality of time. For that, a birth chart is not enough because it is fixed. Moving through time, we constantly encounter certain phases in which certain issues emerge and are particularly acute. Others we leave behind, and that is how change takes place. In astrology there are several methods to find out which issues are more acute at present or will be in the near future. Introducing the dimension of time into the astrological analysis is an addition we are thinking about. The other issue is relationships, partner relationships. This is one of the main issues in psychological and astrological consultations: crises and conflicts in relationships or the lack of relationships. This is an area where astrology can achieve a lot. Astrology is able not only to look at a person but to juxtapose two people and see how the issue relationship reveals itself in the two individual horoscopes and which interactions exist. This issue is mentioned in the Psychological Horoscope Analysis, but it is not the main question and the analysis does not look at both partners.
Does the Horoscope Analysis also contain predictions?
It certainly doesn't contain predictions in the vulgar sense of 'Watch financial matters this month!' We do not deal with astrology on this level at all. However, the basic belief is that one's character is one's fate. That means that whatever exists within me as a conflict will be expressed again and again in my life. Especially things that I have suppressed will confront me from the outside. This is connected with mechanisms of projection etc. There is something like wisdom of fate and of life and it seems to be a lifelong task to face the tasks and conflicts one was given at birth. If I don't look inside myself and face these conflicts, I will encounter them externally. In this sense a description of a character, of something within me, also points towards things that can confront me externally. The more unaware somebody is, the less he has faced himself, the more likely it is that life will confront him quite brutally from the outside. Each description of the issues of an individual's life is therefore in a way also a prediction and at the same time a non-prediction, because by consciously dealing with the conflict one can avoid having to be made aware of this conflict externally. There is a kind of 'dewitchment' which occurs when one faces one's inner conflicts and complexes. Thereby the process of becoming aware turns into a liberation, a redemption from fate. That may sound a bit presumptuous, but it's exactly what psychoanalysis does: introspection redeems one from a fate which otherwise appears externally or internally through one's body. This is the secret of psychosomatics. Therefore one can't separate prediction from the analysis of a character. But predictions in a narrower sense of the word, of what will happen when and how - that we don't do. And one can't do it, exactly because consciously dealing with an issue can invalidate fate and make it unnecessary for something to happen.
I noticed that the analysis contains a lot on the parents, that it even risks making statements on the parents' relationship. How is that possible?
Those are actually two questions. One is: How is it possible? And the other: Why do we do that? One has to ask what parents mean psychologically. The parents are not only external people with whom you live as a child, who cook food for you and educate you, but they play a nearly overdimensional role in psychology, especially in the psychology of the subconscious. The parents are a child's very first experience with the male and female aspects. One's mother is the first woman one gets to know. One's father, or the man who fulfills the role of a child's male career, is the archetypical male who encounters the child. In Jungian psychology one talks of Animus and Anima, the inner male and female sides of each individual. In a man, the Animus side may be more on a conscious, the Anima side more on an unconscious level, and vice versa in a woman, although it is not always this obvious. But the parents' figures always relate to these inner sides. They, so to say, play the part of model character for my inner female or male side. That means, my inner female side is connected with what my mother is like. My inner male side is connected with what my father is like. Not necessarily what my father is like externally; he also has an unconscious side. My mother, too, has an unconscious side which might not be fully expressed in her life but which a child, unconsciously, is very much aware of. As the horoscope depicts my main psychic parts, it also depicts Animus and Anima. It depicts my male and female archetypes, which of course have a lot to do with parental figures who were, after all, the first models. Observations in practical astrology have revealed that the parents can be traced in their child's horoscope. Not necessarily their exterior self; in reality, one parent might very well have been absent, but the child's horoscope contains a father figure none the less, regardless whether it is a woman's or a man's horoscope. From a horoscope one can learn a great deal about parental figures and how they were reflected in the child's psyche, and that is of great importance to me. After all, the parents were the first role model of a relationship. The experience I had with my parents moulds my ability to strike up relationships, my ability to handle conflicts. To face one's parents as represented in the horoscope gives one access to a vital level of problems and conflicts within oneself.
Which criteria does the programme employ to make statements on relationships?
On the one hand, we employ traditional astrological interpretations such as Seventh House, position of Venus etc., on the other hand, based on a psychological concept, we believe that a person often would like to see his or her unconscious sides reflected in their partners. You could call it projection. The issue of relationships is therefore closely connected to the main part of the analysis which describes the main figures of a character.
Do you strive to fully grasp the person described by the programme?
We strive to depict the issues in the life of the described person and thereby to encourage them to face themselves. The more consciously people deal with their problems, the more they elude the description of the programme. On the other hand, it generally is exactly these people who realize that the description addresses the main aspects of their personality. We don't claim to fully grasp a person in our programme. That would be presumptuous and arrogant. Luckily, even a computer can go wrong.
What is the point of this Psychological Horoscope Analysis?
We believe that the analysis will help the reader to become more aware of the topical issues in his or her life and thereby to learn to cope with them more consciously. This can be a real help in life. Consciousness means redemption from one's fate.