Thursday, May 31, 2007

Jolly Roger - Rich Heros - Pluto and Linda Tripp - Porn a Tech Driver - HIV in Africa

[11:58:04 AM] pD says: how is AE doing?

[11:59:00 AM] nsy says: he was supposed to be out sick today, but i've seen a couple of emails from him.

[11:59:21 AM] pD says: do you know that we can do a joint drawing thing?

[11:59:32 AM] pD says: i will send you an invite and we can try it, if you are game

[11:59:47 AM] pD says: I would like to invite you to use "Sketch Pad". If you have Skype 3.0 you can open this Extra by clicking this link: skype-plugin:open?id=F35E193DC3E84933B83DE961D9AC33BF

Otherwise please visit http://www.skype.com to get the new Skype.

[12:00:44 PM] nsy says: i guess i need the new version

[12:02:57 PM] pD says: oh, well. when you upgrade. They also offer multi-player games. thought ti would be kind of fun to do it with you and AE

[12:03:32 PM] nsy says: AE should be back, but working from home tomorrow

[12:12:16 PM] pD says: no worries. just wondering how AE is feeling. but, he is not on skype

[12:21:56 PM] nsy says: i think hes on yahoo [deleted]

[12:22:31 PM] pD says: too lazy to install yahoo IM

[12:22:41 PM] pD says: can i talk to AE via skype at yahoo

[12:24:38 PM] nsy says: not sure - doubt it. i use trillian

[12:26:44 PM] pD says: trillian is?

[12:26:54 PM] nsy says: http://www.download.com/Trillian/3000-2150-10047473.html?part=dl-trillian&subj=dl&tag=button

[12:27:18 PM] nsy says: a chat manager. you can add all of your chat accounts to one tool and manage them there - except skype

[12:28:30 PM] pD says: hahaha! bastards! skype!

[12:29:07 PM] nsy says: yes. skype is secure unlike most other clients

[12:29:21 PM] nsy says: it actually encrypts the conversation

[12:31:21 PM] pD says: okay

[12:31:24 PM] pD says: i take it back

[12:31:28 PM] pD says: it is a good thing then

[12:31:32 PM] pD says: they are unbastards!

[12:31:58 PM] nsy says: yes, and they offer free voip - very cool!

[12:33:52 PM] pD says: can you entice AE to sign in to skype?

[12:34:54 PM] nsy says: oops - he's gone now. his virtual ears must have been burning

[12:35:28 PM] pD says: so, how do you burn virtual ear?

[12:35:49 PM] pD says: btw,

[12:35:58 PM] pD says: i changed the GUI for the blog: http://nsa-chatters.blogspot.com/

[12:36:16 PM] nsy says: by having a virtual conversation about someone in their absence

[12:36:37 PM] nsy says: nice!

[12:36:43 PM] nsy says: i like it :)

[12:37:05 PM] pD says: maybe we can get a pix of the jolly roger for the crew section?

[12:39:57 PM] nsy says: http://www.flagguys.com/img/piratedeskflag.jpg

[12:40:14 PM] nsy says: http://www.historylink.org/db_images/jollyroger.jpg

[12:40:49 PM] nsy says: http://www.ederflag.com/images/NonPublishedImages/Coffee%20Mugs%20Specialty/JollyRogerCoffeeMug.jpg

[12:42:33 PM] nsy says: http://www.70millionrats.com/U_S_Jolly_Roger_flag_for_web.jpg

[12:42:33 PM] pD says: actually, i was hoping that you could take a pix of the jolly r above us

[12:42:44 PM] nsy says: uh... oh, right!

[12:42:58 PM] pD says: more of a human touch

[12:43:12 PM] nsy says: http://www.richarddavies.us/archives/2006/10/pumpkin-jolly-roger.png

[12:43:20 PM] nsy says: ok, i'll stop

[12:44:02 PM] nsy says: just one more... http://www.talesofthesevenseas.com/BSJollyRoger.jpg

[12:44:51 PM] pD says: hahah! do you use google image?

[12:45:04 PM] nsy says: of course

[12:45:25 PM] nsy says: not so much "use" as "abuse"

[12:45:46 PM] pD says: same difference

[12:46:51 PM] nsy says: hm... corporate acceptible abuse policy?

[12:47:13 PM] nsy says: sure - i'll buy that

[12:48:50 PM] nsy says: wow - you inserted the images and everything - it looks great!

[12:49:13 PM] nsy says: as borat would say: "very nice"

[12:50:49 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:51 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:53 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:54 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:56 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:57 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:58 PM] pD says: ...

[12:50:59 PM] pD says: ...

[12:51:02 PM] pD says: NOT!

[12:53:50 PM] nsy says: this suit is black not

[12:54:02 PM] pD says: saw the film recently

[12:54:14 PM] pD says: found it a bit too middle/high school-ish

[12:54:30 PM] pD says: pretty dsiappointed 'cause i was hoping to laugh out loud

[12:55:02 PM] nsy says: yes, it wasn't quite what i had hoped, but i was amused by the social commentary

[2:05:39 PM] pD says: i must have become an old fart somewhere along the way

[2:05:49 PM] pD says: i thought the first few minutes were kind of "cute"

[2:05:56 PM] pD says: but, it wore thin rather quickly

[2:07:11 PM] nsy says: well, the "interview the unexpecting" and laught while they are made fools of, is not my favority comedy. unless it is The Daily Show ;)

[2:07:52 PM] pD says: you know

[2:07:58 PM] pD says: i have never seen the daily show

[2:08:00 PM] pD says: i know of it

[2:08:04 PM] pD says: but, cannot get it on my tv

[2:08:08 PM] pD says: no cable

[2:08:25 PM] pD says: so, i only get PBS, NBC, (sometimes) ABC

[2:08:31 PM] pD says: but all the spanish cahnnels are quite clear

[2:08:40 PM] nsy says: heh - sounds like my radio

[2:08:52 PM] pD says: i also get the channel that play the A's baseball games

[2:09:19 PM] pD says: they have good re-runs on some of the shows that I cannot see like The 70's Show

[2:09:41 PM] pD says: but, the truth is that i do not watch a lot of standard TV programming

[2:09:50 PM] pD says: mostly movies

[2:10:00 PM] nsy says: got o videos here http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml

[2:10:54 PM] nsy says: yes, i usually watch History channel, discovery or A&E. we record some comedy central shows like daily show for moments when you need some comedy.

[2:11:23 PM] nsy says: check out the interviews

[2:13:34 PM] nsy says: one of the greatest tv moments was when he was on crossfire and killed taht show for good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Stewart#Crossfire_appearance

[2:14:19 PM] pD says: yeah, i heard about it

[2:14:34 PM] pD says: i think it has to do with the overall ideological tilt of W and neocon's

[2:14:44 PM] pD says: in many ways, i do feel sorry for them

[2:14:52 PM] pD says: they really believe in what they believe in

[2:15:18 PM] pD says: in many ways, it is this "cynical" world that killed their conviction

[2:15:21 PM] nsy says: yes, it seems sad to be so shortsighted

[2:15:37 PM] pD says: recall what happened to clinton during his first term?

[2:15:46 PM] pD says: they wanted to change the world, but they got changed

[2:15:48 PM] nsy says: which thing?

[2:15:51 PM] pD says: same story

[2:15:57 PM] pD says: oh, healthcare

[2:16:19 PM] pD says: of course, the difference between clinton and w is that clinton has lower body count

[2:16:23 PM] nsy says: interesting. i never looked at it that way.

[2:16:34 PM] pD says: but, unfortunately, that is not how the history judges the presidential legacy

[2:16:50 PM] pD says: oh, recall the bruhaha about hillary leading the healthcare thing?

[2:17:03 PM] pD says: she was the "shadow" president who is smarrter than bill

[2:17:29 PM] pD says: but, people bulked at the idea that an unelected person would preside over such a momumental national policy

[2:27:34 PM] nsy says: what can you say to that, really? you're right, of course - its unfortunate and unfair. So, how would things be different if pD ruled the world? 1) less body count=better president, 2) ...?

[2:29:14 PM] pD says: hold, hold, hold

[2:29:45 PM] pD says: less body count is good only if it enhances my glory, i.e. if my glory index is linked to the body count. watch out!

[2:30:24 PM] nsy says: i see how you are - gloryhound

[2:30:39 PM] nsy says: so, are you a fan of alexander?

[2:30:45 PM] pD says: the great?

