[Log started by neild Thu May  6 02:06:10 1999]

Ellison pushes the button on the unfunny joke tally.  Blap!
Ellison says, "there, okay"
inky says (to Grocible), "this was meant to educate and inform"
Duchess says (to groc), "here it doesn't seem to matter :)"
Adam says, "I once saw a show about fractals and chaos theory on PBS"
Grocible says, "not that I'm not guilty of feeble non-funny jokes of
  course"
Ryan says (to adam), "i did too."
Adam says, "The interesting thing about it was that it was narrated by the
  filmmaker's 11-year-old daughter"
lpsmith blinks.
Ryan says (to adam), "i didn't see that one."
Duchess says (to adam), "smart kid"
Ellison says, "sometimes those wacky, no-logic-at-all jokes work, sometimes
  not..."
lpsmith says, "Interesting."
inky says, "and she kept saying "ooh, swirly!""
Adam says (to Fahmida), "Well, she was just reading the script"
Grocible asks, "english or american kid?"
Adam says, "American"
lpsmith says, "Still, you have to make it sound like it makes sense."
Ellison says (to inky), "hehe"
Ryan asks (to adam), "was there a reason?"
Adam says (to Ryan), "Just to be cool, I think"
Ryan says, "oh."
lpsmith says, "And in order to do that, you usually have to basically
  understand what you're saying."
Ellison asks (to Adam), "did she put 'z' in the middle of her words?"
Ryan says, "if it proved a point about chaos theory, that woul dhave been a
  nice touche."
lpsmith exclaims (to Ellison), "Hee!"
Adam says (to Ellison), "No, of course n Time passes. ot."
inky says, "heh"
Ryan laughs.
Grocible says, "I always think it's interesting how middle-class english
  kids  usually sound so much more intelligent than middle-class american
  kids. it's not that they are, it's just that they're taught to speak
  english like grownups"
Ryan says, "You were found by the water. Time has passed."
Grocible says, "whereas in north america you get beaten up if you speak
  like an adult"
Grocible says, "when you're a kid"
inky says, "enh"
lpsmith says, "One of the neat things I remember about the Ender books was
  that he and his super-smart sister were on the Internet, and were able to
  spread memes.  Phrases they used would take off.  Being able to consciously
  do that would be an amazing prowess."
Duchess says (to groc), "or at least, made to feel like a freak in school"
Ryan says (to lpsmith), "the internet would have to be much more coherent
  than it is now to be able to do what locke and demosthenes did, though."
Adam says (to lp), "Heh.  Of course, it was the 'nets' -- still the
  multiple-services model"
lpsmith says (to Ryan), "I'm not so sure."
Adam says, "Just look at how 'I like a monkey' has spread.  Even Peter
  Jennings is saying it"
Grocible asks, "adam: did you use the line in ready okay?"
lpsmith says, "It's that kind of power I tried to tap into with that urban
  legend I made up.  Didn't work, but it would've been neat if it had."
Adam says (to NeilK), "Nope"
Ryan says, "There isn't any central repository of knowledge that everybody
  goes to on the 'net, though. I mean, you might be able to get a few
  thousand people using it, but I don't think it would pread any farther than
  that."
Adam says (to lp), "It did!"
Grocible says, "adam: well come on! this is your big chance, man"
Adam says (to lp), "To a tiny extent"
lpsmith asks (to Adam), "You saw it?"
Adam says (to lp), "Bret had teard it"
Ryan asks (to lpsmith), "what urban legend?"
Adam says, "heard"
lpsmith exclaims (to Adam), "Yay!"
lpsmith asks, "Who's Bret?"
Adam says, "Bret my college roommate"
inky says, "heh"
Rob says, "Whoa, my grape jelly appears to have gone bad."
Duchess says (to rob), "you can keep the sammich then"
<April> Alas, this Court's kingdom for a commercial airport!
April feels as if a million voices cried out in terror and were suddenly
  silenced.  Either that, or it's a touch of indigestion.
Rob says, "It's undergone some sort of metamorphosis."
Adam says, "Of course, he probably heard it very close to the source"
Rob says, "Well, I had enough strawberry."
Ryan asks, "Clue me in here. Which legend?"
inky says (to Rob), "shoulda stuck with the strawberry, dude"
inky says, "heya april"
Rob says, "World's Scariest Preserves!  When Jelly Goes Bad!"
April says (to inky), "Howdy."
lpsmith says (to Ryan), "A supposed 'Darwin award' recipient about a
  reporter who tried to cover a hurricane by himself, and ended up being
  killed by his own camera."
Adam says (to lp), "Right"
Ryan says (to lps), "Oh. I havne't heard that one."
April asks (to inky), "What's new this evening?"
Duchess says (to lp), "this is a new one"
Duchess asks (to april), "shouldn't you be asking alex that ?"
April asks (to Alex), "New this evening?"
Alex asks (to April), "Um, seven?"
Grocible says, "I heard someone claim that he'd left some A&W root beer sit
  in the bottle for years and years by mistake. when he went and opened it it
  had turned into a jelly-like mass. I'm skeptical, but it's an intriguing
  image - being able to pour the root beer partly out of the bottle, then
  quickly tilt it upright and the jelly-like blob of root beer zips back into
  the bottle again"
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "See, the idea was that you would have heard
  about it ;-)"
Adam says (to lp), "I mentioned Hurricane Bob and he went barrelling
  through the Darwin Awards web site, sure it was in there somewhere"
April asks (to Alex), "New?"
Ryan says (to lps), "I've only heard the jet-engine-on-a-car one."
Alex says (to April), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that new is Alex has a
  cork nut. Awwwk! Want another."
inky says (to April), "we're discussing jelly and children's songs"
inky asks (to April), "what's new?"
Ellison says, "me, I go for the grape"
Duchess says (to groc), "ew gross"
lpsmith exclaims (to Adam), "yay!"
inky says, "erf."
April asks (to inky), "Ah, I see. Which children's songs?"
inky asks (to Alex), "what's new?"
Alex says (to inky), "Lately, people have taught me about Burning Man,
  burning man, BB, DejaMonkey, and NAMMP."
Duchess says (to lp), "hee :)"
inky says (to April), "clapping games"
inky asks (to Alex), "NAMMP?"
Alex says (to inky), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that NAMMP is Now A
  Major Motion Picture."
Duchess says (to april), "and jump ropes"
Adam says, "There is some food in the freezer with a 1990 expiration date
  on it"
April says (to inky), "Studying for my Evidence exam, for one thing."
Grocible says, "hey what's new is fun"
April says (to inky), "Also, making buckeyes."
inky asks, "buckeyes?"
April asks, "Anyone ever heard of buckeyes?"
Ryan says (to April), "Well, any children's rhymes/songs will do."
Adam says, "A box of premade pie crusts.  They're probably glaciers by
  now"
Ryan says (to April), "In this discussion, I mean."
Adam says, "Also, in the cabinet is a huge container of peanut butter from
  1992"
Grocible says, "inky: a kind of railway coupler used in the UK; pioneered
  by the LNER in the 1930s"
April asks, "As in, the cookies/candies type things?"
Adam says, "I opened it a while back to look"
lpsmith says, "This is where that e-mail tracking program would come in
  handy.  Lesse, I know I heard about it somewhere...I think I can download
  it from the Inter Net..."
Duchess says (to april), "nope that wasn't what i was thinking of"
April says (to inky), "Guess not. Peanut butter dipped in chocolate."
Adam says, "It was basically a pool of peanut oil"
inky says, "nice"
Ellison says, "we still have a thing of Pac Man vitamins somewhere...  i
  might have it in my room now"
April says (to inky), "Well, a peanut butter/margarine/sugar/graham cracker
  crumb mixture, but it tastes like peanut butter, or at least it's supposed
  to."
Duchess asks (to april), "you mean like reese's peanut butter cups?"
April says (to Duchess), "But better."
Adam says, "Uh-oh, Jonadab is back"
Ryan says, "We still have a strip of button candy from probably a decade
  ago. They haven't changed."
Adam says, "Replying to long-dead threads 30 times apiece"
lpsmith says (to Adam), "Whuf."
lpsmith says (to Adam), "Beevie just came back to cgdd, too.  Man, I miss
  his absence."
Ryan says, "Clue me in here. Which legend?""
April says (to inky), "They're good, but very time-consuming to make. But
  the clerk in the judge's chambers where I've been working is a big fan, so
  I thought I'd make some for her as a farewell present sorta thing."
