Linux Gazette IRC outtakes


** Universal convenience? **
 
Dec 10 20:04:00 <editorgal> having a decent Friday jimmy?
Dec 10 20:19:19 <jimregan> Good enough
Dec 10 20:19:22 <jimregan> Yours?
Dec 10 20:19:41 <jimregan> Haven't had any of my guitar heroes die today
Dec 10 20:20:16 <jimregan> Always a good thing :)
Dec 10 20:20:49 <editorgal> ermm.. yeah
Dec 10 20:21:23 <jimregan> I think all of the various events I was supposed to show up at tomorrow have managed to relocate to a single pub
Dec 10 20:21:52 <editorgal> interesting - and convenient
Dec 10 20:21:55 <jimregan> I love when the universe works to my convenience
 
* Etiquette, proofing pedantry, Christian Brothers **
 
Dec 10 21:25:53 <jimregan> Ooh! PG added a book on etiquette: http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/1/14314/14314-h/14314-h.htm
Dec 10 21:26:07 <jimregan> (I have a thing for etiquette)
Dec 10 21:26:45 <editorgal> heh
Dec 10 21:29:53 <editorgal> oh I can help with some of that
Dec 10 21:30:28 <jimregan> 'The Chinese sage, Confucius, could not tolerate the suggestion that virtue is in itself enough without politeness, for he viewed them as inseparable and "saw courtesies as coming from the heart," maintaining that "when they are practised with all the heart, a moral elevation ensues."'
Dec 10 21:30:56 <jimregan> Got labled pictures? :)
Dec 10 21:32:56 <jimregan> Erm. Gotta wonder about the priorities of the author of this book.
Dec 10 21:33:22 <jimregan> The first part is about how you present someone to a President, Ambassador or Regent.
Dec 10 21:33:26 <editorgal> hmm
Dec 10 21:33:40 <editorgal> many amusing results from typing 'etiquette' into google images.
Dec 10 21:33:46 <jimregan> Then again, I can't say anything about people's priorities
Dec 10 21:34:32 <jimregan> Being the person who, on half cutting off his finger, was more concerned about whether or not my scream was a manly scream :)
Dec 10 21:34:43 <jimregan> Eck.
Dec 10 21:34:48 <editorgal> :/
Dec 10 21:34:56 <jimregan> Mix of self as third person and first person
Dec 10 21:35:48 <editorgal> <psych> so your response to pain was to dissociate, then analyse the rest of your behavior?
Dec 10 21:35:53 <jimregan> (My parents were proofreading a report for a friend of theirs yesterday, and sought my input, which was... quite curmudgeonly)
Dec 10 21:36:06 <jimregan> Hmm. Kinda
Dec 10 21:36:17 <editorgal> did they appreciate your dose of heavy grit sand paper?
Dec 10 21:36:36 <jimregan> Yeah. They had plenty of comments of their own to make :)
Dec 10 21:36:52 <jimregan> But I put them both to shame.
Dec 10 21:37:04 <jimregan> I can be quite the pedant :)
Dec 10 21:37:29 <jimregan> (Which made my father nostalgic. Apples, trees, falling, and such.)
Dec 10 21:37:55 <jimregan> He said he used to correct his teachers when he was in school.
Dec 10 21:37:57 <jimregan> In Latin.
Dec 10 21:38:04 <editorgal> :D
Dec 10 21:38:28 <jimregan> (He was taught by Christian Brothers in pre-Vatican 2 times, so they were all supposed to be able to speak Latin fluently)
Dec 10 21:39:49 <editorgal> lemme guess what extras you don't score for correcting people's latin.
Dec 10 21:40:21 <jimregan> These were also pre-children's rights times.
Dec 10 21:40:53 <jimregan> He comes from a farming background, and could get away with it because of his muscle mass
Dec 10 21:42:14 <editorgal> heh.
Dec 10 21:42:25 <jimregan> Plus, in Ireland in the 50s/early 60s, the Catholic church had a tight grib on the throat of the nation.
Dec 10 21:42:51 <jimregan> If a priest, nun or brother beat you to within an inch of your life, your parents did the same for having offended them
Dec 10 21:44:13 <editorgal> urgh
Dec 10 21:45:17 <jimregan> My uncle had to change schools because he was quiet, and had a sadistic bastard teaching him. He snapped and hospitalised the guy.
Dec 10 21:45:30 <editorgal> whoopsy
Dec 10 21:45:55 <jimregan> Pulled a 5x10 foot slate blackboard from the wall and hit him with it
Dec 10 21:46:42 <jimregan> (Those things are pretty bloody heavy. It'd take 2 of me to move one, let alone pick it up and wield it as a weapon)
Dec 10 21:47:29 <jimregan> Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea
Dec 10 21:48:16 <editorgal> right so quiet-kid becomes the incredible-jekyl- the-hulk and trounces his lecturer
Dec 10 21:49:00 <jimregan> No, my uncle worked on the same farms as my Dad. He was quite used to lifting that sort of weight, just not used to throwing his own weight around
Dec 10 21:50:01 <jimregan> My Dad had no such qualms.
Dec 10 21:50:45 <jimregan> He had the same teacher a year later. Teacher decided to take out his anger at my uncle on my father, who picked him up and said 'I don't think so'.
Dec 10 21:50:48 <jimregan> (In Latin)
Dec 10 21:50:54 <editorgal> hahaha
Dec 10 21:52:51 <jimregan> My Dad said he was scared witless of my grandfather's reaction, but his oldest brother found out about it and brought a priest around who explained just what a bastard this brother was.
Dec 10 21:52:59 <jimregan> (In the most respectful way :)
 
* Google autocomplete **
 
Dec 10 21:59:59 <thomas_adam> jimregan: http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en
Dec 10 22:01:01 <jimregan> Wow.
Dec 10 22:01:04 <jimregan> That's cool.
Dec 10 22:01:14 <jimregan> Bit... over the top
Dec 10 22:01:58 <jimregan> But cool.
Dec 10 22:03:18 <jimregan> It's scary that it's faster than the autocompletion mozilla does :)
Dec 10 22:03:22 <thomas_adam> Not OTT, IMO.
Dec 10 22:04:08 <jimregan> Hey, I *like* OTT
Dec 10 22:07:01 <jimregan> Heh. I love wmDiscoTux.
Dec 10 22:07:23 <thomas_adam> Shame you need xmms for it.
Dec 10 22:07:47 <jimregan> Heh. I'm using xmms anyway for the audioscrobbler plugin
Dec 10 22:07:54 <thomas_adam> My condolences.
Dec 10 22:08:04 <jimregan> And because I can't get anything else that can play CDs with data tracks
Dec 10 22:08:23 * thomas_adam hugs cplay and {mpg,ogg}123
Dec 10 22:08:39 <jimregan> Normally I used mplayer for everything
Dec 10 22:08:46 <jimregan> Except MIDI, natch
Dec 10 22:08:49 <thomas_adam> You're right....
Dec 10 22:08:54 <thomas_adam> You *do* like OTT.
 
* "You're not Irish" **
 
Dec 11 00:36:21 <editorgal> seems like so many good people I know are perfectionists at heart
Dec 11 00:36:46 <editorgal> hard on ourselves, striving for a bit more than we are.
Dec 11 00:36:48 <jimregan> Heh. I've long since learned to not aim for perfection.
Dec 11 00:37:09 <editorgal> only maybe not always striving, 'cuz striving itself is so much damn *work*
Dec 11 00:37:21 <editorgal> ok it's fine to aim
Dec 11 00:37:29 <editorgal> just not to despair about missing.
Dec 11 00:38:03 <jimregan> Not for perfection. I appreciate the flaws too much to want it.
Dec 11 00:39:20 <editorgal> hm
Dec 11 00:39:24 <editorgal> interesting view...
Dec 11 00:39:44 <jimregan> Hey, I'm Irish. I need something to complain about :)
Dec 11 00:41:52 <editorgal> c/~ you're not irish ya can't be irish, ya dunno "Danny Boy"
Dec 11 00:42:20 <jimregan> Heh. Got me there.
Dec 11 00:42:34 <editorgal> http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiNOTIRISH.html
Dec 11 00:46:34 <jimregan> My Dad did his damnedest to keep us away from that stuff, because a lot of it is linked with IRA bullshit
Dec 11 00:47:17 <jimregan> He lived with a guy in London for a while. Worked in a bar with the guy's brother.
Dec 11 00:47:51 <editorgal> ok
Dec 11 00:47:56 <jimregan> Guy came over, needed a place to work & stay. His brother got him a job at the bar & my Dad had a spare room.
Dec 11 00:48:29 <jimregan> After a while, he noticed that some people were rostered to work Sundays, others weren't
Dec 11 00:48:57 <jimregan> He asked his brother why that was. 'Oh, the Catholics don't mind working Sundays'
Dec 11 00:49:18 <jimregan> (The guy was a loyalist paramilitary type, on the run)
Dec 11 00:49:30 <jimregan> "But... Joe works Sundays"
Dec 11 00:49:33 <jimregan> "Yeah"
Dec 11 00:49:44 <jimregan> "You mean I live with a Catholic?"
Dec 11 00:49:52 <jimregan> "Things are different here"
Dec 11 00:49:54 <jimregan> :)
Dec 11 00:50:29 <jimregan> Dude went silent for a few days, 'til my Dad got pissed off and got him to spill the beans.
Dec 11 00:51:27 <jimregan> Guy couldn't reconcile the upbringing that taught him Catholics were devils incarnate with the fact that the Catholics he knew were ... human
Dec 11 00:51:35 <editorgal> it's how the world changes..
Dec 11 00:51:49 <editorgal> in one generation a woman had to fight to choose where to sit on a bus
Dec 11 00:52:07 <editorgal> in the next the children ate dinner with each other's parents and never noticed the skintone.
Dec 11 00:52:10 <jimregan> Got worse for him when he found out my father not only didn't support the IRA, but hated those people with a passion
 
* Catholic hotel **
 
Dec 11 01:32:34 <editorgal> there's a woman driving down the coast trying to get a hotel room
Dec 11 01:32:49 <editorgal> she and her jewish family can't find a vacancy
Dec 11 01:33:37 <editorgal> she's a bit disappointed since she suspects its a membership hotel of some sort but, she's been driving for hours
Dec 11 01:35:04 <editorgal> ok so the woman tells her kids wait, bubbelas, I'll see what we can do.
Dec 11 01:35:28 <editorgal> she goes in. her fears are well founded. she can tell already by the decorations and some event listings.
Dec 11 01:36:00 <editorgal> the nice man at the counter notes her skin tone and facial features, but these days, you really cannot tell who's converted
Dec 11 01:36:08 <jimregan> Heh
Dec 11 01:36:33 <editorgal> "this is a catholics hotel, you understand"
Dec 11 01:36:39 <editorgal> "ah well, test me then"
Dec 11 01:36:45 <editorgal> he puts her through catechism
Dec 11 01:37:09 <editorgal> she knows these answers, I mean what, people can read, these are just answers, so she answers them.
Dec 11 01:37:21 <editorgal> (Judasim is very big on education)
Dec 11 01:37:24 <jimregan> :)
Dec 11 01:38:01 <editorgal> he sees the jewish star on something of hers though and expresses with somewhat of a frown that he still doesn't have the authority to give her a room key.
Dec 11 01:38:17 <editorgal> she says "you've been fair, let me ask you questions too"
Dec 11 01:38:25 <editorgal> nonplussed he agrees.
Dec 11 01:39:30 <jimregan> Right
Dec 11 01:40:02 <editorgal> "so who was it wouldn't let joseph and mary and some freezing baby in outta the cold?"
Dec 11 01:40:14 <editorgal> ...
Dec 11 01:40:19 <editorgal> he gives her the room.
 