[2:30:54 PM] pD says: i know lots of sasha

[2:31:26 PM] pD says: actually, how i look at it is that the president is only the representative of the popular perception

[2:31:48 PM] pD says: nobody would be a glory hound if everyone else do not give a hoot

[2:33:02 PM] nsy says: the president SHOULD BE the representative of the popular perception, but they often misrepresent themselves

[2:33:40 PM] pD says: well, that is actually a very dangerous statement - never forget the tyranny of the majority

[2:33:50 PM] pD says: that is technically what happened with Hitler

[2:34:10 PM] pD says: he did get to his positoin legally

[2:34:12 PM] nsy says: i stand corrected

[2:34:55 PM] pD says: more over, in a more political science context, by definition, a president elected in a democracy cannot represent everyone

[2:34:59 PM] nsy says: i guess he technically did not misrepresent himself, but i'm guessing he did not campaign on the genocide ticket, but i don;t know

[2:35:02 PM] pD says: lest there is no opposition

[2:35:42 PM] nsy says: by popular, i assume majority

[2:35:44 PM] pD says: not an expert on that part of the history, but he was never shy about his hatred of jews and the internaional finance they were suppose to represent

[2:36:03 PM] pD says: yeah, then, there is the trap of majority tyranny

[2:36:16 PM] pD says: on a related note

[2:36:53 PM] pD says: i find it absolutely fascinating that most second presidential terms were mired in controversies

[2:37:00 PM] pD says: W - where do I even begin

[2:37:06 PM] pD says: clinton has his monica

[2:37:16 PM] pD says: reagan has his iran-contra

[2:37:28 PM] pD says: Nixon has his watergate

[2:38:00 PM] pD says: LBJ has his 'Nam - although I do not think that he saught a second full term

[2:38:17 PM] pD says: something about presidential power and hubris

[2:38:26 PM] pD says: or sloppiness in the context of clinton

[2:38:38 PM] pD

[2:38:42 PM] pD sigh

[2:38:48 PM] pD says: clinton is the man!

[2:38:55 PM] nsy says: i think there were controversies all along. its just that the opposition is more intent on bringing them to light inthe second term to ensure a change of parties inthe next election

[2:39:00 PM] pD says: never voted for him, but he is so cool

[2:39:26 PM] nsy says: yes, i voted for him both times. he is the man.

[2:39:52 PM] nsy says: as far as you can be a politician and be the man, that is.

[2:41:35 PM] pD says: i do not wish to sound callous, but poking body parts around with other consenting adult is really really really minor in my view

[2:41:49 PM] pD says: poor form, bad for family harmony, yes

[2:41:54 PM] pD says: good entertainment, defintieily

[2:42:01 PM] pD says: but, who the F cares?!

[2:43:27 PM] nsy says: yes, damn puritans that founded this new america. the rest of the world was rightly amused by our pious self-righteousness. how victorian of us. sigh.

[2:54:59 PM] pD says: actually, i thought it was quite entertaining. and, i have no issue with people enjoying all the salacious stories - i would be the first to admit that i enjoy glancing through the tabloids in front of supermarket check outs

[2:55:43 PM] pD says: on the other hand, to make it into a national issue and having debates in the congress and senate is quite rediculous

[2:55:52 PM] pD says: maybe this is the oppose of being "plutoed"

[2:56:02 PM] nsy says: yes, but you either know they are not true, or don;t care. these people can't tell the difference.

[2:56:38 PM] nsy says: ha! nice tie-in!

[2:56:54 PM] nsy says: de-plutoed?

[2:57:09 PM] pD says: so, would it be clintoned or monica'd?

[2:59:31 PM] nsy says: starr'd

[2:59:49 PM] pD says: he was mostly an instrument tho

[3:00:07 PM] pD says: actaully

[3:00:13 PM] nsy says: you think monica would have found some other patsy to bring it public?

[3:00:26 PM] pD says: if you want to be very cynical, the most appropriate may be Spitzer

[3:00:52 PM] nsy says: and that sounds better - spitzer'd - ha!

[3:00:53 PM] pD says: oh, who was that scary looking woman who proped Monica to tell all?

[3:01:05 PM] nsy says: thats who i was thinking of...

[3:01:12 PM] pD says: not jennifer flower

[3:01:18 PM] pD says: she was actually respectable looking

[3:01:36 PM] nsy says: tripp

[3:01:41 PM] nsy says: linda

[3:01:52 PM] nsy says: tripp'd

[3:01:59 PM] pD says: oh, that is a good one

[3:02:04 PM] pD says: tripp'd

[3:02:09 PM] nsy says: hehehe

[3:02:21 PM] pD says: you have been tripped

[3:02:27 PM] pD says: or, you are tripping

[3:02:30 PM] pD says: i like that

[3:02:34 PM] nsy says: nice! me too!

[3:08:24 PM] pD says: actually, my sister may object

[3:08:46 PM] pD says: her professor's last name was tripp

[3:09:25 PM] nsy says: not our problem. just unfortunate for him. look at lindsey lohan - soiling my good name.

[3:09:27 PM] pD says: but she would jsut have to deal

[3:09:46 PM] nsy says: lilke michael bolton in office space.

[3:10:10 PM] pD says: ? what is michael bolton and what is office space?

[3:10:11 PM] nsy says: you just have to hope that the other humans with your name behave. if not, you deal with the misfortune

[3:10:29 PM] nsy says: office space the movie - cult classic

[3:10:40 PM] pD says: i have a highschool classmate, very nice guy and very white, and his name is Michael Jordan

[3:10:53 PM] nsy says: heh - exactly.

[3:11:08 PM] pD says: was it the one with the "my swingline" guy?

[3:11:17 PM] nsy says: yep

[3:11:57 PM] pD says: do not remember much about the film, except the swingline guy. oh, the openign scene on the massive traffic jam was memorable too

[3:18:14 PM] nsy says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDevzgCjYaY

[3:18:39 PM] nsy says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6kvNXQX6UI

[3:33:00 PM] pD has changed the chat topic to "pD's Heros"

[3:33:09 PM] pD says: john meriwether: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Meriwether

[3:34:23 PM] pD says: Bill Gross: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Gross

[3:40:17 PM] nsy says: so what are you doing here if these are your heroes?

[3:40:29 PM] pD says: jim simons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harris_Simons

[3:40:30 PM] nsy says: shouldnt you be in finance?

[3:40:39 PM] pD says: hahah! i know my limitations

[3:40:54 PM] pD says: i actually know finance quite well and and banter with the best of them

[3:41:05 PM] pD says: but, as a buseinss, it is not where my heart is

[3:41:16 PM] pD says: don't get me wrong, i have no objection to money

[3:41:25 PM] pD says: but, i do value happiness more

[3:42:10 PM] pD says: but, i do wonder about it sometimes, what would have happened if i was followed the traditional route of going into finance

[3:42:20 PM] pD says: since my "training" was for finance

[3:43:18 PM] pD says: i do still manage a small protfolio and my average return is better than most mutual funds.

[3:43:27 PM] nsy says: you would probably be rich and unhappy. since money is power and power corrupts. but some people are corrupt and happy, so you never know.

[3:43:44 PM] nsy says: well, that is a testament to your skill, then

[3:44:02 PM] pD says: power, for the lack of a better word, is good

[3:44:15 PM] pD says: love Grecko, in the movie Wall Street

[3:44:24 PM] pD says: talk about a guy who is clear about his purpose in life

[3:44:34 PM] nsy says: never seen it

[3:44:36 PM] pD unlike me, sigh...

[3:44:52 PM] nsy says: i thought you were seeking nothingness?

[3:44:56 PM] pD says: oh, i would recommend it highly as a cheap thrill

[3:45:12 PM] pD says: oh, i am not a budhist

[3:45:54 PM] pD says: wall street is a funny place. i do not think that i will fit in well

[3:46:04 PM] nsy says: so you were talking about buddhists in general seeking nothingness - not you, personally

[3:46:14 PM] pD says: i just like religion as a philosophical topic - on nothingness

[3:46:15 PM] nsy says: but you are funny

[3:46:21 PM] nsy says: ;)

[3:46:57 PM] pD says: actually, most buddhists do not seek nothingness

[3:46:58 PM] nsy says: its the people who don;t fit in that chang the face of an industry - or so i heard

[3:47:02 PM] pD says: it is too abstract and scary

[3:47:15 PM] nsy says: yes, i can see that

[3:47:27 PM] pD says: most buddhists i know are looking for redemption in a heavenly sense

[3:47:36 PM] pD says: human nature, i totally respect that

[3:48:01 PM] nsy says: i just want to know my purpose, or if i don;t have one at all, or if i need to create one

[3:48:15 PM] nsy says: i'm guessing its the latter, though

[3:48:42 PM] pD says: purpose in life and for life?

[3:48:48 PM] pD says: man! i need a stiff martini first

[3:49:00 PM] pD says: lots of vermouth

[3:49:09 PM] pD says: and good fresh olives

[3:49:14 PM] pD says: stirred only

[3:49:19 PM] pD says: with gin

[3:49:20 PM] nsy says: yes, easier after a nice cocktail. but it would have to be a vodke martini - i hate gin

[3:49:32 PM] pD says: i am old fashionied that way

[3:49:57 PM] nsy says: i've heard a taste for gin is hereditary, due to the anise flavor - but that could be hooey

[3:50:43 PM] nsy says: jhs sounds like an interesting guy

[3:51:39 PM] pD says: hey, whatever it is, it just means less competition for me, lower price for good gin

[3:52:22 PM] nsy says: since the topic is your heroes - why did you choose these people?