Ryan says, "oops."
Adam asks (to lp), "Uck.  Any new trips of his?  Did he read a new book?"
Ryan says, "that's not what i meant to do."
April says (to Ryan), "Thought that looked familiar."
Ryan asks, "i meant to say, "comp.games.?"
Grocible says, "adam: 7 new messages; 5 killed"
Adam | The Sixers would've fell to the No. 8 seed if they had lost to the
  Pistons.
Adam asks, "Plus: 'if they had lost' instead of 'if they would've lost'.
  Well done.  Minus: 'would've fell'??"
inky says, "I guess the weirdest thing about Jonadab is how he's a
  relentless anti-windows but pro-DOS crusader"
lpsmith says (to Adam), "No, just being his normal attack-dog
  I-will-never-admit-I'm-wrong self."
Grocible says, "inky: I don't find that weird. just annoying. It's his
  relentless attacks on the concept of human rights that I find rather
  weird"
inky says (to Groc), "yeah, but those don't come up much anymore"
Rob says, "I don't think I've seen those."
inky | > Self-modifying code just
inky | > seems like a bad idea to me,
inky |
inky | If AI ever becomes sufficiently developed to seem truly sentient to
inky | the astute observer, it will probably have to use self-modifying
  code
April asks (to Groc), "Attacks on the concept of human rights?"
Grocible says, "inky: well it'd be easy to trigger I'm sure"
Grocible says, "april: yes. he said, and I quote, "Only God has rights""
Rob asks, "Do they tie into Jonadab's Christian belief system somehow?"
inky says, "...so we'd better make sure glulx allows for AIs"
inky says (to Rob), "yes."
Grocible says, "his particular conception of Christianity"
Ryan says, "self-modifying code is awesome."
Rob chose the word ordering of "jonadab's christian belief system"
  purposefully.
April says (to Groc), "Uh, okay. Never run into that idea before."
inky says, "christian jonadab's system belief"
Grocible says, "rob: fair enough"
lpsmith says (to inky), "See, that's why you need to be more careful."
April says, "Jonadab's version of Christianity is not one I understand,
  frankly."
Ryan giggles.
Grocible says, "man my glasses feel totally strange. I haven't been able to
  get them bent back into quite the right shape"
Adam says, "http://bx6.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=366172131"
Rob asks, "Has Jonadab yet released a game?"
April says, "I seem to remember trying to dissociate myself from him in the
  whole C.S. Lewis thing a while back."
lpsmith says, "I think I remember basically understanding the gist at the
  time.  But I have forgotten by now."
Duchess asks, "i am a bit late, but what does human rights and christianity
  have to do with comp games?"
inky says (to Rob), "nah"
Rob says (to Groc), "uh oh, once they get bent it's hard to fix them.
  Sometimes a place that sells glasses can do it."
inky says (to Duchess), "nothing. but of course you know we always stay
  on-topic on the newsgroups"
April asks (to Duchess), "Not much, but why should that hold us back?"
Adam says (to April), "Just as I tried to disassociate myself from Doe in
  the same thread"
April says (to Adam), "Righto."
inky doesn't get to the article content in lynx until page 6/11
Duchess says (to inky,april), "oh. duh. i should have remembered that."
Adam says, "and http://bx6.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=366611805"
Grocible says, "oh man. the new dejanews is just appallingly bad on my
  machine. when you have to download 30-40K of data just to read 3K of actual
  content... and all the tables mean the page takes a minute to load..."
Adam says, "Eeek"
Adam says, "Okay, add '&fmt=text' to those URLs"
<Miseri> Miseri has connected to ifMUD.
Miseri is sitting quietly nearby. You must not have noticed him entering
  the room.
Miseri says, "Hello"
inky says, "if only someone had written a perl script that would pull out
  the actual content from dejanews pages"
inky says, "heya mis"
April says (to Miseri), "Howdy howdy howdy."
Grocible says, "adam: ah much better"
Rob says, "hi"
Duchess says (to mis), "heya"
Grocible says, "inky: indeed. such a person would be a hero"
Miseri asks, "So what's new?"
April asks (to Alex), "New?"
Alex says (to April), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that new is Alex has a
  cork nut. Awwwk! Want another."
April says (to Miseri), "There you go."
Adam says, "Actually, I did get these articles off of DejaMonkey"
Duchess says (to rob), "sorry, but apparently i burnt the flan"
inky says, "heh"
inky says (to Duchess), "oops"
Duchess says (to rob), "no sammich for me, no flan for you"
Adam says, "Though it is slower, I believe"
Adam says, "There's a lag connecting to mamster.net, and another as it
  fetches the list"
Grocible says, "I wonder if they read their referrer logs and if they'll
  viciously try to Kill the Monkey"
April asks (to Miseri), "Taking an informal poll. Have _you_ ever heard of
  a food item called buckeyes?"
Ryan asks, "what happened to igor?"
Adam | I count Democracy as a far worse option than, for example, a typical
  (not pathological) dictatorship.  I only see one form of government as
  *always* being worse than democracy, and that form is anarchy -- which is
  the form into which democracies typically decay anyway.
Grocible says, "mis: boiled eyeballs of a male rabbit or deer"
lpsmith says (to Adam), "But you can make up for it in terms of less
  graphics downloaded."
Miseri says (to April), "I've heard of buckwheat ... don't think I've heard
  of buckeyes....."
April asks (to Adam), "Ick. Who said that?"
Grocible says, "april: our buddy"
Adam says (to lp), "Well, I think the main motivation of DejaMonkey is not
  speed so much as principle"
Adam says (to April), "Jonadab"
lpsmith says (to Adam), "Heh."
Adam says (to April), "It's from the second of those two URLs"
April says (to Miseri), "Ah. Well, never fear, neither had anyone else
  here."
Duchess asks (to adam), "didn't churchill say democracy is not a good form
  of government, except unfortunately it is the best alternative we have? or
  something?"
Steve has disconnected.
<Steve> I like to build forts.  Bye!
Steve has connected.
<Steve> I would seriously advise you not to try to come between me and my
  bear.
Adam says (to Fahmida), "That's the quote Luc French cited"
Adam says (to Fahmida), "Which Jonadab disagreed with"
Duchess blinks. i didn't realize steve was still here
Duchess says (to adam), "oh."
April says (to Duchess), "A bad form of government"
<neild> DO YOU LOVE HOCKEY, KIDS, AND MAKING MONEY?
neild suddenly materializes in the middle of the room wearing a monkey suit
  and a sign that says "BUTTLE ME!" After a brief moment of embarassment, he
  fades out quickly and reappears in regular garb. Somewhere, however, you
  know a monkey teleporter has been fired.
April says (to Duchess), "A bad form of government, but all the other
  options are even worse."
Duchess says (to april), "yeah. it's 2am, cut me some slack :)"
Grocible says, "hey neild"
Adam says, "'Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the
  others'"
Grocible asks, "neild; partying it up?"
neild says, "Hey all."
Miseri says, "Hello"
Duchess says (to neild), "hi! enjoying the vacation"
Ellison says, "heya neidl"
Duchess asks, "?"
Grocible asks, "neild: safe trip, I trust?"
April says (to Duchess), "I keep forgetting that semicolons are a bad
  idea."
Grocible says, "adam: I'm no fan of churchill, but I do like that quote"
Duchess asks (to april), "? what is wrong with semi colons?"
neild says (to Groc), "Safe Trip is my favorite bankrobber teen sex
  farce."
Duchess exclaims (to groc), "and you grew up in england? sacrilege!"
April says (to Duchess), "They cut off the line if I use them."
Grocible asks, "neild: is sarah polley in it?"
Duchess nods, okay.
Grocible says, "duchess: my great-grandfather, who was English, would
  declare in thundering tones that Churchill was a PARASITE"
April says (to Duchess), "I'm rather fond of semi-colons, though, and I
  keep forgetting not to use them here."
Grocible asks, "cute off lines?"
Grocible says, "oops"
Grocible says, "cute=cut. geez"
neild says (to April), "Hey, do you mind if I bug yuo with a simple
  legal-type question? Given that the closest thing to a legal advisor here
  is Steve. Or maybe Steve's cat."
Grocible says, "I have cute on the brain I suppose"
Duchess says (to groc), "my entire family would thunder right back at your
  great-grandpa then, saying churchill was the greatest man alive :) but it
  is all a matter of opinion i guess"
neild says, "Also, Churchill Was A Parasite was my favorite Replacements
  song."