* Shelf life **
 
Dec 11 01:49:43 <editorgal> what are you looking forward to this xmas?
Dec 11 01:50:01 <jimregan> The half hour/hour with my son
Dec 11 01:50:21 <jimregan> You?
Dec 11 01:50:57 <editorgal> my little chances here and there to brighten up my friends' lives
Dec 11 01:51:24 <editorgal> I'd do it anyway, but in december I make a special effort.
Dec 11 01:51:27 <jimregan> Hmm. I've been trying lately to do that whenever I can.
Dec 11 01:51:54 <editorgal> and to remind myself to be a friend to me, too.
Dec 11 01:52:12 <jimregan> Like today, I went into a shop, and the guy who walked in started growling at one of the girls who worked there, about how she let him buy yesterday's newspaper
Dec 11 01:52:33 <jimregan> So I ignored the other shopkeepers, and walked over with my can of Coke.
Dec 11 01:52:40 <jimregan> "I hope this is today's coke"
Dec 11 01:52:49 <jimregan> "Ssh. He's pretty angry..."
Dec 11 01:53:04 <jimregan> "Damn, I only have last week's money"
Dec 11 01:53:11 <editorgal> hehehe
Dec 11 01:53:34 <jimregan> It was a pleasure to watch the tension lift from her face into a laugh.
Dec 11 01:53:36 <editorgal> did the guy pop a cork or chill out?
Dec 11 01:53:51 <jimregan> Dunno. Didn't pay any attention.
 
* Evil grin **
 
Dec 11 21:21:54 <jimregan> Well, grinning an evil grin
Dec 11 21:22:00 <jimregan> }:)
Dec 11 21:22:47 * editorgal checks the grin on the evil-o-meter
Dec 11 21:22:59 <jimregan> How do I rate?
Dec 11 21:23:07 <jimregan> www.amievilornot.com?
Dec 11 21:23:42 * editorgal puts out a halo to see how much of it starts to melt and catch fire
Dec 11 21:24:17 <jimregan> Sorry about the loss of your arms there
Dec 11 21:24:35 <editorgal> oh don' worry about me
Dec 11 21:24:42 <editorgal> I'm attuned to fire...
Dec 11 21:24:57 <editorgal> it's that tech support thing, spent my time in hell.
Dec 11 21:27:08 <jimregan> So, what was my rating?
Dec 11 21:27:49 <editorgal> about one notch short of 'mom! dad! don't touch that! it's EVIL!
 
Dec 13 20:40:13 <jimregan> No, I think it was mostly that... I was the one who gave them the advice, how could I not advise myself?
Dec 13 20:41:00 <jimregan> I'm the one who was always the coolest in a crisis.
Dec 13 20:41:10 <jimregan> Cooler than normal, even.
Dec 13 20:41:54 <jimregan> I'm pretty much mentally prepared for any emergency.
Dec 13 20:43:50 <jimregan> The people who are closest to me - physically - I imagine them dying, being injured, etc.
Dec 13 20:44:23 <jimregan> My first friend was my first dog. I was pretty much traumatised when he died.
Dec 13 20:44:36 <jimregan> Like, I could have stopped it happening somehow.
Dec 13 20:45:11 <editorgal> how'd it happen?
Dec 13 20:45:47 <jimregan> He died trying to come after me. We had moved, and my father would bring me back out to my uncle's farm, where we had been living, to visit my dog. He used to follow the car when we left, further and further each time, until he went too far, and was knocked down by a car.
Dec 13 20:46:00 <editorgal> :(
Dec 13 20:46:03 <jimregan> My uncle found him the next day.
Dec 13 20:46:19 <jimregan> All I could think was if I had tried to sneak him into the car...
Dec 13 20:46:37 <editorgal> what an awful burden for a child to bear :((
Dec 13 20:46:48 <jimregan> Since then, I've had daymares. Everyone dies, or is hurt horribly.
Dec 13 20:47:18 <jimregan> I used to try to avoid it, then I took control, and went through everything - how I would react.
Dec 13 20:47:30 <jimregan> Oh, and not just the people close to me, me too.
Dec 13 20:47:47 <jimregan> So, when something bad happens, I'm mentally prepared.
Dec 13 20:47:59 <jimregan> I turned a negative into a positive.
Dec 13 20:48:34 <jimregan> Like, if someone caught fire, I wouldn't think, I'd react, and be right.
Dec 13 20:48:48 <editorgal> http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Matrix/4845/lyrics/3/med.html
Dec 13 20:49:43 <jimregan> When I started in dew valley, it was 'what if my arm was cut off' etc. I know what to do subconsciously, so if it ever happened to someone, I know I'd be calm and collected.
Dec 13 20:52:14 <editorgal> but these fears still haunt you? or preparing for them eases you?
Dec 13 20:52:24 <jimregan> Eases me.
Dec 13 20:52:46 <editorgal> fair enough.
Dec 13 20:53:06 <jimregan> There's a lot less dying in them now. I can't do anything about that.
Dec 13 20:58:05 <jimregan> Like, after I cut my hand, I was put back down where I used to work, basically to replace the senior operative who had gone home sick.
Dec 13 20:58:30 <jimregan> I was overcome by a dread panic when I realised I'd have to handle the blade in the morning.
Dec 13 20:58:51 <editorgal> :(
Dec 13 20:59:12 <jimregan> Tommy, in fairness to him, asked if I'd be OK with that. I said I would, because I wasn't going to give in to fear.
Dec 13 20:59:26 <jimregan> Tommy == my supervisor.
Dec 13 20:59:58 <jimregan> The hand washer :)
Dec 13 21:00:16 <editorgal> you seem kind of fear-sensitive, but it's not phobia when there's a preservation repsonse..
Dec 13 21:00:44 <editorgal> though perhaps the same defenses would help.
Dec 13 21:02:49 <jimregan> ??
Dec 13 21:03:03 * jimregan heard a 'whoosh' from above
Dec 13 21:03:10 <editorgal> um sorry
Dec 13 21:03:28 <editorgal> for a moment I imagined how I would deal, given the same situation
Dec 13 21:04:34 <editorgal> you dealt with it, I take it.
Dec 13 21:06:05 <editorgal> is this the company you work at now?
Dec 13 21:06:06 <jimregan> Oh yeah. I calmed myself down, and did it
Dec 13 21:06:10 <jimregan> Yeah
Dec 13 21:06:45 <jimregan> 'Come on me, you've done this a thousand times before. Just because you had one freak accident...'
Dec 13 21:07:24 <jimregan> I still get a chill at the thought of handling one of them, but I overcome it.
Dec 13 21:08:52 <jimregan> It helps that the feeling is definitely coming back. I can feel something when I rub that finger over something that's more than just the feeling the nearest working nerves got.
Dec 13 21:09:11 <editorgal> glad to hear it.
Dec 13 21:09:25 <jimregan> Not enough that I'd be able to tell what I'm touching, but I can at least tell I'm touching something.
Dec 13 21:10:03 <jimregan> If I hadn't learned to have a positive outlook, I doubt I'd have even that.
Dec 13 21:10:34 <jimregan> It's like when I was in the doctor's waiting room.
Dec 13 21:11:17 <jimregan> You know how it is when you're at the doctors - you try not to look at anyone else, in case you send out a signal that might distress them, or laugh or whatever?
Dec 13 21:11:45 <jimregan> I was staring straight ahead, and chanced a glance around to see that everyone was staring at me, aghast.
Dec 13 21:11:54 <jimregan> I had to say /something/
Dec 13 21:12:09 <jimregan> "There's got to be an easier way of getting a few days off work"
Dec 13 21:12:44 <editorgal> heh.
Dec 13 21:13:58 <jimregan> Broke the tension nicely :)
 
* The decline of puns **
 
Dec 13 21:23:03 <jimregan> http://www.mwscomp.com/movies/brian/brian-08.htm
Dec 13 21:25:03 <jimregan> (Polish has a lot of declensions)
Dec 13 21:25:29 <jimregan> Thankfully I already speak a language that has them, otherwise I'd be completely lost
Dec 13 21:25:57 * editorgal declines to comment on that
Dec 13 21:26:12 <jimregan> Heh
Dec 13 21:26:20 <jimregan> Double pun. [Erm... cos the Polish girl I have a crush on has a boyfriend: declined I think I read a little too much into that :)]
Dec 13 21:26:32 <jimregan> (And triple word score too :)
Dec 13 21:27:08 <editorgal> now you can scrabble your brains.
 
* Pedantry / infinite loops **
 
Dec 13 22:59:37 <jimregan> HAAA HAAA HAAA!!!!!
Dec 13 22:59:49 <jimregan> :)))))
Dec 13 23:00:28 <jimregan> I wanted to make sure 'pedantry' was a word, and looked it up on dict.org
Dec 13 23:00:37 <jimregan> pedantry
Dec 13 23:00:37 <jimregan> n : a ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
Dec 13 23:00:49 <jimregan> ^- an
Dec 13 23:00:53 <thomas_adam> Isn't it an outhouse for children?
Dec 13 23:01:06 * jimregan groans
Dec 13 23:09:08 * editorgal chuckles
Dec 13 23:15:09 <jimregan> that'd be pedontry anyway
Dec 13 23:16:07 <editorgal> recursion: n. see loop, infinite.
Dec 13 23:16:28 <editorgal> loop, infinite: see /infinite loop/
Dec 13 23:16:52 <editorgal> infinite loop: n. see recursion.
Dec 13 23:17:52 <jimregan> mutual recursion: see recursion, mutual
Dec 13 23:17:54 <jimregan> recursion, mutual: see mutual recursion
Dec 13 23:18:48 <editorgal> tail recursion: if you aren't tired of it yet, see /tail recursion/.
Dec 13 23:19:54 <editorgal> anyways we really did have that infinite loop sequence stuff (I think there were 4 of them) in the scripting manuals with NDW
Dec 13 23:20:04 <editorgal> the tech support staff begged for it
Dec 13 23:20:35 <editorgal> twas easier (and friendlier) to point a budding script programmer into that until they 'got it' rather than really attempt to explain it.
Dec 13 23:25:33 <jimregan> I went into college, expecting to find people who had programmed before, and found a bunch of people for whom the idea of an infinite loop was new
Dec 13 23:25:52 <jimregan> My first infinite loop was when I was 7
Dec 13 23:25:59 <jimregan> 10 PRINT "Hello"
Dec 13 23:26:02 <jimregan> 20 GOTO 10
Dec 13 23:26:35 <editorgal> I recall explaining bitwise or, and, xor to people in my tech crews who were interested in scripting
Dec 13 23:26:38 <editorgal> yeah
Dec 13 23:26:46 <editorgal> first thing you learn in BASIC
Dec 13 23:26:50 <editorgal> even before hello world.
Dec 13 23:27:04 <editorgal> or I suppose, that *is* hello world. [Seen on Futurama, in the Robot Church: 10 SIN 20 GOTO HELL :)]
 