[3:52:51 PM] pD says: yeah simons is cool! i know a few people who used to work with that fund, retired now with big ass houses

[3:53:20 PM] pD says: with guys like him, i think he deserves every cent he made

[3:54:09 PM] nsy says: does anyone really deserve 4 billion? i guess so if they helped a bunch of other people get rich too.

[3:55:20 PM] pD says: well, it was an open and competitive market. he made the money fair and square. no special connection or inheritance. I have no issue with that. isn't that the ultimate american dream?

[3:55:53 PM] nsy says: i thought that was winning the lottery and not having to work at all

[3:56:19 PM] pD says: hahah! that was more of a plan B

[3:56:24 PM] pD says: at least mine

[3:57:16 PM] nsy says: i was talking with friends about some guy who made 4 million in one year on a business started with 50 dollars, and how that is the american dream.

[3:57:50 PM] pD says: i am sure simon started with money than $50

[3:58:22 PM] pD says: my theory is that at some point, it is not the money, but the fact that he is the hero for geeks like me that counts

[3:58:26 PM] pD says: so, i hope

[3:58:51 PM] nsy says: not sure who it was - but it was a frinds/dating site he made for his social circle, and people started posting half-dressed and nude pics, so the site became very popular, and they started charging a subsription. in interviews he always says he never intended to peddle porn, but thats what the public wanted. he provided a forum and got rich.

[3:58:53 PM] pD says: on a related note, i recall reading somewhere that MSFT used to have a person/department that handles all the marriage proposal to Bill Gates

[3:59:19 PM] nsy says: hahah - thats hillarious!

[3:59:44 PM] nsy says: ok, i'll buy your geek hero for $50

[4:03:30 PM] pD says: porn (within reason, like consenting adults) is another industry that i really respect

[4:03:46 PM] pD says: they are really the technology driver for a lot of the things taht we take for granted today

[4:04:00 PM] nsy says: so i've heard. ;)

[4:04:10 PM] pD says: VCR

[4:04:27 PM] nsy says: really? interesting

[4:04:56 PM] pD says: well, VCR was the perfect medium for porns. you get to watch it at the privacy of home

[4:05:29 PM] pD says: early internet has a lot of porn too and their traffic requirement drove a lot of the early infrastrcuture

[4:05:49 PM] nsy says: wow, cool history tidbit

[4:06:23 PM] pD says: the question is really

[4:06:29 PM] pD says: why do i know these...?

[4:06:45 PM] nsy says: "youhave a curious mind"

[4:07:18 PM] pD says: i am not a picky reader...

[4:08:35 PM] nsy says: do you speed read?

[4:08:59 PM] pD says: i studied that when i was a kid

[4:09:06 PM] pD says: not sure how much i still retained it

[4:09:13 PM] pD says: but, i think i have decent reading skill

[4:09:14 PM] nsy says: are there certain news sites/periodicals/rss, ec that you recommend?

[4:09:24 PM] pD says: meaning, i know how to find the info i need/want

[4:10:17 PM] nsy says: i read slowly. i like to let my imagination paint a picture. unless its technical - then i skip around to what i need. i read magazines and papers from the back usually

[4:10:53 PM] pD says: my reading is mostly utilitarian

[4:11:17 PM] pD says: my entertainment is mostly via movies

[4:11:37 PM] pD says: in terms of what to read, i really do not have any specific recommendation becasue it all depends on what you like and want to know

[4:11:52 PM] pD says: general news, i get daily ping from NY Time and BBC.

[4:12:10 PM] pD says: i usually just read the titles to make sure that i am not missing anything big

[4:12:53 PM] pD says: i used to have access to IIJ (institutional investor journal) and they have some super dry but really interesting stuff

[4:13:22 PM] pD says: i also subscribe to Nature's weekly update. just for kicks, mostly

[4:21:15 PM] pD says: oh, my latest "find" is that you can subscribe to the newsletter (some quarterly some semiannual) put out by the fed reserve system.

[4:21:21 PM] pD says: as you can see, i am an economics geek

[4:22:02 PM] pD says: oh, there is also NBER (national beauru of economic research) - their stuff is even drier than most for non economci geeks

[4:22:09 PM] nsy says: yes, I never would have suspected, but it is becoming very clear now...

[4:22:31 PM] nsy says: economics geek.

[4:22:34 PM] pD says: that i am not a buddhist?

[4:22:42 PM] nsy says: heh. i already knew that

[4:23:01 PM] pD says: what do you read?

[4:23:05 PM] nsy says: i just thought you were being funny saying you were seeking nothingness

[4:23:30 PM] nsy says: i don;t find much time for reading, sadly. since i love to read.

[4:23:38 PM] pD says: at an intellectual level, i really identify with the goal of nothingness.

[4:23:43 PM] pD says: noble, really

[4:23:59 PM] pD says: but, i also find that i am a very mundane person and nobility only goes so far for me

[4:24:36 PM] nsy says: bbc news, world science journal, hrc, pcrm, edf,

[4:24:42 PM] pD says: i jsut read a fascinating study on why HIV precention efforts seem very ineffectual in africa

[4:24:53 PM] nsy says: manythings you aer, but mundane is not one of them

[4:25:28 PM] nsy says: i'm guessing its cultural roles?

[4:25:29 PM] pD says: it turns out that the prevention measures are strongly correlated with the life expectancy of the individual

[4:25:44 PM] nsy says: ?

[4:25:49 PM] pD says: on average, risky behavior can result in death by AIDS in 10 years

[4:26:02 PM] pD says: so, if you do not expect to live more than 5 more years, it is party time!

[4:26:28 PM] nsy says: except for the people you are partying with - unless they also have less tahn 5 years

[4:59:00 PM] pD says: well, that was the insight from that analysis, a large group of population in africa have very low life expatancy

[4:59:36 PM] pD says: so, any "standard" method that work well in the west where people expects to live to their 60's - if you live really really hard

[4:59:51 PM] pD says: do not work when average life expectancy is in the 20-30's range

[5:00:14 PM] pD says: in other words, the policy insight on "fighting HIV" in africa

[5:00:34 PM] pD says: is not necessarily about HIV, but to generally improve life expectancy

[5:00:57 PM] pD says: and, this calls for very different set of implementatation

[5:01:21 PM] nsy says: hm. interesting

[5:01:29 PM] pD says: i thought it was so intuitively obvious that no wonder nobody thought of it before...

[5:03:24 PM] nsy says: reminds me of ender's game. the intelligent virus and the "crazy" virologist that belived if we stop fighting the virus and try to co-exist, it can be symbiotic.

[5:03:46 PM] nsy says: not that i'm saying that situation applies to HIV/AIDS

[5:05:49 PM] pD says: on a lighter topic

[5:05:55 PM] pD has changed the chat topic to "jolly roger"

[5:06:06 PM] pD says: do you have your camera? can you take a pix of the flag?

[5:06:08 PM] nsy says: often, i think we carry genetic triggers, and when populations rise, we clear out our own numbers to preserve the race - or some such nonsense

[5:06:21 PM] nsy says: yes... moment

[5:06:27 PM] pD says: clarify, not sure i understand

[5:10:48 PM] pD says: btw, the HIV situation is similar to the retirement home STD issue - just the reversed situation

[5:13:27 PM] nsy says: hehehe - yes, i suppose. not necessarily reverse, but close

[5:15:32 PM] pD says: so, what is the story about clearing out the race for survival?

[5:15:49 PM] pD says: sounds bad when i put it that way, doesn't it

[5:16:36 PM] nsy says: yes, but that is what i believe. i believe the same thing about homosexuality (on some cases). just population control - genetic switch.

[5:17:36 PM] nsy says: definitely a feature and not a defect - imho

[5:17:58 PM] nsy says: wow, i've never actually typed imho before. it doesn;t seem right

[5:18:27 PM] pD says: iyho (your) may feel better

[5:18:53 PM] nsy says: better, but still ends in "ho"

[5:19:12 PM] pD says: i recall some study/theory about the biological imperative of homosexuality

[5:19:19 PM] pD says: do not recall the details

[5:19:54 PM] pD says: but it has something to do with the need for some men to stay behind and participate in some of the activities that are typically fulfilled by women - gathering instead of hunting

[5:20:26 PM] pD says: ho, huh?

[5:20:28 PM] pD says: how about soho?

[5:21:55 PM] nsy says: yep, anything that ends in ho, really. although i do describesome of by girls with the ever-endearing "b-ho"

[5:24:02 PM] pD says: sort of like afriacn-american calling each other nigga's

[5:24:12 PM] nsy says: exactly

[5:24:32 PM] pD says: linguistically speaking though, it is really a game that you cannot win

[5:24:50 PM] pD says: language is a living thing and it reflects the social context as much as anything else

[5:25:56 PM] pD says: i recall a conversation with a friend,

[5:26:01 PM] pD says: she is white in terms of race

[5:26:09 PM] pD says: but she is south african and have been for genrations

[5:26:23 PM] pD says: she also works for ANC (so, that makes her one of the good guys)

[5:26:52 PM] pD says: and, she really object to the use of the term "african-american" because she feels that she is the real "african"

[5:29:05 PM] pD says: Similarly, extending the thought, people originally from northern africa would not meet the typcial description of "african-american" either

[5:31:51 PM] nsy says: why not northern africa?