(From Grocible) neild says, "Let's say hypothetically I killed 7 people on
  the ride up. Hypothetically."
April says (to neild), "Uh, okay, standard disclaimers that I'm not a
  lawyer and you're not to rely on anything I say applying, of course."
Duchess asks (to april), "wait, you are a lawyer?"
(From Ellison) Grocible says, "he once said to Churchill, 'Tomorrow I'll be
  a shnazzy fellow.  You, sir, will still be a parasite.'"
Duchess grins
April says (to Duchess), "Law student."
neild asks (to April), "A place that owes me money filed Chapter 11. Can I
  still pursue my small claims suit?"
lpsmith says (to neild), "Ow."
Grocible says, "duchess: most of my English family are or were socialists.
  Guess the wedding is off again"
Duchess says (to april), "you and i need to talk. about law schools.
  eventually"
Ryan asks (to neild), "Does it still fit?"
April says (to neild), "No."
Duchess says (to groc), "darn. i was all ready to go buy my dress"
inky asks (to Duchess), "are you going to law school?"
Duchess says (to groc), "the red one, too ;)"
Grocible says, "Chapter 11: NeilD Cries"
inky says, "that would be cruel"
Grocible asks, "duchess: you mean your red dress is someone else's?"
neild asks (to Duchess), "Also, your family believes Churchill's alive?
  What are they smoking?"
Duchess says (to inky), "i want to. i couldn't apply this year because of
  circumstances."
April says (to neild), "At least, probably not. If they've filed Chapter
  11, a small claims suit is the sort of creditor they can dodge."
Duchess says (to groc), "that is my best friend's dress. she bought it that
  day and made me model it after i got my makeover"
(From inky) April says "but as your legal representative, let me remind you
  that what they can't dodge is a bullet."
neild says (to April), "Well, I don't really have any other options."
Grocible says, "duchess: ah"
Duchess says (to neild), "last i checked, it was a hookah"
Ellison says (to inky), "hehe"
Duchess grins
Grocible asks, "neild: guerilla strikes?"
Grocible says, "or monkey strikes, perhaps"
(From Adam) Beer says, "As your attorney, I advise you not to drink me"
Miseri says, "Churchill is alive! His so-called death was a strange and
  convoluted conspiracy involving a $70 time machine and Elvis."
Rob says, "This would seem to be the point of filing Chapter 11..."
April asks (to neild), "I mean, bankruptcy wouldn't be very useful if they
  couldn't dodge you, would it?"
neild asks (to Duchess), "Isn't that what Darryl Strawberry said?"
Duchess says (to neild), "really? hee. don't know"
Ryan groans.
Ellison says, "hehe"
Ryan says, "Okay, I'm going to sleep now."
lpsmith asks (to April), "Could he join a line of people to get a
  percentage of his money back?"
Ryan says, "Good night."
Rob says, "night"
Ryan has disconnected.
Ryan will now attempt to play the octobass upside-down while balancing on
  one leg on a flagpole in high winds.
<Ryan> Searching for my lost shaker of salt.
inky says, "hookah -> hooker"
Grocible asks, "neild: is it a lot of money?"
April says (to neild), "Bankruptcy laws vary from state to state, of
  course, so you may wanna ask someone in New York. But my guess is no."
lpsmith says (to inky), "Can't dodge those, either."
neild says (to inky), "Thank yuo for diagramming my joke."
Duchess groans. i completely missed that one
inky says (to lpsmith), "at least, not homing hookers."
Duchess says (to neild), "good thing he did. i had no idea"
Miseri says (to inky), "That throws a whole new meaning on the caterpillar
  in 'Alice'."
Duchess says (to mis), "that is what i had in mind originally, too."
Duchess says (to inky), "now i won't be able to read alice anymore"
Rob says, "yeah, now it's about drugs AND whoring."
neild says, "Alice Isn't Read Here Anymore."
inky laughs.
April says (to lps), "Sorry. No, probably not."
lpsmith forgets about Alice.  "Now I don't believe anything!"
inky says, "woo"
Duchess wonders if I can use the first person in a take-home final essay
Duchess asks, "i should be able, to, right?"
inky says, "sure"
April asks (to Duchess), "You're planning to apply to law school, then?"
Grocible says, "only evil people don't allow the first person"
inky says, "you shouldn't rely on it much, but"
Rob says, "'Adam was walking in the garden...'"
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "You mean should you write it yourself?  Yeah, I
  think so."
Adam says, "YM 'this one should be able to, right?'"
inky says (to Duchess), "I thought you were going to be a management
  consultant"
Grocible says, "I just read a book about the making of blade runner, and
  the guy who wrote it kept saying "this author" and so on. man it sounds
  stupid"
neild says (to Adam), "Shut up. You're not the first person. Oh, wait, you
  are."
lpsmith laughs!
Duchess says (to april), "i would like to. i was considering a couple
  places this year, i will prolly apply in two years"
April says, "Had a opinions column in college where I consistently referred
  to myself as 'your columnist.' Sorta grew on me."
Duchess says (to inky), "that is because i want to play and recover from
  the hell that is academia. i will probably want to go back to consulting
  after law school, but i want that degree"
lpsmith reads Duchess's essay.  "I like a dinner, movie.  Do you like a
  movie?"
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "See, the second person bit is gonna get you."
neild says (to April), "Anyway, thanks for the advice. I guess I'll
  probably still go to my court date anyway. Also, mmm... dates."
Duchess says (to inky), "i need that JD degree if i want to gain any
  respect in the family"
Rob says, "I like, dinner, movie, law degree."
Adam says, "Hey, man, there's no 'your columnist' in 'team'."
April asks (to Duchess), "What sort of law?"
Rob says (to Duchess), "Ugh, what a motive."
inky asks (to Duchess), "really?"
April laughs.
Duchess says (to rob), "don't get me wrong, i will enjoy law, and i hope to
  be able to use it, but not my first priority"
(From inky) Duchess says "Also, I'm tired of my little brother sueing me."
Adam says (to inky), "Ha!"
April says (to Adam), "I once got accused of being 'confrontational'
  because I called myself 'your columnist.'"
Duchess says (to april), "family law actually. although constitutional law
  is pretty fascinating as well :)"
Rob says, "Enjoy law. Hrmm."
Duchess says (to inky), "no little brothers :)"
Grocible says, "all kinds of people, friends and family, used to say - hey
  neil I bet you'd be a great lawyer! you should go into law school! so I
  took a class on law and absolutely despised it. so much for that"
Grocible says, "I have no idea why people think I'd be able to be a
  lawyer"
April says (to Duchess), "It is. But its main use is teaching"
inky says, "my mom wanted me to go to law school"
April says (to Duchess), "Semicolon again. No one goes out and practices
  con law."
Ellison says (to Groc), "they saw 'Devil's Advocate' and had an idea"
Adam says, "My dad kept insisting that I go to law school"
Duchess says (to inky), "more like i don't want to be told i am a
  disappointment to my parents for being a failure, especially by idiots who
  knows nothing"
Grocible says, "ell: har"
Adam says, "Man, vindication is sweet"
inky says (to Duchess), "oh dear dear."
Miseri asks (to Grocible), "You argue a lot? And you're sly and slippery?"
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "Um."
(From neild) Adam says, "Of course, now I can't sue him for emotional
  distress."
Grocible says, "mis: natural lubricants"
Duchess says (to april), "i know. but it is such an interesting topic :)
  but i definitely would enjoy doing family law, advocacy, and stuff"
Grocible says, "mis: um, I mean..."
Rob says, "Maybe because he comes across as precise and analytical."
lpsmith exclaims, "#grocible-sux That old snake!"
Grocible says, "I am too hopelessly disorganized to be a lawyer"
Duchess says (to inky), "welcome to the typical south asian extended
  family: where everyone is in your business even when they know nothing
  about it."
Miseri says, "At one point, my dad wanted me to take up actuarial
  science...."
Adam says, "I've had a few friends go to law school"
Grocible says, "also, I hate the way law is about strangling people with
  the letter of the law while disregarding the spirit"
April says (to Duchess), "I did a lot of family law work last summer. It's
  good practical stuff, and you're not so distanced from your clients as in a
  lot of other fields."
Adam says, "One who graduated ended up hospitalized within six months"
Rob thinks: Dan Quayle got through law school.