* TAG bar grand opening **
 
Dec 14 19:29:30 <jimregan> Bar hours will comply with Irish licensing laws: 11.30 tonight closing.
Dec 14 19:29:34 <editorgal> and if I really need a hangover (um, not today tx) a watzamocha.
Dec 14 19:29:53 <editorgal> you have to license non alcoholic drinks?
Dec 14 19:29:59 <jimregan> I'll be about as compliant as any other Irish pub too.
Dec 14 19:30:06 <editorgal> lol
Dec 14 19:30:18 <jimregan> No. Most of the rest of us drink alcoholic beverages
Dec 14 19:30:45 <jimregan> (So be vewwy quiet, and buy the nice policeman a pint when the curtains close)
Dec 14 20:00:24 <jimregan> BTW, we're working under Irish bar laws, so there's no smoking here. (Though I figure I'm the only one who'd be affected by this)
Dec 14 20:00:35 <editorgal> hahaha
Dec 14 20:00:45 <editorgal> here, the only place you *can* smoke indoors is a bar
Dec 14 20:01:01 <editorgal> although the bar itself has to meet certain criteria
Dec 14 20:01:09 <jimregan> The only place you can smoke indoors here is someone's home.
Dec 14 20:01:10 <editorgal> otherwise employee protection laws prevent it too.
Dec 14 20:01:45 <jimregan> Any shelter provided for smokers must be 70% open to the elements
Dec 14 20:02:09 <editorgal> oh, here a patio counts as outdoors, nobody goes around measuring it.
Dec 14 20:02:34 <jimregan> (unless a smoking area had previously been provided, and no non-smoker was in any way required to enter it)
Dec 14 20:03:04 <jimregan> I tried to get the stupid bastards at work to move the bloody vending machines out of the smoking canteen, but no.
Dec 14 20:03:35 <editorgal> so if you want fritos you have to enter the cloud, thence no smoking permitted?
Dec 14 20:03:40 <jimregan> Then, of course, there were those fucking annoying bastards who sat in the smoking canteen for no other reason than to complain about smoking
Dec 14 20:03:48 <jimregan> Yeah
Dec 14 20:04:02 <editorgal> well *those* guys have no excuse
Dec 14 20:04:28 <editorgal> you could as readily accuse them of satisfying their nic fit by enjoying it secondhand, which is worse for you than just plain smoking.
Dec 14 20:04:55 <jimregan> I mean, I'll respect anyone's wishes... I won't smoke in someone's car unless they are also smoking, etc.
Dec 14 20:05:11 <jimregan> But to sit around with smokers and complain about the smoke?
Dec 14 20:05:31 <jimregan> They even come out, into the cold and rain, and sit in the smoking shelter now...
 
Dec 14 20:14:49 <jimregan> A non-wotza mocha to go with your brownies?
Dec 14 20:14:57 <editorgal> ooh yum
Dec 14 20:14:59 <editorgal> thanks
Dec 14 20:15:08 * jimregan passes one over
Dec 14 20:15:12 <jimregan> Extra cream?
Dec 14 20:15:17 <editorgal> always
Dec 14 20:15:35 * jimregan passes over a second cup of cream
Dec 14 20:15:42 <jimregan> That enough?
Dec 14 20:15:50 <editorgal> to coffee shops that make 'healthy' noise on their menu, I demand mine extra fatty
Dec 14 20:15:54 <editorgal> um
Dec 14 20:16:02 * jimregan sprinkles some chocolate on that cup of cream
Dec 14 20:16:03 <jimregan> whoops
Dec 14 20:16:05 <editorgal> whipcream and cream aren't the same stuff over here...
Dec 14 20:16:22 <jimregan> whipcream = that crap from a can?
Dec 14 20:16:28 * editorgal checks to see if the mocha's too hot
Dec 14 20:16:36 <editorgal> well the stuff from a tub is much better
Dec 14 20:16:45 <editorgal> doesn't smell faintly of the compressant
Dec 14 20:16:50 <editorgal> but yes, often.
Dec 14 20:17:18 * editorgal pours some of the cream in anyway :)
Dec 14 20:17:19 <jimregan> Oh no. I tried that crap, and will never touch it again.
Dec 14 20:17:26 <editorgal> like I said
Dec 14 20:17:37 <editorgal> the spray stuff is dift from the tubfull
Dec 14 20:17:47 <editorgal> handmade's best of course
Dec 14 20:17:55 <jimregan> This is /real/ cream around here. Full fat, with a dash of sugar. The way my father makes it.
Dec 14 20:18:11 <editorgal> the good places will steam fresh cream and put that on; I'm all for that.
Dec 14 20:18:46 <jimregan> Hmm. I've yet to get to grips with that attachment on my coffee maker.
Dec 14 20:18:54 * editorgal enjoys her cream sweetened mocha :D
Dec 14 20:20:30 * jimregan prepares some more cream.
Dec 14 20:20:33 <jimregan> Y'know
Dec 14 20:20:37 <jimregan> Just in case :)
Dec 14 20:20:47 <editorgal> oh yeah and while we're on the topic
Dec 14 20:20:56 <jimregan> ?
Dec 14 20:21:01 <editorgal> thomas_adam: instant coffee isn't either.
Dec 14 20:21:08 <jimregan> heh
Dec 14 20:21:11 <editorgal> not instant, nor coffee.
Dec 14 20:25:30 <jimregan> I take it so bitter that I forget what saliva is like
Dec 14 20:25:38 <editorgal> that's what my taste buds have said so far too.
Dec 14 20:25:53 <editorgal> hah
Dec 14 20:26:02 <editorgal> perfect coffee requires no sugar nor cream
Dec 14 20:26:17 <jimregan> Preach it, sister.
Dec 14 20:26:18 <editorgal> I always, always, taste test my straight coffee.
Dec 14 20:26:28 <jimregan> Can I get an 'Aaaaaaameeeeeen'?
Dec 14 20:26:39 <editorgal> to the occasional dismay of my hosts..
Dec 14 20:27:10 <jimregan> "Do you want cream or sugar?" "Why, what's wrong with the coffee?"
Dec 14 20:27:41 <editorgal> well I don't ever say it that way.
Dec 14 20:27:52 <editorgal> "let me ask the coffee first"
Dec 14 20:28:48 <editorgal> this becomes Jim's opportunity to tell them that I always do this.
Dec 14 20:29:23 <editorgal> mmm good, strong stuff, melts nails. gimme some cream.
Dec 14 20:31:07 <jimregan> :)
Dec 14 20:31:33 <jimregan> "I... can't... feel... my... face... gimme a spoon of sugar"
Dec 14 20:31:40 <editorgal> rofl!
Dec 14 20:58:12 <jimregan> Heh. My Dad was telling me about my uncle's beer
Dec 14 20:58:24 <jimregan> He said he was drunk after one bottle
Dec 14 20:58:37 <jimregan> (This was back when he was a heavy drinker)
Dec 14 20:59:11 <editorgal> http://members.tripod.com/~bardic_circle/bvbeer.htm
Dec 14 21:00:57 <jimregan> Heh
Dec 14 21:27:30 <editorgal> champagne tastes soooo awful I'd rather have the non-drinkers version even if I enjoyed drinking.
Dec 14 21:41:44 <jimregan> Heh. My sister's boyfriend went out for his birthday Saturday. He described the champagne as like 'an orgasm in his mouth'
Dec 14 21:41:52 <jimregan> Me: 'What, salty?'
Dec 14 21:42:07 <jimregan> That boy sure can turn red.
Dec 14 21:45:06 <editorgal> lol
 
* Dastardly behaviour **
 
Dec 14 22:31:33 <editorgal> drat and double drat
Dec 14 22:32:38 <jimregan> What?
Dec 14 22:32:38 <editorgal> ow
Dec 14 22:32:43 <editorgal> stuck eyelash :/
Dec 14 22:32:54 <jimregan> Is that just your best Dick Dastardly impression?
Dec 14 22:33:29 * jimregan laughs wheezily, in the style of Muttly
Dec 14 22:33:29 <editorgal> lol
Dec 14 22:33:35 <editorgal> thanks, I needed a giggle right then
Dec 14 22:33:56 <jimregan> Do I get a medal?
Dec 14 22:33:59 <editorgal> was trying to get the eyelash out of my face before it scratched
Dec 14 22:34:14 <editorgal> made even more fun by my hair wanting to get in and 'help'
Dec 14 22:34:19 <jimregan> [mutter] rackin frackin
Dec 14 22:34:31 <jimregan> Always fun
Dec 14 22:34:40 <editorgal> razza frazza rizza razz
 
* More English etc. **
 
Dec 15 03:01:53 <jimregan> Hmm. If I'm going to go to Poland in 2 months, I suppose I should learn some conjugation and declension
Dec 15 03:04:20 <editorgal> hehe
Dec 15 03:04:49 <jimregan> Oh, and counting and stuff
Dec 15 03:04:59 <jimregan> Oh. That joke again.
Dec 15 03:05:18 <jimregan> /verb/ conjugation
Dec 15 03:05:29 <jimregan> /noun/ declension
Dec 15 03:16:46 <editorgal> that whole article gender matching the nouns thing that romance languages have
Dec 15 03:16:55 <editorgal> if there's a word for it, I dunno what it is.
Dec 15 03:23:02 <jimregan> article gender matching wha...??
Dec 15 03:23:08 <editorgal> she also likes to eat spiderwebs.
Dec 15 03:23:15 <editorgal> oh you know
Dec 15 03:23:23 <editorgal> donde es la biblioteca
Dec 15 03:23:28 <editorgal> where is the library
Dec 15 03:23:33 <jimregan> Most languages have it
Dec 15 03:23:43 <editorgal> donde es el aeropuerto
Dec 15 03:23:50 <editorgal> ^ nouns have gender.
Dec 15 03:24:01 <jimregan> English once had it
Dec 15 03:24:18 <jimregan> (iirc)
Dec 15 03:24:19 <editorgal> when it was busy stealing words from latin and french?
Dec 15 03:24:39 <jimregan> Well, it started off as a German dialect, so it would have had it from that
Dec 15 03:24:55 <editorgal> hmm
Dec 15 03:24:56 <jimregan> der, die, das
Dec 15 03:25:17 <editorgal> the angles had the anglish - and I don't think that was germanic.
Dec 15 03:25:23 <jimregan> Yes it was
Dec 15 03:25:31 <jimregan> cow = kuh
Dec 15 03:25:35 <jimregan> etc
Dec 15 03:25:49 <jimregan> The angles were a germanic tribe
Dec 15 03:25:57 <editorgal> been a long time since my linguistics courses though, and history wasn't the favored portion
Dec 15 03:25:59 <jimregan> house = haus
Dec 15 03:26:02 <editorgal> ok.
Dec 15 03:26:21 <jimregan> Then in 1066 the French took over, so we have a lot of words from French
Dec 15 03:26:31 <jimregan> bit is germanic, morsel is french
Dec 15 03:26:50 <editorgal> c/~ for william the bastard has landed at pevensey, burning the land we have promised to guard.
Dec 15 03:27:07 <jimregan> French was the conquerors language; the language of the rich, so French derived words came to have more of an upper class ring
Dec 15 03:27:19 <jimregan> room (raum) vs. chamber (chambre)
Dec 15 03:28:23 <jimregan> Though French has left its mark on many languages, because for hundreds of years France was the superpower in Europe.
Dec 15 03:28:36 <jimregan> The Russian nobility couldn't speak Russian, for example
Dec 15 03:29:26 <jimregan> That's why the upper classes/intellectuals favour French words and phrases despite English equivalents
Dec 15 03:29:50 <jimregan> vis a vis vs compared to
Dec 15 03:31:00 <jimregan> The only reason English still exists is because some English king broke away from the higher king in Normandy
Dec 15 03:31:18 <jimregan> Well, not the only, but you get the picture
Dec 15 03:31:55 <jimregan> IIRC, the closest current relative to English as it was spoken is on a Danish island
Dec 15 03:32:51 <jimregan> Latin left a greater mark on most European languages because of the Roman empire, and the Catholic church
Dec 15 03:33:32 <jimregan> The other day, when I was talking to Beata, she was complaining that I was the only Irish person she worked with who pronounced her name right
Dec 15 03:33:45 <jimregan> She extended that to 'any Polish names'
Dec 15 03:33:54 <jimregan> "Oh, your name isn't Polish"
Dec 15 03:34:35 <editorgal> oh?
Dec 15 03:34:38 <jimregan> Latin.
Dec 15 03:34:44 <jimregan> Beatitude etc.
Dec 15 03:34:46 <editorgal> == beatific
Dec 15 03:34:51 <jimregan> Exactly.
Dec 15 03:34:56 <jimregan> Means "blessing"
Dec 15 03:35:26 <jimregan> She was really pleased when she heard that. I think I earned her parents a hug
 