[5:32:08 PM] pD says: northern african-american?

[5:32:52 PM] nsy says: you said: "people originally from northern africa would not meet the typcial description of "african-american" either"

[5:33:06 PM] nsy says: why?

[5:33:08 PM] pD says: northern african are algerian and morrocans whose physical appearance is mediterranian like itanlian or greek

[5:33:36 PM] nsy says: this could turn semantics

[5:36:58 PM] pD says: ?

[5:55:00 PM] pD says: btw, can i post this conversation on the blog

[5:55:05 PM] pD says: kind of intersting, i thought

[6:03:17 PM] nsy says: sure, fine with me. much appreciated ;)

[6:03:56 PM] pD says: how about the jolly roger pix?

[6:04:00 PM] nsy says: semantics -well they are still technically african, because they are from the african continent, right? or no?

[6:04:03 PM] pD task master cracking the whip

[6:04:12 PM] nsy says: ah, yes - tx

[6:08:46 PM] pD says: i think the point was that in the US, african-american is the way to describe "black"

[6:09:07 PM] pD says: but, what if you are "african" but not "black"?

[6:12:45 PM] nsy says: well, i think the terminology is now american of african descent - have you heard that one?

[6:13:08 PM] pD says: that is a new one

[6:14:31 PM] pD says: okay, i am signing off

[6:14:32 PM] pD says: ciao

Friday, May 25, 2007

Foods Around the World - KublaCon and Games - Vacation Plans

[11:05:20 AM] pD says: http://nsa-chatters.blogspot.com/

[11:05:23 AM] pD says: it is official

[11:05:33 AM] pD says: i have also re-send invites to you guys

[11:06:10 AM] pD says: btw, we can try different design templates and other stuff

[11:06:30 AM] pD says: but, i figure that it is a work in progress and should just get it up and running first

[11:12:36 AM] nsy says: looks good - would be easier to read without the line breaks, but i'm guessing thats from IM history cut-n-paste into a forced line width.

[11:12:45 AM] nsy says: this will be fun! - is fun!

[11:13:33 AM] pD says: yeah, i thought about it

[11:13:41 AM] pD says: it is relatively easy to fix using Word

[11:13:52 AM] pD says: but, i thought it gives the flavor of IM

[11:14:12 AM] pD says: maybe the next post, we "fix" the line breaks and we can decide

[11:14:33 AM] nsy says: if your IM history opens in notepad, you can go to format - no line wrap before copying, then it should paste correctly.

[11:14:49 AM] nsy says: or maybe i'm a dreamer

[11:15:18 AM] nsy says: i meant - uncheck word wrap

[11:15:57 AM] pD says: i see. it works. that is even easier

[11:15:59 AM] pD says: cool

[11:16:11 AM] pD making happy faces

[11:16:28 AM] nsy says: /doing the happy dance

[11:16:31 AM] pD says: btw, AE advise how to do this text emotion thing

[11:16:33 AM] nsy says: arg!

[11:16:39 AM] AE says: it's /me

[11:16:41 AM] AE says: then the action

[11:16:45 AM] nsy doing the happy dance

[11:16:46 AM] pD says: just type (with spaces) / m e

[11:16:46 AM] AE instructs

[11:16:49 AM] AE says: yeah!

[11:16:53 AM] AE cheers

[11:16:54 AM] pD says: hahaah!

[11:17:02 AM] pD says: we are easily entertained

[11:17:14 AM] AE runs

[11:17:15 AM] pD doing the one man wave

[11:17:29 AM] AE says: what is the sound of one man waving?

[11:17:56 AM] pD says: ouch! ouch, "what the hell are you doing", etc. from all the people around the man doing the one man wave

[11:19:49 AM] nsy says: lol

[11:27:38 AM] AE says: I'm going to run. and then eat.

[11:27:46 AM] AE says: cause if I do them both at once my shirt gets dirty.

[11:28:24 AM] pD says: and your sneakers will also complain that you are not paying full attention

[11:28:49 AM] pD says: and, we know how these fancy sneakers feel about themselves, don't we

[11:29:22 AM] AE says: these have the Nike+ in them too. so you can probably track exactly how they feel on some website.

[11:30:15 AM] pD says: of course, what is really at issue is how do the feet feel about the whole situation. after all, they are the ones doing the work.

[11:30:52 AM] pD says: sneakers may have fancy exteriors and high price tags - all in the name of protecting the feet.

[11:31:11 AM] pD says: but, what is a pair of sneakers if there are no feet.

[11:32:12 AM] pD says: the perpetual tension between the two - pedestrian reflection of the day

[11:32:31 AM] AE says: remember the saying: before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes...

[11:32:44 AM] AE says: then, when you criticize, you'll be a mile away and have their shoes.

[11:33:18 AM] pD says: only if the shoes fit - could be a very unpleasant mile, otherwise

[11:33:32 AM] pD says: btw, should you be running?

[11:33:41 AM] AE says: who says I'm not?

[11:33:57 AM] AE hides under his desk so nowone can see him

[11:34:05 AM] AE says: bye

[1:20:13 PM] pD says: have you seen the film: the queen?

[1:20:17 PM] pD says: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/

[1:20:50 PM] AE says: no, is it good?

[1:23:48 PM] nsy says: me either

[1:28:08 PM] AE says: there was a great quote from the Queen in Time magazine: She was out walking by herself and someone said "you look just like the Queen." to which she replied 'How very re-assuring."

[1:28:35 PM] nsy says: haha

[1:31:39 PM] pD says: it is an okay film

[1:31:43 PM] pD says: i have not finished it yet

[1:32:03 PM] pD says: sort of a "british" production in terms of cinematography, if you know what i mean

[1:32:13 PM] pD says: and, it also has a "soap" feel to it

[1:32:14 PM] AE says: cheesy costumes?

[1:32:22 PM] pD says: but, given the subject matter, it is appropriate

[1:32:36 PM] nsy says: ooh - soap! i love that show!

[1:32:50 PM] pD says: it is a docu-drama on the days surrounding the death of princess di

[1:33:03 PM] AE says: ah, when the queen was so tight lipped about it.

[1:33:11 PM] pD says: the story line (the first half that i saw) took a rather negative view of the royal family

[1:33:14 PM] AE says: I think she got a bad rap then... she's just a reserved person.

[1:33:26 PM] pD says: being out of touch with the people and thinking that di's death is none of their problem

[1:33:46 PM] AE says: I don't think that's it at all. Look at the history of her contact with the world.

[1:33:55 PM] AE says: She's always been reserved to the point of private

[1:34:02 PM] AE says: and this is totally in keeping with her character.

[1:34:06 PM] pD says: oh, i am not taking a position on the queen. just the film's perspective

[1:34:11 PM] AE says: ah. Ok.

[1:34:27 PM] pD says: anyway, the actress who played the queen apparently won the best actress of oscar

[1:34:38 PM] pD says: not sure what that means though

[1:34:47 PM] pD says: i know her work and she is an excellent actress

[1:35:00 PM] AE says: Hollywood didn't like the queen either?

[1:35:05 PM] pD says: does she work makes her better than other actresses or

[1:35:14 PM] nsy says: yes, she is a very busy woman - i like her work

[1:35:18 PM] pD says: has she done a good job doing the queen, i really do not know

[1:35:40 PM] pD says: another interesting film to consider

[1:35:55 PM] nsy says: she played elizabeth 1 in another movie too i think

[1:36:06 PM] AE says: that's kind of funny

[1:36:09 PM] pD says: i have a feeling that if she did not win the oscar, this film would not have gotten much attention in the US

[1:36:41 PM] pD says: oh, yes, the more important thing tho

[1:37:04 PM] pD says: is that i also realized/reminded of how middle class my existence is

[1:37:37 PM] pD says: in the film, queen mother has a code name for her funeral that she (queen mother) has overseen the planning the rehearsal

[1:38:14 PM] pD says: they basically modified the same plan to do Di's funeral becuasethat was the one they can mount quickly where everyone knows where he/she would do

[1:38:37 PM] pD says: so, i am thinking what kind of code name i should have for my funeral

[1:38:49 PM] AE says: ok. i'll bite. what's the name?

[1:39:35 PM] pD says: oh, that was really a question, i have not come up with one yet

[1:40:03 PM] pD says: something description "cheat and easy" may be appropriate

[1:40:15 PM] AE says: what was the Queen's?

[1:40:27 PM] AE says: operation "shoe box"?

[1:40:34 PM] AE says: for you, not the Queen.

[1:41:04 PM] nsy says: lol!

[1:41:17 PM] nsy says: if you're not claiming that one, I am!

[1:41:18 PM] pD says: re-used shoe box

[1:41:26 PM] AE says: heh.

