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.

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NSA Chatters crew