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PATRICK TOMAN - Reminds me of how somebody brought up once about Donald Duck eating roast duck (or was it roast turkey) in a Disney cartoon. At least Kermit had the decency to protest frogs' legs restaurants in "The Muppet Movie" (even conjuring up the image of "lots of frogs on tiny crutches").

REVEL - That remark of yours about the "no-neck Brooklyn" action figure reminds me of that thing I occasionally wondered a few years ago: how would Brooklyn respond towards that figure? (Probably not very well).
Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 8, 2002 11:41:44 PM
IP: 65.56.170.123

Yes, despite the rumors I am still alive. Back to work this week after the big A-kon last weekend. The reason I like the Gathering better for one very important reason, it IS smaller. I could barely walk through the massive hords of people and barely got to meet anyone new. Saw GJ and Kyryn for the first time, bought some small stuff, hung out with Aaron, Mara, and Lyn pretty much the whole time that was about it.

Adding a new art section to my site either tonight or in the next few days, a sketch section that is just bits of art I've done on notebook paper, memo pads or things that look cool but were done in the places when I should have been doing something else. Still working on the next run of my fic but am torn whether I want to keep doing it or begin typing out some of the original fiction that has been sitting in spirals for about three years now.
To answer a question someone had asked yes I will be at the Gathering.

In other non-important news my mother found the no-neck Brooklyn at an antique store today with my dad as they were looking at clocks, so now I actually have a toy collection now, collection of one. :P

Other than that, not worth talking about.

"I remember that sound, that's a bad sound!"
-Weaver, Galaxy Quest-
Revel - [samrx5@cs.com]
the bayou city, tx
Saturday, June 8, 2002 09:59:06 PM
IP: 172.153.147.121

Uproar -

The fic in question was pulled from the GFW archive for being mislabled rating wise, and because it was mean spirited flame bait that is more than a little on the "cyber stalker" side.

If you read the 10 general rules for the fan fic archive, that fic pretty much stomps on a couple of them. It's not "banned", just not appropriate for the GFW. You can get it easily from the author's personal site.

It's the writer's flame against a number of people in the Gargoyles fandom, especially anyone who writes or draws adult rated Gargoyles fan fic or art. But the part that pushed it beyond the acceptable line of GFW fare, for most people, was the using of Jennifer/Crzy, who the author has personal malice towards, in his snuff fantasy. Ewww much?

When the fic was pulled from GFW, the author and his personal friends screamed "censorship". Then some others of us got into whether the fic counted as cyber stalking, legally, since the author and the people he fictionally murdered knew each other in real life, Etc. There were differing opinions, which somehow escalated into personal flames. You can go back in the TGS CR archive to read it all if you like.

But like Patrick said, it's pretty much all been hashed out, and done with. Old news.

Mooncat
>^,,^<

Mooncat
Saturday, June 8, 2002 09:55:02 PM
IP: 65.30.27.68

The "uproar" is long past... and I'd personally rather not see an encore of the whole thing.

Random off-topic comment: Is it just me, or is there something strangely twisted about the new Denny's commercial featuring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, in which she orders a Grand Slam Breakfast with BACON and SAUSAGE? That's just wrong, IMO.

GXB > You might like this, then...

"DARE to keep Cops off Donuts" - seen on a bumper sticker
Patrick Toman
Saturday, June 8, 2002 08:16:30 PM
IP: 67.38.249.254

Well, I don't know as to how much information I can give over the whole Pistoff controversy, since I wasn't involved in the big dispute myself, but what I basically picked up was:

Pistoff wrote a Gargoyles fanfic involving Jennifer Anderson aka Crzy Demona, which involved her being stalked and (I believe) murdered in an especially gruesome fashion. (If I've remembered this wrong, please correct me). Many of the people here considered this to be in very bad taste, which led to the big argument.
Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 8, 2002 07:42:06 PM
IP: 65.56.173.209

What's all this uproar about that Pistoff fic? I heard it was banned. Why? I didn't find it particularly offensive or particularly good for that matter, his other fics are better.
Could someone care to enlighten me?
PKBitchGirl - [Demonique@eircom.net]
Athlone, Westmeath, Ireland
Saturday, June 8, 2002 06:06:26 PM
IP: 159.134.205.211

Warpmind - < But the bear traps would be there to lull them into a false sense of security! Besides, the bear traps could be placed on TOP of the mines! }:) > Let me see if I follow this right. People expect some form of security, and if they see no signs of security, they're going to assume landmines are present. Stupid question: how you lay the bear traps on top of the landmines without setting the landmines off?

Gside - <Still there are too many little differences between architectures to make it optimal. And CS people like optimization.> That's why I have trouble imagining a world where there are 3 dominant operating systems (3 different companies) with each one occupying about 30% market share. If you explain how we get such a system and keep it, . .

GXB - That makes sense.

Imzadi - <Isn't that a star wars thing? It sounds familiar.> You're close, but not quite. I figured with all the fans of sci fi shows, somebody would remember it.

I was just thinking how MS Windows is a liability to national security. Why? You can't leave the computer with windows on continously for more than 72+ hours without having to reboot it because some small thing crashed and it effects your operating system. I'm off to reboot my computer in order to keep the operating system mildly stable.
DPH
AR, USA
Saturday, June 8, 2002 04:47:14 PM
IP: 204.94.193.17

Warpmind > oh, dear, you're getting in on the WOTC scheme, are you? Well, best of luck and beware of the fine print ...

Greg B. > well, if the con staff's willing to fly me out there ... ; )

Becca update > she got x-rayed again yesterday and all is looking well. Appointment on the 18th to have the cast cut off and the pins removed; that ought to be a traumatic day. Another kid was there to have his pins out and when Becca got a look at the damn things ... I was expecting they'd look something like a stud earring, but it was these honking bent-over nails poking out of the boy's elbow ... eep! But at least it'll all be over with in time for our trip.

Christine - [christine@sabledrake.com]
Saturday, June 8, 2002 03:10:22 PM
IP: 65.239.47.196

*Warpmind strides in, laughing various body parts loose.*
Hi, gang... Check out the site at my link - www.engrish.com is HILARIOUS! }:)

Gside: Why out of order on the Minigoddesses? Well, I didn't find Volume 1, and was unaware that it was Volume 2 before I got home... 'Sides, the episodes are mostly standalone anyway, it appears... As for the cake - my mother baked it. She makes good cake. ;)

DPH: But the bear traps would be there to lull them into a false sense of security! Besides, the bear traps could be placed on TOP of the mines! }:)

Well, that about ends my post. I'm off to work on a Fantasy setting and win a hundred grand. Or at least try...
Warpmind de InzanE - [warpmind@hotmail.com]
Middle, Nowhere, Norway
Saturday, June 8, 2002 03:03:12 PM
IP: 193.217.175.92

JOSH> <<Like sex!>> As I told Aaron a while back, sex and parking are two things I never intend to pay for. <<You'd better. If you need my digital camera just...buy yer own.>> Okay, you want to loan me the money? <<Does it have something to do with porn?>> Maybe. <<Ooh, ooh, me>> I don't believe you. I'm sure there must have been at least one class you could not focus in. <<You're one of those hippies, aren't you?>> How does that make me a hippie? <<While I did enjoy Beautiful Mind, I think I agree about Ron Howard>> Good. <<No, he really didn't. There's nothing creative or brilliant or original about an insane wizard. Trust me, I've played D&D>> And you keep in mind that most fantasy, D&D included, ripped off Tolkien, and did a poor job of hiding it. So Saruman is the classic insane wizard. Combine that with Christopher Lee's great performance and you've got a great bad guy. And just you wait until "The Two Towers" this winter, he's going to be awesome in that one.
Greg Bishansky
Saturday, June 8, 2002 10:21:56 AM
IP: 216.179.1.66

Eep! I did *real* work today. Of course, it was totally mind-numbing and not interesting in any way, and it only took me an hour. But it was *real* work.

I had to update some files. I think my job could be done by a robot. And I'm not sure if that wouldn't be cheaper.

I also learned how to use ANSYS today. It's a hardcore engineering program, kind of like AutoCAD combined with *every physics/engineering/CS class ever*. Pretty hard core.

But the most productive part of my day was when I spend a mandatory hour at Emergency Health & Safety (EHS to you corporate types) training.

Note to self: do something this weekend. I'm so bummed that I missed the movie awards. Maybe if I'm lucky I can catch them in a couple months.

Sorry about the weird formatting yesterday. I emailed myself that document and didn't think about re-formatting.

Kathy: <<it's the modem that's shot. Fortunately, Mindspring will give us a new one>>: It must be nice having an ISP that doesn't suck. ::turns red with jealousy::

Greg X: <<I'm not some huge druggy>>: You're not!?!?! Like I believe that. <<I've got much better things to spend my money on>>: Like sex! <<the real reason I signed it was I was promised discounts at places if I showed them the card>>: Smart man! <<Hopefully I'll have pictures>>: You'd better. If you need my digital camera just...buy yer own. <<A haiku is just like a regular poem, except that it doesn't rhyme, and it's completely stupid>>: But its easier to write than a real poem ;-) <<We have a special panel in mind that you'd be perfect for>>: Does it have something to do with porn? <<Odds are you won't find anyone who can>>: Ooh, ooh, me. <>: You're one of those hippies, aren't you? <<"A Beautiful Mind" was crap. Just plain crap. Ron Howard should not be allowed to make movies>>: While I did enjoy Beautiful Mind, I think I agree about Ron Howard. <<Hell yeah. Saruman ruled>>: No, he really didn't. There's nothing creative or brilliant or original about an insane wizard. Trust me, I've played D&D ;-)

Spacebabie: <<MTV did what the academy should have done, and that was award the best movie>>: You mean they actually gave it to the movie that deserved it? <>: ACK! Someone took pictures, right?! <<Lord of the rings should have won for Best Fight, Best Villain and Best Action sequence>>: It had neither the best fight nor the best villian. Just out of curiosity, which movies *did* win those categories? <<I’m theo ne onm the list with the very French name>>: Damn french chicks. <<You coming so I can scare you in person>>: I don't think you can scare him. <<No replies for me? :::Eyes fill with tears:::>>: I have trouble believing greg could be that central to your life. <<We are very adaptable creatures>> "we", white woman? <<Just think about the money>>: Believe me, I am. At $10/hr, I'd be packing a bag and headed back home. <<Well my costume is kind of skimpy>>: Just make sure someone in the CR gets pics, k? <<That’s my boy>>: You wish.

Coyote: <<this'll be the first one in four years I'll miss>>: Not sure if that makes you cool or not ;-)

Gside: <<Still there are too many little differences between architectures to make it optimal. And CS people like optimization.>>: And hate things that are slow and stupid. Like Java. And Blondes. <<It still has a refresh rate>>: Yeah but LCD's at 60 Hz don't generate many headaches.

K folks, sleep time.

Don't quote Dickens in MY apartment!
-Trey Parker, Orgazmo

Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
San Jose, CA, US of A
Saturday, June 8, 2002 03:29:47 AM
IP: 206.170.2.62

DPH> <<Java technology would have to have been developed almostly about the same time as operating systems were being born and been available>>: Still there are too many little differences between architectures to make it optimal. And CS people like optimization.