[1:41:29 PM] AE says: when I die there's something I want done with my body...

[1:41:43 PM] pD says: which is

[1:41:44 PM] AE says: fill it with high explosives...

[1:42:00 PM] nsy says: well, actually plastic bag is more accurate, but not as funny.

[1:42:04 PM] AE says: place it somewhere where no one will get hurt, and light the fuse.

[1:42:11 PM] AE says: true.

[1:42:15 PM] AE says: unless you cremate.

[1:42:24 PM] AE says: then you can put the ashes in anything.

[1:42:24 PM] pD says: it is your body (if not life), but wouldn't it be a bit messy for the clean up?

[1:42:33 PM] nsy says: this is what i want...

[1:42:35 PM] AE says: hey, I'll be dead.

[1:42:38 PM] nsy says: yes, very messy

[1:42:38 PM] AE says: what's that?

[1:42:47 PM] pD says: exploding bodies

[1:43:13 PM] pD says: on a related note, i reading something about death by gun shot (suicide)

[1:43:15 PM] AE says: no, what does nsy er... whatever he code is... SD? what does she want?

[1:43:35 PM] nsy says: http://www.fantasticfireworks.co.uk/prodisplaysSub.asp?itemID=12

[1:43:47 PM] pD says: what i found most compelling in terms of not shoting yourself in the head is that it is a complete mess to clean up

[1:44:08 PM] AE says: Fantastic Fireworks will treat such situations with the dignity and respect they deserve.

[1:44:11 PM] AE says: that's awsome!

[1:44:20 PM] pD says: more importantly, it is most likely that either a loved one or an innocent hotel cleaning crew have to do the work

[1:44:27 PM] pD says: it just seems so unfair...

[1:44:29 PM] AE says: dignity and respect and *swooosh BOOM*!!!

[1:44:53 PM] AE says: Ok fine, do it near the ocean and the seagulls can clean up.

[1:45:17 PM] pD says: i think the firework guys are talking shooting up your ashes

[1:45:20 PM] pD says: not the actual body

[1:45:25 PM] AE says: bummer.

[1:45:32 PM] pD says: i am sure there is a sanitary code violation somewhere there

[1:45:33 PM] AE says: that would really be messy!

[1:45:39 PM] nsy says: yes, my sister went through the entire trainoing to be a police office, and on the last day before her graduation, they took her on a coroner ride to a shotgun suicide scene that was discovered a week after the fact. i won't go into more detail, but she dropped out.

[1:46:01 PM] AE says: yeah.. I dropped out of EMT school for the same reason.

[1:46:03 PM] nsy says: the coroners clean that up

[1:46:20 PM] AE says: yuck. mine was decapitation of a motorcycle rider by a fence.

[1:46:22 PM] pD says: for the same reason that i can never attend med school

[1:46:29 PM] nsy says: ugh. horrid.

[1:46:32 PM] nsy says: agh!

[1:46:37 PM] pD says: i almost fainted when i saw my own blood

[1:46:44 PM] AE says: now you got that image in your head, eh>

[1:46:53 PM] AE says: really? and now you're a dad?

[1:47:06 PM] AE says: you'll get over the body fluid thing pretty quick.

[1:47:06 PM] pD says: decapitated rider or pD's blood?

[1:47:16 PM] AE says: either one.

[1:47:21 PM] nsy says: i'm sure grateful to people like my other suster who can be ER nurses

[1:47:26 PM] pD says: the truth is that i does not both me that much when i see otehr's blood

[1:47:32 PM] pD says: i can be quite intellectual about it

[1:47:48 PM] pD says: but, when it is mine, boy, every drop is worth more than gold...

[1:47:53 PM] nsy says: i knew you were a vampire

[1:47:57 PM] AE says: hehe

[1:48:07 PM] AE says: that's why he stays up so late.

[1:48:26 PM] nsy says: hehe

[1:48:28 PM] pD says: i do enjoy variations of blood sausage from different cultures...

[1:48:50 PM] nsy says: blood cake isn't bad

[1:48:52 PM] AE says: erk. I had hagus once... never again.

[1:49:01 PM] nsy says: eeew!

[1:49:15 PM] AE says: you're talking about blood cake and ewing hagus!?!

[1:49:30 PM] AE says: it's just a big freakin' sausage.

[1:49:39 PM] AE says: stuffed into a goat's intestine.

[1:49:48 PM] pD says: well, we do need to be sensible about the whole food thing

[1:50:02 PM] AE says: I agree

[1:50:03 PM] pD says: to the extent that you/i are going to trying seomthing "exotic"

[1:50:20 PM] pD says: it is best to try dishes from people know for their cooking

[1:50:22 PM] AE says: there's no you in team... so count me out.

[1:51:48 PM] pD says: ?

[1:51:51 PM] pD lost

[1:52:18 PM] AE says: let's sum up.

[1:52:19 PM] AE says: we were talking about death.

[1:52:30 PM] AE says: then we were talking about gross jobs

[1:52:36 PM] AE says: then we were talking about gross foods

[1:52:43 PM] AE says: then you were talking about eating

[1:52:57 PM] AE says: specifically, something "exotic".

[1:53:04 PM] pD says: i object to the suggestion that blood sausage is gross

[1:53:08 PM] AE says: to which I was saying, "thank yo but no thanks"

[1:53:17 PM] nsy says: i'm hungry... gonna go eat... brb

[1:53:27 PM] AE says: anything with blood in the name is off my menu.

[1:53:36 PM] AE says: haha bye.

[1:53:45 PM] pD says: hagus, yes (gross)

[1:53:52 PM] pD says: blood sausage, no

[1:54:10 PM] AE says: blood cake?

[1:54:19 PM] pD says: never tried it. what is in it?

[1:54:21 PM] nsy says: this kind, gross: http://www.flickr.com/photos/loupiote/99071882/in/set-72057594073092132/

[1:54:24 PM] AE says: I've never had it, but I'm going to venture it's not vegitarian.

[1:54:43 PM] nsy says: this kind, good: http://www.astray.com/recipes/?show=Chocolate%20blood%20cake

[1:56:19 PM] pD says: oh, wimps!

[1:56:40 PM] pD says: i actually have had the vietname blood cake - at least the equivalent in Chinese

[1:56:43 PM] AE says: that last one sound really good!

[1:56:50 PM] AE says: really? what's it made of?

[1:57:01 PM] pD says: it is not bad - texture similar to firm tofu

[1:57:11 PM] AE says: oh good. tofu. I can eat that.

[1:57:15 PM] pD says: the one i had is made from pork blood

[1:57:26 PM] AE says: ah... never mind then.

[1:57:27 PM] nsy says: and sticky rice

[1:57:47 PM] pD says: textrue, my dear, texture.

[1:57:58 PM] pD says: the one with sticky rice is a variation

[1:58:11 PM] pD says: actually, you can get both in chinese markets in the bay area

[1:58:21 PM] AE says: Ok, that's it!

[1:58:23 PM] pD says: pretty "common" items

[1:58:33 PM] AE says: We're going to have to have an unusal food party here.

[1:58:40 PM] AE says: everyone bring in a dish to share.

[1:58:40 PM] pD says: just like milk, blood can be re-generated...

[1:58:43 PM] nsy says: sweet!

[1:58:53 PM] AE says: yeah... so can urine.

[1:58:54 PM] pD says: do not seem to violate the killing an animal thing

[1:59:02 PM] nsy says: and spicy!

[1:59:08 PM] pD says: you do not re-use urine though

[1:59:16 PM] pD says: speaking of spices

[1:59:19 PM] AE says: if you're Kevin Costner you do,

[1:59:28 PM] nsy says: LOL!

[1:59:34 PM] pD says: just got a jar of mixed spices from Si-Chuan

[1:59:41 PM] nsy says: AE, working inthe waterwork reference - nice!

[1:59:43 PM] pD says: KC? oh, world world or some such

[1:59:57 PM] nsy says: waterworls

[1:59:59 PM] nsy says: world

[2:00:05 PM] pD says: water world

[2:00:07 PM] nsy says: must get food...

[2:00:10 PM] AE says: buye

[2:00:16 PM] AE says: buh bye

[2:00:18 PM] pD says: nsy go, we will prep for your return

[2:00:22 PM] nsy says: bye

[2:00:39 PM] pD says: going back to my spices, this is apparently the real mcCoy

[2:01:08 PM] pD says: i have not tried it yet, but i will provide a full report when i do

[2:01:33 PM] pD says: the last time i had real SiChuan spicy cooking, it burnt both ways...

[2:01:38 PM] pD says: 'nuff said...

[2:04:05 PM] AE says: ewe

[2:04:18 PM] AE says: too much said, me thinks.

[2:04:28 PM] pD says: read a bit mroe about the raw blood cake posting/url

[2:04:32 PM] pD says: that is pretty intense

[2:04:39 PM] pD says: it is not cooked.

[2:04:53 PM] pD says: i would not touch stuff that is not cooked

[2:04:57 PM] pD says: just too high risk

[2:05:00 PM] AE says: agreed.

