Care package, end of the world, FedEx, kids, norman hsu, pets, throwing food, UPS, mother teresa, 300, Rome

[9/21/2007 9:32:23 AM] pD says: UPS 9 FedEx 6 today

[9/21/2007 9:32:34 AM] pD says: this is a new game for pD...

[9/21/2007 9:52:10 AM] AE says: deliveries?

[9/21/2007 9:52:29 AM] AE says: none from us yet. i found some floss, but no toothpicks.

[9/21/2007 10:01:25 AM] pD says: i would be most concerned if you also found toothpicks since they would not be mine

[9/21/2007 10:01:54 AM] pD says: cool! are you guys actually collecting the korean candies? do not think there are many left back when

[9/21/2007 10:02:20 AM] nsy says: there's only a handful left

[9/21/2007 10:04:01 AM] pD says: end of the world as we know it

[9/21/2007 10:04:16 AM] pD says: no more kim-chic!

[9/21/2007 10:14:46 AM] nsy says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGqroT1FZ5Y



[9/21/2007 10:15:56 AM] nsy says: in case you're wondering what the heck they said: http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/R-e-m/It-s-The-End-Of-The-World-As-We-Know-It-And-I-Feel-Fine.html

[9/21/2007 10:16:34 AM] AE says: It's the end of this song if we're lucky.

[9/21/2007 10:16:42 AM] AE says: (that's the Weird Al Version)

[9/21/2007 10:19:39 AM] pD says: are they, R E M, too fan of korean green tea candies? did not know!

[9/21/2007 10:19:46 AM] AE says: http://www.ugoplayer.com/music/endoftheworld.html

[9/21/2007 1:09:26 PM] pD says: what is the story with the norman hsu dude - why does he feel compelled to give so much money to the democrats?

[9/21/2007 1:09:45 PM] pD says: what he did is plainly illegal, but i have not heard any explanation on why he is doing it...

[9/21/2007 1:11:34 PM] pD says: from the NY Times, i thought having connections via chocolate and beer is way ahead of most other ethnic tensions that i am aware of... QUOTATION OF THE DAY -

"We are two different nations, an artificial state
created as a buffer between big powers, and we have
nothing in common except a king, chocolate and beer."

- FILIP DEWINTER, the leader of a right-wing Flemish party, on Belgium's ethnic tensions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/world/europe/21belgium.html?th&emc=th

[9/21/2007 1:25:49 PM] AE says: hmm... chocolate beer...

[9/24/2007 9:30:50 AM] pD says: UPS 11 FedEx 1 this morning

[9/24/2007 10:36:10 AM] nsy says: are you still counting trucks?

[9/24/2007 10:36:34 AM] pD says: apparently

[9/24/2007 10:36:52 AM] pD says: just one more things to keep me occupied while driving

[9/24/2007 10:37:02 AM] AE says: we'll have to send our care package via dhl then...

[9/24/2007 10:37:17 AM] pD says: i would get very confused.

[9/24/2007 10:37:19 AM] pD says: good idea

[9/24/2007 10:39:29 AM] AE says: are you counting deliveries? or trucks you see on the way to work?

[9/24/2007 10:42:35 AM] pD says: only trucks that is going the opposite direction that i am going

[9/24/2007 10:43:33 AM] nsy says: interesting gauge - why only opposite direction?

[9/24/2007 10:43:51 AM] pD says: because in the traffic, i will always see the same two UPS trucks in front of me...

[9/24/2007 11:12:11 AM] nsy says: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maisonbisson/1303521019/

[9/24/2007 11:38:11 AM] pD says: here is a question for AE

[9/24/2007 11:38:38 AM] pD says: at what point does a kid stop throwing food?

[9/24/2007 11:43:45 AM] AE says: oh... we're supposed to stop?

[9/24/2007 11:43:51 AM] AE says: uh... 40?

[9/24/2007 11:44:17 AM] pD says: ok, not the animal house sort of throwing food

[9/24/2007 11:44:28 AM] AE says: are they throwing it because they're done eating/ bored?

[9/24/2007 11:44:31 AM] AE says: or because they don't like it?

[9/24/2007 11:44:41 AM] pD says: anyway, the little boss has a tendency to throw things that he does not want to eat

[9/24/2007 11:44:56 AM] pD says: not even not liking it, sometimes, it is food that he usually eats, but may not strike his mood?

[9/24/2007 11:45:12 AM] pD says: at this age, there is no reasoning with him - which I accept

[9/24/2007 11:45:20 AM] pD says: so, i just want to calibrate a bit here

[9/24/2007 11:45:43 AM] AE says: yeah. my kids tended to smear their food around if they didn't like it or they were not really hungry.

[9/24/2007 11:46:08 AM] pD says: any suggestion?

[9/24/2007 11:46:09 AM] AE says: small amounts of different things are always best.

[9/24/2007 11:46:11 AM] pD says: to be honest

[9/24/2007 11:46:16 AM] AE says: what do you feed him?

[9/24/2007 11:46:21 AM] pD says: i am just tired of having to mop the floor after each session

[9/24/2007 11:46:45 AM] pD says: we feed him adult food for the most part. he does get puree veggie so he gets enough green

[9/24/2007 11:48:22 AM] pD says: my goal, admittedly selfish, is for the little boss to put aside the things that does not strike his fancy on the trey instead of dumping it overboard. just easier to clean...

[9/24/2007 11:49:25 AM] AE says: hmm... i'm not sure. we never had a food tossing problem...

[9/24/2007 11:49:32 AM] AE says: perhaps we never gave them enough time?

[9/24/2007 11:49:45 AM] pD says: enough time?

[9/24/2007 11:49:57 AM] AE says: we would always feed Quinn, then eat, so we were focusing on him while he was eating, then he would sleep while we ate.

[9/24/2007 11:51:14 AM] pD says: he would take the food and while looking at one direction, toss the food at the other direction. which is kind of funny, but a lot of work to clean up

[9/24/2007 11:51:21 AM] pD says: how often do you feed Quinn?

[9/24/2007 11:51:37 AM] AE says: now? at least once a week.

[9/24/2007 11:51:46 AM] pD says: one of the things that we do is to make sure that the little boss gets enough calories during the waking hours so that hedoes not wake up at night

[9/24/2007 11:51:53 AM] AE says: um... there was no set schedule. he nursed until he was 3.

[9/24/2007 11:51:55 AM] pD says: once a week - that is an expensive kid

[9/24/2007 11:52:05 AM] AE says: so, most of the nutrients he needed came from that.

[9/24/2007 11:52:08 AM] pD says: exclusive?

[9/24/2007 11:52:15 AM] AE says: he didn't have solid food until about 9 months.

[9/24/2007 11:52:20 AM] pD says: it is kind of hard since both parents work

[9/24/2007 11:52:31 AM] AE says: ah... yes. there is the whole life structure thing...

[9/24/2007 11:52:58 AM] nsy says: i think its just fun to throw things

[9/24/2007 11:53:16 AM] pD says: agree - if you don't have to clean it up

[9/24/2007 11:53:55 AM] AE says: get a small dog?

[9/24/2007 11:54:06 AM] nsy says: if you put something else in his hand when he eats does he throw that instead? or is he using his hands to eat (not being spoon fed)?

[9/24/2007 11:54:31 AM] nsy says: dog - good idea! i don't think roombas are designed for wet pick-up.