Imzadi> <<I'm sure that's an insult in some language>>: Everything is an insult in some language.
<<As opposed to...?>>: The nerves, the brain, the ATP, blood vessels, the crotch.
<<Was that an insult or a compliment?>>: Neither, as this is there is no in betweenness for staring.
<<All of the above>>: So to which varieties of something else do you subscribe?
<<Sorry or absent?>>: Sorry. I like him.
<<She's got a laptop>>: It still has a refresh rate.

Greg> <>: The Stone Pony is the place where bruce started out, and Weird NJ is a magazine about all the things you'd swear Wilek was behind (Tomb Of The 12 Nuns, the wallet remains of Antione Leblanc, Zip The What Is It, Cat's Eyes of St. Joseph's, as well as The Tube Bar).

Spacebabie> <<Dragons can survive on land, We are very adaptable creatures>>: Not baby dragons.
<>: Sounds like a plan.
<<You would>>: Yes. Yes I would.
<<Not unless you print them out>>: Takes time, paper, and ink.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Friday, June 7, 2002 11:52:44 PM
IP: 68.38.244.145

I take it that someone's polling on who's attending Virginia Beach, hm?

None for me this year, the primary reason being that my financial situation has changed between this year and last ... last year I *wasn't* payin' $400/month rent. So sadly, this'll be the first one in four years I'll miss.
Coyote the Bando
Algonac, Michigan
Friday, June 7, 2002 11:26:20 PM
IP: 216.234.115.214

CHRISTINE> <<No Gathering for us this year>> Aww, be sure to come to the 2003 con. We have a special panel in mind that you'd be perfect for.

Okay Spacebabie, here's your reply.

<> Odds are you won't find anyone who can. <<I’d space out, and daydream, with dozens of thoughts going through my head>> Me too. <<Of course this was only during math class and Like Jan said I was just bored.>> Well, Math classes always sucked anyway. <> I was good at English, Art, and Social Studies. <<Yes you hear me right Science>> I passed with two years of science and two years of math. <<No, I’m working on purple though>> Looking forward to your progress on that at G2002. <<Ahh but you don’t understand. On Sunday nights I feel so revit5alized, so…oh wait that’s my Sunday night bubble bath.>> nothing washes away evil.

<<Well MTV did what the academy should have done, and that was award the best movie>> Hell yeah! "A Beautiful Mind" was crap. Just plain crap. Ron Howard should not be allowed to make movies. <<They also did this funny scene for Lord of the Rings where Jack Black wears the one Ring in a Prince Albert>> That was funny. Though I wonder if perhaps that's an easier solution to the whole problem. Would Sauron even want it back after it's been... er, down there? <<Lord of the rings should have won for Best Fight,>> Agreed, but it shouldn't have been the Gandalf vs Saruman scene that was nominated. Aragorn vs Lurtz was cool though. <<Best Villain>> Hell yeah. Saruman ruled! <<and Best Action sequence,>> Yeah! <<It did however won Best Movie.>> As it should be. <<So shove that oscar up your butt Beautiful Mind>> Burning every copy of that stupid movie in a big bonfire with Ron Howard and Russel Crowe in the center has just become my new dream.

<<No replies for me? :::Eyes fill with tears:::>> Happy now?
Greg Bishansky
Friday, June 7, 2002 01:59:44 PM
IP: 216.179.1.93

Dern Lot Boys!

There are Spoilers for the MTV movie awards in my previous post.
Spacebabie
Friday, June 7, 2002 12:24:51 PM
IP: 67.25.52.194

Well MTV did what the academy should have done, and that was award the best movie.

Good opening scene. Toby Mcguire turns into Jack Black and Sarah Michelle Gellar was Mary Jane, and she became Wonder woman. Yes I know a lot of you guys fantasized what SMG would look like in Wonder Woman’s outfit, You have been awarded.

They also did this funny scene for Lord of the Rings where Jack Black wears the one Ring in a Prince Albert.

Jason Biggs and Sean William Scott won best kiss.

Lord of the rings should have won for Best Fight, Best Villain and Best Action sequence, but they didn’t

It did however won Best Movie. So shove that oscar up your butt Beautiful Mind

Kathy<<<So, who all is Gathering bound? >>> Me! I’m theo ne onm the list with the very French name.

Todd<<>>You coming so I can scare you in person.

Greg>>>No replies for me? :::Eyes fill with tears:::

Rayvn>>>Welcome back

Gside<<<And that could survive on land.>>>Dragons can survive on land, We are very adaptable creatures.<<<Or I could blame the extensor tendon and muscle>>>I say blame the muscles<<<I'd rather get one with hermaphroditic lesbian catgirls with tentacles.>>>You would.<<<But the fics are on a CRT, which isn't good for headaches.>>> Not unless you print them out.

Josh<<>> Me too Just think about the money.<<<I'm sure that's
an insult in some language.>>>Since it’s not in God’s language-English- Who cares?<<<What we really want to know is whether or not you have skimpy clothing. >>>Well my costume is kind of skimpy.<<<As opposed to...? >>>Blame the spoon. Always blame the spoon.<<<Left even earlier today.>>>That’s my boy!

Christine<<<No Gathering for us this year;>>> NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! ::Crys:::

Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Fl, U.S.A
Friday, June 7, 2002 12:23:41 PM
IP: 67.25.52.194

Off to the doc for a follow-up on the arm. All's been well. Becca has been back to school all this week and getting her little friends to help out opening her locker, carrying stuff, etc. I seem to be over the worst of my cold and Tim is much less a basket case now that his lodge's 80th anniversary special is over with. No Gathering for us this year; while that's going on, we will be reunioning with my oddball family after seeing some plays in Ashland with Tim's oddball family.

Christine
Friday, June 7, 2002 11:37:16 AM
IP: 65.239.13.140

GSIDE> <<Other than the Stash, I assume? How about the Stone Pony? Or the entire contents of Weird NJ?>> I don't know about those places.

DPH> <<The form should have been simpler. It should have been making you promise not to do drugs for the upcoming year, not the rest of your>> First let me clarify that I'm not some huge druggy. I've experimented yes, but I'm not this big pot-head or anything like that. For one thing it's too damn expensive, and I've got much better things to spend my money on. I guess the real reason I signed it was I was promised discounts at places if I showed them the card, but no places would take it. DARE was bullshit ;)

JOSH> <<Good, you can tell me about any cuties I didn't meet last year.>> Hopefully I'll have pictures. <> Yeah, it'd be really great if my parents were dead. <<Your ex.>> Okay, I'm scared now.

"A haiku is just like a regular poem, except that it doesn't rhyme, and it's completely stupid."
-Mr. Garrison
Greg Bishansky
Friday, June 7, 2002 11:30:34 AM
IP: 216.179.1.93

Well, it's the modem that's shot. Fortunately, Mindspring will give us a new one. But it's going to take a couple of days to be delivered. Boo hoo.

The weather has continued to be severe. More thunderstorms yesterday. And it's gray and cloudy this morning. We need the rain, but sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.

kathy
Friday, June 7, 2002 09:11:44 AM
IP: 168.28.96.142

Another day of absolutely nothing. On the plus side, I attended my first
real meeting. And it wasn't four hours long.

I hate being bored.

Warpmind: <<why not place hidden bear traps between the mines, to boot?>>:
Because between the mines go...more mines! <<what was so funny about that
bag of apples?>>: They were telling jokes. <<you guys *DARE* to comment on
it like that? *Grrrrr* Go ahead, spoil ALL my fun>>: That's my job.

Spacebabie: <<flips a finger at the room..her ring finger>>: I'm sure that's
an insult in some language. <<See the daisys?>>: No. <<Now I have cool
nails for the gathering>>: Forget the nails. What we really want to know is
whether or not you have skimpy clothing. <>: Never done that before. <<sure blame the finger>>: As opposed
to...? <<You don't know how to keep your money clean>>: Its cloth...put it
in the washing machine. Viola. Money Laundering. <>: Left even earlier today. <<I'm surprised you don't want to know
where to get a shirt like that>>: I've mostly dropped out of my "smartass
t-shirt" phase. Or at least I would, if I had more clothing. <<How am I
suppose to reply to an empty room?>>: Talk to yourself? No idea. <<You
know I will look foreward to seeing your kitties>>: ::opens mouth to speak,
then thinks better of it::

Kathy: <<I'm shocked at how bent out of shape I am that I can't read my
newspapers on line over a cup of coffee. Or check the bulletin boards and
mail. Gah. I'm not an internet junkie, I'm just habituated. Right?>>: I feel
your pain. But you ARE an internet junkie. <<who all is Gathering bound>>:
Sadly, not I. Apparently GE doesn't pay for that kind of travel.

Patrick: <<you COULD, but the rest of the patrons would be staring>>: Was
that an insult or a compliment? ;-) <<You're an INTERN... count your
blessing that you get paid at all>>: WRONG. Here in the engineering world
of Silicon Valley, engineering interns make bank. GE's pay is
"competitive"...which means they stay in business and I don't make any money
;-) My friends over at Apple are making a few bucks/hour more than I am AND
they get overtime. F*cking weak, if you ask me. <<If you were an intern in
radio or TV, you'd be working for free. Of course, if you were an intern at
the White House, you'd get paid under the table>>: Fortunately, I chose a
career with a future 8-)

Greg X: <<Count me in as another one who's Gathering bound>>: Good, you can
tell me about any cuties I didn't meet last year. <<If I could only get one
of them, it'd be Faith in a heartbeat and I'd never regret it>>: Agreed. I
prefer brunettes any day. <<wish I could afford to do that>>: Ditto.
<<Care to put that to the test?>>: Not really, but my instincts may get the
best of me. <<Nah, you'll bug us in here>>: Nope. <<all parents would have
to be shot, cause all names can lend themselves to mockery>>: I know.
Wouldn't it be great? ;-) <<Who tells you I'm dominant>>: Your ex. <<Cause
I was twelve and never thought I'd experiment>>: I can honestly say I knew
myself well enough at that age to swear I'd never do drugs. Kinda scary.

Gside: <<From the aftermath of incited flame wars, utterly wrong statements, or something else?>>: D. All of the above. <<You'd better be>>: Sorry or absent? <<I'm sure there are plenty of lubricative jokes left for you to use>>: One can never have enough jokes about lubrication. <<I'd rather get one with hermaphroditic lesbian catgirls with tentacles>>: I'd rather not have that on a shirt. At least not one I was wearing. <<But the fics are on a CRT>>: She's got a laptop.

DPH: <<It should have been making you promise not to do drugs for the upcoming year, not the rest of your life>>: That's a tough promise to keep these days. <<self-replicating mines>>: Isn't that a star wars thing? It sounds familiar. <<The net some of the holes is a pretty big effect, right?>>: Quite. <<Java technology would have to have been developed almostly about the same time as operating systems were being born and been available. *sighs* If only?>>: And it would have to NOT SUCK.

Okay, time to crash. Last day of the first week tomorrow.