Adam says, "The others I sorta lost track of"
inky says (to Duchess), "all my relatives suggested I go on to the PhD, but
  they didn't push it"
April says (to Groc), "Eh, that ain't necessarily so."
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "And the opinion of these uninformed masses
  matters to you?  How unfortunate."
Miseri says, "I hear that actuarists aren't quite in as much demand
  nowadays. Oh well."
Grocible says, "april: that's what ends up happening lots of the time. in
  real life"
inky says, "of course, I'm tougher than they are"
Grocible says, "april: since a lot of it comes down to money"
Grocible says, "a bunch of people in residence were doing actuarial crap.
  because I went to school in waterloo"
April says (to Groc), "But if you have a decent lawyer, you don't get
  strangled by the letter of the law because your lawyer points out that
  'twould be unjust in your particular case."
(From lpsmith) Grocible says, "And they're *still* trying to figure out why
  Napoleon lost."
Duchess says (to lp), "it matters since they turn my cousins against me.
  going from being cool and admired to "why do mom and dad say you are a
  failure" hurts like hell"
Grocible says, "april: well I'd be happy if that were always the case"
inky says, "ai!"
April says (to Groc), "The letter of the law gets disregarded a lot in
  practice."
Adam says, "I know a reasonable number of people who know some law.  I
  don't know anyone who knows finance, and that's what I need right now"
lpsmith says (to Duchess), "I feel your pain."
Grocible says, "duchess: that's horrible"
Duchess says (to april), "what law school do you go too"
(From inky) Q says (to April) "And let me tell you, I'm pretty tired of it
  by now."
Duchess asks, "to?"
Adam says (to Fahmida), "'Your mom and dad say I'm a failure because they
  are soulless scum'"
April says (to Duchess), "Northwestern."
Duchess shrugs. And they wonder why  none of them are invited to my
  graduation?
Rob says, "I have a bunch of cousins that are making me look like a
  layabout, directionless pauper. So my mom gets all this snooty flak from
  her sisters."
Duchess says (to groc), "my parents and my brother are cool, it's the rest
  of the family that sucks, the uncles and aunts. the older cousins are cool,
  and i am trying to keep the younger cousins on my side."
Rob says, "Unfortunately, my mom also thinks I'm a layabout, directionless
  pauper, so she can't mount a suitable defense."
Duchess says (to adam), "i will try that next time"
inky asks (to Rob), "are you?"
Rob says, "No."
inky says, "well then"
Miseri says, "Hm. The only problem my parents have with me is that I have
  ... had ... a big scary beard....."
Grocible says, "my parents are disappointed I didn't go on to get a PhD,
  but they try to hide it, which is nice of them"
April asks (to Alex), "Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b)?"
Alex says (to April), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Federal Rule of
  Evidence 404(b) is a rule permitting the introduction of specific acts as
  character evidence, but not to prove actions in conformity with
  character."
Miseri recently whittled the beard down to a little goatee.
Duchess asks (to april), "what school would you recommend for family law on
  the east coast that  isn't an Ivy or NYU?"
Duchess says (to mis), "that was not a goatee i saw"
inky says (to Duchess), "at that point it was still a goat"
Duchess asks (to groc), "nice of them. but aren't you doing a thesis for
  your phd now?"
Ellison says, "my older brother and I are kind of the creative guys of the
  family wh oaren't amounting to much...  but it's good because my oldest
  brother has a good job with a metal distribution company now and my sister
  has a job at the medical college, so we're happy for them"
Miseri says (to Duchess), "Well, hack & slash happened on Tuesday
  morning."
lpsmith says (to Alex), "Wow, I can't even parse that."
Alex exclaims (to lpsmith), "Awwwk! No parse found!"
(From Rob) Alex says, "Awwwk! 404(b) Not Found.
Grocible says, "duchess: no. I wrote my MA thesis 2 years ago"
Ellison says (to Mis), "your beard rocks"
Duchess exclaims (to inky), "ha!"
Grocible says, "3 years ago"
April says (to Duchess), "Erm, well, UVA, Georgetown, Cornell, and Penn all
  have good schools, and you can't go too wrong on any subject in a good
  school."
Grocible says, "well I started it 8 years ago, but actually wrote it in 3
  years ago. whatever"
April says (to Duchess), "Whoops. Two ivies there. Sorry."
Adam asks, "Duke?"
Duchess says (to april), "i said no ivy, so that would mean uva and
  georgetown...i am already considering georgetown"
neild asks (to Groc), "Are you talking about Hamsterworld again?"
Grocible says, "Duchess going to Duke would, of course, be at least pretty
  funny"
April says (to Duchess), "Lessee--other good schools on the East Coast are
  Duke, UNC..."
Duchess asks (to groc), "why?"
Rob says, "I took the GREs last December, intending to kind of go back to
  grad school, but I ended up not doing anything about it -- probably out of
  insecurity as much as anything else."
Grocible says, "neild: yes I handed in the source to my game as my thesis
  and nobody noticed"
April scratches his head.
inky says (to Duchess), "royal privilege"
Grocible says, "duchess: er... think about it :)"
Adam says, "My GRE schools expire in two months"
Adam says, "scores, rather"
Duchess laughs, belatedly. boy am i slow today
Duchess says (to inky), "ducal, you mean"
Grocible asks, "what's the GRE? that's the american grad school entry test
  or something?"
inky says, "right"
Adam says (to NeilK), "Yup"
Duchess says (to groc), "yeah...graduate record examination i think"
April says (to Duchess), "GW also has a pretty good school."
Grocible says, "gawd am I glad I never had to do that shit"
lpsmith says (to Groc), "It's a sekkrit American thing.  Go away."
Duchess asks (to adam), "did you take the general one or a subject gre?"
Rob says, "the GREs are now done on a computer, which I found to be
  completely intuitive to use."
Adam says (to Fahmida), "Both"
inky says (to Groc), "why? it's easy and the scores make you look good"
Grocible says, "inky: I loathe such exams"
Duchess says (to rob), "yeah, but it sucks because if you skip a question
  you can't go back to it later"
inky says, "wuss."
Rob says, "So my scores are good, but I don't have much else to show to a
  competitive grad program that would convince them that they should admit
  me."
<andyf> Zrblm.
Adam says, "The subject exams are odd in that there's no one score that's
  good"
inky asks (to Rob), "what would the grad program be in?"
April asks (to Adam), "Non sequitur, observing your
  real-names-rather-than-handles policy: you do know I'm not really an April,
  yes?"
Duchess says (to groc), "me too. that's why i did my thesis instead of
  taking the gre. (department requirements to do either one to graduate)"
andyf has arrived.
neild asks (to Adam), "So you're saying that zarf wrote them?"
inky says, "hey andy"
andyf says, "Heya."
Duchess says (to SF), "hail the conquering hero! da-da-da"
Adam says, "IE, a 780 on one test might be 50th percentile, whereas a 520
  on another test might be 95th percentile"
Miseri says, "Hello"
Rob says (to inky), "I couldn't really decide. I was looking at English
  programs and writing tracks and new-fangled multimedia disciplines and
  whatnot."
inky says (to neild), "next time I'm choosing "That's intentional" for all
  the questions!"
neild says (to Adam), "Oh! BTW, we saw Election today."
Grocible says, "part of the reason I'm not going to do a PhD is that there
  are no areas I can think of that I'd want to do a PhD *in*."
andyf says (to Duchess), "Well, it was just a conference..."
Ellison asks (to neild), "how was it?"
Adam asks (to neild), "I haven't -- not till Friday.  Good?"
Rob says, "Also, Drama, because I still have theatrical ambitions left
  undeveloped since high school."
Adam says (to neild), "I saw Citizen Ruth on disc, though"
neild says (to Adam), "I hated it. So you should love it."
Rob says, "heh!"
Duchess poses (to SF): Duchess grins
Adam says (to April), "Yeah, I know.  Mainly I just shy away from using
  handles that don't sound like names"
Grocible asks, "neild; are there any exceptions to this useful rule?"
Grocible says, "adam: Grocible sounds like a name to me. you're just
  plain.... weird, adam!"
April says (to Adam), "Ah, I see."
Adam says, "Like, I'm not going to refer to someone as 'TenthStone' or
  'Grocible'"
neild says, "It has hot girl-girl action *and* a balky vending machine. So
  amazingly, both Adam *and* Michael Gentry will like it."
lpsmith exclaims, "Timing!"