[9/24/2007 11:55:07 AM] pD says: never been much of a pet person - i don't mind pets, it is just that they seem to be babies that never grow up for interesting conversations, so the upside is quite limited in my view

[9/24/2007 11:55:23 AM] pD says: nsy has an interesting observation

[9/24/2007 11:55:41 AM] pD says: it is true that if i give him something else to hold, he would throw it instead

[9/24/2007 11:55:55 AM] pD says: that is one of the ways that I feed him veggies

[9/24/2007 11:56:12 AM] nsy says: so, its a game. he likes to watch you pick stuff up for him. whee!

[9/24/2007 11:56:26 AM] pD says: which brings up a related question, why would he NOT eat the puree veggie as is, but would open widely when he has something to hold in his hands and bang?

[9/24/2007 11:56:43 AM] pD says: nsy, you are not to talk with the little boss...

[9/24/2007 11:56:53 AM] nsy says: dang

[9/24/2007 11:56:54 AM] AE says: LOL

[9/24/2007 11:57:10 AM] nsy attempted collaboration thwarted

[9/24/2007 11:57:29 AM] pD says: subversion is a better description

[9/24/2007 11:57:41 AM] nsy says: for the same reason you like to listen to arias while working.

[9/24/2007 11:58:00 AM] pD says: the connection?

[9/24/2007 11:58:19 AM] pD says: it is true that he definitely treats it partly as a game.

[9/24/2007 11:58:49 AM] pD says: that is part of my quandary. how do i make it such that he would eat nicely so we can play games nicely - without the mopping

[9/24/2007 12:03:01 PM] AE says: maybe stop feeding him for a few days.

[9/24/2007 12:03:12 PM] AE says: then he'll be too hungry and weak to throw food.

[9/24/2007 12:04:02 PM] pD says: drastic, but i see where you are going with that idea

[9/24/2007 12:04:17 PM] AE says: (please tell my you know I'm kidding)

[9/24/2007 12:04:22 PM] nsy says: the connection - if you have a divine multi-tasking brain, and you are trying to focus on one task, there can be distracting "chatters" unless you keep one part occupied with one task, so the other channel can focus on a separate task. this is just a theory i have because i used to have trouble with calculus until i started listening to classical music during my differential equations. like how a worry stone can "help you think" i suppose.

[9/24/2007 12:04:59 PM] pD says: no, it is time for the little boss to face the real world. school of hard-knocks is what this is all about

[9/24/2007 12:05:01 PM] nsy says: keep the hands occupied so he can focus on the eating

[9/24/2007 12:05:29 PM] nsy says: let him clean up his own mess - tough love

[9/24/2007 12:05:39 PM] AE says: perhaps carrot sticks for the hands (good if he accidentally puts one in his mouth) and then spoon feed everything else.

[9/24/2007 12:06:03 PM] nsy says: and carrot sticks are easier to clean off the floor

[9/24/2007 12:06:55 PM] AE says: that way the hands are distracted, and he learns that sometimes hands have yummy things.

[9/24/2007 12:07:14 PM] AE says: oh! or replace the carrot sticks with sugar sticks!

[9/24/2007 12:07:19 PM] AE says: or chocolate bars!

[9/24/2007 12:07:30 PM] AE says: then he certainly won't throw them away!

[9/24/2007 12:08:15 PM] nsy says: i wonder if putting bells on his wrists would distract him...

[9/24/2007 12:08:29 PM] AE says: haha! it would distract me!

[9/24/2007 12:26:41 PM] AE says: http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/eating/throwingfood.html

[9/24/2007 12:26:47 PM] AE says: other parent's thoughts...

[9/24/2007 2:32:27 PM] AE says: still... it could be worse: http://www.neatorama.com/2006/07/07/kids-and-an-open-can-of-paint-what-could-go-wrong/

[9/25/2007 7:05:25 AM] AE says: In completely unrelated news comes this disturbing graph: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FSM_Pirates.jpg

[9/25/2007 7:05:51 AM] AE says: I never realized there was a direct correlation, but I think our course is clear on what needs to be done...

[9/25/2007 9:14:36 AM] pD says: start a business on pirate gears, correspondence course on pirating, author pirates for dummies, etc.?

[9/25/2007 9:16:02 AM] pD says: btw, the score today is UPS 10 Fed 1

[9/25/2007 9:16:03 AM] AE says: exactly!

[9/25/2007 9:16:10 AM] AE says: run away and join the Pirates!

[9/25/2007 9:16:29 AM] pD says: lest we forget the god rush

[9/25/2007 9:16:35 AM] pD says: none of the gold diggers got rich

[9/25/2007 9:16:50 AM] pD says: but we get Levis' who supplies to the gold rushers

[9/25/2007 9:18:56 AM] AE says: hmmm... and the potato farmers and rotting mountains of potatoes

[9/25/2007 9:21:26 AM] pD says: i would prefer a business with short inventory cycle, farming takes a long time between sowing and harvesting and pirating ain't a sure thing until they have replace QEII

[9/25/2007 9:38:03 AM] AE says: no, i was referring to the mountains of rotting potatoes in Watsonville and Gilroy during the latter part of the gold rush

[9/25/2007 9:38:31 AM] AE says: there was a potato farmer who took a cart up and sold each potato for $2-4 (since there was more gold than food).

[9/25/2007 9:38:57 AM] AE says: He came back and told of the riches he'd encountered, and everyone planted potatoes, thinking they would get rich too.

[9/25/2007 9:39:19 AM] AE says: so of course, there was a glut of potatoes on the market, no one could buy them all, and they rotted.

[9/25/2007 9:39:28 AM] AE says: farmers went bankrupt because of that.

[9/25/2007 10:01:29 AM] pD says: that is indeed a fascinating story about herd mentality

[9/25/2007 10:02:00 AM] pD says: so, whoever sold those potato seedlings made a killing.

[9/25/2007 10:06:29 AM] AE says: haha! that's why we love you, pD! Always able to find the money making angle to something.

[9/25/2007 10:07:29 AM] pD says: well, if some schmuk is going to make out like a bandit, i can think of worse candidates than self :)!

[9/25/2007 10:08:32 AM] AE says: that's what Mother Teresa used to say.

[9/25/2007 10:10:13 AM] pD says: was she running a biz on the side? she would have amazing branding opportunities. but, i suspect the roman church would demand a healthy cut - another reason why i always think religion is a good biz

[9/25/2007 10:12:55 AM] pD says: pD = the saviour

[9/25/2007 10:24:19 AM] AE says: hers was not a faith based in commercial religion.

[9/25/2007 10:24:27 AM] AE says: her religion was within her.

[9/25/2007 10:24:52 AM] AE says: yes, she was a Roman Catholic nun...

[9/25/2007 10:25:23 AM] AE says: but it was deep within her that the love came from to attempt the work she did.

[9/25/2007 10:25:51 AM] AE says: NJ sent me this one right after I started working here:

[9/25/2007 10:26:00 AM] AE sent file Mother Teresa.jpg to members of this chat

[9/25/2007 10:26:46 AM] AE says: reading it makes me cry sometimes

[9/25/2007 9:31:57 PM] pD says: not to make light of mother teresa's work and what she had given up for her work. But, i do strongly believe that we are judging her in a way that is completely unnatural

[9/25/2007 9:32:34 PM] pD says: first of all, the reason that she is notable is because she is the exception in all sense of the words - put another way, she ain

[9/25/2007 9:32:49 PM] pD says: ain't one of the regular folks

[9/25/2007 9:33:21 PM] pD says: and, not being a regular folk, it simply is not fair to judge her through the lens of the regular folks

[9/25/2007 9:36:10 PM] pD says: for example, while you and I (well, "I" especially) may consider what she does as an impossible task because of X, Y, and Z reasons. but the first question to ask is if she even consider the X, Y Z relevant. and, if these issues are irrelevant, maybe she is just doing the right thing by her even if it is considered "filthy/impossible" for regular folks

[9/25/2007 9:37:44 PM] pD says: to give a goofy example, for somebody who is not familiar with some french cheeses, the stink and texture is simply impossibly gross. but, for another person who does not view the same cheeses as such, it is simply another form of food

[9/25/2007 9:38:04 PM] pD says: so, from A, B is doing a brave/impossible thing while B is only doing something normal

[9/25/2007 9:38:34 PM] pD says: now, we can argue how normal is it to live and work in the more deprived slump of india.