What if the volume and pressure aren't constant? Well, then you're f*cked.
-Angus McLelland, Physics 7b

Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
San Jose, CA, US of A
Friday, June 7, 2002 01:55:37 AM
IP: 207.214.212.229

Duh, shoulda used the trademark color! We got hammered here in Md tonight. About five tornado wannabe's hit all around the state. *I think we drove home in some of the storm too* Totally weird and wicked cool all at once* I hope no one got hurt in the process*
Devil Again
Friday, June 7, 2002 12:57:32 AM
IP: 67.201.141.19

*Tangoes into the room with Rodrigo* who btw dances divinely* I getta go wedding on Sunday! And wedding means party means fun! WOOOHOOO! I getta take my camcorder, world's best amazing toy, grab tons of footage... and enter the waters of a filming career. Hope life is xciting for ya'll.
*Let's Rodrigo dip her before Tangoing out of the room with a rose between her teeth*
DevilWithTheBlueDressOn
Maryland
Friday, June 7, 2002 12:55:15 AM
IP: 67.201.141.19

GXB - <Cause I was twelve and never thought I'd experiment. > The form should have been simpler. It should have been making you promise not to do drugs for the upcoming year, not the rest of your life.

Spacebabie - <You know I will look foreward to seeing
your kitties.> I'll have to create a graphics intensive page to put all those pictures on. Of course, there's a couple of mysteries to be solved: Could anyone tell by looking at the pictures which two cats are the mothers? Can anyone tell which kittens were born around the same time?

Warpmind - <You're getting excessive. I like it. And why not place hidden bear traps between the mines, to boot?> I thought you understand that there was at least one mine within every square foot of that area so bear traps wouldn't be necessary. Did all also mention I've acquired the technology to make those self-replicating mines (10 cybercookies for the 1st person to catch that reference) so even if you destroy the mine in one area, its neighbor will replicate a replacement?

Imzadi - <Sadly, people don't understand that.> *makes mental note to buy ads with subliminal messages telling people that grades must be earned.* < Especially a company that doesn't feel its necessary to fix the numerous holes in its security.> The net some of the holes is a pretty big effect, right?

Gside - <As long as the data is interchangeable, it shouldn't matter. IT would be even better if all execuatables could run on all OSs, but that won't happen.> Ideally, that's what I want. In order for that to have happenned though, Java technology would have to have been developed almostly about the same time as operating systems were being born and been available. *sighs* If only.

For some reason, I'm feeling better this week. Maybe it's because I received 3 checks this week.

I made a pecan pie and it's all *mine*.

I'm wondering: can anyone (or group of people) spare several (more than 6) full-blown miracles? Don't worry, any extra miracles would be donated to getting most (if not all) of the Ask Greg questions answered by Greg Wiesman.
DPH
AR, USA
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:53:22 PM
IP: 204.94.193.19

Gunjack> <<THANK you!>>: Dont thank me until you check how complete it is. By the way, read my opus yet?

Imzadi> <>: From the aftermath of incited flame wars, utterly wrong statements, or something else?
<<But not because of air conditioning>>: Depends on how you define air conditioning.

Mooncat> <<It's been so long since I read Zelazney>>: Who need a shave? Roger Zelazny. Actually it's really Robertson Davies, but that works just as well.

Warpmind> <>: Why go out of order? Granted, I also did on Eva, but that was only for Dance.
<<Cookie for THAT insult? Hot Damn! Have a *cake*!>>: Wooha. But you better bake better than you sing, or else I'll be force feeding you this.
<<Sorry I've been absent for a while>>: You'd better be.
<<Go ahead, spoil ALL my fun>>: I'm sure there are plenty of lubricative jokes left for you to use.

Spacebabie> <<Not even the dragon?>>: well, he was a pretty tragic character, but I was expecting something a bit larger. And that could survive on land.
<<sure blame the finger>>: But of course. Or I could blame the extensor tendon and muscle, but no one really cares about them separately.
<<Sorry but the guy was young and easy on the eyes>>: Go ahead and think about yours, mine was my father.
<<I�m surprised you don�t want to know where to get a shirt like that>>: I'd rather get one with hermaphroditic lesbian catgirls with tentacles. That, or a good G rune. But for different reasons.
<<How am I suppose to reply to an empty room?>>: My thoughts, but you've been gone for longer than I, so your view of the room wasn't as empty as mine.
<<that and a damp cloth on your forhead, and naughty fics�>>: But the fics are on a CRT, which isn't good for headaches.

Patrick> <<Well, as you COULD, but the rest of the patrons would be staring>>: Depends on what kind of Jammies he has.

Greg> <<Name one!>>: Other than the Stash, I assume? How about the Stone Pony? Or the entire contents of Weird NJ?

Ravyn> <<I'll try to post more often now!>>: Good luck to that.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:52:03 PM
IP: 68.38.244.145

Hello, everyone!!!! :) I'M BACK!!!! :)

Hee hee, yes, after many weeks of runnin' around ... I am finally all moved in to my new apartment. Woo hoo!!!! :) The place is nice, and especially good since the maintenance people got my fridge workin' ... hopefully ... ;)

Anyway, I'm back, and I'll try to post more often now! :)
Ravyn
Thursday, June 6, 2002 09:18:11 PM
IP: 150.135.118.199

patrick: stop 'smoking out' ;-)
Josh
Thursday, June 6, 2002 07:10:25 PM
IP: 63.65.68.246

Count me in as another one who's Gathering bound.

Replies

GSIDE> <<There are parts of it that do, but there are many that don't>> Name one!

JOSH> <<There are parts of it that do, but there are many that don't.>> But LA smog is so cool. Well, LA rules anyway. <> So do I, I just mean in comparison. If I could only get one of them, it'd be Faith in a heartbeat and I'd never regret it. <<Greedy bastards. Hopefully they go under and get bought out.>> Yeah. Hmm, wish I could afford to do that. <<But you loved matrix, right?>> Yeah. I loved Matrix. I just hate Keanu Reaves. <<No, just more moral.>> Again, very sad. I should add that it'd be a lot stupider too, since morals are completely stupid. <<And you guys would let me slide on more stuff.>> Care to put that to the test? <<But I would bug you guys in AIM, not the CR>> Nah, you'll bug us in here. <<Proof that your power is misappropriated.>> Well, that's the way I like it. <<Good call. Parents who give their kid a name that lends itself to mockery should be shot.>> If that was the case, all parents would have to be shot, cause all names can lend themselves to mockery. <<You planning to hit on her?>> Yeah. <<That's from south park.>> I know, I never said it wasn't.

DPH> <<From what I'm told and personal experience online, you have one distinguishable feature - being dominant.>> Who tells you I'm dominant? <<Why did you sign the papers originally? If it was because of external forces, you shouldn't have signed it in the first place.>> Cause I was twelve and never thought I'd experiment.

TODD> <> You're going!

"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."
-George W. Bush -U.S. News & World Report, January 3, 2000
Greg Bishansky
Thursday, June 6, 2002 06:51:52 PM
IP: 216.179.1.236

KATHY - Sorry to hear about your Internet problems; I hope that you can get them fixed soon.

Re the Gathering: I won't be going this year; I might be going next year, but I'm not certain as yet. (Fortunately, there's still a few more months before I have to decide).
Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Thursday, June 6, 2002 06:28:09 PM
IP: 65.56.172.113

kathy > "(And in case you're wondering, I'm posting from the library, but it's not the same, 'cuz I can't do it in my jammies)." -- Well, as you COULD, but the rest of the patrons would be staring. ;) "So, who all is Gathering bound?" -- I am... but you knew that already. ;)

Josh > "And I left at 5 since they aren't paying me overtime. Bastards." -- You're an INTERN... count your blessing that you get paid at all. If you were an intern in radio or TV, you'd be working for free. Of course, if you were an intern at the White House, you'd get paid under the table... ;)

21 days until The Gathering!

:: smokes out ::

Patrick Toman
Thursday, June 6, 2002 06:00:40 PM
IP: 67.38.248.153

Kathy <<who's all gathering bound>> memememememememem!!!!!!. 8D.

God is good. My friend Jacque and I have been CRAVING for sushi, but in the oh-so diverse city of Denton, you get mexican restaraunts and Wal-mart. So the only sushi place would be in Lewisville (15 minutes away without taffic) or Dallas (30-45 minutes away). And my manly truck consumes gas like me at a chinese buffet. So I was down denton's cosmopolitan street when my eye spotted "Japango: sushi and japanese food." Of course I was estatic; and Jacque and I went yesterday and feasted on sushi and california roles. mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa it was good. I have found my home!! 8)

metaldemon
Thursday, June 6, 2002 02:08:41 PM
IP: 129.120.35.51

We got gobsmacked by a huge electrical storm night before last. Some damage of the consumer electrical kind, nothing that can't be replaced. But the ADSL is down and we're not sure if it's the modem or the LAN. I'm bummed. I'm shocked at how bent out of shape I am that I can't read my newspapers on line over a cup of coffee. Or check the bulletin boards and mail. Gah. I'm not an internet junkie, I'm just habituated. Right?
(And in case you're wondering, I'm posting from the library, but it's not the same, 'cuz I can't do it in my jammies).
So, who all is Gathering bound?
kathy
Thursday, June 6, 2002 01:14:13 PM
IP: 168.28.96.142

:::flips a finger at the room..her ring finger:::
See the daisys?

I finally got used to my nails.
I chose a nice red color. Tomato red. My manicurist also painted daisys onto them. Thats what I wanted to show you.
Now I have cool nails for the gathering.

Not much else. The boy spent the night at another person's house and didn't tell anyone.

Dad made muffins with chocolate chips and coconut.
yummy, but not as good as blueberry muffins.

Patrick<<<Gee, Josh... I think you killed the room with that witty little double entendre.>>>No I think he just made them speechless.<<<23 days plus an hour and change until The Gathering 2002!>>>Wiggyness levels rise even higher.

Gside<<<Or most of the others, for that matter.>>>Not even the dragon?<<<Nah, my ring finger just isn't double clutching well.>>>sure blame the finger <<>>Sorry but the guy was young and easy on the eyes.

Wilek>>>Keep searching for strange bids buddy.

Josh<<<Apparently I don't know much about money laundering (surprised?).>>>You don’t know how to keep your money clean?<<<And I left at 5 since they aren't paying me overtime.>>>I would have done the same.<<<HAHAHAHA.>>>My Grandpa:::Bless his soul::: gave it to me. Died when I was 8. He was a real life Archie Bunker.<<<No comment.>>>I’m surprised you don’t want to know where to get a shirt like that.<<<And we all know what a rocket scientist he is>>>Naw just a Christian that doesn’t believe in the death penalty, abortion, or Euthenaisa. <<<It's like hell. Only with air conditioning.>>>Thank the good due for AC<<<Them too>>>Keep our knowledge from all evil.<<<I'm gonna one well-paid very bored person.>>>but your getting money.<<<Geez, this room sucks today.>>>No kiddin<<>>How am I suppose to reply to an empty room?

Mandolin>>>Cool!

DPH<<<Yesterday, I used a roll of film (27 exposures) to take pictures of my cats and kittens. Today, I sent the roll of film to be processed and returned on a CD-ROM. When they get back, I'll upload them.>>>You know I will look foreward to seeing your kitties.

Mooncat<<>>Tylenol works wonders, that and a damp cloth on your forhead, and naughty fics….<<<House of Amber>>> I’m Dworkin.