Dec 15 04:01:52 <jimregan> G'night for real this time. I gotsta borrow a cr edit card tomorrow to get a Christmas present :)
Dec 15 04:02:48 <okopnik> All right, you Midnight-discount Santa. :)
Dec 15 04:02:53 <okopnik> Good night.
Dec 15 04:02:58 <jimregan> (boyfriend or no, I'll be providing the gift with the maximum thought from the minimal knowledge)
Dec 15 04:03:14 <jimregan> His days are numbered }:)
Dec 15 04:03:30 <okopnik> Ah. "boyfriend"? Therein lies a story...
Dec 15 04:03:41 <jimregan> Oh... right. You weren't here.
Dec 15 04:03:49 <okopnik> New? Or old?
Dec 15 04:03:55 <jimregan> K... so I was talking to her at the party.
Dec 15 04:04:01 <jimregan> Since she came over here.
Dec 15 04:04:05 <okopnik> So, old.
Dec 15 04:04:09 <okopnik> :)
Dec 15 04:04:18 <jimregan> She's into me...
Dec 15 04:04:26 <okopnik> \o/
Dec 15 04:04:30 <jimregan> The boyfriend revelation was a slip.
Dec 15 04:04:55 <jimregan> She was sitting around with 2 of the Polish guys and a woman I know fairly well.
Dec 15 04:05:28 <jimregan> My friend asked if I knew them. As I was saying 'vaguely' she piped up with an enthusiastic 'I know him'
Dec 15 04:05:56 <jimregan> Then whispered to my friend that I looked handsome without my glasses. Which my friend repeated out loud
Dec 15 04:06:17 * okopnik whistles and stomps enthusiastically
Dec 15 04:06:26 <jimregan> Then my friend started talking about Santa Clause, and I said it in Polish
Dec 15 04:06:41 <jimregan> Enthusiastic 'Oh! You speak Polish!'
Dec 15 04:06:50 <editorgal> :)
Dec 15 04:06:54 <jimregan> 'Nie mowie po polsku'
Dec 15 04:07:03 <jimregan> 'You /do/ speak polish'
Dec 15 04:07:16 <jimregan> '/Nie/ mowie po polsku'
Dec 15 04:07:23 <okopnik> :)))
Dec 15 04:07:34 <jimregan> ... 'Troche rosumie po polsku'
 
* TAG bar gets a jukebox **
 
Dec 15 11:15:50 --- editorgal is now known as editorgal_zzz
Dec 15 13:07:29 * jimregan has a peek around
Dec 15 13:17:20 * jimregan moves in the jukebox for the new bar while noone's looking
Dec 15 13:19:39 <Frodo-NL> hi jim :)
Dec 15 13:19:42 <jimregan> Hi
Dec 15 13:19:46 <Frodo-NL> noone's looking, eh? *G*
Dec 15 13:19:56 <jimregan> Bar's open, what's your poison?
Dec 15 13:20:11 <Frodo-NL> lol - just having some water, thanks :)
Dec 15 13:20:22 * jimregan passes frodo a water
Dec 15 13:20:23 <jimregan> Ice?
Dec 15 13:20:26 <Frodo-NL> :)
Dec 15 13:20:33 <Frodo-NL> nah :)
Dec 15 13:20:39 <jimregan> Want me to Irish up that water a bit?
Dec 15 13:20:40 <Frodo-NL> thanks
Dec 15 13:21:00 <Frodo-NL> lol - nah, I fall standing still, without the extra, anyway *G*
Dec 15 13:21:03 * jimregan waves the bottle of Jameson's
Dec 15 13:21:09 * jimregan puts away the whiskey
Dec 15 13:21:28 <Frodo-NL> :)
Dec 15 13:21:49 <jimregan> Fall standing still?
Dec 15 13:21:55 <Frodo-NL> lol
Dec 15 13:22:00 <jimregan> Sheesh. I've managed to sleep standing.
Dec 15 13:22:11 <jimregan> I once slept while walking
Dec 15 13:22:22 <jimregan> Though I was rudely awoken by a lamppost
Dec 15 13:22:25 <Frodo-NL> yep... was standing still... but seemingly moved my weight too far to one side... and twisted my ankle :)
Dec 15 13:22:37 <jimregan> You know what's good for that?
Dec 15 13:22:48 * jimregan waves the bottle of whiskey
Dec 15 13:22:52 <Frodo-NL> problem was, I also broke my wrist :)
Dec 15 13:23:00 <Frodo-NL> lol - I knew that was coming :)
Dec 15 13:23:10 <jimregan> I know. I'm so predictable :)
Dec 15 13:23:27 * jimregan waves an icepack
Dec 15 13:23:35 <Frodo-NL> it's not that... I just know lots of Irish people :)
Dec 15 13:23:41 <jimregan> Need one? Or is this in days gone by?
Dec 15 13:23:52 <Frodo-NL> this happened five weeks ago...
Dec 15 13:23:54 <jimregan> Yeah. Pack of alcoholic bastards, the lot of us
Dec 15 13:24:01 <jimregan> Even the ones who don't drink
Dec 15 13:24:06 <Frodo-NL> ankle is almost okay... wrist will be looked at, next week :)
Dec 15 13:24:23 <jimregan> Well, keep a positive attitude
Dec 15 13:24:38 <Frodo-NL> oh - I always do :)
Dec 15 13:24:58 <Frodo-NL> btw... talking about jukeboxes (yep, someone was looking *G*)...
Dec 15 13:25:07 <jimregan> Erm...
Dec 15 13:25:09 <Frodo-NL> I installed mpd on one of my machines...
Dec 15 13:25:12 <Frodo-NL> it's fun!
Dec 15 13:25:16 <jimregan> mpd?
Dec 15 13:25:18 * jimregan googles
Dec 15 13:25:32 <Frodo-NL> music player deamon, or something like that...
Dec 15 13:25:40 <jimregan> Ah cool
Dec 15 13:25:45 <jimregan> http://www.musicpd.org/
Dec 15 13:25:58 <Frodo-NL> yep
Dec 15 13:26:02 <Frodo-NL> works nicely...
Dec 15 13:26:25 <jimregan> My current playing list: http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/jimregan/
Dec 15 13:28:28 <Frodo-NL> http://home.rodolf.com/music/
Dec 15 13:29:50 <jimregan> Heh. Audioscrobbler is supposed to give recommendations based on what you listen to
Dec 15 13:29:54 <Frodo-NL> used to have a bit more, than what is on there now... but lost a lot in a harddisk crash :)
Dec 15 13:30:00 <jimregan> It can't handle that I like Slayer and The Cure
Dec 15 13:30:09 <jimregan> I know the feeling.
Dec 15 13:30:22 <jimregan> Though I lost most of mine to my brother's interferance
Dec 15 13:30:36 <jimregan> "Where are my Opeth MP3s???"
Dec 15 13:30:40 <Frodo-NL> I will be putting the mp3s on dvd's though...
Dec 15 13:31:13 <jimregan> xmas?
Dec 15 13:31:27 * jimregan places a ban on all Christmas songs from the TAG jukebox
Dec 15 13:31:36 <jimregan> Unless they're filks, that is
Dec 15 13:31:47 <jimregan> (Have to concede to Heather)
Dec 15 13:31:51 <Frodo-NL> lol - yeah... that's mostly for friends of mine, who do some online dj stuff... :)
Dec 15 13:32:08 <jimregan> And, unless you know the words in more than 1 language
Dec 15 13:32:10 <jimregan> :)
 
* Thomas's coffee **
 
Dec 15 16:07:25 <jimregan> Hello
Dec 15 16:08:22 <lunatech> hello jimregan
Dec 15 16:08:39 <jimregan> Just jim will do
Dec 15 16:08:48 <jimregan> Unless you've got autocompletion on :)
Dec 15 16:09:01 <lunatech> yes autocompletion :)
Dec 15 16:09:05 * lunatech is http://linuxgazette.net/authors/shekhar.html
Dec 15 16:10:51 * jimregan opens the tag bar again
Dec 15 16:10:58 <jimregan> What're you having?
Dec 15 16:11:05 <lunatech> not as yet, thinking of collecting a few hints and kinks when a user migrates from RH to deb based system
Dec 15 16:11:16 <lunatech> tea :)
Dec 15 16:11:24 <jimregan> Well, we're low on tips, so send 'em on
Dec 15 16:11:32 <lunatech> ah i remember the current favourite drink thread :)
Dec 15 16:11:34 <jimregan> Any preference?
Dec 15 16:11:42 <jimregan> Yeah.
Dec 15 16:12:02 <jimregan> It wouldn't be tag if I wasn't taking everything off-topic
Dec 15 16:12:13 * jimregan waits for Thomas to pipe up... :)
Dec 15 16:12:17 <lunatech> hmm .. don't know whether you will you get it.. in india we have chai .. made from tea leaves
Dec 15 16:12:34 <lunatech> but not strictly the English way of making it
Dec 15 16:12:36 <thomas_adam> :|
Dec 15 16:12:38 <jimregan> Ah. As in 'cup of char'
Dec 15 16:12:50 <lunatech> :) chai
Dec 15 16:13:13 <jimregan> Erm... is that how it's spelled in England, Thomas?
Dec 15 16:13:33 <thomas_adam> Char.
Dec 15 16:13:39 * jimregan passes over a cup of chai
Dec 15 16:13:52 <jimregan> (It's a virtual bar... so I can serve anything I like)
Dec 15 16:14:10 <jimregan> Depleted plutonium flavoured coffee, Thomas?
Dec 15 16:14:18 <lunatech> so are irish heavy drinkers ?
Dec 15 16:14:21 <jimregan> Or just an espresso?
Dec 15 16:14:30 <lunatech> or is it just a urban legend
Dec 15 16:14:37 <thomas_adam> The usual. Although the difference is very hard to tell.
Dec 15 16:14:41 <jimregan> There's a lot of truth to it.
Dec 15 16:14:54 * jimregan puts away the plutonium
Dec 15 16:15:00 * jimregan reaches for the special beans
Dec 15 16:15:19 * jimregan withdraws a charred hand, and puts on the protective gloves
Dec 15 16:15:41 <jimregan> Lead cup?
Dec 15 16:16:46 * jimregan passes over a cup of powerful espresso, using a pair of long tongs.
Dec 15 16:17:04 <jimregan> Did anyone else feel the lights dim?
 