[9/25/2007 9:39:04 PM] pD says: But, keep in mind, even that description is full of our own prejudices from a first world middle class view point

[9/25/2007 9:40:24 PM] pD says: in other words, although unverified, I have a strong suspicion that mother teresa and her gang probably lived a dulce vita relative to most of the population in the very same slumps.

[9/25/2007 9:41:21 PM] pD says: people make money donations and volunteer their time to work with mother teresa. that is all fine - if it makes a person feels better him/herself

[9/25/2007 9:42:45 PM] pD says: but, i do not know how the true locals feel about this - for all that i know, the locals may simply feel that "oh, great, here comes another sucker who is well fed and has more money than my entire village is worth coming here to do some work so he can feel better about himself."

[9/25/2007 9:43:26 PM] pD says: that may well be a local perspective and it basically continues the legacy of imperial/colonialism

[9/25/2007 9:44:05 PM] pD says: now, in term of welfare for its citizens, i wonder how much damage mother teresa's organization has done to the healthcare infrastructure of india.

[9/25/2007 9:44:50 PM] pD says: as strange as it may sound, it is also true that many third world government views this kind of "service" as a perfect substitute for taking up the responsibilities of serving their own citizens.

[9/25/2007 9:45:55 PM] pD says: and, in a strange way, such service removes the locals from depending on the government (which one may be tempted to consider a good thing on first glance) but this is terrible for a functioning government because it also removes incentives from both the government and the governed to engage in meaningful dialogs

[9/25/2007 9:46:36 PM] pD says: it becomes a crutch that neither side is willing to give up

[9/25/2007 9:47:26 PM] pD says: finally, at a personal level, i can only hope that mother teresa was the happiest while doing her work. if she is doing it for a sense of duty, she has a major major major complex.

[9/25/2007 10:04:25 PM] pD says: and, if she is happily doing her work - our admiration is a bit like cheering my kid for eating cookies

[9/25/2007 10:09:11 PM] pD says: i admire mother teresa because she has found her calling.

[9/25/2007 10:09:20 PM] pD is the contrarian

[9/26/2007 10:26:13 AM] pD says: UPS 12 Fedex 1

[9/26/2007 10:26:53 AM] pD says: btw, where are my green tea kim-chic candies?

[10:57:38 AM] pD says: knock, knock

[10:57:41 AM] pD says: anyone home?

[11:02:06 AM] nsy says: i'm home!

[11:02:57 AM] nsy says: but i'm installing...

[11:05:44 AM] pD says: no worries, just thought it has been a bit quiet lately

[11:07:16 AM] nsy says: end of quarter and end of fiscal year - very busy for us lately ;)

[11:17:25 AM] pD says: cool! make me more money!

[11:25:53 AM] pD says: UPS 0 FedEx 1 today

[11:26:04 AM] pD says: but, it is during a different time period

[11:55:23 AM] nsy says: heading to the office - se y'all in a bit

[11:59:40 AM] pD says: oh! you are literally at home, thought you were in PA doing install

[12:00:24 PM] pD says: what is going on these days? what excitement have i been missing?

[12:00:39 PM] AE says: customer 300 is next.

[12:00:55 PM] pD says: very cool!

[12:01:08 PM] pD says: #300 being installed or what is "next"?

[12:01:17 PM] AE says: to be signed.

[12:01:37 PM] pD says: sounds like a touch of bubbly is called for

[12:01:46 PM] AE says: probably will be on Friday.

[12:02:01 PM] pD says: hahah! down to the wire, huh

[12:02:04 PM] pD says: i know how that works

[12:02:08 PM] pD says: who is working on that deal?

[12:07:17 PM] AE says: don't know which one it will be.

[12:09:01 PM] pD says: i hope it is SG. he is on a bit of a short leash right now

[12:26:50 PM] AE says: actually, that leash was cut.

[12:29:33 PM] pD says: oh!

[12:29:38 PM] pD says: SG is no longer?

[12:29:46 PM] pD says: sorry to hear that

[12:29:47 PM] AE says: he 'resigned'

[12:29:52 PM] pD says: when did they happen?

[12:30:03 PM] AE says: about a month ago.

[12:30:09 PM] AE says: not long after you left.

[12:30:34 PM] pD says: man! you are holding out on me on the story

[12:30:47 PM] AE says: you now know as much as i do.

[12:31:34 PM] pD says: so, has anyone else left?

[12:31:48 PM] pD doing a name count in his mind

[12:31:59 PM] AE says: CE.

[12:32:08 PM] pD says: oh, that was before me

[12:32:14 PM] AE says: Ok. That's it.

[12:32:17 PM] pD says: around the same time as CM

[12:32:22 PM] AE says: ah

[12:32:38 PM] AE says: we've hired a couple of new sales folks... they're getting their feet under them

[12:32:38 PM] pD says: MB and JB still around, i am hoping

[12:33:03 PM] pD says: oh, yeah, a chicago guy was supposed to come onboard when i left

[12:33:20 PM] pD says: BP joined around that same time too

[12:33:41 PM] pD says: sales is a tough life - i would never make a good sales

[12:33:59 PM] AE says: i hear you. i was in sales just long enough to know it wasn't for me.

[12:34:56 PM] pD says: outside of sales though, any addition/subtractions?

[12:35:04 PM] AE says: nope

[12:35:11 PM] pD says: how is JH doing?

[12:35:21 PM] AE says: she and M1 are both doing a great job!

[12:35:31 PM] pD says: is M1 back from her time in France?

[12:35:39 PM] AE says: italia, but yes.

[12:36:02 PM] pD says: very cool! italy, huh. wish I was there. i always liked italy

[12:36:39 PM] pD says: but, i must say that Rome was just a bit too much as a place to live. enjoyed the visit, but i think i would prefer northern italy

[12:37:33 PM] AE says: yes, they save if rome leaves you wanting, you'll enjoy further south. if rome is enough, then that's as far south as you need to go.

[12:39:21 PM] pD says: hahahah! I totally see the point. although i suspect that i would enjoy the country side of southern italy well. to me, it is just the compactness/dense-ness of the roman madness that was getting to me.

[12:39:38 PM] AE says: ? what madness?

[12:39:39 PM] pD says: strange for me to say that of course, since i seem to prefer big cities in general

[12:40:40 PM] pD says: well, in most densely populated areas, there is a basic rhythm to how things work, how people walk, talk, etc. it may not be friendly, but if you get onto the same speed/wavelength, it becomes a non-issue

[12:41:24 PM] pD says: but, in the case of rome, i just felt that it was too many speeds and styles going at once, and it felt really "random" as oppose to having a rhythm like other big cities

[12:41:37 PM] pD says: purely personal observation

[12:44:13 PM] AE says: i'm not sure what you mean by rhythm... cities are large populations of individuals.