"That boy aint right,"~Hank Hill

Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:52:36 AM
IP: 67.24.92.245

*Warpmind strolls in, holding a small paperback in his hand.*
Hi, folks. Been away for WAY too long... But I've been too engrossed in St. Patrick's Gargoyle of late. :) (I got it on Tuesday... lovely reading.) Furthermore, I got volume 2 of the Adventures of the Mini-Goddesses DVDs. JOY! (Now to get volume 1...)

Anyway.

DPH: You're getting excessive. I like it. And why not place hidden bear traps between the mines, to boot? }:)

IMPFAC: Sorry, ad didn't say more than "red"...

Gside: Cookie for THAT insult? Hot Damn! Have a *cake*! :)

Josh: Back then, it was considered valid treatment. 'Course, if they'd just removed the big nut, instead of one of the two smaller ones, the world might have been a better place... :p

Spacebabie: Words, not pics, huh? Hmmmh... We shall have to make the necessary corrective measures, then... };)

Niamhgold: Love the Zodiac! (And, naturally, we Scorpios were defined by that most excellent schemer, as well...) }:) By the way, I accidentally opened those photos of you, as well... Tell me, what was so funny about that bag of apples? :)

Gside: Sorry I've been absent for a while. Busy few days.

Josh/Gside: Aingeal sick of KY, and you guys *DARE* to comment on it like that? *Grrrrr* Go ahead, spoil ALL my fun... :p

Gunjack: Benjamin? Is this someone we ought to know who is? *Checks on the chibis, who have been remarkably quiet for a looooooooong time...*

Mooncat: That test... Apparently, I'm Random. Which, by the looks of it, suits me just fine. I *AM* Random. };)

Well, that about ends the post. Later on, folks. *Scampers off to watch M*A*S*H reruns...*
Warpmind de InzanE - [warpmind@hotmail.com]
Middle, Nowhere, Norway
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:45:19 AM
IP: 193.217.174.81

Well, did a little net search and found a character list for Amber.

Flora sounds neat, and I really should remember her. I am going to have to re-read the Amber novels now. It's been since highschool/early college since I last did, and that was to have reference for the role playing game.

The Amber Dictionary Page is

http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~avm/Amber.shtml

or click the name link below.

ciao
MC
>^,,^<
Mooncat
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:18:47 AM
IP: 65.30.27.68

Ooww... I have a headache. =(

Wonder if it's weather pressure related.

Anyhoo. WHAT MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF AMBER ARE YOU?

Click the name to take the test.

Or cut and paste:

http://www.roger-zelazny.com/royalty.shtml

I am Flora

"Flora, daughter of Lady Dybele. Good evening, m'Lady. How go the investigations into the romantic traditions of the mortals?..."

Oh. It's been so long since I read Zelazney. I can't remember who Flora is! I'll have to check the character glossery. sigh.

headaches hurt =( And the stupid aspirin isn't working.

Off to find some sinus medicine to see if that helps.

bye for now
MC
>^,,^<
Mooncat
Thursday, June 6, 2002 11:09:53 AM
IP: 65.30.27.68

I actually did real work today. Sadly, it only lasted a couple hours. Sat around doing nothing for the rest of the day. If this is the rest of my summer. I'm gonna one well-paid very bored person.

Finished the latest star wars book, started the 2nd Harry Potter book. Both very good.

Mandolin: Enjoy the tablet. I hear they rock.

DPH: <<Boy, is this room slow today>>: II always kill the room. <<People need to understand grades should be based on merit>>: Sadly, people don't understand that. <>: Especially a company that doesn't feel its necessary to fix the numerous holes in its security.

Gside: <<Many parts of hell are quite cold>>: But not because of air conditioning.

Geez, this room sucks today. I blame you all, since I was at work all day.

Alpha Velveeta Knuckle Underwear
- Dead Meat, Hot Shots!

Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
San Jose, CA, US of A
Thursday, June 6, 2002 01:14:50 AM
IP: 207.214.214.139

Gside - THANK you! ^_^

DPH - What email? I see no email... ya send it to my hotmail?
V
Thursday, June 6, 2002 12:55:58 AM
IP: 172.151.99.78

Imzadi> <<It's like hell. Only with air conditioning>>: Many parts of hell are quite cold.
<<That's special>>: I thought so. Elemental poinsons are fun.
<<Because really, who makes a better janitor than a soon-to-be-unemployed ECE major?>>: Actually, this was a good long time ago.
<<That depends on what you're using it for>>: Anything where you tase it.

Gunjack> <<does anyone know where I can find a list of the entries in the Anime Music Video competition?>>: There's at least part of a list at animemusicvideos.org

DPH> <>: As long as the data is interchangeable, it shouldn't matter. IT would be even better if all execuatables could run on all OSs, but that won't happen.

And the mp3 is I'm Not Your Stepping Stone by the Monkees.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Thursday, June 6, 2002 12:27:38 AM
IP: 68.38.244.145

Boy, is this room slow today.

For those of you who don't want to know more about it, here's some disappointing news. Yesterday, I used a roll of film (27 exposures) to take pictures of my cats and kittens. Today, I sent the roll of film to be processed and returned on a CD-ROM. When they get back, I'll upload them.

Imzadi - <Yes but the loudest parents are always the ones with lousy students.> That's the problem. People need to understand grades should be based on merit and I've heard lots of talk about raising the bar for student achievement. While I'm at it, not everybody should go to college. <And this is why I don't support microsoft. Or the current federal gov't.> This is where I find a paradox. On the whole, I think it's better for the computer industry to have a dominant operating system and I'm talking about counting all the versions of Windows as one operating system. (If not, I'd like someone to explain to me how it could work quite well for 3 different companies to make the dominant operating systems where each one occupies about 30% of the market share.) <Mine has decreased as well. I also you lots of filters.> Somehow I got glued to receiving email from newfunpages.com. I've tried blocking their email address (they switched) and unsubscribing. Nothing worked.

I received a good piece of mail today and yesterday. Yesterday, I received my check for working the day at the voting place. Today, I received my 1st unemployment check.

Gunjack - check your email.
DPH
AR, USA
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 11:12:03 PM
IP: 204.94.193.76

*Enters, carrying the limp form of a ha><or by its crushed throat*

Frickin' Benjamin. Took me two days to wring the life out of that little #%#@er.

Anyway. Finally awake after my post-Akon hibernation (72 hours with only five hours of sleep!), and this new softair USP is God's gift to my right hand.

BTW, does anyone know where I can find a list of the entries in the Anime Music Video competition?

*Tosses Benjamin's corpse into the gator pit, and scampers off to catch up on his DLing*
Gunjack "Shiiiiiiiiiiiirow!" Valentine
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 11:09:57 PM
IP: 172.138.68.56

**delurks after so many months**

Okay, I have the urge to gush. I love my Dad. He gave me my birthday present 6 weeks early: A WACOM TABLET!! This thing ROCKS! I have NO HAND PAIN WHATSOEVER when using it!

*sigh* Now if I could only get something similar at work...

**grins and goes back to lurking and her lunch break**
Mandolin
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 11:38:16 AM
IP: 68.55.117.222

Yay for home <to Aingeal> Go visit the Langfitts on the farm! They love company! As for me, ahem, I'M QUITTING THE HUMAN RACE! *Throws in her towel and ascends to celestialhood*hence the name*
Tired of being bored.
Tired of having no life.
Looking for work. Anyone out there want to hire an incredibly creative and graphically talented computer wizardess?

As for the rest of the room: good luck on staying sane this summer*
Luminous Aphrodite
Maryland, USA
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 02:36:45 AM
IP: 67.201.141.140

Second day, same as the first. Well, not quite. I did *almost* nothing today. But I did finish my "integrity training" (apparently, this is what large corporations think is a good use of investors' funds). I had to take a bunch of quizzes about GE's code of ethics (which, if you were paying attention, I wrote a paper on a few weeks ago). I passed all but one. Apparently I don't know much about money laundering (surprised?).

I got to play with ANSYS, a structural engineering program that makes the programs I used this past semester look like Excel macros by comparison.

And I left at 5 since they aren't paying me overtime. Bastards.

replies

Spacebabie: <<It was my nickname>>: HAHAHAHA. <<It has a picture of a fish with a sombrero and the words “Fish Taco”>>: No comment. <<My dad doesn’t believe in the death system either>>: And we all know what a rocket scientist he is 8-) <<You actually had to wake up. In the MORNING to do paperwork?>>: It's like hell. Only with air conditioning. <<France and Canada?>>: Them too. <<Yeah but was your teacher hot?>>: No.

Metaldemon: <<get a hold of yourself, man!>>: Not in public, thanks.

DPH: <<all the techology exists to make the whole thing implementable, even better than the book has it>>: And this is why I don't support microsoft. Or the current federal gov't. <<Thanks to not listing my email address, I've managed to bring my spam count (for my first yahoo email address) down to 9 a day>>: Mine has decreased as well. I also you lots of filters. <<those actions would amount to raising the bar in what it takes to graduate>>: Yes but the loudest parents are always the ones with lousy students.

Patrick: <<Gee, Josh... I think you killed the room with that witty little double entendre>>: That's just like me. I do that all the time.

Gside: <<There's a good chance I'll come down with arsenic poisoning in the near future>>: That's special. <<if we invade Canada, would we beat Russia for largest country>>: Only if we make it a state. If we keep it as a province or whatever we call Guam, it doesn't count. <<The upper route? some like it, but many prefer to go lower>>: That works too. <<You sure? You'll never have any like it anywhere else>>: I know. And I'm glad about that. <<I've even been called in to get rid of the stuff they found out was too dangerous to keep>>: Because really, who makes a better janitor than a soon-to-be-unemployed ECE major? <<You know this very well, I take it>>: Some recent experience, yes. <<I'd imagine there'd be an unpleasant aftertaste>>: That depends on what you're using it for.

Wilek: <<How's the Demona Love Droid project coming along?>>: Too slow for my tastes.

Yankee Doodle Floppy Disk
- Lt. Commander Block, Hot Shots!

Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
San Jose, CA, US of A
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 01:44:26 AM
IP: 206.170.2.252

Fun auction at me name link. In case you're wondering what's so special about it, that there "picric acid" is a high explosive.

Oh FS? How's the Demona Love Droid project coming along? (:
Wilek
Wednesday, June 5, 2002 12:07:28 AM
IP: 216.65.106.130

Oops.

Aingeal> <<I'm sick of KY>>: I'd imagine there'd be an unpleasant aftertaste.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 11:52:44 PM
IP: 68.38.244.145

There's a good chance I'll come down with arsenic poisoning in the near future. Planed a bunch of pressure treated lumber to replace the carpenter bee infested soffet.

Fire Storm> <<What would be the point?>>: Poutine. Hey, if we invade Canada, would we beat Russia for largest country?

Imzadi> <<seems that there are no schools in this country that offer AP courses in elementary school>>: Eh, maybe they were just using the general definition, and not the official.
<<Do you not think there are just as many appeals for a life term as for a death sentence?>>: Maybe they're more compressed. But then if they don't adjust for that when calcualting average spending, that'd misrepresent the data.
<<My goal is always to live to see the next year>>: I predict that you will fail once, and then never rech it again.
<<If I'm invading a neighbor, I go by air>>: The upper route? some like it, but many prefer to go lower.
<<For sex? No thanks>>: You sure? You'll never have any like it anywhere else.
<<Looks like we aren't the only ones who did that>>: I get to be the test audience for all the demos. I've even been called in to get rid of the stuff they found out was too dangerous to keep.
<<This is a myth>>: You know this very well, I take it.
<<Try getting a real degree>>: Been there, said that.