 
Dec 15 20:37:17 <okopnik> Gotta run off to lunch, though. It's blowing like hell here again, and it's BLOODY COLD (mid-30s last night, 40s now.)
Dec 15 20:37:41 <okopnik> Supposed to be 60s tomorrow, though.
Dec 15 20:38:05 <editorgal> brrrrrr
Dec 15 20:38:10 <editorgal> oh good
Dec 15 20:38:16 <okopnik> Yeah. :(((
Dec 15 20:38:22 <editorgal> gonna feel like a heat wave after icy wind like that
Dec 15 20:38:24 <okopnik> Yeah. :)))
Dec 15 20:38:26 * okopnik grins
Dec 15 20:40:01 <jimregan> Heh
Dec 15 20:40:05 <jimregan> You're spoiled
Dec 15 20:40:10 <okopnik> Had to ride back home from a friend's place yesterday; it was about a five-minute ride. Good thing; ift was six, they probably would have carried me and the bike, frozen into a lump, into the emergency room and had to defrost us apart.
Dec 15 20:40:46 <editorgal> :(
Dec 15 20:40:53 <okopnik> No, Jimmy - it's too cold for me to be spoiled! The bacteria just won't grow....
Dec 15 20:41:30 <okopnik> Anyhoo, gotta run. Hot shower, mmmm....
Dec 15 20:41:53 <jimregan> Take it easy (and if you can't get it easy, take it at your own discretion)
Dec 15 20:43:08 <editorgal> honor offer / err, ahem. *ahem*.
Dec 15 20:43:26 <jimregan> rofl
Dec 15 20:45:15 <editorgal> c/~ and if you can't be careful try to keep it down to 6 or 7 verses, huh?
Dec 15 20:45:32 <editorgal> ^ frank Hayes' version of Mattie Groves as talking blues...
 
Dec 15 21:37:34 <editorgal> any product that needs to be labelled 'food' to be sold in the store, pretty much isn't..
Dec 15 21:37:58 <editorgal> I often wondered if process cheese food is what cheese eats, before I figured it out.
Dec 15 21:38:42 <jimregan> I nearly had a c|n>k without the coffee
Dec 15 21:39:06 <jimregan> On the up side, my sinuses are wonderfully clear now :)
Dec 15 21:39:06 <editorgal> eee hehehe heehee.
 
* Strong coffee **
 
Dec 15 21:53:39 <jimregan> Welcome back Frodo
Dec 15 21:53:47 <jimregan> Care for a drink
Dec 15 21:53:54 * jimregan opens up the bar
Dec 15 21:55:03 <editorgal> o/
Dec 15 21:55:30 <jimregan> Heather: wanna watza?
Dec 15 21:56:19 * jimregan takes out the special beans he keeps for Thomas from the UN weapon inspector-proof cupboard
Dec 15 21:56:29 <editorgal> mmmmmmmmm
Dec 15 21:56:33 <editorgal> very tempting.
Dec 15 21:56:48 * editorgal orders one, and a gallon of cold water.
Dec 15 21:56:58 <jimregan> With the cream of several overweight cattle?
Dec 15 21:57:19 <editorgal> right-o
Dec 15 21:57:20 * jimregan pops on the goggles
Dec 15 21:57:58 * jimregan ducks to avoid a green flare
Dec 15 21:58:04 * editorgal passes thomas a dark chocolate bar, so we can be equally buzzed.
Dec 15 21:58:05 <jimregan> Just about done
Dec 15 21:58:34 * jimregan sprinles on some chocolate
Dec 15 21:58:55 <editorgal> good for hypersonic vision
Dec 15 21:58:57 * jimregan passes it over at tongs length
Dec 15 21:59:04 <editorgal> iow, you can see the buzz from here
Dec 15 21:59:21 <jimregan> Hmm. I look good in green. Good thing, too.
Dec 15 21:59:23 <editorgal> gotta pass it with mitts, man, it's a freakin soup cup.
Dec 15 21:59:48 <jimregan> Nah, check it out: the mitts are on the tongs
Dec 15 21:59:57 * jimregan holds the tongs up for inspection
Dec 15 22:00:04 <jimregan> Hmm. A bit melted.
Dec 15 22:00:34 * jimregan pops them in the Nuclear^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hcoffee waste bin
Dec 15 22:00:52 * editorgal has no problem handling the cup with bare hands
Dec 15 22:01:05 <editorgal> nothing compared to the tempers on some customers in the past..
Dec 15 22:01:39 <editorgal> you better get a puppeteer edition of those tongs, jimmy.
Dec 15 22:01:40 <jimregan> Tell me about it. I tried to warn a guy, but he ordered the special coffee anyway. Ended up knurd.
Dec 15 22:02:59 <jimregan> Had to strap on a poitin IV.
Dec 15 22:04:43 * jimregan nervously stands away from the hidden compartment with the poitin stock.
Dec 15 22:04:55 * jimregan shudders
Dec 15 22:05:17 <thomas_adam> Ooo, thanks.
Dec 15 22:05:33 * jimregan passes Thomas his cup.
Dec 15 22:05:40 * thomas_adam sips.
Dec 15 22:05:45 * jimregan ducks behind the counter
Dec 15 22:05:53 * editorgal slurps
Dec 15 22:05:56 * editorgal grinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnns
Dec 15 22:06:00 <editorgal> *boing*
Dec 15 22:07:58 * jimregan hangs a sign over the bar
Dec 15 22:08:20 <jimregan> "Any drink will be served, so long as the origins of the ingredients are not questioned"
Dec 15 22:09:02 <jimregan> So if anyone asks about the coffee, don't say anything!
Dec 15 22:09:19 * jimregan hangs another sign
Dec 15 22:09:36 <jimregan>
Dec 15 22:10:05 * jimregan hangs a sign under that
Dec 15 22:10:14 * editorgal signs and cosines
Dec 15 22:10:19 <jimregan> "If you don't know, you won't be served"
Dec 15 22:10:49 <jimregan> (That's the 'unwritten' list of special drinks)
Dec 15 22:13:17 * editorgal enjoys the bouncing caffeine feeling in her atoms
Dec 15 22:17:07 <jimregan> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poit%EDn#Ireland
Dec 15 22:18:20 <jimregan> "A common way to determine the "quality control" of a batch of moonshine was to see if the moonshiner would dare to drink it."
Dec 15 22:18:35 <jimregan> :)
Dec 15 22:19:23 <jimregan> Hmm... guess I have to sample my own products.
Dec 15 22:19:47 * jimregan swallows the time release capsule of poitin
Dec 15 22:19:49 <editorgal> hehe @ disambiguation
Dec 15 22:19:52 * jimregan sips the coffee
Dec 15 22:20:00 <jimregan> Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhh
Dec 15 22:20:12 <editorgal> the cheap stuff UK describes as white lightning we'd call "Night Train"
Dec 15 22:20:13 <jimregan> hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Dec 15 22:20:21 <jimregan> Wow
Dec 15 22:20:29 <jimregan> I think I just had an NDE
Dec 15 22:20:30 <editorgal> joke is its vintage would have a day or at best a week mark
Dec 15 22:20:37 <editorgal> a wah ??
Dec 15 22:20:45 <jimregan> Near Death Experience
Dec 15 22:20:49 <editorgal> !
Dec 15 22:20:55 <jimregan> From the coffee
Dec 15 22:21:23 * editorgal adds note to TAG lounge shopping list, find cleaner ore.
Dec 15 22:23:32 * editorgal finishes up her cup and bounces over
Dec 15 22:23:36 <editorgal> are you ok jimmy?
Dec 15 22:23:56 <jimregan> Yeah. Bit shaken.
Dec 15 22:24:12 <jimregan> Needed a spoon of sugar
Dec 15 22:24:25 <jimregan> Or half a kilo of heroin
Dec 15 22:27:53 * editorgal looks into jimmy's face
Dec 15 22:28:01 <editorgal> go look at a mirror
Dec 15 22:28:06 <editorgal> best to be sure ...
Dec 15 22:28:13 <jimregan> Hmm.
Dec 15 22:28:31 <jimregan> My eyes have that bloodshot look
Dec 15 22:28:49 <jimregan> But isn't bloodshot supposed to be red?
Dec 15 22:28:51 <editorgal> ok at least he still has a reflection.
Dec 15 22:28:55 <jimregan> rofl
Dec 15 22:29:35 <editorgal> hold on a sec
Dec 15 22:29:40 * editorgal glugs a bunch of water
Dec 15 22:30:47 * jimregan marvels at the steam rising from Heather
Dec 15 22:31:00 <editorgal> gotta get deuterium from somewhere.
Dec 15 22:31:04 * editorgal glugs some more.
Dec 15 22:31:10 * jimregan wonders if this coffee could be harnessed as a we^H^Hpower source
Dec 15 22:31:18 * editorgal coughs
Dec 15 22:31:23 <editorgal> *ahem*
Dec 15 22:31:33 * jimregan brushes the soot from his shoulder
Dec 15 22:31:33 <editorgal> maybe I should drink that a bit more slowly
Dec 15 22:31:43 <jimregan> Looks like I won't need a haircut for a while
Dec 15 22:32:52 <editorgal> maybe it'll grow in white.
Dec 15 22:37:35 * editorgal glugs the rest of her gallon
Dec 15 22:37:49 * editorgal plugs herself into her laptop and charges it up.
Dec 15 22:42:10 <editorgal> hehe. free backlighting.
Dec 15 22:47:01 <editorgal> brrr
Dec 15 22:47:13 <editorgal> ok that's the last of the free electrons for now
Dec 15 22:47:21 * editorgal puts the laptop on suspend :)
 
* Advice for the Linuxlorn **
 
Dec 16 07:48:51 <editorgal> advice for the linuxlorn...
Dec 16 07:50:45 <editorgal> I used to write for the 'Dear Lina' column, back when linuxcare had a newsletter.
Dec 16 07:51:12 <editorgal> I wasn't the only writer but I did a bunch of them.
Dec 16 08:02:39 <jimregan> Advice for the linuxlorn?
Dec 16 08:02:49 <editorgal> hehe
Dec 16 08:02:54 <jimregan> "My router doesn't love me anymore", sort of thing?
Dec 16 08:03:00 <editorgal> um
Dec 16 08:03:15 <editorgal> dear lina was sort of patterned after a tabloid style dear abby type
Dec 16 08:03:19 <jimregan> 10 steps to keep keep your mail daemon happy?
Dec 16 08:04:01 <jimregan> How to be the envy of all the other web sites?
Dec 16 08:05:31 <jimregan> Practical makeover tips for your CSS?
Dec 16 08:07:35 <jimregan> "Dear Heather, I'm writing to you because I have a problem.
Dec 16 08:08:07 <editorgal> how to reset the clock and how to stop or change fscks cuz my gf keeps turning off the box if the fan annoys her
Dec 16 08:08:22 <jimregan> I put a lot of time and effort into 'The Rules', but I'm worried that now, noone can see the services behind my firewall
Dec 16 08:08:43 <editorgal> 1. get a techier gf. 2. ntpdate during boot. 3. ext3 or another journaling fs.
Dec 16 08:09:28 <jimregan> Should I try to show that I have more to offer?
Dec 16 08:09:53 <jimregan> That, behind the firewall, I have a warm sense of ftp?
Dec 16 08:10:48 <jimregan> :D
Dec 16 08:11:11 <editorgal> awww
Dec 16 08:11:24 * editorgal gives jimmy a smooch on the cheek for effort
Dec 16 08:11:39 <editorgal> and marshmallows to roast over that firewall ;P
Dec 16 08:15:41 <editorgal> it's either that or roast them over a flamewar, but they get crisped rather quick that way.
Dec 16 08:16:03 <jimregan> Because of the Season...
Dec 16 08:16:17 <jimregan> c/~ Bad pings dropping from an open port...
Dec 16 08:16:48 * jimregan only realises now that he only knows the first line of that song
Dec 16 08:16:56 <editorgal> black hats nipping at your toes...
Dec 16 08:17:01 <jimregan> Yay!
Dec 16 08:17:13 <editorgal> I'm just making this up, you know.
Dec 16 08:17:25 <jimregan> It fit the metre
Dec 16 08:17:31 <jimregan> So far as I remember
Dec 16 08:17:39 <editorgal> yeah
Dec 16 08:18:16 <jimregan> Hmm. Maybe I'll try to pick on a song I know the whole tune of
Dec 16 08:19:13 <jimregan> Or maybe not.
Dec 16 08:19:48 <jimregan> First thing that popped to mind was "DLLs DLLs, autorun CD"
Dec 16 08:20:25 <jimregan> "Double click to launch setup dot e-e ehex e, oh"
Dec 16 08:20:49 <jimregan> "RPM, APT save me from this pain"
Dec 16 08:21:24 <jimregan> "Let me just install the module one time not fifteen"
Dec 16 08:23:04 <editorgal> hey, hit up google for linux carols, see if anyo ne beat you to the idea.
Dec 16 08:23:16 <jimregan> "Laughing at the SCO, with a Groklaw on our side, To the courts we go, laughing all the way"
Dec 16 08:23:19 <jimregan> "ha ha ha"
Dec 16 08:23:37 <jimregan> "FUD is spread, to the sound of mass giggling"
Dec 16 08:23:50 <editorgal> hm
Dec 16 08:24:11 <jimregan> (giggling as 2 syllables, not 3)
Dec 16 08:24:51 <editorgal> "fast away the vampire passes, fa la lalala, la la, lala. fear him no ye lads and lasses, ... don we now our silver crosses / so we'll cut down on our losses!"
Dec 16 08:25:05 <jimregan> rofl
Dec 16 08:26:36 <editorgal> you think you're laughing now, it has a full set of verses. as pubbed in westerfilk.
Dec 16 08:27:58 * jimregan trembles
Dec 16 08:28:32 <jimregan> Hmm... been standing too near the coffee pot. Got the shakes.
Dec 16 08:30:09 * editorgal installs an oil lamp in the corner to brighten up the place
Dec 16 08:30:28 <editorgal> got our kegs of Clear Midnight Oil. holiday special.
Dec 16 08:30:37 * jimregan puts a lava lamp behind the bar
Dec 16 08:30:53 <jimregan> "Far out"
 