[12:46:15 PM] pD says: oh, i do not know about it

[12:46:22 PM] pD says: each location has its own rhythm and styles

[12:46:33 PM] pD says: and, it is partly a function of who lives/work there

[12:47:02 PM] pD says: for example, santa cruz, though i have never been, has a particular rhythm/style that if somebody from new york city just materializes would look out of place

[2:21:16 PM] pD says: btw, whatever happened to SG's infamous laptop(s)?

AI - second life - Tokelau - official NSA Chatters flag - candies - kim-chic - UPS - FedEx - pirates - LASIK - floss

[9/13/2007 1:11:45 PM] pD says: speaking of AI: Artificial intelligences could soon be living and

learning inside online worlds such as Second Life.

[9/13/2007 1:11:54 PM] pD says: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6992613.stm

[9/13/2007 2:43:45 PM] nsy says: yep - there was a lot of talk about Second Life at the singularity conference. there are a lot of funding companies throwing money at programmers to create better virtual reality.

[9/13/2007 3:19:10 PM] pD says: have you been on Second Life, I have heard so much about it but i also do not find enough motivation to go there

[9/13/2007 3:19:24 PM] pD says: seems to be just a fancy D&D site...

[9/13/2007 3:34:59 PM] nsy says: i have a gamer friend that said its not worth the effort, so i trust her.

[9/13/2007 4:11:17 PM] pD says: i hear you

[9/13/2007 4:11:42 PM] pD says: the only thing about Second Life that piqued my interests was the fact that they too have a monetary policy/central bank

[9/13/2007 4:11:58 PM] pD says: the reason being that the local currency (linden?) can be converted into US$

[9/13/2007 4:12:08 PM] pD says: so, it is important for them to maintain some level of stable exchange rate

[9/13/2007 4:12:17 PM] pD says: so, on that basis, I have been fascinated by Second Life

[9/13/2007 4:12:35 PM] pD says: avatars and other stuff - just seem so "trivial"...

[9/13/2007 4:12:44 PM] pD says: but, i am not a gamer, so i am probably the wrong person

[9/13/2007 4:24:12 PM] nsy says: it reminds me of the ender's game books where the computer program used to train military students becomes self-aware. the first AI of sorts

[9/13/2007 4:24:47 PM] pD says: central banking based on AI?

[9/13/2007 4:25:07 PM] pD says: that is an intriguing idea but some would probably argue that it will do a better job than human central bankers...

[9/13/2007 4:25:20 PM] nsy says: no, just the Second Life thing

[9/13/2007 4:25:48 PM] nsy says: yeah, humans make mistakes.

[9/13/2007 4:30:33 PM] pD says: but, that makes life interesting. human mistakes

[9/13/2007 4:31:00 PM] pD says: the other problem with AI as the central banker is that the audience is still human. so the impulse would be to hack the system to gain an advantage

[9/13/2007 4:31:10 PM] nsy says: yes, i agree on that one. i make a lot of mistakes, and things have been pretty interesting so far

[9/13/2007 4:31:29 PM] pD says: or, somehow reverse engineer the logics to build a parallel box which makes the AI goal unattainable over the long term

[9/13/2007 4:34:05 PM] nsy says: a parallel box you say?

[9/13/2007 4:34:15 PM] nsy says: hmm

[9/13/2007 4:36:16 PM] nsy says: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6927775.html

[9/14/2007 1:45:50 PM] pD says: An atoll in the South Pacific has come up with a novel way of making money via its domain name .TK.

Tokelau may only have 1,500 inhabitants and be a two-day boat trip from its nearest neighbor but selling its .TK domain is reaping benefits: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6991719.stm

[9/14/2007 1:45:54 PM] pD says: looks win-win to me

[9/14/2007 1:46:17 PM] pD says: i wonder what are the definitions for assigning country level domain names.

[9/14/2007 1:46:31 PM] pD says: for example, can i declare a new country in order to get a domain?

[9/14/2007 8:56:15 PM] pD says: finally caught up somewhat with NSA Chatters postings

[9/14/2007 8:56:26 PM] pD says: one more to go. hope to get to it in the next few days...

[9/14/2007 8:56:55 PM] pD says: gotta go watch the 5 episode of TNG season I

[9/17/2007 11:37:56 AM] pD says: man! i would kill for one of 'em green korean tea candy about right now...

[9/17/2007 2:32:37 PM] pD says: a question on Windows OS

[9/17/2007 2:32:55 PM] pD says: what is the function that allows me to adjust if the icons on the desktop will auto-align?

[9/17/2007 2:33:06 PM] pD says: i want to turn that darn thing off, but cannot find how to do it

[9/17/2007 2:33:08 PM] pD says: thanks

[9/18/2007 6:58:54 AM] nsy says: there's only about a handful of them left!

[9/18/2007 9:23:42 AM] pD says: end of the world as we know it...

[9/18/2007 9:25:13 AM] nsy says: if i could read any of that, i could probably find them online. only if pD were here...

[9/18/2007 9:29:36 AM] pD says: the wrapper? you mean

[9/18/2007 9:29:46 AM] pD says: well, they are korean, so cannot help you on that

[9/18/2007 9:30:11 AM] pD says: speaking of which, i always thought it odd that why would a SG outfit send over stuff that is made in korean

[9/18/2007 9:30:26 AM] pD says: nothing wrong with it, just a bit unexpected

[9/18/2007 9:30:41 AM] pD says: unless, of course, that candy was/is the rage in asia right now

[9/18/2007 9:30:54 AM] pD says: who knew, we were hip once!

[9/18/2007 11:13:48 AM] nsy says: i only know "Annyong haseyo?" - it gets a smile in Korea town

[9/18/2007 11:14:20 AM] nsy says: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Language/korean.cfm?Subject=basic

[9/18/2007 11:15:04 AM] pD says: you are way ahead of me as it is

[9/18/2007 11:15:16 AM] pD says: korean has been pretty hip for the past 5-10 years in Asia

[9/18/2007 11:15:27 AM] nsy says: wow, i had no idea

[9/18/2007 11:15:47 AM] pD says: there is even a term for it "kim-hip" after the most common korean food "kim-chi"

[9/18/2007 11:16:01 AM] pD says: "kim-chic", i meant to say

[9/18/2007 11:16:04 AM] nsy says: mmm kim-chi

[9/18/2007 11:16:23 AM] nsy says: no way! that’s hilarious

[9/18/2007 11:16:50 AM] nsy says: why did it become hip, i wonder?

[9/18/2007 11:17:24 AM] nsy says: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/56897_pac04.shtml

[9/18/2007 11:19:15 AM] pD says: i have my theories - how Korean got to be so chic. suffices to say, a good deal of cosmetic surgeries are involved

[9/18/2007 11:23:42 AM] nsy says: my only experience with Korean culture is through a Korean-Italian ex of mine. the food was great, but his mother refused to be seen in public with me because I wore jeans and t-shirts. she said i looked like a slob.

[9/18/2007 11:24:11 AM] nsy says: and the plastic surgery - yikes.

[9/18/2007 11:26:07 AM] nsy says: then, i helped her daughter with her homework, and she dragged me to "fashion Island" on Orange County to buy me some clothes to wear so we could go to dinner. hahaha

[9/18/2007 11:27:38 AM] nsy says: i always just thought it was an orange county thing, not necessarily a Korean thing, though

[9/18/2007 12:28:08 PM] pD says: the slob part or the plastic surgery part?

