Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] What's goin' down?

["Captain Nemo" <vulcania@interpac.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Keefer" <Ray.Keefer@west.sun.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] What's goin' down?


" Hi Captain, I'll toss a few at you:"

Standing by!  ;-)

" Sinkers"

Might confuse the fishing crowd.

"There're designed to sink"

Sounds more like a slogan than a title.

"Going deep"

Might confuse the football crowd, or require an XXX-rating.  ;-)

"Submersibles"

Hmmmm!  Not ostentatious or presumptuous; clear and to-the-point; identifies
the subject matter in a no-nonsense way.....I like it!  But something tells
me it needs to say something more: something that defines our particular
genre of submarines which are "other than" military or built for war.  I was
thinking of "Civil Submersibles", but it conjurs up images of courts and
lawsuits, and that bugs me. "Civilian Submersibles?"  I don't know...kind of
suggests a certain "less than military" quality; and I don't think we're
"less than" anyone!  ;-)  Still searching...

"Looking Glass - to an underwater world."

Sounds like it was done by Jacques Yves Cousteau.

"Nerves of steel to a world of wonder"

Too macho!  Images of nail biting terror; sweaty palms; death-grips on
controls...

"Escape Machines"

Submarines built by inmates?

"Beattles/pods/shuttles to the Next Frontier"

Wha?

"Deep Pioneers"

Hmmm.  Maybe something like this.  Maybe not in these exact terms (I'm
visualizing Daniel Boone in coonskin cap with a psub named "ol Betsy"); but
I like the concept that, in our own way, we are exploring new domains.
"Deep Pioneers" sounds like it's more about people than subs; then again,
maybe there's nothing wrong with that.  After all, the boats are really only
an extension of the people who engender and operate them.

"Common Man to the Sea"

Yeah, I see where you're going with this one; and I can relate to us as
being "everyman's" niche in submersible sciences.  But then again, many
(most/all?) of our contributors are not "common" at all.  This angle has
merit, and deserves additional thought, though.

"Underwater Access"

Sounds like part of an ad for lakefront property...;-)

"Volkswagons of the Deep"

Actually, I really like this one!  If it was only about homebuilts, I might
go for it.  But I don't think our professional contributors would appreciate
being placed into this category.

"Dare to Submerge"

The daredevil in me likes this one, too.  But do we really want to represent
ourselves (and again, our professional contributors such as those in the
tourist sub business) as devil-may-care?  They want their passengers to feel
secure.

"Extreme sub-machines"

Hmmmm...maybe.  It's got "excitement" to it.   Thinking...

You see my problem?  I'm trying to describe a phenomenon ranging from guys
welding on propane tanks in back yard shops, to professionally-built
submersibles which rival spacecraft in sophistication.  Where's the common
ground?  What is the one thing all these boats have in common?  They're
all.....what?  Submarines?  Yes, but what kind?  Experimental?
Recreational?  Homebuilt?  Yes in some ways, but not in all cases.

Heck, I'm going to go take three TYLENOL and kick back with ROGET'S
THESAURUS.  I need a word here.  The right word will make all the
difference.

Please forgive me if my gestalt to your contributions was a bit too abrupt
at times; it's all intended as good fun and I really appreciate your help,
Ray.  You've given me some new angles to think about.

Mahalo,

Pat