Spacebabie> <<Ever thought of doing the Chinese Zodiac?>>: Ever since Fruits Basket, I will never be able to take the snake seriously. Or most of the others, for that matter.
<<More like fixing up his son/daughter with every girl he meet>>: I was thinking more about that "man among men" thing, and maybe the robberies.
<<Have been riding the Ganja wagon mon?>>: Nah, my ring finger just isn't double clutching well.
<<Yeah but was your teacher hot?>>: I prefer not to think of mine in that way.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 11:51:29 PM
IP: 68.38.244.145

:: watches a tumbleweed roll through the comment room ::

Gee, Josh... I think you killed the room with that witty little double entendre. :P

Christine > Hope Becca has a speedy recovery.

23 days plus an hour and change until The Gathering 2002!
Patrick Toman
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 10:49:28 PM
IP: 67.38.247.69

Aingeal: Sick of KY, huh?
Josh
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 04:50:46 PM
IP: 63.65.68.246

No need to fear or be overjoyed, I'm still around.

Yesterday, I finished reading 1984. All would-be dictators might want to consider reading the book just so you know how implement total control. Sadly, all the techology exists to make the whole thing implementable, even better than the book has it. Let's see. I've read 2001:A Space Odessy (an optimistic future) and 1984 (a pessimistic future). I wonder what I should read next. I know: a book with a very probable future.

Christine - Glad to hear the good news.

Imzadi - Thanks to not listing my email address, I've managed to bring my spam count (for my first yahoo email address) down to 9 a day. <The bad students would fail.> What do you expect? We pass the bad students? Sure, parents would be mad as heck, but there is a counte argumentr: those actions would amount to raising the bar in what it takes to graduate.

In other news, I finally got myself settled into receiving unemployment benefits thanks to my state's automated system for calling in. Hopefully I will receive my 1st check in 2-3 weeks. The sad point was I've already paid income taxes on it already (when it was taken out of my paycheck last year) and now I have to pay income taxes on it again.

Metaldemon - <Which is why I can't accept death sentences by an imperfect system.> Of course, there's the argument that in the future, we might invent an AI bright enough to take the place of juries. I remember reading about prisons from a Charles Colson book (he's involved in a prison ministry and the book wasn't just about prisons). He didn't like the current justice system because of its flaws. He made a special note about how the death penalty did not have sufficient protection in place to protect the innocent.

DPH
AR, USA
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 03:19:05 PM
IP: 204.94.193.69

Well.... I'm sick of KY.... nice place... nothing to do.

my fiancee (who ive not seen in a month now...) apparently found a kitten this am in his roomate's car's engine... so he's happily planning to keep it... I can't wait to see it... heh.

I go home in a week.... finally... yay... talk later!

later
Aingeal
ky
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 02:10:37 PM
IP: 162.114.211.139

Imzadi> <<commie>> Economically, yes. Not civily.

<<appeals>. it was a freakin' joke. get a hold of yourself, man!! ;)

and I'm not a tree-hugger. Not wanting the enviroment to go to sh!t for the sake of profit and convenience doesn't make you a tree-hugger.
metaldemon
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 01:31:10 PM
IP: 129.120.35.51

@#%&!
FRELL
DERN LOT BOYS!

Christine>>>Glad to hear Becca is doing well and I hope you get well soon.
Spacebabie
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:49:35 PM
IP: 67.24.18.7

Whoo hoo we had blueberry muffins for breakfast today. I love muffins. It was my nickname growing up and my Halloween costume of 1980. Mom made it for me.
My brother ate most of them though. @#*&!

Going to get my nails done today Whoohoo!

and it appears the first named storm of the season is about to be born.

Niahmgold>>>Love the Zodiac, but wouldn’t Leo make a better Leo? Ever thought of doing the Chinese Zodiac?

DPH<<<That's going to be my goal every year: attend the Gathering.>>>^_^

Gside<<<Is that with cornstarch or Borox?>>>Glue and liquid starch<<<Perhaps Jewel has some connections. >>>I hope Jewel can provide, that stuff is what fuels my muse.<<<The only cursed panda I know wasn't known for his forward thinking views.>>>More like fixing up his son/daughter with every girl he meets. <<<Moncat>>> Have been riding the Ganja wagon mon?<<<But how is Demona a fish? Other than taste.>>>Reminds my of my brother’s shirt. It has a picture of a fish with a sombrero and the words “Fish Taco”

Pinkspore>>>Is your name a Chibiusa reference?

Lain<<>>My dad doesn’t believe in the death system either. He thinks murders should be kept in a iny cell by themselves. They get fed, bathroom, showers and work, but no books, tv, computers, or fresh air. And in the cell with be a noose, so that the pirsoner stays there until he hangs himself. I told him the bleeding hearts won’t go for it.<<<*crawls off to nurse throbbing migraine in warm bath* >>>Tylenol PM

Firestorm<<<What would be the point?>>>They have the biggest mall in the world, with zoo, water park, and amusment park.

Josh<<<It started at 830 with all kinds of orientations and paperwork.>>>You actually had to wake up. In the MORNING to do paperwork?<<<I'm not allowed to share my vast engineering expertise with.>>>France and Canada?<<<Hint: people in this room have affectionately referred to their populations as "sand monkeys". >>>Ahh land of the jawas<<<We did that in chemistry class too! We also made airbags.>>>Yeah but was your teacher hot?<<<DELL DUDE.>>>For some odd reason my mom can tolerate him. She can’t stand the Zoom Zoom Zoom or the guy with the phone. She also gets wierded out by that one commercial with the woman dancing all freaky in the car.<<<Welcome to America, where NOT hitting on someone is sexual harassment.>>>What a country, Still better than Canada
Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Fl, U.S.A
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:47:43 PM
IP: 67.24.18.7

Becca update > after a rough weekend, she went back to school yesterday and today, and was glad because she'd been pretty bored otherwise. We have an appt. on Friday so they can make sure she's setting correctly.

As for myself, I woke up Sunday morning with a miserable cold and have now progressed to the sinus headache stage with a developing cough. Bleah. But the writing is going well for a change. Maybe it's the DayQuil. Better living through chemistry. I tell ya what, though, it's not easy writing smut to a self-imposed deadline when nookie's the last thing on one's mind.

Book news > have sent in the dedication, back cover copy, and teaser for Book III to my editor, so all should be on track for a July release still.

Christine - [christine@sabledrake.com]
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:24:59 PM
IP: 65.239.13.154

Did very little yesterday. Some recreational reading. I was so bored this afternoon that I drove over to the nearby mall to hang out with my friend who works at the Apple Store.

Today was my first day as an engineering intern. It started at 830 with all kinds of orientations and paperwork. No fun. After 8 hours, I don't have a clue what it is I'm doing this summer. The good news is that my office computer is brand-spankin' new (yeah, windows, but I can't help that) and my supervisors seem to be cool. I've also started making friends with the other interns and the recent advanced program graduates. I got a cool security badge...but due to a glitch in the computer system I can't actually use it to get anywhere. And I can't use all the technical programs I need to yet because of some security "feature". Hopefully tomorrow will be more interesting.

My favorite part of the day was getting the big list of countries I'm not allowed to share my vast engineering expertise with. Or work in. Guess which ones? Hint: people in this room have affectionately referred to their populations as "sand monkeys".

I got spam today to an address that must have been gotten from this website: it read To: Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel ATkicktothenutsDOTcom (with appropriate punctuation). I didn't know they could do that. Oh well, more in my efforts to throttle them.

Jan: <>: I didn't say that, I just said you were confused. <<my children were not in AP classes in elementary>>: Oh look, the ETS website...hmmm, seems that there are no schools in this country that offer AP courses in elementary school. Nevermind that your children could not possibly have finished all the necessary material to UNDERSTAND an AP course unless your children put Doogie Hauser to shame. And while all parents want to believe their children are the brightest...I don't think they are.

Metaldemon: <<appeals>>: Are you serious? Do you not think there are just as many appeals for a life term as for a death sentence?

Lain: <<me and the cat on my head claim third!>>: And what about the voices *in* your head?

Spacebabie: <<We learned out to make Nickelodeon’s Gak>>: We did that in chemistry class too! We also made airbags. <<Which commercials are more annoying>>: DELL DUDE. <<Maybe she complained cause you didn’t harass her>>: Welcome to America, where NOT hitting on someone is sexual harassment. <<Sound’s cool>>: No it doesn't. <>: Nope, I'm not. <<Wait til you see a pic of me in my costume>>: Looking forward to it.

Niamhgold: <<Does this make me ninth?>>: No, it makes you eighth.

Pinkspore: <<Sometimes the best cure for a hyper kids is sending them out to run a lap on the field>>: When I was a counselor at summer camp we used to do this. Nothing harsh, just to burn off a little energy.

Christine: <<that was as far as I'd go to share her misery>>: Isn't part of being a parent "when my kids hurt, I hurt"? I hear that from my parents. <<the reason you weren't pulled over>>: Ah. Tell your sister-in-law that I send my thanks!

Kaioto: <<Wonderful, responsible people, that years batch from the Teacher's Union>>: And so dedicated to your growth as a human being, too.

Kathy: <<at least two of her three children were born with physical disabilities. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not>>: Yeah and maybe the pope isn't really catholic.

DPH: <<That's going to be my goal every year: attend the Gathering>>: My goal is always to live to see the next year. <<it would do wonders for the students>>: It would do wonders for the good students. The bad students would fail.

Gside: <<you are planning on using it, right?>>: If I'm invading a neighbor, I go by air. <<You had another deal for ice cream, chocolate, and sex, right?>>: Yes, but that was with a female. <<How about from me?>>: For sex? No thanks. <<Is that with cornstarch or Borox?>>: Looks like we aren't the only ones who did that. <<But how is Demona a fish? Other than taste>>: This is a myth 8-)

Lain: <<if he gets this designation, hell never walk free as long as he lives>>: I'm starting to like Canada. Now if only Toronto wasn't humid as hell. <<or what the hell, you could always pour MORE money into your war machine>>: That was clever, lain ;-) <<puts us in some pretty good company. like>>: Half of the places on that list are the sites of hideous dictators or bizarre militaristic govt's. <>: Cuz you're a smelly hippy. <<whatever the hell THATS supposed to mean>>: It's quite simple, really. It means that you pick up on new ideas faster than she does. <<youd have to change the university system so they dont treat you like youre three and remind you every day when your stuff is due>>: Most of my classes never remind you when stuff is due. Some of them don't bother to mention the midterms unless people ask. <<they say in highschool that university is so very difficult.. and its a snooze>>: Maybe for YOU, but I have no respect for your hippy major. University IS harder than high school if you do it correctly and try to make something of yourself. <>: Try getting a real degree.

Metaldemon: <<busted their butts to close the poverty gap?>>: Geez, as if it wasn't bad enough that you're a tree-hugger, you've got to be a commie too?

Fire Storm: <<What would be the point>>: Invading Canada is its own point.

Yooper: <<unlike our NATO allies, we can't free ride on another country's defense budget>>: Isn't Canada lucky?

