A Play for a Cast
of Two in One Act By Donald
Cronkite, Hope College A Play for a Cast
of Two in One Act By Donald
Cronkite, Hope CollegeBing and Bong are friends who like to talk about interesting subjects, especially biology. Their conversations have been recorded in a series of dialogues, written to be performed as plays. Choose another person to join you in performing the dialogue. Seat youselves before one or more computer monitors where this dialogue is on the screen. Decide who will be Bing and who will be Bong, and then begin your performance. Remember, this is a play, and you should read your lines aloud and with feeling. following the stage directions when they appear. When links appear, follow them for important information.
The Scene: Bong has agreed to help Bing choose a new bicycle. Bong likes to ride, but he knows very little about the fine points of bicycles. The store is a bicycle superstore, with an enormous showroom displaying all possible makes and models not to mention a vast selection of accessories such\ as padded bike trousers and the latest in chain lubricants.
Bing Well, Bong, here we are at the bicycle shop. I'm glad you joined me in choosing a new cycle. There are so many in this showroom, that I don't know where to start.
Bong: Glad to do it, Bing. Bicycling has always been a passion of mine, and I have worked to stay informed about bicycles by reading various consumer magazines.. Well, with such an enormous selection to choose from we will be here quite a while. Let's get busy.
Bing: Yes, let's begin. What is the best cycle, Bong?
Bong: Alas, Bing, there is no one good cycle. It depends entirely on your needs. But let's just browse for a time and then we will be able to make a more informed decision. Look, right over there is a classic that's been with us for years, a fully equipped carbon cycle.
Bing: What a handsome machine, Bong. What can it do?
Bong: There's no telling what all it can do. People have been studying it for years, and the carbon cycle keeps offering up new wonders. Look, here are some brochures. Let's look at one..
Bing: An amazing set of facts, Bong. I didn't know there was so much to know about the carbon cycle. Imagine it being driven by sunlight. And all that stored carbon in beds of oil or coal. It boggles the mind. Well, I'll keep this in mind as I decide what to buy. What other cycles should I c consider?
Bong: No shopping trip would be complete when looking for cycles without a peak at the nitrogen cycle. What I especially like about it is how a nearly inert gas like dinitrogen can be converted to usable molecules by simple bacteria. See, here it is on this label.
Bing: Amazing, Bong, really quite amazing. Yes, the hard work of simple bacteria explains how nitrogen becomes nitrate and nitrite. But look, the cycle is completed by other bacteria who can change those back to nitrogen. Look at that!
Bong: Yes, perhaps a little technical, but you're right. This denitrification is what makes the nitrogen cycle a cycle.
Bing: Well, we must continue our search, Bong. That phosphate cycle over there has considerable charm. And look. at the label: some of the phosphate even comes from dinosaurs.
Bong: Come now, Bing. From dinosaurs! Hardly possible, I would think.
Bing: Yes, it's true -- fossil bone, it says. Imagine. Some phosphate groups in my cells today may have been in a Tyrannosaurus rex before.
Bong: Or perhaps one of those little dinosaurs that scurried out of the way of Tyrannosaurus rex.
Bing: Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bong. But, say, that gives me an idea. What about the more obscure cycles. Why go with one of the big boys? Do you know a good buy in an off-brand?
Bong: Cadmium and vanadium cycles are pretty obscure. Look what this Dr. Robinson has to say about them.
Bing: They may be pretty good buys, Bong, but not enough is known for my taste. I prefer a cycle that I know I can depend on.
Bong: Well, you've seen most of the old stand bys, so I guess we're through looking.. What would you like to buy?
Bing: It/s not that easy., Bong. I can't decide,,,I simply can't decide!! What will I do? Where will I turn?
Bong: You need a community, Bing, a place where you can gather the views of others on the subject. I know a place on the Internet where you can find that community, have a good time in synchronous communication, and perhaps get a bargain on a new cycle.
Bing: Well, it sounds a little goody-goody to me, Bong, but I'll try anything at this point. Hoe do we get there, and what do we do when we succeed in getting there?
Bong: We go to Tapped In, a support for learning communities to meet and learn. Type http://www.tappedin.org into your browser and we'll have a look. (Each now proceeds to Tapped In as directed.).
Well, here we are. Did you have any trouble logging in? They try to make it easier for you.
Bing: I had a little trouble coming up with a log in name that they would accept, but here we are. Now what?
Bong: I have arranged for us to meet in a member's office, a Jewel Reuter, who agreed to meet with us and a group to discuss the question of which cycle to purchase. To get to her office we simply give out the command JOIN JewelR. Here, I'll show you. Then follow me to Jewel's office. [The two type JOIN JewelR and are transported to Jewel's office almost by magic -- almost. It's actually electronics, not magic.]
Bing: Amazing. It's almost like magic, even though it's really just electronics. But I thought we were here to meet with a crowd, a community I believe you called it. This is simply an empty room, except for the potted plant, the furniture, and that white board over there on the wall.