Adam says, "Because I feel stupid typing such things"
inky laughs.
Miseri asks (to Adam), "Eh! You're a Quebecois bureaucrat??"
Duchess says (to adam), "but why won't you say duchess? it's a title. like
  saying "mister" or "ma'am" :)"
andyf says (to Miseri), "Heh."
Grocible says, "adam: your insecurities are causing much pain amongst
  others, young man"
Adam says (to Fahmida), "If you had followed the pronouns thread from last
  summer, you'd know that I don't use those either"
April says (to Adam), "Just making sure I wasn't really incognito"
lpsmith says, "When insecurities collide."
andyf asks (to Adam), "What if Groc had his name legally changed to
  Grocible?"
Miseri says, "Hmm ... don't seem to recall Adam ever having called me
  'Chris' ... or 'Christopher' ... or even 'Xinqun'...."
Grocible says, "andyf: hey now there's an idea"
Duchess says (to adam), "considering i had no clue what IF was last summer,
  i am not even going  to try looking for those threads"
Adam says (to Mis), "I have, actually"
Grocible says, "I was thoroughly disappointed to learn there are a few
  other Neil K. Guys in the world. But I'm sure there are no Grocibles."
andyf wonders what Adam's policy on really goofy names is.
lpsmith says, "I know what IF was last summer."
Duchess asks (to SF), "example?"
April says (to lps), "I know what you programmed last summer."
Adam says, "I mean, I don't really think this out ahead of time.  I just go
  with what's comfortable"
andyf says (to Adam), "WHat would you call Moon Unit Zappa, for example."
andyf asks, "?"
April says (to andyf), "MUZ."
Ellison says (to Adam), "you still don't call my 'Big Daddy' like I asked
  you to..."
neild says, "'Big Daddy' is my favorite new Adam Sandler movie. Oh, wait,
  that's not a joke."
Adam says (to Mis), "I used '..Xq' a couple times"
(From inky) Adam says (to Ellison) "Not when we're around other people,
  anyway."
Ellison says, "hehe"
Miseri says (to Adam), "Did you? I must have missed them...."
inky says (to neild), "'Big Daddy' is my favorite Jack Chick comic. Oh,
  wait, that's not a joke."
April asks (to Ellison), "How about 'Medium-Size Daddy'?"
Adam says (to Mis), "But I was under the impression that you didn't use
  that name anymore.  Like, I would be rather taken aback if someone referred
  to me as 'Muhammad'"
lpsmith says, ">TAKE ABACK"
Ellison says, "'Bic Daddy' is my favorite macho pen expert.  Oh, wait,
  that's a joke."
April drops aback.
Grocible asks, "adam: if you were walking along and someone shouted out HEY
  MOHAMMED! would you turn?"
Rob |Which one do you mean, the back or the front?
Grocible says, "erm muhammad"
neild says, "So for those still in doubt, the Outback Steakhouse is every
  bit as funny as you might expect."
Miseri says (to Adam), "I still use the name ... but only with people who
  can pronounce it more easily than they can pronounce 'Christopher'."
Adam says (to NeilK), "No more than if they shouted 'HEY FOOFENPANTS!' or
  some such"
lpsmith says (to Groc), "They're yelling it, so you can't tell."
April laughs.
Ellison says (to neild), "cool"
Grocible says, "adam: hm. interesting. not having another name aside from
  my middle name, it's not something that's ever really occurred to me"
April hollers, "HEY FOOFENPANTS!"
inky says (to neild), "yay"
Rob hears 'Foofenpants' and looks around.
Adam says, "I mean, I've never been called that, except by professors
  calling roll the first day of classes"
Grocible says, "neild: please describe it to those of us who've never been
  there"
neild says, "They don't know how to pronounce 'Brisbane,' and the menu uses
  all sorts of painfully contrived Aussie expressions. Also, the waiters
  dress as kangaroos."
Ellison says, "hee"
neild says, "Er, except that last bit."
Grocible asks, "they say briz-BAYNE?"
andyf says, "Funny you should mention it, but Frederiksen is Danish for
  Foofenpants."
Ellison retracts the giggle.
April wonders how many people would turn around if he shouted 'HEY
  FOOFENPANTS!' Probable quite a lot.
neild says (to Groc), "More like BRIZ-bane."
Miseri says, "heh"
Rob asks, "How are you supposed to pronounce Brisbane?"
Grocible asks, "briz-bun, isn't it?"
Rob has always heard it pronounced BRIZ-bane.
Rob asks, "Like Lisbon?"
Miseri says, "It's pronounced 'Cauliflower'."
neild says (to Rob), "yes."
Grocible says, "never heard an australian say it bayne"
April yawns and should go.
Adam says, "My parents said that their plan was that when I grew up, I
  would use the name as a first initial, to sound distinguished.  My bank
  account even had that for a while"
neild says, "Steve points out that he's the bane of all Australians."
lpsmith says (to April), "<aol>"
Adam says, "MADAM KADRI.  Yeah, *real* distinguished"
Grocible asks, "neild: do they make you wear hats with dangly corks on
  them?"
April asks (to lps), "aol?"
Grocible says, "adam: heh"
Miseri laughs
Miseri says (to April), "'night"
neild says (to Groc), "No, but we brought our own anyway."
lpsmith says (to April), "Me, too."
andyf says (to Adam), "Heh."
Grocible says, "neild: excellent"
Grocible asks, "adam: she was a famous fortune teller wasn't she?"
neild says, "Also, Dangly, Cork, is my favorite Irish town."
Grocible says, "I thought Dangly Cork was that famous narrow-gauge Irish
  peat-hauling railway"
Adam asks (to neild), "So what do the Outback Steakhouse people make of a
  real Australian?  Do they get embarrassed?"
April says, "night, all."
Grocible says, "like the Tralee-Dingle train"
neild says (to Adam), "Sadly, no."
andyf has come very close to spraying tea on the screen. It's way too late
  to be this funny.
Duchess says (to april), "night"
April has disconnected.
April hurtles to justice at lightning speed.
<April> HEY FOOFENPANTS!
neild says (to groc), "I have no comment on that."
andyf waves to April.
andyf says, "Oops."
Rob says, "They probably thought he was British"
Duchess says (to SF), "come on, we are always funny :) well, at least they
  are"
Grocible asks, "neild: you think I"m JOKING, don't you?"
neild says, "Though Trey Lee Dingle sounds like there's a joke in there
  somewhere."
Duchess says (to inky), "been keeping late hours lately, haven't you? :)"
lpsmith sighs, and must go.  Wave!
Grocible says, "I've had people ask me if I'm Australian. which I always
  find a baffling question. I mean, I sound as much Australian as I do
  Hungarian or something"
Ellison says, "g'nite lps!"
Miseri sings about The Rose of Tralee...
andyf says (to Duchess), "Maybe I'm just the right kind of tired to best
  appreciate MUD humour."
neild says (to Rob), "No, we told them he was from Melbourne. Though he
  might have thought we meant Florida."
lpsmith has disconnected.
lpsmith is gangled out of the room by a gaggle of giggling monks.
<lpsmith> Reading Field of Schemes is like watching a multi-vehicle pile-up
  in slow motion close-up, with every hideous detail excruciatingly clear and
  in full color.
inky says (to Duchess), "mm. classes loosening up at the end of the
  semester"
Grocible says, "mis: well your long hair is black as a raven, so it's
  apropos"
Grocible says, "neild: you have to pronounce it mel-BORN for them to
  understand"
neild asks, "Um, WTF is lpsmith's disconnect from?"
Adam says (to neild), "A review on alt.politics.usa.republican"
Grocible says, "neild: a big fan review of yours"
andyf says (to inky), "I read that as 'clothes loosening up at the end of
  the semester', and was going to suggest eating."
Ellison asks (to inky), "what's the status on that project you have with
  that guy?"
neild says (to Adam), "Oh, that one. The one that says 'If you care about
  anything, read this book.'"
Adam says (to neild), "On alt.politics.usa.republican, that means no one."
neild says, "She's Got A Thing For The Project With That Guy."
Rob asks, "which guy? The guy with the thing, or the other guy?"
Miseri says, "Anyway. Must go to bed."
Miseri says, "'night, all."
andyf says (to Ellison), "That's one of the vaguest sentences I've ever
  read."
Duchess says (to SF), "well, finals week is the world's answer to weight
  gain...it's the easiest way to lose weight"
inky says, "bye mis"
andyf waves to Miz.