[2:05:15 PM] AE says: and I'll extend that same courtesy to the cooked as well.

[2:05:17 PM] pD says: unless we are talking about sushi, of course

[2:05:23 PM] AE says: or vegitables.

[2:05:52 PM] pD says: what is wrong with cooked blood? it is a common food item found in old cultures in both europe and asia

[2:06:11 PM] AE says: you're asking a this question to a vegetarian.

[2:06:36 PM] AE says: there are a lot of things cooked in multiple cultures that will not pass through my gullet.

[2:07:44 PM] pD says: that is fair

[2:08:40 PM] nsy has changed the chat topic to "The Gullet Gauntlet"

[2:09:18 PM] nsy says: lego cake: http://crystaltips.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/cake_3_1.jpg lego cake

[2:09:58 PM] nsy says: http://www.wonderlandblog.com/wonderland/2005/04/lego_wedding_ca.html

[2:10:28 PM] nsy says: ok, you can reset the topic now ;)

[2:11:22 PM] AE says: oh, that is beautiful!

[2:11:30 PM] AE says: I want one of those at my wedding!

[2:11:33 PM] pD says: same bloody disucssions tho

[2:12:30 PM] pD says: btw, what is for lunch nsy?

[2:13:12 PM] nsy says: veggie burger from foster freeze

[2:13:28 PM] AE says: woah. did you get a shake too??

[2:13:35 PM] AE says: I love their shakes.

[2:13:57 PM] AE says: pineaple... that's my favorite because the chunks clog up the straw.

[2:14:11 PM] AE says: so it's a sensory experience, and a test, and a shake.

[2:14:15 PM] nsy says: no, just the burger. for now... they are only 2 blocks away

[2:14:23 PM] pD says: you should get one of 'em bubble tea straws, no clogging

[2:14:27 PM] AE says: get me a shake and I'll bring some mings.

[2:14:32 PM] AE says: ?

[2:14:36 PM] nsy says: deal

[2:14:39 PM] AE says: wots dat?

[2:14:50 PM] AE says: bubble tea straw... never heard of it.

[2:15:28 PM] pD says: bubble tea is a milk tea with topiocas in them

[2:15:35 PM] pD says: the topiocas are referred to as bubbles

[2:15:48 PM] nsy says: http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/news/images/jessicagreen.jpg bubble tea

[2:15:55 PM] pD says: due to the size of 'em bubbles, the have extra wide straws

[2:16:34 PM] pD says: quite a few places in the bay area offer them

[2:17:03 PM] AE says: tapioca milk tea... is it sweet? that sounds really good!

[2:19:15 PM] nsy says: nauseatingly sweet

[2:19:25 PM] pD says: well, that depending on what you order

[2:19:48 PM] nsy says: yes, i had a thai tea, so very sweet

[2:19:49 PM] pD says: maybe we can have a field trip on a monday?

[2:20:14 PM] nsy says: woo hoo- i love fiend trips!

[2:20:16 PM] pD says: i must say that the extra sweetness is most likely a localization

[2:20:32 PM] pD says: i will check with the boss on which one she recommends

[2:20:38 PM] pD says: she is an expert on bubble tea

[2:21:00 PM] nsy says: perfect! we have an expert - right on!

[2:21:14 PM] AE says: i can't make it this monday....

[2:21:21 PM] AE says: some kind of holiday-thingy

[2:21:26 PM] nsy says: oh yah

[2:21:46 PM] pD says: the shops will be around, they can wait

[2:21:53 PM] AE says: yea!

[2:21:54 PM] pD says: speaking of holi's

[2:21:58 PM] nsy sigh

[2:22:01 PM] pD says: got any exciting plans?

[2:22:12 PM] pD says: happy sigh or?

[2:23:55 PM] nsy says: longing sigh - wanted hte field trip, but happy to have a day off.

[2:24:14 PM] nsy says: no, i try to stay in on holiday weekends. all the norms are out.

[2:24:48 PM] nsy says: mike is working, so i'm going to catch up on geek projects

[2:25:00 PM] nsy says: how bot y'all?

[2:25:08 PM] pD says: oh, and, don't forget to back up your files.

[2:25:29 PM] nsy says: yippe! backups!

[2:25:32 PM] pD says: russians are attacking estonian infrastructure and, i think as a reuslt, i am getting a lot of spam in russian

[2:25:40 PM] AE says: prevet

[2:25:46 PM] pD says: ?

[2:25:52 PM] nsy says: ??

[2:25:56 PM] AE says: (means hello in russian, familair version)

[2:26:03 PM] AE says: kak dela?

[2:26:06 PM] nsy says: cool

[2:26:15 PM] pD says: prevet

[2:26:21 PM] nsy says: booang

[2:26:25 PM] AE says: tui nyet gavaret parushk?

[2:26:25 PM] pD says: and, i was actually trying to insult but cannot type

[2:26:58 PM] AE says: I sprech klein parushki.

[2:27:07 PM] nsy says: nice!

[2:27:21 PM] AE says: that's mixing languages.

[2:27:26 PM] pD SAYING IT LOUDLY

[2:27:37 PM] pD says: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

[2:28:03 PM] AE says: in german I was saying "I speak a little" then in russian "russian"

[2:28:05 PM] pD says: oh, i don't speak russian?

[2:28:16 PM] AE says: ok. I can teach you all 20 word I know.

[2:28:30 PM] AE says: chort vas mir means "devil take the world"

[2:28:36 PM] AE says: mir is world and also peace.

[2:28:44 PM] AE says: miru mir is world peace.

[2:28:53 PM] pD says: i know that "idyot idyot" means "here comes the idiot"

[2:29:13 PM] nsy says: LOL - how did you learn that one?

[2:29:16 PM] AE says: chto eta (or kto eta) means what is? It's a common gretting to say "chto?"

[2:29:41 PM] nsy says: like "sup?"

[2:29:49 PM] AE says: exactly

[2:29:54 PM] AE says: robotyet meant to work

[2:30:30 PM] AE says: dyelets mean doing. Chto tui dyelets? What are you doing?

[2:30:45 PM] pD says: are we stil on russian?

[2:30:51 PM] AE says: da

[2:30:54 PM] pD says: i thought NSA came up with a mahcine translation thinggie

[2:30:58 PM] pD says: for the hot line

[2:31:04 PM] pD says: did that thing ever worked?

[2:31:11 PM] AE says: not familair with it.

[2:33:59 PM] pD says: see this artile, i would suggst going to the bottom, the second last paragraph is kind of neat

[2:34:02 PM] pD says: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/10/spotlight/

[2:34:23 PM] pD says: what is yoru paln AE, for the weekend?

[2:34:50 PM] pD says: i will go to tassajara

[2:34:58 PM] pD says: it is a bhuddist retreat

[2:35:00 PM] AE says: short run tomorrow, son's play tomorrow night, chess tourney and gaming convention sunday, monday sleep in late.

[2:35:04 PM] AE says: cool!

[2:35:12 PM] pD says: what kind of game?

[2:35:59 PM] pD says: btw, did you guys get the new invite?

[2:36:05 PM] nsy says: i had 2 friends who stayed at tassajara for almost a year. they loved it.

[2:36:23 PM] AE says: yes. the link said it was not valid.

[2:36:32 PM] nsy says: but they said youhave to eat really slow and the food is good so its hard.

[2:36:45 PM] pD says: you should look for the second invitaton

[2:36:46 PM] nsy says: yes, my link said the invitation was invalid also.

[2:36:56 PM] pD says: i changed the blog a bit so it is a new invitation

[2:37:14 PM] pD says: i will re-send the new invitation

[2:37:19 PM] AE says: k

[2:38:10 PM] AE says: some friends of mine run a gaming convention called KublaCon in Burlingham.

[2:38:27 PM] AE places a blatent commercial:

[2:38:30 PM] AE says: http://www.kublacon.com/

[2:39:14 PM] nsy says: wow, sounds like fun!

[2:39:33 PM] pD says: okay, just re-send the invite

[2:40:31 PM] pD says: sounds like fun

[2:40:38 PM] pD says: the convention

[2:40:55 PM] AE says: always is. Friday through Monday... non stop gaming action.

[2:41:13 PM] AE says: they have every table top, roleplaying, and CCG available there

[2:41:33 PM] AE says: as well as some that haven't been released yet. It's great for my son who wants to be a game designer.

[2:41:39 PM] pD says: on tassajara

[2:41:46 PM] pD says: that is why we only go as guests

[2:41:55 PM] pD says: so, we can wolf down as much and as fast as we want

[2:42:06 PM] pD says: actually, the reason we go has more to do with the hot springs

[2:42:12 PM] pD says: ahhhhh...

[2:42:16 PM] pD says: /em sigh

[2:42:19 PM] pD sigh

[2:42:22 PM] nsy says: mmm - nice!

[2:42:46 PM] pD says: have you been to their restaurant in SF?

[2:42:53 PM] pD says: suppose to be really good

[2:42:55 PM] AE says: no

[2:43:09 PM] nsy says: so, do i put "NSY" as my display name here?