Bong Yes, it is strangely quiet. Nobody seems to be here. But look, over there, speaking of that white board. There's a message on the board. "Bong -- We decided you and your friend (was it Bung or Ping, I can't remember) weren't coming after all. But we had a conversation about cycles and even arrived at some conclusions. A transcript of our conversation, as with all conversations at JewelR's Tapped In office, has been made and we left it on the table. Hope it helps with the new cycle."
Bing: Bung or Ping, indeed. Who would ever name a child Bung? Bung,, indeed. Well, let's take a look at this transcript of theirs and see what they talked about. Mr. Bung, no doubt. I hardly think these people have an interest in helping old Bung.
Bong: Calm down, Bing. I'm sure they meant it in all innocence. Let's see what's on the transcript.
[At Tapped In members can arrange to have a transcript made of conversations at their discussions. These records are helpful to those who cannot attend a particular meeting. In this case, all the flavor of a Tapped In conversation as well as the content, was faithfully preserved. We return to the discussion.]
Connected to TAPPED IN on Wed Jul 11 17:12:39 2001 PDT.
Jajalama23 [guest] arrives from nowhere.
Dingo2 [guest] asks, "Hello, everyone. Glad you could make it. Are we
all here?"
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "All but those two friend's of Jewel's, Bung
and Pung or whatever."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] says, "No, I think it's Ping and Ging. Or Bim and
Pim."
Dingo2 [guest] asks, "Enough of this. Let's not forget why we're here.
Does anyone remember?"
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "I remember. Some dude wants to buy a new
cycle, and they think we can be of help to them
in that endeavor. We've all seen our share of
cycles, that's for sure."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] asks, "I'll say. The world is full of cycles --
life cycles, cell cycles, Kreb's cycles.
What other cycles can you think of?"
Jajalama23 [guest] asks, "The Glyoxalate cycle, and, of course, the ones
we deal with the most, the biogeochemical
cycles. Does this guy want a biogeochemical
cycle?"
Dingo2 [guest] asks, "That's how I get it from Jewel. Right Jewel?"
JewelR says, "So he says. It's Bing, by the way, Bing and his friend
Bong.(To talk, type here and press return)"
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] . o O ( I hope this Bing understands how important
these cycles are. )
Dingo2 [guest] says, "A penny for your thoughts, AnaphaseI. Don't keep
it to yourself."
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "Ana does that. Many a time has she had a
thought she wouldn't share, then later she
amazed us with her brilliance."
Dingo2 [guest] says, "Well, he's been to the cycle superstore. surely
he must have obtained a sufficient understanding
from such a visit. Seeing all those cycles in one
place can be eye opening."
Jajalama23 [guest] . o O ( This conversation is getting eye-closing. )
Jajalama23 [guest] asks, "Well, let's get to it then. What kind of
cycle does he want?"
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] says, "OK. OK. I was just thinking about whether
this Bing has a clear understanding of the
importance of these biogeochemical cycles.
Just wondering."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] says, "I suggest he try a good, tried and true,
relatively stable carbon cycle. Can't beat
one of those. Plenty of glucose and as
sunny as the South of France."
Dingo2 [guest] asks, "Very romantic, all this sun and fun. But I wonder
if something more peculiar might not fit this Bing.
A cadmium cycle?"
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "No, no, no! None of you, nor this Boing
character either, has even considered the most
obvious choice. I say get on the water cycle.
That's the way to go."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] says, "Good thinking. Think of all the evaporation and
precipitation going on. What a cycle that is.
And the cycling through living things is
pretty impressive too."
Dingo2 [guest] says, "Yes, 80 - 90% water."
JewelR asks, "What does that mean? 80 - 90% water? What's 80 - 90%
water?"
Dingo2 [guest] says, "Oh, sorry, living things are 80 - 90% water.
Think of that. The little bit of non-water holding
us all together so we don't all fall onto the
sidewalk as little puddles."
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "Little puddles. I never thought of that.
Little puddles. So this water cycle is pretty
important."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] asks, "So it's agreed. The water cycle is the way
to go? How about the silicon cycle? or the
magnesium?"
Dingo2 [guest] asks, "Definitely water. That's the one. He'll see it
the minute he hears it. So where is the guy?"
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "I don't know, but I have another meeting
across town in half an hour. I've got ot
leave. Does anyone need a ride? I've got a
sidecar on my cycle."
AnaphaseI2001 [guest] says, "Yes, I'll go with you. Hold on while I
make a quick phone call and then I'll be
ready to go."
Dingo2 [guest] says, "I have my own cycle, thanks. I'll see you at the
health spa on Monday, Jewel."
JewelR says, "Right. You guys go ahead. I'll write a note to Bing and
Bong and turn off the lights."
Jajalama23 [guest] says, "logout"
JewelR says, "Well, they've all gone. I'd better write that note."
JewelR has disconnected.
Disconnected from TAPPED IN on Wed Jul 11 17:40:56 2001 PDT.
|
Bing: An amazing transcript, Bong. Or is it Boing? Ha! Bung and Boing!
Bong: Enough, Bing. Enough. Welll what do you think of their idea?
Bing: A water cycle? Not a bad idea -- a perfect solution?
Bong: Great!! You should go far on that cycle.