Duchess says (to mis), "night"
Miseri has disconnected.
Miseri isn't here. That's odd. You must have missed him leaving. Or maybe
  he was never here to begin with.
<Miseri> Miseri has disconnected from ifMUD.
inky asks (to Duchess), "?"
inky says, "oh, I see."
Rob watches Christie Brinkley do simulated sex motions to sell a piece of
  crap exercise equipment.
Duchess asks (to inky), "don't you think so?"
inky says (to Ellison), "umf. I was working on it some tonight."
andyf says (to Rob), "Bizarre."
inky says (to Duchess), "nah, I made cookies, remember"
Duchess asks (to rob), "the thighmaster thing?"
neild says, "Six months to life is the vaguest sentence I've ever seen."
andyf sometimes forgets to eat during big work rushes.
Adam says, "That 'exercise equipment' is illegal in Alabama"
andyf says (to neild), "Heh."
Rob says, "Well, she's on this plate that slides up and down on two rods,
  and she's lying on it and doing knee bends, and they've got the camera
  situated low and in front of her spreading legs."
andyf says (to inky), "Baking has been recommended to me as a
  procrastination strategy."
inky says, "heh"
Rob says, "Perhaps I'm reading too much into it."
inky says (to andyf), "I made pizza tonight"
andyf says (to inky), ""But I couldn't fit in the oven."
Ellison says, "we had pizza tonight, too"
inky says (to andyf), "more heh"
Rob says, "I think this is why Zarf cooks and bakes all the time."
(From Grocible) andyf says, "I didn't realize that Barbie Easy-Bake oven
  was so small."
neild says (to Rob), "TSD. Also, TS like a So Far puzzle."
andyf says (to Rob), "Some marketing executive is slavering..."
Rob says (to neild), "heh!"
Ellison says, "I didn't know zarf cooks and bakes all the time"
andyf says (to Groc), "Heh."
Adam says, "Zarf cooks and bakes all the time because Goob demands that
  dinner be ready when he gets home from work"
inky blinks.
Grocible says, ""British Airways has decided to take no action against a
  flight attendant who stripped to her underwear and ran around the outside
  of  plane at Italy's Genoa airport after losing a bet with the captain. ""
Rob says, "But in case there are women watching, they have a shirtless
  Chuck Norris doing arm and chest exercises."
andyf asks (to .alex), "Goob?"
Alex says (to andyf), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Goob is a
  mysterious lurking presence in the dark places of the Earth.  Also, one of
  the ifarchive.org maintainers."
Duchess says (to groc), "got guts"
Duchess says (to rob), "chuck noris. eww"
andyf asks (to Groc), "Heh. Did they discipline the captain?"
Grocible says, "andyf: apparently not"
(From Ellison) Grocible says, "yeah, they made him run around the whole
  airport in his underwear."
inky says, "yay"
Rob says, "yay"
neild says (to andyf), "(steve says) 'Discipline the Captain' is my
  favorite King Crimson/Toni Tennille crossover project."
Rob says, "reaction timing"
andyf asks (to neild), "Heh. Isn't that a Michel Foucault book?"
Adam says (to Andy), "You're thinking of 'Discipline Me Harder, Mon
  Capitain'"
andyf says (to Adam), "Oy."
<Whizzard> Whizzard has connected to ifMUD.
<Whizzard> Whizzard has disconnected from ifMUD.
Adam says, "Hmm"
neild says, "Moan Capitain is my favorite K/S fanfic."
Rob says, "eeeagh"
Adam says (to neild), "Oik."
inky laughs.
Adam says, "Okay, I'm reading the web site of my car insurance company"
andyf cringes.
Grocible says, "geez. Coca-cola has bought Orangina"
Grocible says, "sucks"
Adam says, "And it says 'With the exception of auto and property insurance,
  most products are available to the general public.'"
Duchess asks (to groc), "why?"
Rob asks (to Groc), "Wasn't someone trying to block that purchase?"
Duchess says (to groc), "why sucks, i mean"
Adam says, "I wonder how I got car insurance"
Grocible says, "rob: the govt"
Ellison says (to Groc), "that's no kind of attitude to have...  maybe you
  should play cokeisit again"
Duchess says (to groc), "coca cola is not a bad company...better than pepsi
  at least :)"
inky | >Kinda like how nobody recognized Clark Kent was Superman because
  Clark
inky | >wore glasses.
inky | >
inky | >I wear glasses; people still recognize me when I'm not wearing
  them.
inky |
inky | Maybe. But I find it much more dificult to recognise other people
inky | when I'm not wearing my glasses; justice demands that this should
  be
inky | reflexive.
Grocible says, "duchess: because I don't like these vast multinational
  companies buying everything out in sight"
Ellison says, "hehe"
andyf says (to inky), "Heh. WHere's that from."
Rob says, "There's been a headline a day in the business pages about
  Coca-Cola making bad business movies, losing money, tanking in various ways
  as a company."
andyf asks, "?"
Duchess says (to inky), "well no one recognizes me if i wear tinted glasses
  :)"
inky says, "rec.arts.sf.fandom"
neild says, "I like shopping, bad business movies."
Rob says, "I've had people tell me I look like Clark Kent."
Grocible says, "I was disappointed that nobody said I looked particularly
  different when I shaved off my beard. even putting highlights in my hair
  didn't seem to either"
andyf says, "People did rather interesting double-takes when I first
  appeared in public sans glasses, after getting contacts."
Rob says, "usually freshman age girls"
inky says, "heh"
Grocible says, "hm. I think I'd prefer to look like keanu reeves than clark
  kent. at least keanu reeves doesn't have large blue rectangles in his
  hair"
Rob says, "One time, I was accosted and asked to sign an autograph as
  'Clark Kent' on a piece of paper."
<Whizzard> Whizzard has connected to ifMUD.
inky says (to Rob), "that's your excuse to ask them to step into a phone
  booth"
Whizzard feels as if a million voices cried out in terror and were suddenly
  silenced.  Either that, or it's a touch of indigestion.
(From Ellison) Rob says, "they kept jumping off of the school's roof to see
  if I'd save them."
Ellison says, "heya Whiz"
Whizzard says, "hi dere."
andyf says (to Groc), "Thing is, I don't see the ressemblance."
Rob says, "Another time, I was walking up some steps as they hollered out
  'Hey Clark Kent!' and it made me trip and fall on my face."
Ellison says, "I played tortoise.gam for the first time today...  it
  sucks"
Rob says, "I thought, "Well, they'll never suspect I'm Superman.""
andyf says (to Groc), "Of course, when I met you, you didn't say 'whoa!'
  once."
Ellison says, "er, I mean, it totally rocks"
inky says, "'whiz"
neild exclaims (to Rob), "Hee!"
Ellison says, "yeah, that was a really good game"
Grocible says, "andyf: well me neither really"
Ellison says, "now I have to play OaF"
andyf says (to Whiz), "Heya."
Whizzard looks at Eli skeptically.
Whizzard says, "Hinky."
andyf has been accused of looking like different people at different
  times.
andyf says, "At least no one's said I look like Woody Allen in years."
neild says (to andy), "Zelig, too."
Adam says (to andy), "Of course not.  Keanu doesn't put that much emotion
  into 'whoa'"
neild asks (to andy), "Timing?"
Alex says (to neild), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that timing is when two
  people say things at the same time. it's like a jinx, but you don't have to
  buy the person a Coke."
neild says (to Alex), "Yeah, yeah."
Alex exclaims (to neild), "Awwwk! No parse found!"
andyf says (to neild), "Apparently. But I wasn't joking."
Adam giggles with delight completing this survey
Adam says, "This page has two items:"
Whizzard says (to inky), "We've moved on to the next book (Pirates). All
  the NPCs will have wanted posters around them, with where and how much
  bounty is being offered for them."
neild says, "Also, I fucked up that joke."
Rob says, "The only other 'Hey you look like..!' I've had is Brandon Lee."
andyf says (to neild), "I actually did apparently look a bit like Woody
  Allen, when I had bad glasses and short hair."
Ellison says, "yay pirates"
Adam | Age [ 25 ]
Adam | Retired from employment? Yes (x)   No ( )
(From neild) Nancy Walker says, "Mmm... Bounty."
andyf exclaims (to Adam), "Woohoo!"