[2:43:16 PM] pD says: debra madison was the head chef there

[2:43:30 PM] pD says: she quite quite a few awards for her work in doing veggie food

[2:43:37 PM] nsy says: yum!

[2:43:38 PM] pD says: actually, AE, you would like it

[2:44:28 PM] AE says: and it's called tassajara?

[2:44:33 PM] nsy says: or if i choose nsy as my display name on blogger, will that show up on all blog posts - regardless of blog?

[2:45:24 PM] pD says: Debrah: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/deborahmadison/about.html

[2:45:33 PM] nsy says: looks to be that way, so i'll use my othe name and we can just edit these posrs..

[2:46:06 PM] nsy says: ooh - delicious! i love a good veggie dish!

[2:46:34 PM] pD says: tassajara: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Zen_Center

[2:47:05 PM] pD says: veggie restaurant "Greens": http://www.greensrestaurant.com/about.html

[2:48:53 PM] pD says: on names: i will do a find/replace for names in the text

[2:49:06 PM] nsy says: yay!

[2:49:09 PM] pD says: so, you can call yourslef what in terms of blogger names

[2:50:03 PM] AE says: Ok, I've heard of greens.

[2:50:19 PM] pD says: p.s. i guess debrah madison is no longer there

[2:50:33 PM] pD says: she probably makes more money not being the head chef

[2:50:43 PM] pD says: and, i respect that

[2:51:48 PM] pD says: p.p.s., i made you guys admin's

[2:52:08 PM] AE says: thanks. I didn't make you anything

[2:52:09 PM] pD says: play with the settings and templates

[2:52:18 PM] pD says: i think we can look better

[2:52:30 PM] AE says: I can make you something out of all these fortunes and plastic bags...

[2:53:00 PM] pD says: i want a cool game from the convention

[2:53:08 PM] pD says: just (slightly) kidding

[2:53:14 PM] AE says: damsk is a cool game.

[2:53:26 PM] pD says: speaking of games, AE, maybe you have source for this

[2:53:45 PM] pD says: recall that a couple of years ago, there was a robbery for Much's painting Screem in Norway?

[2:54:44 PM] pD says: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3588282.stm

[2:54:53 PM] pD says: supposedly, the meusuem, or somebody

[2:55:09 PM] pD says: started to sell a board game about stealing a master piece from the meuseum

[2:55:27 PM] pD says: i talked to a friend in Sweden about getting that board game but

[2:55:39 PM] pD says: needless to say (and I will say it anyway)

[2:55:44 PM] pD says: never got the game

[2:55:52 PM] pD says: so, if you know where i can get the game

[2:56:00 PM] pD says: without travelling to norway, that would be really cool

[2:56:14 PM] AE says: there is a game about stealing a painting from a museum?

[2:56:19 PM] AE says: Ok. I'll look this weekend

[2:58:04 PM] AE says: these are some of the coolest games in the world http://www.gipf.com/gipf/index.html

[2:58:23 PM] AE says: they each have different elemets (stone, wood, things like that).

[2:59:16 PM] nsy says: like othello on steroids

[2:59:37 PM] pD says: looks like Goh

[3:01:44 PM] pD says: i am more of a puzzle person

[3:01:58 PM] pD says: i am working on a 525 (i think) piece puzzle right now

[3:02:31 PM] pD says: jigsaw puzzle

[3:02:32 PM] nsy says: do you people never sleep?

[3:02:46 PM] nsy says: how do you find time for all this stuff?

[3:03:09 PM] pD says: well, you are right

[3:03:19 PM] pD says: "work" can be a bit of a distraction

[3:06:56 PM] pD says: btw, do you guys want your handle in upper, lower, or mixed case?

[3:07:24 PM] nsy says: lower is fine with me

[3:08:17 PM] pD says: "Pd" has a ying and yang thing going for it

[3:09:09 PM] pD says: "pD" looks like i am wearing monocle

[3:10:01 PM] nsy says: Nsy or nsy - your vote counts

[3:10:19 PM] pD says: how about "nSY"

[3:11:17 PM] pD says: on an unrelated issue

[3:11:39 PM] pD says: i recently heard that one of the popular text message in asia is Orz

[3:12:01 PM] pD says: as in somebody doing the kow-tow (i.e. "I am not worthy")

[3:12:33 PM] nsy says: hmmm interesting

[3:14:06 PM] pD says: how about NsY?

[3:16:37 PM] AE says: ae is fine for me.

[3:22:05 PM] pD says: BTW, should we make this the second entry for the chatters?

[3:22:24 PM] AE says: fine wit me

[3:22:57 PM] pD says: nsy?

[3:28:07 PM] nsy says: sure

[3:28:19 PM] nsy says: let er rip

[3:29:57 PM] pD says: yet anotehr unrelated topic

[3:30:15 PM] pD says: nsy, never got the photo you took of the juggling ball pile on AE's

[3:32:55 PM] nsy says: oh, its because there were 500 emails when i tried to send/recv on my phone. i'll try again :)

[3:33:38 PM] nsy says: ok, its sending

[3:43:40 PM] pD sent file "[deleted]" to members of this chat

juggling balls

[3:44:14 PM] pD says: oh, before i forget

[3:44:23 PM] pD says: what is your handle, nsy

[3:44:45 PM] nsy says: nsy

[3:44:57 PM] pD says: roger that

[3:45:53 PM] nsy says: nice! the image turned out pretty good

[3:46:30 PM] nsy says: shoulda gotten the jolly roger in there

[3:46:43 PM] pD says: oh, yeah

[3:46:53 PM] pD says: next time, take the pix and i will post it

[3:47:35 PM] nsy says: ok

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Birth of NSA Chatters

[2:57:25 PM] PD says: hi folks

[2:57:39 PM] PD says: thought that we should finalize the blog idea

[2:57:43 PM] PD says: got a few minutes?

[2:58:14 PM] nsy says: i'm super busy today - but i'll respond with

quick answers if you ask questions

[2:58:24 PM] PD says: okay

[2:58:32 PM] PD says: basically, just need to pick a name for the blog

[2:58:48 PM] PD says: AE and i talked about the platform and Blogger

from Google seems to be a decent choice

[2:58:59 PM] nsy says: okay, sounds good.

[2:59:18 PM] nsy says: if you give me 3-5 options, i'll place them

in order of preference

[2:59:19 PM] PD says: AE, thoughts?

[2:59:34 PM] PD says: i think two ideas has been tossed out before

[2:59:57 PM] PD says: one is "pens day" an anagram on PD/AE/NSY

[3:00:16 PM] PD says: the second is NSA Chatter (Normal, Serious,

Annoying)

[3:03:57 PM] nsy says: de pansy? apendys? day pens?

[3:04:35 PM] AE says: sorry, on a support call then

[3:04:56 PM] nsy says: i prefer nsa chatter, but that might

conflict with "national security agency chatter"

[3:05:10 PM] PD says: Da pensy?

[3:05:37 PM] PD says: actually, that is precisely why I thought of NSA

chatter - confusing the audience is part of the fun

[3:05:45 PM] PD says: sorta wink wink kinda thing

[3:11:37 PM] PD says: the other way of thinking about it is that we can

get the blog to rank highly on google, then, whenever somebody searches for

NSA chatter, they will see us

[3:16:40 PM] AE says: and everything can be code words.

[3:16:46 PM] AE says: we can include a puzzle too!

[3:17:29 PM] PD says: puzzles? that sounds like real work. do we have

to?

[3:18:34 PM] nsy says: ok, i'm on board then. i'm probably already

on some nsa list somewhere as a terrorist anyway. i think membership in most

politically active liberal organization gets you a free pass.

[3:19:58 PM] PD says: terrorist list! that is so cool

[3:20:06 PM] PD says: do you have a copy of the anarchist handbook?

[3:21:31 PM] nsy says: my neighbor's son had to flee to canada

after being added to a terrorist list when he was involved in a sit-in at a

government planning dept office - they were "removing native people from

their land to build ski resorts in canada. he can't re-enter the Us or

they'll treat him as a terrorist. crazy stuff.

[3:22:00 PM] PD says: wow, when was this?

[3:22:16 PM] nsy says: 2 years ago.

[3:22:48 PM] AE says: canadian terrorist... kind of an oxy-moron.

[3:23:17 PM] PD says: i thought he fled TO canada? so, he is now active

in canada on ski resort land issues?

[3:23:23 PM] nsy says: they put his wife in jail in canada because

she would not move from their family's land when the bulldozers came. she had

a 3 week old baby that had to be taken from her to imprison her. its

terrible.

[3:23:37 PM] nsy says: yes, they are still very politically active

there.