Jaden: <<sometimes I feel like Dilbert's boss>>: Any particular reason?

We secretly switched our professor's water with ether in a thermal conductivity experiment. Let's see if he notices.
-Mike Margolis, Physics 7B

Josh "Imzadi" Wurzel - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
San Jose, CA, US of A
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 01:46:17 AM
IP: 207.214.213.63

What a week. And it's only Monday. Oh well.

Imzadi- Nop not a Mac...and sometimes I feel like Dilbert's boss.

Christine-I hope Becca is doing better.

Green Baron- I have to get up on Saturday to do an 8 mile run and from what I've heard it's mostly up-hill. Don't know where but I'd rather not think about it.

Spacebabies- That Dell dude is starting to get on my nerves.

Later.
Jaden - [jaden1444@aol.com]
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 01:36:09 AM
IP: 172.191.146.143

Sorry for the 2x post:

Let me amend that, "most of our NATO allies" Britain's got a cool military, and we needed the BMEWS stations in Canada.
Yooper
MI
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:23:21 AM
IP: 208.4.94.35

lain>><<if i was an american, i think id rather have it spent on my school system, or roadworks. or what the hell, you could always pour MORE money into your war machine..>> Unfortunately, unlike our NATO allies, we can't free ride on another country's defense budget.
Yooper
MI
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:19:15 AM
IP: 208.4.94.35

patrick, fs>> <<<if we'd have saved up some of that money we could've easily gotten that invasion of Canada underway by now, couldn't we?> But that brings up the question: What would be the point?>>
well... uh.. we got lots of snow.. and uh.. penguins and.. uh.. hmm..

you might have a point there.. ;)

*crawls off to nurse throbbing migraine in warm bath*
lain
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:10:40 AM
IP: 65.92.92.182

Patrick Toman: <if we'd have saved up some of that money we could've easily gotten that invasion of Canada underway by now, couldn't we?>
But that brings up the question: What would be the point?
Fire Storm
Monday, June 3, 2002 11:51:02 PM
IP: 216.254.103.139

:: appears in a puff of smoke ::

Mooncat > Welcome back!

Lain > "if i was an american, i think id rather have it spent on my school system, or roadworks. or what the hell, you could always pour MORE money into your war machine."

Yeah... you're right... if we'd have saved up some of that money we could've easily gotten that invasion of Canada underway by now, couldn't we? ;)
25 days until The Gathering!

:: vanishes ::
Patrick Toman
Monday, June 3, 2002 11:37:34 PM
IP: 67.38.247.152

Moncat> <<ponytails are meant to be yanked>>: What if they're brided? Or do I have nothing to worry about?

CSH> <<a bit like hanging out with a younger version of me, if that makes any sense!>>: I get it all the time in reverse when I'm at home.

Lain> <<im the most bored ive ever been in my entire life, and i havent barely learned a single thing i didnt already know before i WENT to university>>: Take an engineering class. Still very boring, but at least they'll be teaching new stuff.

Without Imzadi (or Wilek, Warpmind, Fire Storm, and whonot), I don't have much to say. Come back $!#@ it.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Monday, June 3, 2002 11:12:30 PM
IP: 68.38.244.145

lain> <<lower crime rates>> and hasn't canada busted their butts to close the poverty gap? might have somethign else to do with the lower crime rates, eh? *is shocked* I said "eh!!" *gasps*
metaldemon
Monday, June 3, 2002 10:08:15 PM
IP: 24.219.165.75

aaaah finally..
was very busy and missed out on the death penalty debate. however, theres a few points id like to make.

yes, i believe life in prison should mean life in prison. up here we have this thingy whereby proscecution can ask that the criminal be declared a "dangerous offender" and, if he gets this designation, hell never walk free as long as he lives. take paul bernardo. that little $h!t will be locked up by his lonesome (cos all the other prisoners would kill him if he werent..) forever. or at least till hes dead. they might even put iron bars on his urn, tho, you never know.
also up here, there were several high profile cases awhile back where, if wed had the death penalty, they would be long dead. guy paul moran is one.. but theres others. once the whole DNA testage thing came in, they were released.. cos theyd been set up for something they hadnt done. government had to pass out hefty fees for "damages".

earlier in the debate, jannie mentioned <> this is a common misconception. it actually costs more to put someone to death than it does to keep them alive in prison for the rest of their lives. since were in the mood for backing things up, ill borrow some statistics from florida..
"Enforcing the death penalty costs Florida $51 million a year above and beyond what it would cost to punnish all first-degree murderers with life in prison without parole. Based on the 44 executions Florida has carried out since 1976, that amounts to a cost of $24 million for each execution." thats a pretty penny to spend to kill their worthless asses, dont you think? if i was an american, i think id rather have it spent on my school system, or roadworks. or what the hell, you could always pour MORE money into your war machine..
as for the "deterrant" argument.. i can only state some statistics from my own country.
up here, the homicide rate per 100,000 population fell from a peak of 3.09 in 1975, the year before the abolition of the death penalty for murder, to 2.41 in 1980 since which it has declined further. in 1999, 23 years after abolition, the homicide rate was 1.76 per 100,000 population, 43 per cent lower than in 1975. the total number of homicides reported in the country fell in 1999 for the third straight year. go figure.
not having the death penalty puts us in some pretty good company. like..
andorra, angola, australia, austria, azerbaijan, belgium, bulgaria, cambodia, cape verde, colombia, costa rica, cote d'ivore, croatia, the czech republic, denmark, djibouti (yaay djibouti!), the dominican republic, east timor (not west edmonton), ecuador, estonia, finland, france, georgia, germany, guinea-bissau, haiti, honduras, hungary, iceland, ireland, italy, kiribati (where the heck is THAT!?), liechtenstein, lithuania, luxembourg, macedonia, malta, the marshall islands, maurtius, micronesia (federated states), moldova, monaco, mozambique, nambia, nepal, the netherlands, new zealand, nicaragua, norway, palau, panama, paraguay, poland, portugal, romania, san marino, sao tome and principe, seychelles, slovak republic, slovenia, solomon islands, south africa, spain, sweeden, switzerland, turkmenistan, tuvalu, the ukraine, the united kingdom, uruguay, vanuatu, the vatican city state and last but not least.. venezuela aka.. all your western buddies and some other enlightened dudes to boot.
that leaves YOU on the side of all of your favourite countries like.. lessee here.. afganistan, algeria, antigua and barbuda, armenia, the bahamas, bahrain,
bangladesh, barbados, belarus, belieze, benin, botswana, brundi, cameroon, chad (oh no! not CHAD!), china (those damn commies), comoros, congo, cuba, dominica, egypt,
equatorial guinea, eriitrea, ehtiopia, gabon, ghana, guatemala, guinea, guyana, india, indonesia, iran, everyones favourite villan iraq, jamaica, japan, jordan, kazakstan, kenya, korea (north.. hey, does this make ALL of the "axis of evil"?), korea (south), kuait, kyrgyzstan, laos, lebanon, lesotho, liberia, libya, malawi, malaysia, maritania, mongolia, morocco, myanmar (surprise), nigeria, oman, pakistan, the palestinian authority, the philippines, qatar, rwanda, saint cristopher and nevis, saint lucia, saint vincent and grenadines, saudi arabia, sierra leone, singapore, somalia, sudan, swaziland, syria, taiwan, tajikistan, tanzania, thailand, trinidad and tobago, tunisia, uganda, ganda, the united arab emirates, uzbekistan, viet nam, yemen, zambia, and zimbabwe.
quite the bunch of progressive nations, if you ask me.. and all your favourites, too :P
and yeah yeah, i know you all disagree. i dont know why i bother ;)

ADD debate>> never had it. dont know anything about it. therefore.. no comment :D

kaioto>> yeah.. i had a problem with the "gifted" thingie at my school. it involved me and my then best friend being in the program.. and then them making a cutback because they couldnt afford to send the number of students that they had previously. end result was that i got to keep going cos i was "more gifted" than my friend (whatever the hell THATS supposed to mean..) and she resented me for the rest of our friendship and systematically destroyed every single one of my friendships in highschool.. so much so that i havent talked to a single person i knew in highschool since i left that gawd awful miserable town? and.. what? me? bitter? nooooo whatever lead you to THAT conclusion? :P

re: a-kon>> *WAAAAH!!!* i didnt get to go. *snifflesniff* well... im asking my boss for that time off next year weeeeeeell in advance so.. i should be there if im still alive. if im not, gunjack promises to take my ashes :D

dph>> << Every grade while in high school gets progressively closer to what you'd expect from college. It would start with handing out a syllabus and not reminding students when homework is due by the time they reach 10th grade. I know that would raise a lot of protests from parents, but it would do wonders for the students>> oh, right.. as if. for this to work, youd have to change the university system so they dont treat you like youre three and remind you every day when your stuff is due. they say in gradeschool that highschool is so much harder.. and it isnt.. and they say in highschool that university is so very difficult.. and its a snooze. and no, im not doing poorly and staring off into space because i have ADD, im doing poorly and staring off into space because im the most bored ive ever been in my entire life, and i havent barely learned a single thing i didnt already know before i WENT to university. perhaps this is because i was overeducated going in but really.. its just SAD. if theyd give me something to chew on, im sure theyd see a difference. till then, ill be content to sleep, thankyouverymuch.

yeah
im finished for now :)

love,
lain
lain
Monday, June 3, 2002 09:08:12 PM
IP: 65.92.92.182

Hi Spike,

Well, I think I got your picture at such a low bid as a fluke. Techincally anything with 2 bids should have gone to auction, and I up bidded someone by one dollar, so the piccie ***should*** have gone to auction, but it was overlooked. As a watercolor / original, it should have gone for a much more decent price. There was insane bidding on PRINTS, much less anything that was original.

Much as I love A-kon, I think this year was poorly run. I showed up very Early on Sunday, to get my one bids, and the guy at the door told me the Art room wouldn't be open until 12 noon. oooookay.... Kind of off for bid winners who wanted to actually LEAVE the convention around noon, but I went to kill time getting art commissions from the lovely early bird artists who'd set up.

Then passed by the Art room at 11:30 to get into line because I wanted to get my art then scoot. Art room ALREADY was in progress of getting the winning bidders their art O_o ... which only goes to show that people in the orange jackets who are security don't know jack.

Got into the still mercifully short line, and waited long, slow, snail paced minutes while the people running the auction slooooowly found the art for the winning bidders.

Did they pre-sort the art by winning bidder so it'be easy to find and pick up? Nah, that would be too logical! Instead they had it semi sorted by artist, and since they weren't over familiar with each artist, expected the bidder to have each art pieces NUMBER, without having bothered to tell that to people bidding in any way shape or form ahead of time.

I would have had every piece I bid on WRITTEN DOWN if the art auction people had bothered to post this info in the first place, or mentioned it when I picked up my bidder number. O_o....

Since I only knew I had a piece by Hayden and another by Santana, and wasn't quite sure if I might have had another "one bid" I was told to Come Back After Everyone ELSE picked up their art. Which would only be a few more hours....

I was so tempted to simply leave the convention and let the art auction people TRY to bill me for the art I left behind. The only reason I stayed was respect for the artists who'd expect their money for the pictures.