Nov 01 18:58:37 <jimregan> Everyone have a happy Hallowe'en?
Nov 01 18:58:47 <editorgal> er, hmm
Nov 01 18:58:56 <editorgal> I helped someone else have a happier one.
Nov 01 18:59:06 <Rickeh> yes... no kids called!!!
Nov 01 18:59:10 <jimregan> Heh.
Nov 01 18:59:11 <editorgal> rofl
Nov 01 18:59:17 <Rickeh> see halloween has degenerated in the UK..
Nov 01 18:59:25 <thomas_adam> Bloody brats.
Nov 01 18:59:26 <editorgal> great party at the starport on saturday
Nov 01 18:59:28 <Rickeh> its not about the sweets (candy)... its not about the spirit...
Nov 01 18:59:31 <Rickeh> its about extortion.
Nov 01 18:59:45 <editorgal> awww
Nov 01 18:59:47 <jimregan> Trick or treat. Say trick, I dare ya...
Nov 01 18:59:53 <Rickeh> its about having a valid excuse to threaten people with property vandalism lest they cough up cash.
Nov 01 19:00:10 <thomas_adam> Americanisation. :|
Nov 01 19:00:16 <Rickeh> note, not candy, CA$H. Preferably in denominations of 5, 10, or 20.
Nov 01 19:00:19 <jimregan> Heh.
Nov 01 19:03:38 <editorgal> jimmy, you see what a madhouse it is around here ... ;P
Nov 01 19:04:00 <jimregan> And there I was expecting it to be calm, sedate. .. nothing like the list.
Nov 01 19:04:04 <thomas_adam> Yeah, I have to go back to that white padded room at 9.
Nov 01 19:04:51 <jimregan> Well, at least you've got a schedule :)
Nov 01 19:05:09 <thomas_adam> If I don't, they declare me dead and claim my insurance.
Nov 01 19:05:15 * editorgal brings out a bag of pretzels
Nov 01 19:05:21 <editorgal> !
Nov 01 19:05:29 <thomas_adam> I'm joking.
Nov 01 19:05:32 <jimregan> Yay! Bobbing for pretzels!
Nov 01 19:05:44 * editorgal writes in the teddybear as a prime recipient
 
Nov 01 19:28:42 <jimregan> Can't do much with the damned thing until I get one though. I filled the memory with videos of fireworks yesterday.
Nov 01 19:29:05 <jimregan> Erm... no, not fireworks. (They're illegal).
Nov 01 19:29:35 <editorgal> they're not here, but there are considerable restrictions, and some muni codes...
Nov 01 19:30:13 <jimregan> Here, you have to take a trip across the border :)
Nov 01 19:30:17 * editorgal provides jimmy with a 'safe and sane' tag for his fireworks screensaver
Nov 01 19:31:08 <jimregan> Heh. One of the kids was running around with fir eworks with an unsafe and insane way yesterday.
Nov 01 19:31:37 <jimregan> One let off five shots, and he held it up to his eye to check it was spent.
Nov 01 19:31:44 <editorgal> doh!!
Nov 01 19:32:10 <jimregan> My Dad nearly choked on the various things he was trying to shout at once.
Nov 01 19:32:21 <editorgal> lol
Nov 01 19:33:36 <jimregan> At least Hallowe'en is over.
Nov 01 19:33:56 <jimregan> Trick or treat is all well and good for kids, but not when you're the escort.
 
Nov 02 00:02:40 <jimregan> Time to learn Java, I suppose.
Nov 02 00:03:50 <okopnik> Learning Java has been a slow and tortuous process for me. Every few
Nov 02 00:03:50 <okopnik> minutes, I start screaming 'No, you fools!' and have to go read something
Nov 02 00:03:50 <okopnik> from _Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs_ to de-stress.
Nov 02 00:03:50 <okopnik> -- The Cube, www.forum3000.org
Nov 02 00:04:09 <okopnik> :)
Nov 02 00:04:27 <thomas_adam> It is summed up well...
Nov 02 00:04:31 * editorgal loans jimregan a jar of acetominophen for the inevitable headache
Nov 02 00:05:04 <thomas_adam> My lecturer for Java uses Kdevelop and KDE at home. I said to him "that figures, John, seeing as you can play bloat games between that and Java"
Nov 02 00:05:08 <editorgal> or you could treat it like migraine, and quit now while you don't have one ;>
Nov 02 00:05:15 * jimregan looks up "acetominophen"
 
Nov 02 00:34:06 <jimregan> (I've been back at work for 2 weeks :)
Nov 02 00:35:03 <editorgal> congrats on your escape from sickbay, I guess
Nov 02 00:36:51 <jimregan> Shneh. I was starting to get bored anyway. Wish I'd milked it a bit more though.
Nov 02 00:37:22 <editorgal> like needing a laptop upgrade because you were suffering so?
Nov 02 00:37:26 <jimregan> I figure in 6-12 months I'll have feeling back in my fingertip.
Nov 02 00:37:34 <jimregan> Nah, just time off work.
Nov 02 00:37:59 <jimregan> I honestly would have gone back in the next week . Horrified the doctor.
Nov 02 00:38:15 <editorgal> :)
Nov 02 00:38:31 <editorgal> can't keep jimmy down, no sirree.
Nov 02 00:39:11 <jimregan> Damn straight!
Nov 02 00:39:40 <jimregan> It got me programming again, so it was good for something.
Nov 02 00:42:56 <editorgal> yeah, there's that
Nov 02 00:44:08 <jimregan> Writing silly Perl scripts got me stretching the finger - the {}s etc.
Nov 02 00:45:31 <okopnik> If you need exercise of that sort, just make all your "s//" statements into "s{}{}" ones.
Nov 02 00:45:58 <editorgal> urgh. yeah
Nov 02 00:46:09 <editorgal> they'll be even less readable
Nov 02 00:46:15 <jimregan> Nah. The / is on the little finger side of the keyboard too.
Nov 02 00:47:36 <editorgal> I suppose you could make a point of using that shift key
Nov 02 00:47:42 <okopnik> editorgaL: Just remember, it's a valid lifestyle choice and you shouldn't condemn people for it. And they _should_ be allowed to marry wach other, just like everybody else.
Nov 02 00:47:51 <okopnik> :)))
Nov 02 00:48:03 <editorgal> ?
Nov 02 00:48:10 <okopnik> {} users...
Nov 02 00:48:32 <editorgal> brace yourself, I see a nosequitur squall coming ashore..
Nov 02 00:48:50 <okopnik> Some folks _prefer_ to write it that way. I'm not one of them, myself.
Nov 02 00:49:00 * editorgal giggles
Nov 02 00:49:36 <editorgal> after having fixed _emphasis_ *you* had to go and confuse lgazmail by _using a phrase_ without marks in the middle!
Nov 02 00:50:38 <okopnik> [blink] Where? How? Who? What? When?... It wasn't me, you can't prove it, and she was _so_ over 18.
Nov 02 00:51:37 <jimregan> My friend has a motto. "If I met her in a nightclub, she was over 18. The bouncers are supposed to check"
Nov 02 00:52:20 <editorgal> heh, well that's one way to consider consent ... :/
 
Nov 02 01:25:10 <thomas_adam> Heh. Lecturer at Uni recently had a feedback session whereby he wanted to know things about the unit, things we want to add/remove, etc. Some one in the class wrote down that they wanted the moon on a stick. So he's gone and made one, and now we each have to take it in turns to look after it, each week. :|
Nov 02 01:25:28 <okopnik> LOL!
Nov 02 01:25:42 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 02 01:25:51 <thomas_adam> He's not joking, either. :)
Nov 02 01:27:19 <okopnik> Was he a drill sergeant, by any chance? Sorta like giving the cigarette butt an honorable burial in Basic training.
Nov 02 01:28:40 <jimregan> I saw a list of "Army rules they didn't tell us about" once: 34. No gum on parade unless you have enough for everyone.
Nov 02 01:28:59 <jimregan> 35. No gum on parade, even if you have enough for everyone
Nov 02 01:29:12 <okopnik> When I was a member of LASFS (waves at Heather), one of the gifts at the Christmas exchange (a perpetual one) was a chocolate-covered manhole cover (after a novel by Larry Niven, IIRC.) Real one. People had to take care of it, keep it in the freezer from year to year.
Nov 02 01:29:21 <editorgal> zotz!
Nov 02 01:29:26 <okopnik> YES!
Nov 02 01:29:38 <okopnik> I actually _looked_ at it.
Nov 02 01:29:38 <okopnik> About five sentences worth.
Nov 02 01:29:51 <editorgal> the honorable copy of Zotz! is expected to be recycled too.
Nov 02 01:30:15 <okopnik> Yeah, I ended up with it for a few minutes until I could trade it away.
 