[3:24:18 PM] nsy says: they do the annual walk from alaska to

mexico sometimes (when he can get across the border)

[3:24:56 PM] PD says: wow, that takes conviction. i am afraid that i

cannot handle that kind of hardship

[3:25:55 PM] nsy says: i think you just do it if you have to. i'm

grateful i don't have to

[3:27:30 PM] PD says: i know what you mean. but, risking being

separated from your baby and still move ahead takes real conviction

[3:29:07 PM] nsy says: they did not have anywhere else to go, and

they could never have imagined they would separate the baby from her. they

figured a fine at worst, or couple days in prison at most, but she was there

for months.

[3:30:09 PM] PD says: this sounds like a story that needs to be told

over a glass of beer to give it proper texture

[3:30:16 PM] AE says: that seems like a criminal act.

[3:30:24 PM] PD says: AE! anyone home? still on call?

[3:30:35 PM] AE says: no, just trying to wrap up my day.

[3:30:55 PM] PD says: so, got everyone to agree to the title, no?

[3:30:58 PM] AE says: i've a dead car they're resurrecting... i've got

to see if it made it's system shock roll.

[3:30:59 PM] PD says: NSA Chatter

[3:31:05 PM] nsy says: yes, indeed. i don't know all the details. i

did some web site work for them a few years ago, but I haven't heard much

lately.

[3:31:07 PM] AE says: Pansy day!

[3:31:22 PM] AE says: ... oh, ok. NSA it is...

[3:31:28 PM] AE sulks

[3:31:29 PM] nsy says: ok, nsa

[3:31:59 PM] PD says: actually, i kind of like pansy day...

[3:32:17 PM] PD says: pretty random just like NSA chatter

[3:32:48 PM] PD says: do you think we should become a fav blog for the

LGST set?

[3:32:56 PM] PD says: stranger things have happened

[3:33:03 PM] nsy says: lgst?

[3:33:37 PM] PD says: lesbian gay, bi, transgender, I should have said

LGBT not S

[3:33:55 PM] PD says: speaking of transgender, have you guys seen Trans

America?

[3:33:58 PM] nsy says: ah, yes

[3:34:00 PM] PD says: It is a pretty neato film

[3:34:27 PM] nsy says: no, i haven't - i'll add it to my list. is

that the tv show that is running right now?

[3:34:32 PM] nsy says: oh, film

[3:34:50 PM] PD says: it is one of those low key independent films

[3:35:04 PM] PD says: kind of enjoyable when you are not in a rush to

be entertained

[3:35:46 PM] PD says: before i dive into films, so, what should our

blog title be?

[3:36:58 PM] AE says: "saving the world through narcissism"

[3:37:37 PM] nsy says: nsa chatter works

[3:37:45 PM] PD says: aka "in milton friedman we trust" ?

[3:46:00 PM] PD says: AE?

[3:46:11 PM] AE says: yes?

[3:46:30 PM] AE says: i'm still trying to figure out who milton is.

[3:47:02 PM] PD says: god father of free market followers

[3:47:11 PM] PD says: won a nobel prize

[3:47:42 PM] AE says: yes... but how does he pertain to us in a blog

format?

[3:47:44 PM] PD says: highly controversial because his students (the

Chicago Boys) were advisers to Pinochet of Chile

[3:47:58 PM] PD says: oh, that was a reference to your note on

narcissism

[3:48:25 PM] PD says: Friedman would have approved, since narcissism

drives the world to its logical/optimal result

[3:48:45 PM] PD says: a grossly generalized bastardization of

friedman's philosophy

[3:50:27 PM] AE says: hold on... let me get my notebook...

[3:52:45 PM] nsy says: http://traffic.511.org/sfgate/ in case you

know anyone driving 101 - taker flipped and caught fire by redwood city.

[3:53:14 PM] PD says: yike! good thing i do not go in that direction

[3:54:57 PM] nsy says: indeed

[3:55:13 PM] AE says: matt's in redwood city.

[3:55:21 PM] AE says: or lives there at least.

[3:55:43 PM] PD says: i will remind matt

[3:55:43 PM] nsy says: i think it will be cleaned up by the time he

usually leaves

[3:55:46 PM] nsy says: ok

[3:56:48 PM] PD says: ok, guys, let's focus here

[3:56:55 PM] PD says: (the task master is coming out)

[3:57:01 PM] PD says: what is the blog's name?

[3:57:37 PM] nsy says: NSA Chatter - so i can get back to work ;)

taskmaster jr here.

[3:58:38 PM] AE says: ((whip sound effect))

[3:58:49 PM] nsy says: hhaaaha

[3:59:02 PM] nsy says: kwa-chaa!

[3:59:20 PM] PD says: meow.... ?

[3:59:33 PM] PD says: btw, i need your email addresses to invite you to

the blog

[3:59:46 PM] PD says: i have just created it on Blogger.com

[4:01:28 PM] nsy says: if it will get me a bunch of spam -

[deleted], otherwise - [deleted]

[4:01:40 PM] nsy says: its more amusing with backstory, but:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyk3xYN1jMw

[4:02:05 PM] AE says: [deleted]

[4:02:19 PM] PD says: this is to get you access into blogger. sort of

like an ID/PW pair. what do you prefer, nsy?

[4:03:24 PM] nsy says: [deleted]

[4:03:38 PM] nsy says: here's the backstory:

http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=RdbZRST2Byw&eurl=http%3A//www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dyou%2Btube%2Barrested%2Bdevelopment%2B-%2Bchicken%2Bdance%26btnG%3DGoogle%2BSearc&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/RdbZRST2Byw/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskIXkLNLccMdOJpcaYBj-LMa

[4:04:17 PM] PD says: just invited both of you to the blog, i assume

you need to register and all that good stuff. you are on your own on that

one.

[4:04:29 PM] PD says: btw

[4:04:30 PM] nsy says: ok, tx

[4:04:40 PM] PD says: should we make this exchange our first entry into

the blog?

[4:04:55 PM] PD says: i will remove specific reference to email and

other identification stuff

[4:05:11 PM] PD says: i will put it in a draft form first for everyone

to review

[4:05:16 PM] PD says: then, we can push it to live.

[4:05:18 PM] PD says: yes?

[4:05:26 PM] AE says: sure

[4:05:30 PM] nsy says: ok

[4:05:37 PM] AE says: it's like a marshmallow.

[4:05:48 PM] PD says: ?

[4:05:51 PM] AE says: there's no substance when you bite into ti

[4:05:56 PM] AE says: *it

[4:06:09 PM] AE says: hope you're going to at least edit our type o's

[4:06:11 PM] PD says: isn't it the essence of NSA chatter?

[4:06:23 PM] AE says: it's whatever we need it to be.

[4:06:26 PM] PD says: i will do a spell check

[4:07:10 PM] nsy says: spell chekers are for wimps

[4:07:33 PM] PD says: well, the alternative title was going to be pansy

day...

[4:07:43 PM] nsy says: true... ok

[4:08:02 PM] nsy says: see that? i folded - like a paper tiger

[4:08:14 PM] PD says: maybe one of those psotings will be a no spell

check day

[4:08:33 PM] nsy says: hehehe

[4:08:35 PM] AE says: Ok. the swimmers are back. We're going to take

our hybrid highlander for a spin up the coast.

[4:08:38 PM] PD says: like most of us...

[4:08:49 PM] PD says: show-off

[4:08:56 PM] nsy says: try not to spin. traction is good

[4:08:59 PM] AE says: just a rental.

[4:09:03 PM] AE says: ok.

[4:09:07 PM] PD says: i still drive a 97 toyota

[4:09:09 PM] AE says: it's amazingly fast.

[4:09:19 PM] AE says: we still drive a 97 outback...

[4:09:22 PM] AE says: and a 2000 prius.

[4:09:36 PM] nsy says: snobs

[4:09:37 PM] PD says: oh, yeah

[4:09:40 PM] AE says: the prius is in the shop, so they loaned us a

highlander with 2 miles on it.

[4:09:43 PM] PD says: my brother can beat up yours

[4:10:04 PM] AE says: is your brother's car a transformer?

[4:10:07 PM] nsy says: i have a sticker on my car of a kid peeing

on your car

[4:10:15 PM] AE says: cause that would be worth seeing my car beat up

for.

[4:10:22 PM] nsy says: more than meets the eye

[4:10:33 PM] PD says: it is all in the mind, man. all in the mind

[4:10:49 PM] PD says: remember the kids in the hall skit about crushing

somebody's head

[4:10:49 PM] AE says: this is all very stimulating, but I've got to

go hang out with my intellectual equals...

[4:10:57 PM] AE says: i'm crushing your head!

[4:11:11 PM] AE says: bye

[4:11:13 PM] PD says: intellectual equal? you must be on the wrong line

[4:11:15 PM] PD says: ciao

[4:11:28 PM] AE says: no... my daughter is six... that's about my

speed.

[4:11:36 PM] nsy says: i'm pinching your head!

[4:11:47 PM] nsy says: buh-bye

[4:11:50 PM] PD says: double pinch, left and right hands

[4:11:54 PM] nsy says: ooooh!

[4:12:10 PM] nsy says: runaway!

[4:12:11 PM] PD says: oh, this is degenerating fast, too am hanging up

[4:12:17 PM] nsy says: ok, bye :)