Wasn't terribly impressed with the auction itself, with it's five seat wide, and 30 or 40 seat long set up, so people in back couldn't hear what the auctioneer was saying, and the game room was next to us with doors wide open and loud gaming noises pouring out.

Usually the art auction is the highlight of my trip to A-kon, but this year it struggled to be a bearable requirement. I skipped cosplay so I wouldn't miss any art at the auction. *sigh*

Sat next to a friend of mine, who runs Asylum Anime, and he gave me the litany of woe about the dealers room. He had five tables and a pre-arranged set up. At the last minute AFTER the set up was approved they had him move to a less good spot so he was unable to display a good portion of the stuff he originally intended. Also, he'd asked in advance and been told he'd get a land line (phone line) to hook up his credit card machine too. He has a cellular hook up, but no signal in the dealers room. He was told after waiting a full day on Friday that the hotel guy who would be in charge of doing things like that wouldn't be in that weekend. So he had no way to run his credit card machine. He was selling a lot of very High Priced items too, including thousands of animation cels. Reeaaalllly good cels. He goes to Japan regularly to personally buy cels and other hard to get merchandise. Since he is a cel collector himself, he has an excellent eye for shots that collectors like.

He was not happy with A-kon. That was depressing, because he'd been going as a dealer to Akon for several years, consistently, and always as a multiple table dealer. I don't know if he'll bother next year.

I know the huge numbers of attendees probably overwhelmed the convention staff, but they had pre-reg numbers to warn them of the intense crush and crowd they would be dealing with, and the fact there was FOUR hotels (main and three overflows) worth of con attendees to warn them months in advance there was going to be major numbers of people attending.

*shakes head*

I had a good time and got some good bargains (like the Christi picture), but I know a lot of dealers were feeling screwed over by the convention, with the split dealer's room and other things. And I think the art auction people really underserved the artists who sent in art work, except for Yaya, who showed up and "vana'd" her art. The auctioneer wasn't giving the art much of a "sell" speil, as previous years had. And I think a lot of pieces would have gone higher if there'd been SOME enthusiasm in his voice when he gave the description (which most of us couldn't hear in back anyways) and bothered to mention things like if the piece was original or a print (still mad about a piece the 'vana' told me was an original, then was told it was a print AFTER I'd bid on it, but hand colored... O_o... there's fifty bucks I'd like to have back, thank you kindly. I'd have bought more Copic Markers or an art book in the dealers room with that money instead. Or even another art commission or two. sigh...

On the upside, the hotel room at the Ramada was nice, and I'd wish I'd bought a swim suit, cause they had a pool and hot tub. Really nice hotel staff. Only wish the shuttle was more reliable in shedule so I wouldn't have had to wait 30 to 40 minutes for it to first show up, then another 15 to 20 minutes to get to the convention hotel. gah... that ate up too too much time.

Nice fruit and cereal continental breakfast in the lounge area, with pastries and a variety of juice and coffee. So saved breakfast money. Only ate one other meal a day at the convention, at the Papaya room which had very nice if somewhat pricey (hey, it's a hotel) food. The buffet which was about 15 bucks with drink but without dessert, was nicely filling and high quality food. Loved the green beans!!! Ooo.... sauteed with onions and mixed color bell peppers, it looked and tasted gorgeous. The roasted pork went beautifully over a rice pilaf on Saturday, and I only wish they'd had the rice on Sunday instead of the penne pasta, but the experience as a whole was very nice dining wise. Tipped generously and the wait staff was appreciative and kept our glasses full each night. That first Friday night I tried their prime rib french dip sandwich, and it was lovely. The sandwiches were in the 8-10+ buck range, but they were reeeeeally good. I can never fault the quality of the food at the Papaya Room, at any of the A-kon conventions I'd attended at the DFW. The buffet on Sat and Sun really was a value, because it was both lunch and supper to me. So with the courtesy breakfast at the Ramada, I spent a LOT less on food than I expected. whew...

Sunday ate at noon-ish, and was comfortably full for a full 8 hours, until my ride and I pulled into his home town and he got to show off his fave Chinese food place to me. My gods, those were huge portions!!! I felt bad because I could only eat two rangoons, and one terriyaki stick, plus my rice and a tiny amount of the mixed meat dish I'd gotten. But the plus side is that it came in a nice "to go" container, and my friend can have left over. His house being conveniently a block or two from the restaraunt. Very small town, but really nice looking. He gave me the "mini" tour. Nice place to raise kids, were I so inclined. I got to meet his parents. His dad is almost 80, and his mom is mid/late 70s, but both are very vigorous and sharp. Nice house.

Wish I'd known before leaving the convention that we'd be making the stop, because I'd have worn something OTHER than one of my ratty black tee shirts, that make me look like a degenerate fan girl. Okay, I *am* a degenerate fan girl, but I can fake respectable *^_~*

The upbeat. I'm so determined to have art for next year's convention. I'm no where near Yaya's level *envy moment* but I think I can do some decent enough pieces to show and hopefull pay my convention expenses next year.

So this year, I'm going to make time for more artwork, starting today. *resolve face*

now back to house cleaning, cause cat people coming end of the week to pick up my snow leopard Bengal queen I'm retiring. Oooooohhhhhhh I'm going to miss her! She's my only snow. I'm only doing this because I manage cat population quite ruthlessly if I want to have a house worth living in. But I'm going to miss my snow girl so MUCH...

ack...

later
Mooncat
>^,,^<

I marked this Akon down as perhaps the least well set up one in 7 or 8 years worth of Akon attendance.
Mooncat
Monday, June 3, 2002 11:24:51 AM
IP: 65.30.27.68

CHRISTI - For my own part, I very much suspect that Pratchett's Faerie Queen was really Titania (or the Discworld version of her), in light of all the references in "Lords and Ladies" to "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Monday, June 3, 2002 08:14:56 AM
IP: 65.56.172.12

Mooncat>> So you're the one that wound up with "The Faerie Queen" -- I'd wondered about that! Thank you! There's a close resemblance to Mauve but I was thinking more of the Faerie Queen from Terry Pratchett's "Lords and Ladies" when I did it. The next time you're at A-kon, you should drop me a Voodoo-gram at the Message Board. (It was a tall 4-sided bulletin board thing opposite of the food kiosk on the con floor.) I was able to exchange notes with Spotweld (from Station 8) and other garg fans, because it was nearly impossible to meet up otherwise.

A-kon Report: Didn't get to spend nearly as much time checking out the panels or showing my portfolio to potential clients as I would have liked but I had good time anyway. I'd won a free pass in a flyer art contest and had given it to my 12-year-old niece so it was realy nice to spend time with her. (And strangely, a bit like hanging out with a younger version of me, if that makes any sense!) She got a little freaked out when some teenaged boys started following her around (she's tall and looks older than 12) but I bought her a mallet and her boy troubles miraculously went away.... heh, heh.

Never saw Aaron or Mara but I did see a lot of amazing costumes. I think our favorite was the big plushie Ein from Cowboy Bebop -- so cute! I wound up getting my son Ryan's DBZ-styled pinewood derby signed by some voice actors and picked up quite a bit of loot in the Dealer's Room including Yu Yu Hakusho DVDs (last day markdowns -- gotta love it!), plushies, and a new dragon print for my collection.

Unfortunately, there's no rest for me.... both of my sons have Cub Scout day camp this week. Rush, rush, rush!!
Spike
Monday, June 3, 2002 08:06:18 AM
IP: 64.216.237.134

Back from A-kon!

Whee!!!

Got a Christi Hayden Watercolor for only 11 dollars >^@@^< Oooo!!! Sometimes it's good to be the only bidder. I have no idea who the picture is supposed to be, but I have a suspicion it's Maeve.

Got a few pretty pics besides the Christie's, some Copic black ink brush markers $3 dollars each, which I've always wanted to try, and a small set of flesh/blush tones $51 *faint!!!!* but passed on the 72 piece set that was over $300 *faints again, and stays down for the count*

Determined to have art ready for next A-kon. Saw some gorgeous stuff by Yaya, *envy!!!!* and saw that Aimee was there as well.

I took pictures! I got commissions! I spent hours and hours shuttling back and forth between my "overflow" hotel and the hotel the convention was in. ack!!!

Looked at the line for Hentai Fest. Promptly left to go to Yuri Con and watch Utena eps I hadn't had a chance to see before.

Looked for Mara and Aaron, and I think I may have spotted them at the art auction, but I couldn't rightly read their name badges to be sure.

But I got to yank a ponytail, if it was Arron's or not, I'm just happy to do it because ponytails are meant to be yanked. Otherwise they would not be so yankable.

On the way home, my ride took me to a great Chinese place with HUMONGOUS crab rangoon, terriaki beef on a stick, and other very scary sized food portions. Then we stopped by his house so I could meet his parents (they were very, very old), see his house, etc...

Then to my house so I could finally feed my cats. Poor babies, I left them with extra large food bowls and water before leaving, but being gone for a weekend was stretching it. Immediately gave everyone fresh food and water when I got in. The guy who was supposed to check in on them didn't refill the food bowls while I was gone. Grrrr...

Thank goodness I have a different friend looking in on my babies when I go to the Gathering.

Went to the Cel panel/swap meet, and drooled over other collectors collections. Didn't bring my own cels, because it just didn't occur to me to do such a thing. Went to writing panels and learned new things. Went to art panels, didn't learn as much. Saw fan music videos... saw people in costume, saw cute candy sushi...

now must collapse!
Mooncat
>^,,^<
sooooo tired!!!!
Mooncat
Monday, June 3, 2002 01:31:45 AM
IP: 65.30.27.68

forgot

DPH> Also, no one can really know the amount of racism in someone. My mom says she's not, but she freaks out when there are too many black people around her. Peoeple excersize biases against races; I do, my neighbour does....We can't help it.
metaldemon
Monday, June 3, 2002 01:09:22 AM
IP: 24.219.165.75

DPH> but that's the deal. We are so convinced its perfect. The system and process are hadly questioned by the be-alls in power. The system will never be perfect because it is crafted by man. Which is why I can't accept death sentences by an imperfect system.
metaldemon
Monday, June 3, 2002 01:06:09 AM
IP: 24.219.165.75

Imzadi> <>: Well, you are planning on using it, right?
<>: Treat, not cure. Something wrong might have been going on with that one.
<<How else would you be unable to afford it in a way that made sense?>>: Under the right circumstances, chronologically.
<<Couldn't it just be licensed?>>: Of course, but there are few writers who have the money.
<<For the right price, I'll do almost anything>>: You had another deal for ice cream, chocolate, and sex, right? How about from me?

Spacebabie> <<We learned out to make Nickelodeon�s Gak>>: Is that with cornstarch or Borox?
<<That would be the Jersey Devil?>>: Yup. The team is up by the Meadowlands.
<<Let me have some of that. I need more inspiration>>: Sorry, I don't have the airfare to Japan on me. Perhaps Jewel has some connections.
<<If I pour hot water on you will you turn back into a man?>>: Probably not. The only cursed panda I know wasn't known for his forward thinking views.
<<My words are dirty my pics aren�t>>: Aww.

Niamhgold> <<Lemme know what you think!>>: Very nice. But how is Demona a fish? Other than taste.