[9/18/2007 1:21:50 PM] pD says: Small Collectors

Encouraged by wealthy, art-loving parents, children are collecting Warhols and even Rembrandts. Kelly Crow on their kid-centered tastes, 'art allowances' and why auction paddles aren't toys. - http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB118971801238026797-lMyQjAxMDE3ODE5NDcxMTQ4Wj.html

[9/18/2007 1:22:09 PM] pD says: pretty amazing! i would hate to be Dakota's first boyfriend...

[9/19/2007 12:39:58 PM] pD says: is UPS a good stock to buy? this morning i saw about 14-15 UPS truck within 20 minutes. and, only about 3-4 FedEx trucks...

[9/19/2007 3:47:27 PM] nsy says: maybe you were close to the UPS distribution center?

[9/19/2007 3:47:53 PM] pD says: on 237? it was a busy highway

[9/19/2007 3:48:14 PM] pD says: howdy! good to hear from you. was feeling a bit neglected

[9/19/2007 3:48:22 PM] pD says: gotta keep the chatters going

[9/19/2007 3:48:28 PM] pD says: busy with end of quarter?

[9/19/2007 3:49:51 PM] nsy says: yeah - its been crazy lately, but we're hangin' in there! how’s your new digs?

[9/19/2007 3:50:46 PM] pD says: busy

[9/19/2007 3:50:57 PM] pD says: building up a marketing operation is hard work...

[9/19/2007 3:51:48 PM] nsy says: i can only imagine

[9/19/2007 3:53:14 PM] nsy says: why not buy both fedex and UPS?

[9/19/2007 3:54:49 PM] pD says: well, there is only so much money, so i am all for chasing the one with good prospect

[9/19/2007 3:55:14 PM] pD says: actually, in reality, fedex is pretty late in their ground service vis-a-vis UPS, so that may partly explain what i was seeing

[9/19/2007 3:55:26 PM] pD says: it was just a bit freaky seeing one UPS after another in that short space

[9/19/2007 3:57:00 PM] nsy says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F31P0_kgEic



[9/19/2007 3:58:27 PM] nsy says: Yes. that’s right...."International Talk Like A Pirate Day" is every Sept 19th

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

JB...I took liberty to provide you with TLAP Day pickup lines. Use them wisely.

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
8. Come on up and see me urchins.
7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.
6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.
5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?
4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
3. Ya know, darlin', I'm 97 percent chum free.
2. Well blow me down?

And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is ...
1. Prepare to be boarded.

[9/19/2007 4:03:44 PM] pD says: hahahah!

[9/19/2007 4:04:02 PM] pD says: (waving my pirate pom-poms while rolling on the floor)

[9/19/2007 4:07:13 PM] nsy says: on that note - we'll talk to you tomorrow! Aaargh!

[9/19/2007 4:07:49 PM] pD says: prepare to be de-boarded.

[9/19/2007 4:07:57 PM] pD says: aye, aye!

[1:21:07 PM] pD says: how is the LASIK thing coming along? do you have x-ray vision now?

[1:21:16 PM] pD says: thought you should be totally healed by now

[1:30:14 PM] nsy says: yep - i'm 20/20 as of my last appointment! woo hoo!

[1:30:50 PM] pD says: so, you cannot even avoid booga-man even you wanted to - with clear vision

[1:31:07 PM] pD says: BTW, AE just changed his icon.

[1:31:09 PM] pD says: what gives?

[1:44:35 PM] AE says: Hi pD!

[1:45:00 PM] AE says: we need a mailing address for you. (we're sending you a care package)

[1:45:13 PM] AE says: and the icon is to celebrate the new shades.

[2:04:11 PM] pD says: new shades?

[2:04:21 PM] pD says: what's in the care package

[3:27:36 PM] AE says: part of my new SteamPunk look, I purchased some old welding goggles on Ebay.

[3:27:58 PM] AE says: The care package contains most of the remaining GreenTea candies. You were mentioning that you missed them.

[3:28:32 PM] pD says: can you also send me the small dental floss packs on my top drawer, i think i forgot to take them...

[3:30:24 PM] AE says: sure I'll look to see if they're still there.

[3:30:35 PM] AE says: you'll need them with the candies, i'm sure...

gay senator - republicans - democrats - national debt - James Bond - dr who - fish tacos - AI - iraq - booga-man - TNG - Battlestar Galactica - tasha

[9/6/2007 9:21:12 AM] pD says: howdy!

[9/6/2007 9:21:15 AM] pD says: just love long weekends

[9/6/2007 9:21:21 AM] pD says: you get not just the long weekend

[9/6/2007 9:21:27 AM] pD says: you also get a shorter work week following that

[9/6/2007 9:21:34 AM] pD says: sweet!

[9/6/2007 9:33:40 AM] nsy says: yeah - it doesn't feel like thursday already - so great!

[9/6/2007 10:22:38 AM] pD says: i must say that i am glad that larry craig is not leaving the senate yet

[9/6/2007 10:22:57 AM] pD says: this just seems so petty - what the republicans are doing

[9/6/2007 10:23:24 AM] pD says: aren't they suppose to be the small government hands-off people? why would the same people try to regulate what people do in their bedroom

[9/6/2007 10:23:25 AM] AE says: as opposed to... when?

[9/6/2007 10:23:30 AM] pD says: ok, bath room

[9/6/2007 10:23:34 AM] pD says: but, you get the idea

[9/6/2007 10:24:10 AM] AE says: to me, the republican party has always been hypocritical. ever since I was a child (Nixon was my intro to the republicans)

[9/6/2007 10:25:34 AM] AE says: my family was always staunchly republican, and i see the same hypocriticalness in them as well. two are out and out racists, one loves nothing but money, always saying 'those hippies and junkies should be locked up for good!' and has a serious drug problem.

[9/6/2007 10:26:12 AM] AE says: so... that the republican party is getting into all sorts of trouble is not surprising.

[9/6/2007 10:26:39 AM] AE says: of course.. the democrats have had some interesting deviant behavior as well (Gary Hart and President Clinton)

[9/6/2007 10:27:30 AM] AE says: so maybe it's a politician thing. but the republican party always stands for 'decency' and 'family values', two things they talk a lot about but seem to have a hard time up-holding.

[9/6/2007 10:27:37 AM] AE steps off his soap box

[9/6/2007 10:27:46 AM] AE says: Next!

[9/6/2007 10:33:11 AM] pD says: well, i don't care for democrats either

[9/6/2007 10:33:26 AM] pD says: my biggest issue is that they have a preference to spending OPM - other people's money

[9/6/2007 10:33:48 AM] pD says: trust me, i understand the impulse, but throwing money at problem is not the cure all

[9/6/2007 10:34:19 AM] pD says: ideologically, i think democrats are burdened by what Roosevelt did - he did good things, but really, move on

[9/6/2007 10:34:34 AM] pD says: my favorite "democrat" is arnold

[9/6/2007 10:34:43 AM] pD is an independent

[9/6/2007 10:34:48 AM] AE says: wait, didn't clinton pay off the national debt that the previous two administrations racked up?

[9/6/2007 10:35:00 AM] AE says: and then the current administration spent us deeper than ever?

[9/6/2007 10:35:05 AM] pD says: i think greenspan paid off the national debt...

[9/6/2007 10:35:16 AM] AE says: haha.. yes, that actually is more accurate

[9/6/2007 10:35:23 AM] pD says: i think it is unrealistic to attribute economic activities to politicians

[9/6/2007 10:35:29 AM] pD says: it is just an unnatural act

[9/6/2007 10:35:47 AM] AE says: as opposed to what they do in the bathrooms...