Rob says (to Adam), "Whoa."
inky says, "it's been established I look like the drummer from harvey
  danger"
inky says, "but nobody off-mud has ever thought this"
Grocible says, "adam: you're not retired. you're self-employed"
Adam says, "That ought to fuck up their computer"
inky says, "so, um"
Grocible says, "adam: which means, of course, you're a criminal in the eyes
  of the bank"
Ellison says, "I didn't know what the drummer looked like, but I once
  thought that DX looked kind of like the singer"
Rob says, "Soon you'll be getting a strange mix of record club offers and
  senior citizen discounts."
andyf says (to Rob), "Heh."
Grocible asks, "when I was self-employed and I went to the bank and they
  asked what I did they'd sort of look at me skeptically. Oh yeah?
  self-employed *consultant*?"
Duchess says (to rob), "better that than having people think you were the
  model in a tampon ad :)"
andyf says (to Groc), "That's often code for 'unemployed'."
andyf exclaims (to Duchess), "Eagh!"
Rob says (to Duchess), "Hmm, I guess so!"
neild says, "Model In a Tampon Ad is my favorite Police song."
Rob asks (to duchess), "That happen to you..?"
Grocible asks, "andyf: but what if it happens to be true?"
andyf says (to Groc), "Then they won't believe you, I guess..."
Rob can hear Sting singing that, for some reason.
neild asks (to Rob), "Tinnitus acting up again?"
Duchess says (to rob), "well, not tampon, but pads. I was called the
  "Always girl" all semester"
Rob asks, "Eh? What?"
Rob says (to Duchess), "aw"
neild asks, "Clara Bow was the Always Girl, right?"
Adam says, "'We'll even rebate domestic ATM surcharges up to $15 a month.' 
  Whoo-hoo!"
Duchess says (to neild), "no idea"
<bonnie> bonnie has connected to ifMUD.
Rob says, "whoa, clara bow reference"
inky says, "heh"
andyf says (to Duchess), "Urk"
Rob says (to Duchess), "She was known as the 'It' girl."
neild exclaims (to Rob), "Yay obscure ref-getting!"
Rob says, "I think."
inky asks, "now, will bonnie disconnect?"
bonnie arrives from the east.
Duchess says (to inky), "prolly since kiz is not here"
Grocible asks, "duchess: they used a specific girl for their ad
  campaigns?"
Duchess says, "hi bonnie"
bonnie says, "hi"
inky says, "hi"
Rob says, "All them years of film school learned me something."
bonnie says, "hi duchess"
Duchess says (to groc), "not sure."
andyf says (to bonnie), "Heya."
bonnie says, "don't know what to do with pages,m sorry"
bonnie says, "hi andy f"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "it's okay. you will catch on :)"
bonnie says, "oh okay"
Whizzard says, "Hi."
Duchess says (to bonnie), "can i have your email? i want to coordinate
  meeting up with you when i am in japan in a couple weeks."
andyf figures they oughta pay actresses extra for those ads, just for the
  embarassment factor.
bonnie says, "You're coming to japan?  Oh okay."
Grocible asks, "duchess: when are you leaving again?"
bonnie says, "I'll give you this one"
Duchess says (to groc), "may 23rd"
bonnie asks, "should I just give it to you here?"
Grocible says, "andyf: they get to keep the white horses they ride"
bonnie says, "oh cool"
Grocible says, "duchess; groovy"
Grocible asks, "duchess: so we going to get to meet you at the airport?"
Duchess says (to SF), "i should get some of that for all the times people
  think i am that girl in the ad"
andyf says (to Duchess), "Sue 'em."
Duchess says (to groc), "i will let you know once i know how long i am in
  the terminal"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "thanks"
andyf grins evilly.
bonnie asks, "wait someone else is in Japan?"
Grocible says, "hrm. I forgot to ask the campervan hire firm if they
  provide discounts for automobile association members"
neild says, "Duchess Groovy is my favorite Phyllis Diller character."
Duchess says (to bonnie), "no, he is talking about vancouver"
bonnie says, "I'm hungry"
bonnie says, "Oh okay"
Duchess asks (to bonnie), "where in japan are you again? tokyo?"
Ellison says (to neild), "hehe"
bonnie says, "Yup, Tokyo.  Where yougoing in Japan?  You speak Japanese,
  right?""
Rob says, "meguro"
Adam says, "Mus is in Japan"
bonnie says, "well I'm kind of in the west part of Tokyo, like far from
  Narita"
Rob says, "shinjuku"
bonnie asks, "who's in meguro?"
bonnie asks, "who's in shinjuku?"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "we will be in tokyo for a day anda half"
Rob says, "I stayed there in 1983."
bonnie says, "ohh"
Rob asks, "Wasn't shinjuku the big shopping district?"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "most likely we will be staying in setagayaku"
bonnie says, "Wow where in Tokyo will you be?  Shinjuku, yeah, everything
  district"
bonnie asks, "where's that?"
bonnie asks, "setagayaku?"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "and hai, nihongo o oshaberimasu"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "how well do you know the subway? the marunochen
  line past sibuya and maybe about three stops"
bonnie says, "ii desu ne."
bonnie says, "not well but I know where you meran"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "futagotamagawaen station"
bonnie says, "uhh mean"
bonnie says, "ah okay"
Rob says, "mmm, marunochen"
bonnie asks, "wow between ginza and shibuya?"
bonnie says, "chigau ka?""
Duchess says (to rob), "shinjuku is also yakuza area"
bonnie says, "uso! I didn't know that.""
bonnie says, "I thought they were all in Kansai"
(From Grocible) Duchess says, "That's why I am missing a finger."
andyf asks (to Duchess), "Hmm. Make you wonder about Rob?"
bonnie says, "hehe okay forget my email address then"
Duchess asks (to bonnie), "yeah. we are hanging out at ginza in the day,
  and then we are going to roppongi the first night. wanna join us?"
Adam asks, "Are interest rates likely to go up or down right now? Anyone
  know?"
bonnie asks, "Roppongi? I've only been once.  Actually I'dlove to... who's
  we?"
Duchess says (to bonnie), "kansai too."
Rob is able to infer with andyf's help what yakuza might mean.
andyf says (to Rob), "Gangster."
Duchess says (to bonnie), "i am going with three of my friends."
inky says (to Adam), "mm"
bonnie says, "Japanese mafia"
bonnie says, "wowww that's so nice"
Grocible says, "tattooed gentlemen in bathrobes"
Rob says, "heh."
inky says (to Adam), "economy's still going up"
Grocible says, "I went to ginza in 1979 or something"
inky says (to Adam), "so I expect they won't feel the need to drop rates to
  give it a boost"
bonnie says, "hehe that too.  Although my friend said when he was a kid
  they gave him candy and stuff at halloween"
PollBoy hollers, "Adam has changed the poll! There's a nose ring in my
  soup."
Adam changes poll to: Area Bonnie Says, 'Japanese Mafia So Nice'
Duchess says (to adam), "yeah it sucks since the exchange is not going to
  in my favor that much this time around"
Ellison says, "I liked the yakuza guys in Gibson's stuff"
Grocible says, "duchess: will you be picking up lots of Japanese...
  software? if so, be sure to post your reviews"
bonnie says, "Yeah, I don't even know what it is anymore.  I just spend
  money and hope I don't run out."
Rob says, "hee"
Duchess asks (to bonnie), "do you happen to know if there are hours for
  when you can enter the park bordering the imperial palace?"
bonnie says, "Okay, I better go because I have to write an email to Daddy
  asking to borrow some money"
bonnie says, "I don't think so but I could be wrong"
Duchess asks (to groc), "software? i wasn't planning to, but any
  requests?"
Duchess exclaims (to bonnie), "all right, i will be in touch!"
Duchess waves to bonnie
inky says, "bye bonnie"
bonnie says, "cool, okay bye everyone, bye duchess"
bonnie has disconnected.
bonnie goes home.
<bonnie> bonnie has disconnected from ifMUD.
Grocible asks, "okay... is it just me, or does anyone else break out in
  hives when they hear an adult refer to their father as "daddy"?"
Rob stifle
Grocible says, "duchess; um... joke"
andyf says (to Duchess), "I suspect Groc was referring to those, er,
  interesting games Caxton keeps reviewing."
Duchess says (to inky), "well she has learned to say goodbye"
Rob says (to Groc), "errrrmmmm had to hold my tongue"
Duchess asks (to SF), "oh yeah, those porno ones?"