Nov 14 20:27:22 <jimregan> Hello?
Nov 14 20:27:31 <editorgal> hey jimmy!
Nov 14 20:27:32 <thomas_adam> What? Oh, hello. :)
Nov 14 20:27:42 <jimregan> How's things?
Nov 14 20:28:08 <thomas_adam> Busy. You?
Nov 14 20:28:31 <jimregan> I'm wrecked. Bad day at work.
Nov 14 20:28:46 <editorgal> :(
Nov 14 20:28:47 <jimregan> The usual Irish thing: too much to complain about, too little time :)
Nov 14 20:28:57 <thomas_adam> Quite.
Nov 14 20:29:23 <jimregan> And I'm learning Polish, which is messing with my head.
Nov 14 20:29:31 <thomas_adam> Reallysky?
Nov 14 20:29:36 <jimregan> Tak!
Nov 14 20:29:44 <thomas_adam> Tsk.
Nov 14 20:29:47 <jimregan> (Erm... yes!)
Nov 14 20:29:54 <thomas_adam> I get the idea. :)
Nov 14 20:30:12 <editorgal> hehe
Nov 14 20:30:17 <jimregan> There's this girl, y'see...
Nov 14 20:30:21 <thomas_adam> So your exam will involve getting drunk and speaking normally, then?
Nov 14 20:30:28 <editorgal> lol
 
* Special herbs **
 
Nov 16 22:12:44 <editorgal> brownies don't make it very far, something about the local family eating the evidence ;P
Nov 16 22:13:23 <jimregan> Erm... now, that I need to ask this might show just ho many musicians I count as friends, but: normal brownies?
Nov 16 22:13:57 <editorgal> yes, normal brownies.
Nov 16 22:14:01 * editorgal giggles though
Nov 16 22:14:27 <jimregan> One of my friends warned me about eating in his guitarist's house.
Nov 16 22:14:33 <editorgal> lol
Nov 16 22:15:04 <jimregan> He said he was having a deep and meaningful conversation with his pint glass when he was asked what he thought of the special potatoes.
Nov 16 22:15:25 <editorgal> oh my
Nov 16 22:15:35 <editorgal> and what did the pint glass think of them?
Nov 16 22:15:37 <jimregan> Another time, it was soup.
Nov 16 22:16:04 <editorgal> so the fellow does not restrict his special spices to the brownies. I see.
Nov 16 22:16:06 <jimregan> Oh, once the illusion was shattered, the pint glass stopped talking. He said he felt hurt by that.
Nov 16 22:16:09 <jimregan> Needed closure.
Nov 16 22:16:32 <jimregan> He doesn't even restrict the special spices to the special spices.
Nov 16 22:17:16 <editorgal> abandon all snacks, ye who enter here...
Nov 16 22:17:17 <jimregan> I needed to be warned though, I can't touch the stuff.
Nov 16 22:17:28 <editorgal> allergy?
Nov 16 22:17:58 <jimregan> No, I get panic attacks, and I lose control of them if I partake.
Nov 16 22:18:15 <editorgal> :( I'd call *that* an allergy, given the context
Nov 16 22:18:22 <jimregan> I was getting flashbacks for months after my first time getting stoned.
Nov 16 22:29:28 <thomas_adam> jimregan: You fool. You shaved off all your facial hair. Now you look about my age, :P
Nov 16 22:29:34 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 16 22:29:41 <editorgal> well... it's a natural element... so maybe they get enough from sleep dep
Nov 16 22:29:52 <jimregan> Erm... I *am* around your age. Year or two older.
Nov 16 22:30:01 <thomas_adam> Sssssh.
Nov 16 22:30:11 <jimregan> Oh, I've had sleep dep hallucinations.
Nov 16 22:30:20 * editorgal checks. she hasn't any beard to shave off. oh good.
Nov 16 22:30:21 <jimregan> Not good. Not good at all.
Nov 16 22:30:24 <thomas_adam> Yes, I get them often.
Nov 16 22:30:51 <editorgal> I only get them after I spend 3 days at a music convention...
Nov 16 22:31:00 <jimregan> I have sleep apnoea, so from time to time they creep up on me.
 
* Safety first **
 
Nov 16 22:37:07 * editorgal will have to get the complete words to that filk
Nov 16 22:37:25 <editorgal> it's a great ragging on the 'safety nazi' approach to law
Nov 16 22:37:50 <jimregan> Like the warning on an iron: 'Do not use while wearing clothes'
Nov 16 22:38:00 <editorgal> lol iron naked
Nov 16 22:38:02 <jimregan> Erm... you know what I mean
Nov 16 22:38:05 <editorgal> don't iron them on you
Nov 16 22:38:08 <jimregan> Yep
Nov 16 22:38:28 <jimregan> We can do the 'Safety Dance'
 
* Get naked **
 
Nov 16 22:38:57 <editorgal> saw a massaging chair that said that of all things
Nov 16 22:39:23 <jimregan> Erm... what?
Nov 16 22:39:48 <editorgal> said not to leave clothes next to it, in a way that implied even if you're in them
Nov 16 22:39:55 <jimregan> 'Do not use this product while ironing naked'?
Nov 16 22:40:01 <editorgal> rofl
Nov 16 22:40:23 <jimregan> Nah. Couldn't say that. The nudists would sue for discrimination.
Nov 16 22:40:50 <editorgal> let's just put it this way, the label implies the ideal user of the product should be a nudist.
Nov 16 22:41:03 <jimregan> Heh.
Nov 16 22:41:16 <jimregan> 'For optimal results, get naked'
Nov 16 22:41:24 <jimregan> 'You know you want to'
Nov 16 22:41:42 <editorgal> hehehe
 
Nov 16 23:09:10 <jimregan> My supervisor is the only shift supervisor who smokes, and the only one who has a problem with people going for cigarette breaks,
Nov 16 23:09:11 <editorgal> !
Nov 16 23:09:32 <jimregan> so I have to use the emergency exit from the freezer to sneak out.
Nov 16 23:09:49 <editorgal> why cuz if he took such a break he'd be out longer?
Nov 16 23:09:59 <jimregan> Nah, cos he's a control freak.
Nov 16 23:10:08 * editorgal doesn't get why someone who shares the vice would be such a snot about it
Nov 16 23:11:01 <jimregan> Most of them have no problem with letting us sit around waiting for the clock when we've finished washing the place early, he has to find something for us to do, or else kicks us out.
Nov 16 23:11:54 <editorgal> upper management favors his 'style' ?
Nov 16 23:12:02 <jimregan> Saturday, he sent me over to scrub out the fire extinguisher containers. I held up the fire extinguisher and said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "I suppose you want me to wash this next"
Nov 16 23:12:17 <jimregan> Upper management doesn't care, as long as the work gets done
Nov 16 23:12:29 <editorgal> I bet the answer was yes without grokking sarcasm at all
Nov 16 23:13:04 <jimregan> His reply: "Yeah, do that". I stared at him, jaw hitting the floor, until he notices I was taking the piss. "Oh, right. You can go home at 7.15"
Nov 16 23:13:35 <editorgal> oh he figured out you were being sarcastic after all
Nov 16 23:13:42 <jimregan> Everybody on the shift is wound up because of him.
Nov 16 23:13:51 <jimregan> Yeah. He knows I'm a clown.
Nov 16 23:14:44 <jimregan> Today was one of those rare days when I got out at 4.
Nov 16 23:14:48 <jimregan> Barely.
Nov 16 23:15:23 <editorgal> you get paid the same for that, or hourly?
Nov 16 23:15:35 <jimregan> The next shift comes in for 4 hours, and the lines stay running. We're supposed to stay until relieves, but that's only there to make sure people turn up in time
Nov 16 23:15:38 <jimregan> Hourly.
Nov 16 23:16:12 <editorgal> so escaping this madman early means less pay. :/
Nov 16 23:16:26 <jimregan> One of the incoming supervisors joked, saying "ye might get lucky, and be able to go". I said I was going at 4 at the latest, and she tried to throw that rule at me. Hah!
Nov 16 23:17:17 <jimregan> I told her they can't force us to do overtime, and she'd better hurry to find replacements. She was so exasperated she couldn't form words.
Nov 16 23:17:45 <jimregan> If anyone else said it, there'd be trouble, but they won't try their luck with me :)
Nov 16 23:18:29 <jimregan> Well, no.
Nov 16 23:18:59 <jimregan> After I cut my finger, there was a safety policy brought in, and they partnered with a health insurance company.
Nov 16 23:19:00 <thomas_adam> jimregan: I had that when I worked in a desserts factory in Crewkerne (Somerset). I had a complete bitch for a supervisor. She reminded me of Orville in looks and voice. Tyrant cow....
Nov 16 23:19:26 <jimregan> Slightly green?
Nov 16 23:19:09 <jimregan> I'm not the first person to have a similar accident.
Nov 16 23:19:21 <editorgal> just the one who dragging in the feds. I see.
Nov 16 23:19:36 <jimregan> Actually, close enough.
Nov 16 23:20:06 <jimregan> There was an ammonia leak 2 years ago, and I called in the fire brigade when it showed signs of reaching the houses down the road
Nov 16 23:20:14 <editorgal> urgh
Nov 16 23:20:42 <jimregan> They called me in to write a report. I said "Oh, if I'd known that was what you wanted, I'd have brought a copy of my own notes"
Nov 16 23:20:45 <editorgal> how'd it get even that bad
Nov 16 23:21:05 <jimregan> "What did you want those for?" "Oh, just a diary" <grin>
Nov 16 23:21:14 <jimregan> That was my first safety policy.
Nov 16 23:21:29 <jimregan> They couldn't get in to turn it off.
Nov 16 23:21:39 <editorgal> goodness
Nov 16 23:21:52 <editorgal> so the firemen had to go in with hazmat gear.
Nov 16 23:21:52 <jimregan> I knew the fire brigade were trained to deal with chemical leaks, from a visit when I was a cub scout.
Nov 16 23:22:30 <jimregan> I only phone because I had the second most exposure, and I needed to lean against the wall to stay standing. Left in an ambulance.
Nov 16 23:22:47 <editorgal> good lord.
 
* Java **
 
Nov 16 23:29:06 * editorgal growls as mox refuses to play nice with java
Nov 16 23:30:10 <jimregan> Thomas, I think that was your cue...
Nov 16 23:31:40 <thomas_adam> No thanks... :P
Nov 16 23:32:19 <thomas_adam> Public class Annoyance implements greyhair extends PrematureDeath {
Nov 16 23:33:08 * editorgal spills coffee into the .jar
 