[9/6/2007 10:35:53 AM] pD says: clinton's contribution to the national debt is simply that he never had full control of the congress, so his damage is quite limited

[9/6/2007 10:36:06 AM] AE says: oh, and I agree with you on the govenator... he's the surprise candidate for me as well.

[9/6/2007 10:36:08 AM] pD says: whereas W has full control and you see how ugly it can get

[9/6/2007 10:36:23 AM] pD says: politicians and economy do not mix

[9/6/2007 10:36:46 AM] pD says: or, i should say, sound economic policy and execution

[9/6/2007 10:37:10 AM] pD says: anyway, back to the bathroom republicans

[9/6/2007 10:37:22 AM] pD says: doesn't that have a ring - more interesting than the log cabin republicans

[9/6/2007 10:38:01 AM] AE says: heh

[9/6/2007 10:38:11 AM] pD says: anyway, i am sadden by the fact that republican are so down on themselves that they are much more inner looking and being "anti-" instead of being "pro". that is no way to create a national agenda

[9/6/2007 10:38:32 AM] pD says: you can be the best slasher in town, but it won't much too far in a democratic political process...

[9/7/2007 10:53:05 AM] pD says: anybody home?

[9/7/2007 10:53:07 AM] pD says: knock knock

[9/7/2007 10:56:04 AM] AE says: Who IS It?

[9/7/2007 10:56:26 AM] pD says: hmmmm.....

[9/7/2007 10:56:30 AM] pD says: dr. who?

[9/7/2007 10:56:40 AM] AE says: Who?

[9/7/2007 10:56:51 AM] AE says: He's on first

[9/7/2007 10:57:01 AM] pD says: isn't there a james bond villain called dr who?

[9/7/2007 10:57:10 AM] AE says: that was Dr. No

[9/7/2007 10:57:18 AM] pD says: then, who is dr who?

[9/7/2007 10:57:25 AM] AE says: Dr. Who is a Timelord from the BBC series

[9/7/2007 10:57:45 AM] AE says: started waaaay back in the late 60's. currently revived again and on Sci Fi

[9/7/2007 10:58:05 AM] pD says: is that the thing with the red dwarf and stuff?

[9/7/2007 10:58:07 AM] AE says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_who

[9/7/2007 10:58:29 AM] AE says: Nope, that was a different show called "Red Dwarf". Chicken Vindaloo anyone?

[9/7/2007 10:58:54 AM] AE says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf

[9/7/2007 11:57:30 AM] pD says: nsy, are you around?

[9/7/2007 11:57:43 AM] pD is feeling a bit lonely these days...

[9/7/2007 12:03:39 PM] AE says: Lonely. He's Mr. Lonely. He has nobody, do call his own...

[9/7/2007 12:06:21 PM] nsy says: i'm here! ta da!

[9/7/2007 12:06:40 PM] nsy makes a grand entrance

[9/7/2007 12:07:09 PM] pD says: (clap)

[9/7/2007 12:07:14 PM] AE says: *Princes wave*

[9/7/2007 12:07:15 PM] nsy says: chicken vindaloo in hand...

[9/7/2007 12:07:24 PM] AE says: we're ordering Fish Taco's

[9/7/2007 12:07:27 PM] nsy says: wrist, wrist, elbow, elbow

[9/7/2007 12:07:35 PM] AE says: exactly!

[9/7/2007 12:07:47 PM] nsy says: dang it! i always miss the good friday stuff!

[9/7/2007 12:07:57 PM] pD says: fish tacos, that is so unfair - only after I have left...

[9/7/2007 12:08:16 PM] nsy says: and AE doesn't eat fish - agh!

[9/7/2007 12:08:16 PM] AE says: You can buy them too, you know.

[9/7/2007 12:08:18 PM] AE says: haha!

[9/7/2007 12:08:25 PM] nsy says: ;)

[9/7/2007 12:08:41 PM] nsy says: the tragic irony

[9/7/2007 12:08:41 PM] pD says: good point, those fish died in vain...

[9/7/2007 12:11:30 PM] nsy says: http://www.geocities.com/rionoj/gollum_bigfish_ps1.3.jpg

[9/7/2007 12:13:07 PM] AE says: pD, the printer misses you. :(

[9/7/2007 12:13:37 PM] nsy says: yes, it’s been all downhill for the dell since you left

[9/7/2007 12:14:19 PM] AE says: right now there's a big ole piece of taping keeping the duplex unit on so we can print.

[9/7/2007 12:14:29 PM] AE says: total ghetto printer repair...

[9/7/2007 12:18:36 PM] pD says: what happened?

[9/7/2007 12:18:54 PM] pD says: the color printer has been pretty okay beyond the occasional overheating...

[9/8/2007 9:48:19 PM] pD says: tapes to keep the duplex in place? i hope there is a good story behind this one...

[9/8/2007 9:48:22 PM] pD says: i am all ears!

[9/9/2007 2:23:42 PM] *** pD has changed the chat topic to "gay friends"

***

[9/9/2007 2:23:57 PM] pD says: i was very disturbed by the lack of primary gay friends and did some search in my contact list.

[9/9/2007 2:24:32 PM] pD says: lo and be hold, i did find at least one - a co-worker who is a lesbian

[9/9/2007 2:25:47 PM] pD says: so, i definitely feel better, but i am still wondering about the lack of (male) gay friend(s). this is the bay area after all...

[9/10/2007 10:20:45 AM] pD says: good morning

[9/10/2007 10:21:54 AM] AE says: Hello!

[9/10/2007 10:25:09 AM] pD says: how is life?

[9/10/2007 10:25:21 AM] AE says: life. don't talk to me about life.

[9/10/2007 10:25:29 AM] pD says: this is the end of the quarter, drum beats?

[9/10/2007 10:25:45 AM] AE says: actually it's all rolling along very well!

[9/10/2007 10:26:11 AM] AE says: I was just throwing the obligatory HHGTTG reference. NSA Chatters is void of them as of late.

[9/10/2007 10:28:27 AM] pD says: ?

[9/10/2007 10:28:32 AM] pD says: HHGTTG

[9/10/2007 10:28:44 AM] AE says: Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[9/10/2007 10:29:00 AM] AE says: It was an old BBC radio show.

[9/10/2007 10:29:15 AM] pD says: didn't they make a film?

[9/10/2007 10:29:21 AM] AE says: later it was made into a book, a BBC television series, and yes, a really bad movie

[9/10/2007 10:29:45 AM] AE says: please don't judge it by the movie. That was made after Douglass Adams died.

[9/10/2007 10:30:08 AM] AE says: he's the brain power behind the radio show, and author of the 5 books in the trilogy.

[9/10/2007 10:37:09 AM] pD says: since i am not familiar with HHGTTG, was the "rolling along nicely" a common expression to indicate that shit is about to hit the fan? ;)

[9/10/2007 10:38:44 AM] AE says: no, the "life, don't talk to me about life" was something one of the characters would always say

[9/10/2007 10:38:54 AM] AE says: things actually are rolling along quite well.

[9/10/2007 10:39:11 AM] pD says: very cool!

[9/10/2007 10:40:18 AM] AE says: the character was a robot named Marvin who was always very depressed.