Kathy> <<Unfortunately, it got into the food chain and nearly wiped out the bald eagles>>: Well, it didn't really do anything bad to existing mammals/birds. I remember hearning that one guy offered to eat a pound of the stuff. It messed with the calcification process of making eggs, also almost killed ospreys here.

And the new mp3 is from the person with perhaps the oddest singing stance. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window by Joe Cocker.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Monday, June 3, 2002 12:07:37 AM
IP: 68.38.244.145

Imzadi - <Do you think it could be because that group committs 3 times as many of those crimes?> That's not what I was saying. I was saying that if two different groups commit the exact same type of crime that warrants the death penalty, the percentages of people who comitted that crime AND received the death penalty should be roughly equal.

Metaldemon - <The link> Some of the cases are ridiculous for how a person got the death penalty and that's not the standard I would want for giving anyone the death penalty. I believe that, at the very least, there should be untampered physical evidence tying a person to the crime scene before the death penalty can even be considered. Racist prosecutors/judges/jurors should be kicked out on the spot. Prosecutors/police who deliberately withhold evidence should be kicked out. Of course, that means I believe police interrogations should be videotaped and unaltered copies of that video tape should be able to the defense attorney.

Kaito - <The reality I didn't understand back then was that the Teachers Union in my town had managed to leverage the administration in my town for a wonderful little game of screw the budget.> What the heck? I believe in Gifted and Talented programs. Of course, I was spotted as being gifted in Math.

Spacebabie - That's going to be my goal every year: attend the Gathering.

I call upon the spirits of depression that have been bothering me as of late to summon . . . Daniel Johnson.

Imzadi - <Only in America would they call you a bad parent for NOT giving your kids drugs.> Hehe. I remember a picture in my chiropractor's office showing which drugs people take as they get older. <How else would you be unable to afford it in a way that made sense?> Emotionally - I couldn't afford the potential stress

Jan - < Unfortunately I have seen some of the classes where they think AP means to give twice as much work in half as much time. =\ > I have a couple of theories about how to redo high school. Every grade while in high school gets progressively closer to what you'd expect from college. It would start with handing out a syllabus and not reminding students when homework is due by the time they reach 10th grade. I know that would raise a lot of protests from parents, but it would do wonders for the students.

DPH
AR, USA
Monday, June 3, 2002 12:03:14 AM
IP: 204.94.193.35

Christine > You're welcome. I wished they'd just intercut those scenes where they should have gone in the movie. Especially the one in Potions class.

Josh > Re: theoretical children. Nah. Plenty of places to gain social skills. They have classes around here up the wazoo at Parks and Rec., various museums and zoos and so on plus there's always Scouting and other service clubs.

Ritalin > One thing I forgot to mention yesterday. 90% of the Ritalin manufatured is sold in the United States and most of it is dispensed to boys. Could this have anything to do with the demise of organized P.E. classes?

Josh again > Re: exposure. That reminds me of a former co-worker. She was older than I, and her father was in the Navy. Her family was billeted in Japan after WWII. She said that she used to play in the spray of the DDT trucks. (DDT for those of you too young to know is a powerful insecticide that was widely used to kill mosquitos. Unfortunately, it got into the food chain and nearly wiped out the bald eagles. Major embarrassment for U.S. chemical manufacturers.)

Anyway, she said she said one day that she never suffered any ill effects frbm her exposure. (We were talking about pesticides we worked around) but at least two of her three children were born with physical disabilities. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

So yeah, either way we have failed a generation of children either from unrealistic expectations about their reaction to their environment (too much of the wrong kind of stimulation, not enough of the right kind) or we're dealing with the biggest chemical debacle since Agent Orange in Vietnam or Gulf War Syndrome. Take your pick, but I tend to lean toward the former.

Jan > Glad the medication worked out for you and yours. I've no doubt you weighed your decision very carefully and did what you thought was best for your family.

kathy
Sunday, June 2, 2002 06:06:31 PM
IP: 66.32.121.172

Well, on the ADD thing, here's another kid who they tried to put on the zombie-drugs fast track.

They never managed to convince my parents to make me take the damn things.

Went through grade school as a pain in the ass to the teachers. Went to private school and gifted programs for middle and highschool and never had a "behavior" problem in my entire record other than a couple of incidents regarding the standard fair of torment by "popular" kids.

Graduated business school Magna Cum Laude.

Turns out I didn't need drugs or have ADD.

The reality I didn't understand back then was that the Teachers Union in my town had managed to leverage the administration in my town for a wonderful little game of screw the budget. The Union controled administration managed to drain the entire Gifted program's budget and create an opperating deficit. They assumed they could then take the deficit to town meeting and get more money.

Turns out, the money wasn't there to be gotten. End result, the administration, lead by the Teachers Union, managed to wipe out the entire "gifted" section of the school system for the entire town for over half a decade because they were playing political games with the budget.

So, with no "gifted" program, the teachers had to deal with kids who weren't at the same pace as the rest of the children. Their response was to recommend skipping grades or handing out drugs at the tip on a hat.

Wonderful, responsible people, that years batch from the Teacher's Union.
Kaioto - [kaioto@yahoo.com]
Boston, MA, USA
Sunday, June 2, 2002 04:25:02 PM
IP: 66.31.222.137

Becca update > the poor kid's adventures continue ... we spent most of Friday at Childrens Hospital (very high marks on everything from decor to staff) and the result was that they decided she didn't need surgery but she did need to be put out long enough for them to reset her elbow and insert a couple of pins. She was very brave throughout, the worst part for her being told she couldn't have anything to drink for the 6 hours before the procedure. So I didn't either, but that was as far as I'd go to share her misery. She's in a different cast now and we are to go back in a week for them to check it, then again two weeks after that for them to remove the pins and everything. Which means that if all goes well, she will be all fixed up the exact day before we're due to leave for our vacation. She'll be able to go swimming. Mercy for that!

Josh > the reason you weren't pulled over in San Jose is because all the cops are out chasing my sister-in-law in her Mustang as usual ; ) Hope it all goes well.

Book news > my editor reports that things are looking encouraging for Black Roses too. The Silver Dragon imprint is normally for fantasy, but they're thinking they can bend it enough to include horror. ::giddy whirl:: Which means that if they decide to sign for the Trinity Bay books too, and given the policy of publishing continuing books in a series between six months to a year apart, under optimum conditions I could get four books a year in print! One per quarter! Woo! (pff ... I don't know if even I could keep up that pace for long).

Harry Potter DVD > thanks for the tips! We are going searching today through all the extra features.

Christine - [christine@sabledrake.com]
Sunday, June 2, 2002 01:23:13 PM
IP: 67.226.47.201

** Niamhgold enters again**

Whoo, finished my gathering paintings...the gargoyles zodiac...and even posted them on my site. If you want to see what's headed to the Gathering, clickie on my name or go to http://www.geocities.com/fluff_astrid/images/ and click on the links that are named after zodiac signs. Lemme know what you think!

Adios
Niamhgold
Sunday, June 2, 2002 01:02:53 PM
IP: 12.110.135.178

Can't keep my comments on ADD to myself. I teach at a private elementary school where NOBODY takes any kind of drugs for ADD. Most of the kids do very well. Some need special attention, either because they can't concentrate or because they get bored. If teachers pay attention to the kids, they can figure out which. Sometimes the best cure for a hyper kids is sending them out to run a lap on the field. On the other hadn, my younger brother was diagnosed with ADD in high school, had medication perscribed, and suddenly was able to do his work, pay attention, and managed to not fail high school. Make of that what you will.
pinkspore
Sunday, June 2, 2002 12:17:08 PM
IP: 4.35.187.188

Does this make me ninth?
Niamhgold
Sunday, June 2, 2002 12:10:09 PM
IP: 12.110.135.178

I used to think I had ADD cause well I couldn’t focus all the time at school. I’d space out, and daydream, with dozens of thoughts going through my head. Of course this was only during math class and Like Jan said I was just bored. I never had the problem with my other classes especially science, art, and English. Yes you hear me right Science. Mostly Biology and Earth Sciences. Chemistry wasn’t too bad, I guess there I finally found a use for math.
That and other few factors.1) We went on cool field trips to the beach and Universal Studios. 2.) We learned out to make Nickelodeon’s Gak, 3) Mr Pearlmutter was in his early twenties and HOT!

I don’t have ADD I have SAD and I already have a pill for that.

Why can’t they make Ritalout.?

Quick poll. Which commercials are more annoying

A) Zoom Zoom Zoom
B)”Can you hear me now?”
C) The Dell Dude.

IMPFAC>>>That sucks about your job<<<>>Maybe she complained cause you didn’t harass her

GXB<<<Yeah, can you make your eyes blaze red also?>>>No, I’m working on purple though.<<<I'll do it then.>>>Good cause I know you enjoy it. <<<Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.>>>Ahh but you don’t understand. On Sunday nights I feel so revit5alized, so…oh wait that’s my Sunday night bubble bath.

Gside<<>>That would be the Jersey Devil? <<<The new shellfish dessert created by an Iron Chef.>>>Let me have some of that. I need more inspiration.

Josh<<<Jose for 10 weeks of engineering intern-dom.>>>Sound’s cool.<<>>No need to bet, you should see the neighborhood.<<<Then yes, 100 lbs would be sick skinny.>>>So you do have brains.<<<Never.>>>I know your tempted, It’s like California, except no smog, twice the swamps, Twice the beaches, and Disney is a lot bigger.<<<So you've told me. You're not impressing me, though.>>>Wait til you see a pic of me in my costume.<<<Actually, they did.>>>They were asking TGS staff members.

Sexual Harassment Panda<<<I'm a saaad panda.>>> Nice to see you too. If I pour hot water on you will you turn back into a man?

Warpmind<<<I'm *sure* that has everything to do with why we don't see the lower halves of Brooklyn or Angela. Suuuuure. };) >>>It’s true. My words are dirty my pics aren’t

DPH<<<Financially I can't afford it.>>>I hope to see you next year.
Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Fl, U.S.A
Sunday, June 2, 2002 11:44:03 AM
IP: 67.25.53.75

SEVENTH!

(You had better work this time!)
Fire Storm and Lady Mystic
Sunday, June 2, 2002 11:38:28 AM
IP: 216.254.103.139

SE... uh... SIX!!!

Real post later.
Warpmind de InzanE - [warpmind@hotmail.com]
Middle, Nowhere, Norway
Sunday, June 2, 2002 11:36:19 AM
IP: 193.217.175.35

Fifth! :: plants a flag with a big number 5 on it ::
Patrick Toman
Sunday, June 2, 2002 11:00:39 AM
IP: 67.38.246.192

4th
Leo
Sunday, June 2, 2002 10:39:43 AM
IP: 172.152.61.208

me and the cat on my head claim third!!!!
lain
Sunday, June 2, 2002 10:29:54 AM
IP: 65.92.91.122

ohhhhhhh 2nd. HA!
metaldemon
Sunday, June 2, 2002 10:29:28 AM
IP: 24.219.165.75

Josh> appeals. *runs and hides from menacing sledge-hammer* >:D
metlademon
Sunday, June 2, 2002 10:29:10 AM
IP: 24.219.165.75

I Claim First for uh Stuff!
Spacebabie
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A
Sunday, June 2, 2002 10:22:39 AM
IP: 67.25.53.75