* Difficult people **
 
Nov 17 01:58:59 * editorgal hands jimmy one of our many copies of 'coping with difficult people'
Nov 17 01:59:05 <jimregan> :)
Nov 17 01:59:21 * jimregan looks for my picture
Nov 17 01:59:52 <editorgal> the foreword notes that any reader should note these coping mechanisms in themselves as well; what makes people "difficult" is using the coping out of context - or in damn near all contexts...
Nov 17 02:00:05 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 17 02:00:40 <editorgal> also recognizing that people may have picked dift mechanisms for superiors or inferiors within their goings-on
Nov 17 02:01:52 <editorgal> it's a small book, and a good one, well worth picking up.
Nov 17 02:02:36 <editorgal> you'll laugh at why we have a stack of it though...
Nov 17 02:02:56 <editorgal> Jim was working as top escalation among the techies at Linuxcare
Nov 17 02:03:19 <editorgal> and among the tech support crew and managers there were... um, a few difficult ones.
Nov 17 02:03:47 <editorgal> Jim ordered a pack of these 'for the crew' saying they'd need it for dealing with people on the phones.
Nov 17 02:04:19 <jimregan> I have a friend who worked the lines, I've heard stories :)
Nov 17 02:04:26 <editorgal> anybody from other depts who expressed an interest was welcome to a spare copy of course...
Nov 17 02:05:02 <editorgal> yeah, I spent about 4 yrs straight in mswin tech supp myself, and actually enjoyed it
Nov 17 02:05:28 <editorgal> very few so insane I couldn't deal with them :/ even those I came up with *something* to do
Nov 17 02:05:41 <editorgal> like the one who felt sure I was just a receptionist type
Nov 17 02:05:56 <editorgal> and if the lil lady will please pass me to a tech now I'll be a happy man
Nov 17 02:05:57 <editorgal> ooooh
Nov 17 02:06:31 <jimregan> I somehow -- somehow -- thought that didn't go down well :)
Nov 17 02:07:02 <editorgal> after an honest attempt to answer the faq he had, I offered to put him into the norton utils queue, and he must *carefully note* that he ONLY has the NDW rescue disk utilities
Nov 17 02:07:15 <editorgal> thankee mam *click*transfer*
Nov 17 02:07:33 <editorgal> I heard on the grapevine later he'd landed at one of the newer staffers
Nov 17 02:07:46 <editorgal> who'd just the past week taken my 'debugging windows swap bugs' class
Nov 17 02:08:17 <editorgal> after the problem was solved he said "so why'd you take a transfer"
Nov 17 02:08:32 <editorgal> "oh one of your reception girls punched me in"
Nov 17 02:08:58 <editorgal> the phones say whence you transfer of course... and there was only one woman in NDW team at the time
Nov 17 02:09:18 <jimregan> :)
Nov 17 02:09:46 <editorgal> >> You had *Heather Stern* as your tech and you asked for a *transfer* ? she knows more about Windoze than I have clue in my little pinky...
Nov 17 02:09:52 <editorgal> my my
Nov 17 02:10:00 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 17 02:10:39 <jimregan> My friend was telling me about a particularly obnoxious caller a friend of his had
Nov 17 02:11:29 <jimregan> The call came at 5.02, between the end of the day and the start of the voice mail; this guy picked up his phone to be courteous
Nov 17 02:11:47 <editorgal> uh oh bad start...
Nov 17 02:12:00 <jimregan> He tried telling the guy on the other end that the offices were closed, please call back Monday.
Nov 17 02:12:19 <jimregan> $customer started making demands...
Nov 17 02:12:23 <editorgal> no way, the guy got a human voice, he won't back off now
Nov 17 02:12:38 * editorgal has spoken to the type, yes
Nov 17 02:12:43 <jimregan> Kept going like that for 5 minutes...
Nov 17 02:13:23 * editorgal ponders "in 2m the phones will go into night mode and this call may drop, can we have your number for callback on Monday?"
Nov 17 02:13:36 <jimregan> Tech: "Look, you arrogant shit; the lines are closed, so this call isn't being recorded. Fuck off, and don't ever call again".
Nov 17 02:13:44 <editorgal> lol
Nov 17 02:13:46 <jimregan> Click.
Nov 17 02:14:15 <jimregan> He said another time a guy walked in off the street, sat down at a desk and started answering phones :)
Nov 17 02:14:21 <editorgal> "can we have your number for callback on Mo.."*click*
Nov 17 02:14:28 <editorgal> !
Nov 17 02:14:31 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 17 02:15:05 <jimregan> Noone noticed, until the random sweep through the calls in progress found him. He escaped before they reached him.
Nov 17 02:15:45 <jimregan> On a similar note, the guy I used to work with was interrupted last week by a guy who walked in at ~3am. "Pigs have rights too, you murdering bastard!"
 
Nov 17 03:56:18 <jimregan> 3.1415 and 22/7 walk into a bar.
Nov 17 03:56:29 <jimregan> Barman says "sorry, we don't serve pie here"
Nov 17 03:56:44 <jimregan> Fish swims into a wall.
Nov 17 03:56:48 <jimregan> "Damn"
Nov 17 03:57:21 <editorgal> rope walsk into a bar, barman says we only serve people, throws him out
Nov 17 03:57:36 <editorgal> gets himself all tangled, looks soused already, goes back in
Nov 17 03:57:45 <editorgal> ain't you that rope I threw out
Nov 17 03:57:54 <editorgal> "no sir I'm a frayed knot..."
Nov 17 03:58:02 <jimregan> groan
Nov 17 03:59:21 <editorgal> I remember when we played "rise of the triads" the things the computer would say while we were waiting for everyone to sign in were pretty funny
Nov 17 03:59:48 <editorgal> "so six player 3's walks into a bar and..."
Nov 17 04:00:00 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 17 04:00:36 <editorgal> "psst, if player 3 doesn't sign in in like 5 minutes, what say we split up his ammo"
Nov 17 04:01:23 <editorgal> "hey player 3 wake up, we ain't got all... no wait, it's a game, goof off if you like, we've got time"
Nov 17 04:01:29 <jimregan> Y'know, I've been watching American TV shows my whole damn life, and keep hearing jokes start like "a rabbi, a priest and a minister are in a bar"
Nov 17 04:01:38 <jimregan> Never heard a whole one though.
Nov 17 04:02:06 <editorgal> I can probably bring some up in my joke archives here
Nov 17 04:02:22 <editorgal> the one I do know is just a rabbi and a priest
Nov 17 04:02:40 <jimregan> Are they in a bar? Are they, are they?
Nov 17 04:02:54 <editorgal> so the rabbi and the priest are at the bar, laug hing about breaking glasses for congrats and whether you can get stoked on communion wine.
Nov 17 04:03:11 <jimregan> (You can -- I was an altar boy :)
Nov 17 04:03:34 <editorgal> the barman calls closing and they make to their cars, hey, this isn't wise, but these are holy folk, they've got G-d on their side, so you can't really just take their keys...
Nov 17 04:04:21 <editorgal> so they do manage to pull out of the parking lot without a clustermuck, but at the next light, the one behind manages not to stop quite right, and dings up the other's fender
Nov 17 04:04:24 <editorgal> cop shows up
Nov 17 04:04:55 <editorgal> (for this to be really funny you have to realize that in NY for a long time all the cops damn near were irish)
Nov 17 04:05:08 <editorgal> goes to the car in back and sees the priest
Nov 17 04:05:23 <editorgal> so how fast was the rabbi going when he backs in to yer ?
Nov 17 04:05:28 <jimregan> Heh
 
Nov 17 04:17:21 <editorgal> 50 priests die in an accident
Nov 17 04:17:32 <editorgal> St.Peter is waiting for them clipboard in hand
Nov 17 04:17:40 <editorgal> irritated expression too
Nov 17 04:18:07 <editorgal> "to save time, one question: which of you has ever been involved in a homosexual relationship"
Nov 17 04:18:15 <editorgal> 49 sheepish hands are raised
Nov 17 04:18:31 <editorgal> "purgatory for you lot then, and take that deaf bastard with you."
 
Nov 17 04:34:51 <jimregan> A busload of people die on the way to a competition to determine the world's ugliest person. At the gates of heaven, St Peter greets them. He announces that because they were so unfortunate in life, they are to be granted one wish for the afterlife.
Nov 17 04:36:17 <jimregan> The first steps forward, and wishes to be beautiful.
Nov 17 04:36:19 <editorgal> I could hope
Nov 17 04:36:34 <jimregan> Immediately after this, there's a distant sound of laughter.
Nov 17 04:37:11 <jimregan> One by one, each wishes in their turn to be beautiful or handsome, each wish followed by increasing laughter
Nov 17 04:37:39 * editorgal waits for it ...
Nov 17 04:37:54 <jimregan> Eventually, St. Peter is able to see who is laughing. The bus driver, at the back of the line, is rolling around, unable to control himself.
Nov 17 04:38:03 <jimregan> Eventually it's his turn.
Nov 17 04:38:19 <jimregan> "And what do you wish for"?
Nov 17 04:38:29 <jimregan> "Make them all ugly again!"
 
Nov 17 04:39:24 <editorgal> "god billboards / buttons we'd like to see"
Nov 17 04:39:50 <editorgal> My son has no middle name, much less initial. If you're gonna blashpheme, get it right.
Nov 17 04:39:58 <jimregan> Heh
Nov 17 04:40:16 <editorgal> On the 7th day I went to Wal-Mart.
Nov 17 04:40:39 <editorgal> Stop that fighting or I'm gonna turn this planet around *right now*
Nov 17 04:41:02 <editorgal> You're going to hell! Ask Me How
Nov 17 04:41:35 <editorgal> I made you in My image, pull those pants back up, punk.
Nov 17 04:42:17 <editorgal> Yo, Robertson, Falwell and Schuller! You bitches better have my money!
Nov 17 04:42:47 <editorgal> Okay, she's *not* pregnant. You owe me, boy-o
Nov 17 04:43:12 <editorgal> You've been coveting again, haven't you?
Nov 17 04:43:22 <editorgal> Try our Eucharist! Now with new Cool Ranch Body-of-Christ!
Nov 17 04:44:01 <editorgal> I got Limbaugh off the air for a month, *now* you can worship Me
Nov 17 04:44:22 <editorgal> Sacramental wine counts as "hair of the dog."
Nov 17 04:44:38 <editorgal> Change your ways. Or don't you consider telemarketers a pestilence?
Nov 17 04:44:59 <editorgal> Yes, that's still a sin, spank-boy.
Nov 17 04:45:16 <editorgal> You say "vengeful." I prefer "feisty."
Nov 17 04:45:47 <jimregan> Sheesh. I nearly choked on that one
Nov 17 04:45:57 <editorgal> careful there
Nov 17 04:46:39 <editorgal> you know your church has met the electronic age when....
Nov 17 04:46:46 <jimregan> "Careful now". Hmm... Father Ted wasn't shown on American TV, was it?
Nov 17 04:47:15 <editorgal> when the bells are rung at end of service half t he penitents reach into their pockets/purses to check if it's their phone..
Nov 17 04:47:56 <editorgal> people without email are referred to as 'the needy'
Nov 17 04:47:59 <jimregan> Eek. That's true!
Nov 17 04:48:39 <editorgal> handing fussy 2 yr olds pagers on vibrate is more common than cheerios
Nov 17 04:49:22 <editorgal> five year olds repearing back the Our Father say "deliver us some email"
Nov 17 04:50:13 <jimregan> Our Father, Who hath no cellphone.
Nov 17 04:50:37 <editorgal> the church flea market has electronic gadgetry outnumber brownies, doilies, and old bowling balls
Nov 17 04:51:16 <editorgal> those people checking if the bell was for them? theological speaking, of course it was...
Nov 17 04:51:46 <editorgal> Father reads his sermon from his PDA.
Nov 17 04:52:24 <editorgal> ok here's one
Nov 17 04:52:36 <editorgal> actually written on a church wall in texas
Nov 17 04:52:40 <jimregan> OK
Nov 17 04:52:44 <editorgal> ten commandments, cowboy style
Nov 17 04:52:52 <editorgal> 1. just one God
Nov 17 04:52:58 <editorgal> 2. Honor Ma & Pa
Nov 17 04:53:08 <editorgal> 3. No tellin' tales ner gossipin'
Nov 17 04:53:20 <editorgal> 4. Git yourself to Sunday meeting
Nov 17 04:53:36 <editorgal> 5. Put nothin' before God
Nov 17 04:53:50 <editorgal> 6. No foolin' around with another fellers' gal
Nov 17 04:53:57 <editorgal> 7. No killin'
Nov 17 04:54:05 <editorgal> 8. Watch yer mouth
Nov 17 04:54:16 <editorgal> 9. Don't take what ain't yers
Nov 17 04:54:31 <editorgal> 10. Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff
Nov 17 04:54:46 <jimregan> Heh. And yet, they still don't get it :)
Nov 17 04:57:08 <editorgal> when God planned to come and give the commandments
Nov 17 04:57:46 <editorgal> He came to the Germans, and saieth "I have Commandments that will make your lives better" "what?" "Rules for living"
Nov 17 04:58:09 <editorgal> <germans> like what <God> Thou shalt not kill. <germans> forget it
Nov 17 04:58:20 <jimregan> :)
Nov 17 04:58:43 <editorgal> <italians> like what <God> Thou shalt not steal. <> not interested
Nov 17 04:59:33 <editorgal> <french> like what <God> Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife <> no m'sieur
Nov 17 04:59:55 <editorgal> <jews> how much are they <G-d> free... <> we'll take 10!
Nov 17 05:00:01 <jimregan> Hehe
Nov 17 05:01:34 <jimregan> OK, here's a tame enough Irish priest joke
Nov 17 05:01:48 <jimregan> How's a pint of Guinness like a Priest?
Nov 17 05:02:04 <jimrega