[9/10/2007 10:40:50 AM] AE says: he was a product of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation

[9/10/2007 10:40:56 AM] AE says: Motto: Share and Enjoy

[9/10/2007 10:41:21 AM] AE says: ah... here's the complaints department anthem. Make sure you're speakers are on. http://www.zootle.net/afda/share-and-enjoy.shtml

[9/10/2007 10:52:52 AM] nsy says: hers where I was Sunday: http://www.singinst.org/summit2007/

[9/10/2007 10:54:09 AM] nsy says: I wish I had been there saturday - especially for Steve Omohundro: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=6086

[9/10/2007 10:54:30 AM] nsy says: Laurel and I worked with his cousin at Lutris

[9/10/2007 10:55:24 AM] nsy says: Saturday was about practicalities, applications and uses, while sunday there was a lot of speculation and ethics, and debate

[9/10/2007 10:57:24 AM] nsy says: Peter Norvig made some statements arguing against some of Kurzweil's theories: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=6187

[9/10/2007 10:58:02 AM] nsy says: Kurzweil is very brave to make such specific time-based predictions, and I respect him for that

[9/10/2007 10:59:34 AM] AE says: excellent stuff! Thanks for bringing some tidbits back!

[9/10/2007 11:00:38 AM] pD is completely lost...

[9/10/2007 11:05:27 AM] nsy says: they had a financial speaker talking about how to invest in AI. I was trying to find a podcast for you, pD. but i don’t see it on the site

[9/10/2007 11:08:52 AM] pD says: AI - artificial intelligence?

[9/10/2007 11:17:04 AM] nsy says: yep

[9/10/2007 11:17:39 AM] pD says: why would anyone invest in AI? is that a new hot vertical?

[9/10/2007 11:18:08 AM] nsy says: some people apparently think so

[9/10/2007 11:18:32 AM] pD says: what is the hook with AI?

[9/10/2007 11:20:22 AM] nsy says: one hook is the ability to extend life as we know it by uploading consciousness to new body/brain/machine/whatever

[9/10/2007 11:22:11 AM] nsy says: another is that they want machines that teach themselves, better themselves, repair themselves, and if this is the case, they may surpass our intelligence at an uncontrollable rate. so these people feel that this is inevitable, and that we need to take action now in order to prevent the world from being taken over by intelligent machines in the future, or so that when it happens, they are friendly instead of destroying or enslaving us

[9/10/2007 11:23:33 AM] nsy says: the singularity is a time period that these folks think is inevitable where the tables will turn one way or another.

[9/10/2007 11:37:27 AM] pD says: terminator... singularity has already happened - he is now our governor!

[9/10/2007 11:45:14 AM] nsy says: can't resist... http://www.42ndprecinct.50megs.com/TVG/T2.jpg

[9/10/2007 11:46:00 AM] nsy says: http://nice-n-fun.com/governator.jpg

[9/10/2007 11:50:16 AM] nsy says: open singularity is an interesting concept, but i'm not sure how realistic: V

[9/10/2007 11:50:19 AM] nsy says: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=6180

[9/10/2007 11:51:34 AM] nsy says: it was amazing how many tall, skinny, white men were there

[9/10/2007 11:53:49 AM] pD says: pale, you mean

[9/10/2007 11:53:53 AM] pD says: or, pasty?

[9/10/2007 11:55:01 AM] nsy says: both

[9/10/2007 1:17:26 PM] pD says: with a day old pizza and flat Jolt in hand, probably...

[9/10/2007 1:17:34 PM] pD says: i was like that once

[9/10/2007 1:17:52 PM] pD says: then, i discovered something else

[9/10/2007 1:18:03 PM] pD says: ;)

[9/11/2007 12:37:52 PM] *** pD has changed the chat topic to "america the empire"

***

[9/11/2007 12:38:07 PM] pD says: so, i listen to a bit of news coverage on the iraq thing

[9/11/2007 12:38:56 PM] pD says: as bone headed of an idea it was to go into iraq was in the first place, the reality is that we are in there and walking away would not make the issues go away

[9/11/2007 12:39:18 PM] pD says: so, i must say that i am not impressed by the Democrat's incessant chant about pulling out

[9/11/2007 12:39:50 PM] pD says: equally unimpressive was republican's insistence on staying the course without specific objectives

[9/11/2007 12:40:35 PM] AE says: at least pulling out is less expensive money and soldier wise.

[9/11/2007 12:40:57 PM] AE says: but i agree... we're leaving behind a wonderful breeding ground for more terrorists against the US

[9/11/2007 12:41:43 PM] AE says: so pulling out now is irresponsible... but i don't see that anyone is pushing for a positive change in the situation there.

[9/11/2007 12:41:57 PM] AE says: we're trying to bomb them until they love us.

[9/11/2007 12:46:15 PM] pD says: well, that too is a bit simplistic - i am confident that nobody subscribes to the bomb them until they love us theory (even if army intelligence is an oxymoron)

[9/11/2007 12:47:12 PM] pD says: i think what is missing is a public discourse on what US's role is inside Iraq, Middle East, and the world in general

[9/11/2007 12:48:20 PM] pD says: even if the conclusion is that america is a global empire with interests around the world and we have to behave accordingly - i am okay with that, but let's be honest about it and with the knowledge that our boys will have to die to maintain the vision

[9:18:03 AM] pD says: found nsy's post-it note with stick figure in my pile

[9:18:27 AM] pD says: was laughing out loud!

[9:18:29 AM] pD says: thanks!

[9:21:38 AM] nsy says: i'm so glad to hear it. i see booga-man every now and again and it gives me a good laugh too - thanks :)

[9:36:06 AM] pD says: the boss just bought the entire 7 seasons of the next generation with picard

[9:36:15 AM] pD says: just watched the first episode last night

[9:36:25 AM] pD says: man! the production quality was seriously poor

[9:36:31 AM] pD says: they clearly had no budget then

[9:36:34 AM] AE says: have you seen any of TNG before?

[9:36:44 AM] pD says: not sure about the scripts either, pretty dodgy

[9:36:53 AM] AE says: because it gets better.

[9:37:06 AM] pD says: yeah, i have not been a close follower of the star trek series, but i have seen a few

[9:37:21 AM] pD says: my sister actually write a synopsis of the episode after watching one

[9:37:44 AM] pD says: and, the boss is totally fanatical for the Voyager series

[9:38:13 AM] pD says: i think the rule of thumb - according to the boss - is that the whole series gets better after season 2

[9:38:47 AM] pD says: i must say that this is a clear case of fan loyalty - i cannot image any other series that has two years to clean up their acts

[9:39:02 AM] pD says: btw, the last one - the beginning (what it is called) was really bad

[9:39:13 AM] AE says: enterprise?

[9:39:19 AM] AE says: yeah... it was really bad.

[9:39:20 AM] pD says: i am sorry that they had to terminate that series, but i am glad that they did. it was just painful to watch

[9:39:26 AM] AE says: :)

[9:39:54 AM] pD says: being a dutiful companion to the boss - i have endured my share of bad episodes...

[9:39:59 AM] AE says: If you want some really good sci - fi, I highly recommend the new Battlestar Galactica.

[9:40:03 AM] pD says: btw, what was the story with Tasha?

[9:40:15 AM] pD says: i know she was killed half way through the series in TNG

[9:40:16 AM] AE says: Tasha, the security guard?

[9:40:20 AM] pD says: because of some controversy?

[9:40:27 AM] pD says: yeah, the security chief

[9:40:30 AM] AE says: the actress wanted to leave the show. that was all.

[9:40:41 AM] AE says: and they didn't want her to since she was a main character.

[9:40:47 AM] AE says: what was her name? Crosby?

[9:40:59 AM] pD says: oh, i thought some nude pictures from prior incarnations was involved

[9:41:06 AM] AE says: she had done a playboy shoot a while ago... i wonder if there was something about that.

[9:41:08 AM] AE says: yeah, exactly.