Duchess says (to groc), "why? i would rather, erm, test drive them while
  there :)"
Adam says, "Well, so long as it's a daughter"
Rob says, "heh"
andyf says (to Duchess), "If the reviews are to be believed. I'm still
  dubious about their actual existence."
Ellison says, "hentai or something"
Grocible says, "adam: doesn't make a difference to me"
Grocible says, "it sounds... cloying"
Duchess asks (to groc), "would you feel better if an adult says otosan?"
andyf says (to Groc), "I'm inclined to agree."
Adam says, "Tracy calls Mr. Valencia 'Daddy' and she's 18"
Grocible says, "duchess: hmm. well. that's not as bad somehow"
Grocible asks, "adam: point made, then?"
Duchess says (to SF), "i used to call my father papa but when i hit the
  ripe old age of five, he made me stop :("
andyf says (to Adam), "calling one's father 'daddy' seems to be part &
  parcel of a certain kind of manipulativeness."
andyf says (to Adam), "My cousin does that."
Rob says, "made you stop? how odd."
Grocible says, "as in, "can I have some more money please, daddy?""
andyf says (to Groc), "Exactly."
Duchess says (to groc), "but isn't it the same manipulativeness to say,
  "can i have some money please, dad?" hmm. guess not. there isn't the same
  quality"
andyf says (to Groc), "My cousin can shake my uncle down with incredible
  ease."
Duchess says (to SF), "okay, i think i agree with you guys now"
Rob says, "Lots of Dads kind of cherish the affectionate names their
  daughters give them."
Ellison says, "or 'hey, old man, pass the beer'"
andyf says (to Duchess), "'Papa' seems different to me."
inky says (to Ell), "heh"
andyf says (to Duchess), "It's just 'Daddy' that grates."
Duchess says (to SF), "well other then being spanish and french and god
  knows what other language :)"
andyf says (to Duchess), "Heh. Yep."
andyf figures there's a fine line between the cloying and the
  disrespectful.
andyf says, "'Pop' is too nose-thumbingly Bart Simpson-ish."
Grocible says, "there's a certain type of middle-class southern English
  person who will refer to a grandmother as "nana""
Adam says, "Well, phooey to you.  I think it's sweet"
neild says, "'Daddy, That Grates': The Dorothy Allison Story."
andyf says (to Adam), "I think it's carbonated."
andyf asks (to neild), "???"
Adam says, "If my daughter still called me 'daddy' in her 20s, my heart
  would melt"
neild says (to andy), "Nevermind."
andyf says (to Adam), "Well, it depends how it's used I suppose."
Duchess says, "i think it depends on the context...my cousin still calls
  her father daddy and i know he likes it because to him she is still an
  eight year old."
Duchess says (to SF), "timing :)"
Grocible says, "I guess I just feel that when you reach a certain age it's
  a good thing to relate to your parents as fellow adults, not the way a
  child does to an adult. Respected, loving adults, hopefully, but still
  fellow adults"
Grocible says, "a coworker has a horrible problem with her parents not
  treating her as an adult, and she's 35. it drives her nuts"
inky says (to Groc), "depends if you want to get a loan from them or not"
Rob says, "I guess it's got to be different for different families,
  different people."
Duchess says (to groc), "*culture difference* even when i am 40 and have
  kids in their teens, my parents are going to still treat me like a kid"
Grocible says, "hewoo my wittle baybee! Oh, for God's sake, Mum! Cut that
  out!"
andyf says (to Rob), "True. Every family is screwed up in its own unique
  way."
Grocible says, "duchess; well sure. this is strictly me with my point of
  view with my cultural background"
Adam says, "Then there's my situation, where my mother acts like a child"
Duchess says (to adam), "that must be really hard to handle"
Duchess asks (to groc), "your parents don't still treat you  like a kid?"
Rob asks, "Good kind of childlike or bad kind of childish?"
andyf says (to Adam), "Oy. Trouble."
Grocible says, "duchess: nope. haven't for a long long time"
Adam says, "She still uses baby-talk.  Not just with me -- with everyone. 
  Pets, friends, co-workers, everyone."
Rob says, "ooooooooog."
inky asks, "co-workers?"
neild says, "Oy Trouble is my favorite Barbra Streisand romantic comedy."
Duchess says, "i get along with my parents when i don't live at home
  because they can't treat me like a kid. it's when i am at home they forget
  that i am an adult. *sigh*"
Rob says, "Directed by Peter Bogdanovich"
Grocible says, "duchess: of course, with my family we sit around and
  discuss politics and morality and shit"
Duchess asks (to adam), "has she always done this throughout your childhood
  and stuff, or did she start doing it at some distinct point?"
Grocible asks, "neild: are you writing these down?"
neild asks (to Groc), "Which?"
andyf's aunt says 'oy' in every other sentence.
Grocible says, "neild: abc is my favourite xyz"
Duchess asks (to groc), "that too. it gets pretty spririted at times. my
  parents sometimes comes back days later with a book or newspaper to back up
  their arguments. it gets pretty competitive. yours?"
neild says (to Groc), "We've done about 700 of them in the last two days
  here."
inky says, "I don't know if they make sense out of context"
Adam says (to Fahmida), "Um, more or less throughout, I guess"
inky says, "I feel weird discussing important stuff with my parents"
Grocible says, "duchess: I wouldn't say competitive per se, because we
  usually agree on most things. but it depends"
Duchess says (to inky), "i don't know how much sense they make in context"
inky says, "insert birds-and-bees joke here"
andyf says, "I've given up arguing with my dad."
Duchess says (to inky), "important=?personal then i don't discuss with
  them"
andyf says, "He takes arguments too personally -- *hates* being wrong."
Duchess says (to SF), "especially to his son, i bet"
inky says (to Duchess), "nah, I mean politics and stuff too."
Grocible says, "well I don't talk about deeply personal stuff with my
  parents, as it makes them squeamish. I mean, I might talk in extremely
  general terms about something. omitting details"
andyf says (to Duchess), "Well -- stubornness is a family trait."
inky says, "hmm. ok, that's not totally true."
inky says (to andyf), "is not."
Rob says, "with my family it's a bit like here. most of the time it's jokey
  banter, then sometimes we'll hit upon some conversation that will wander
  and get deep and serious and go on for a while and stuff."
Duchess asks, "tangent: when was oslo accords signed?"
Grocible says, "especially if it's to do with sex or relationships - my
  parents get very embarrasssed"
Duchess asks, "and wye?"
Alex exclaims, "Awwk! Log started!"
<bonnie> bonnie has connected to ifMUD.
inky asks (to Duchess), "wye not?"
<bonnie> bonnie has disconnected from ifMUD.
Grocible asks, "who started the log?"
inky asks, "is oslo two years?"
Alex says, "Awwwk! Log over! File is
  http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~dbs/ifmud/abcisxyz.txt"
Duchess says (to groc), "my parents still think i don't know anything about
  sex. i have never heard my mom or my dead use the word."
Rob asks, "Hello, Freud?"
inky says, ""We raised our daughter like a good girl, to reproduce by
  asexual fission""
andyf avoids the topic around his parents.
Ellison says (to inky), "hehe"
(From Adam) Duchess says, "I swear, not *once*, in the entire time since
  the stork brought me"
Duchess says (to groc), "if my mom sees it on the application, she won't
  read it as sex, but as gender. :) when we went to see miss saigon, when we
  were talking about it, she didn't say anything about prostitutes, just
  "those girls""
Grocible says, "duchess: my parents know I'm not a virgin anymore, but I
  think the closest my parents have actually talked about anything sexual was
  when my mother said some remark about me kissing my girlfriend."
inky says (to Adam), "yay"
Grocible says, "and at the time I thought whoa! that's pretty *graphic* of
  you, mum!"
Duchess laughs
andyf says, "Heh."
Grocible says, "something to do with my scratchy beard or somesuch, as I
  recall"
Duchess says (to groc), "considering my parents have no idea i have ever
  had a boyfriend, i have never had to deal with that yet. :)"
Grocible says, "duchess: probably just as well then :)"
Grocible says, "adam: damn. no automobile associatio discount"
andyf says, "My parents felt they should talk about such things in
  adolescence, but were way too embarassed. The result was truly painful."
Alex exclaims, "Awwk! Log started!"
Duchess asks (to alex), "again?"
Alex asks (to Duchess), "Um, seven?"

[Log finished Thu May  6 02:06:18 1999]