[9:41:35 AM] AE says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Crosby

[9:41:37 AM] pD says: but, seriously though, i would have thought that playboy shot makes a really cool character on the series

[9:41:51 AM] AE says: especially considering their demographic...

[9:42:14 AM] pD says: precisely. the pin-up girls of today

[9:42:35 AM] AE says: that would be her, seven of nine, starbuck...

[9:42:36 AM] pD says: i like good story lines and drama, so science fiction or not is not the big consideration

[9:42:56 AM] AE says: you would really like Battlestar Galactica. it's a very involved and evolved story line.

[9:43:01 AM] pD says: and, of course, i have no cable and very poor TV reception (I think I get 3 channels)

[9:43:14 AM] pD says: so, i am more limited to what is available via DVD

[9:43:17 AM] AE says: there is Ok acting at first, but they get good quickly. the director is very good.

[9:43:35 AM] AE says: You can get the first 2 or 3 seasons on DVD, and I think the next season is the last.

[9:43:42 AM] AE says: sort of the B5 thing.

[9:43:59 AM] AE says: The story line is top rate, and the writing as well.

[9:44:06 AM] AE says: you can tell i'm a total fan of it.

[9:44:17 AM] AE says: i would watch it more, but it's not always kid friendly

[9:44:32 AM] AE says: so i've only seen season one and two and parts of thee so far.

[9:45:57 AM] nsy says: yeah, i'm not a big fan of the traditional sci-fi stuff on many counts, but someone forced me to sit and watch the new battlestar galactica, and i'm hooked. we just wait for the seasons to come out on netflix, and watch them all at once

[9:46:19 AM] nsy says: even mike likes it and he’s not a sci-fi fan

[9:46:47 AM] AE says: yeah. it's really well done, and they do a good job of discussing current issues in the context of the show.

[9:47:16 AM] AE says: it's a great vehicle for showing what's going on in a different light. It stands out well in the alien background of the show.

[9:47:19 AM] nsy says: there are a lot of interesting ethical questions raised. good brain food.

===
NSA Chatters crew

trillian - skype - gay friends - kinsey report - population study - hard drive - nose-picking man - booga-man

[9/4/2007 10:39:24 AM] pD says: so, if i want to use yahoo IM, i can just install Trillian and get started or do I need to do some kind of registration with Yahoo IM?

[9/4/2007 10:52:53 AM] nsy says: trillian is just a tool to organize multiple IM accounts. you need to create the accounts with the provider - like YIM, AIM, etc.

[9/4/2007 10:53:37 AM] AE says: does it handle Skype too?

[9/4/2007 10:56:44 AM] nsy says: not sure... haven't tried it - but i doubt it

[9/4/2007 10:58:34 AM] nsy says: no, its secure

[9/4/2007 10:59:08 AM] AE says: ah, and I think Skype uses a protocol Trillium can't understand.

[9/4/2007 11:00:02 AM] AE says: so... is the [skype acct1] account becoming inactive?

[9/4/2007 11:00:18 AM] AE says: and what about the [skype acct2] account?

[9/4/2007 11:00:27 AM] AE says: you have so many faces!

[9/4/2007 3:19:13 PM] pD says: hi folks,

[9/4/2007 3:19:14 PM] pD says: am back.

[9/4/2007 3:19:17 PM] pD says: long story short

[9/4/2007 3:19:22 PM] pD says: the best way to find me is via this one

[9/4/2007 3:19:35 PM] pD says: [skype acct2] is the pc at home which is not on most of the time...

[9/4/2007 3:19:42 PM] pD says: [skype acct1] is no longer

[9/4/2007 3:19:56 PM] AE says: OK. thank you

[9/4/2007 3:22:36 PM] nsy says: [co2], eh? ok, then!

[10:01:13 AM] pD says: howdy!

[10:01:19 AM] pD says: i just realized something important

[10:01:50 AM] AE says: that we're not alone?

[10:02:02 AM] pD says: i do not have many gay friends. this is statistically strange...

[10:02:07 AM] pD says: if the kinsey report is any guide

[10:02:26 AM] AE says: it just means you need to get out more.

[10:02:44 AM] pD says: or that i am not fabulous enough...

[10:02:54 AM] nsy says: hahaha

[10:02:56 AM] AE says: daaahling!

[10:03:16 AM] nsy says: what is the stat? maybe i'm under par too?

[10:15:59 AM] pD says: according to the kinsey report, one in ten is homosexual

[10:16:11 AM] pD says: of course, that number has been attacked for poor methodology, etc. over the years

[10:16:37 AM] pD says: and, it may be an overestimate. but i think the key thing was that it is a prevalent form in the society

[10:16:42 AM] AE says: I think the number is increasing of the the years.

[10:17:12 AM] AE says: if we go on the assumption that it's genetic... then we can point to overpopulation as a driving force for homosexuality.

[10:17:54 AM] AE says: it happens in populations of other mammals (citation needed), when over population will result in part of the population being homosexual.

[10:19:50 AM] nsy says: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0005A6D3-7ADC-14A0-B6C483414B7F4945

[11:10:58 AM] pD says: there should be an easy way to prove the idea, i.e. survey the high population density locations and do a ratio comparison of the gay population

[11:19:50 AM] nsy says: so where are you going to get the funding for your study?

[11:20:12 AM] pD says: AE, of course.

[11:20:31 AM] nsy says: excellent! can i be a field researcher?

[11:26:56 AM] pD says: sure, as soon as i get the grant funding in the bank account

[11:27:12 AM] pD says: first destination Cairo

[11:27:46 AM] nsy says: ooh! you definitely need your field researcher there!

[11:30:10 AM] pD says: i would agree

[11:30:17 AM] pD says: AE? AE? where did you go?

[11:30:39 AM] nsy says: he's setting up a PC for E - all the way across the office

[12:44:48 PM] pD says: E, he is the new chicago guy?

[12:45:02 PM] pD says: is he using my old laptop? Katie was asking me about the pw earlier

[12:45:08 PM] pD says: old guy...

[12:45:12 PM] pD says: poor guy, i meant

[1:51:02 PM] nsy says: no, E - Y's progeny. the new HP HD died, so he needs a temporary PC, but I gave him C’s old one

[1:52:32 PM] AE says: so your secrets are still safe, for now...

[1:52:39 PM] AE says: I'll fund it.

[1:52:52 PM] AE says: oh. whoops, look at the Apple stock... never mind, I'm poor again.

[2:18:13 PM] pD says: E, i see. sorry to hear that the new HP died, too soon, wouldn’t you say?

[2:18:58 PM] AE says: yes... the good always go so young...

[2:19:11 PM] nsy says: yah - western digital drive. the power outage killed it even though it was on a surge strip

[2:19:37 PM] pD says: the one from last week? that was a while back...

[2:19:46 PM] pD says: i guess E was on vacation and nobody was using it

[2:20:06 PM] nsy says: yep

[2:27:01 PM] pD says: how is life in the PA office?

[2:27:08 PM] AE says: silly at best

[2:27:14 PM] pD says: have you guys been looking at the nose-picking man and booga-man

[2:27:16 PM] pD says: be honest now

[2:27:35 PM] AE says: I still smile when I see it!

[2:27:56 PM] nsy says: booga-man is right where you left him - i have no choice but to look!

[2:28:06 PM] AE says: we can't avert our eyes!

[2:28:17 PM] pD says: i was hoping that they have been permanently imprinted on your brain cells...

[2:28:20 PM] pD says: but, i will take that

===

NSA Chatters crew