#editorial | Logs for 2014-07-06

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[00:26:14] <Azrael> thanks :)
[05:37:33] -!- BlackHole [BlackHole!~4c76b3cf@t-59-991-957-035.hsd4.ma.comcast.net] has joined #editorial
[05:38:14] <BlackHole> Hi!
[05:39:06] <mrcoolbp> HI!
[05:39:26] <BlackHole> mrcoolbp, hi!
[05:39:36] <BlackHole> you are not going to believe the scoop I just got!
[05:39:37] <mrcoolbp> sup Blackhole?
[05:39:45] <mrcoolbp> blackhole, lay it on me
[05:39:47] <BlackHole> check out my pending submission :)
[05:39:54] <mrcoolbp> k
[05:40:30] <mrcoolbp> HWOA
[05:40:43] <BlackHole> i'm pretty sure we're going to take over the world.
[05:40:47] <BlackHole> just sayin'.
[05:40:58] <mrcoolbp> holy shit, let me get the team on it
[05:41:15] <BlackHole> i wonder if that would be good for a monday morning post?
[05:41:15] <mrcoolbp> I could send it through, but I'd like to grab the fulltime editor's attention
[05:41:42] <BlackHole> i don't know that there is any real rush, but it would be sweet to get maximum visibility =)
[05:41:52] <mrcoolbp> mattie_p, NCommander, Azrael, we have a doozie in the submission queu
[05:42:35] <mrcoolbp> BlackHole: let me check out the story
[05:42:40] <BlackHole> k
[05:44:02] <mrcoolbp> pauelej72: check out http://soylentnews.org!
[05:44:03] <monopoly> ^ 03U.S. Congressional Candidate is a Fan of SoylentNews!: SoylentNews Submission
[05:44:09] <BlackHole> (btw, in case you forgot, i'm matt_ :-)
[05:45:26] <mrcoolbp> BlackHole: omg, yes I did "forget" (or never knew)
[05:45:36] <BlackHole> lol!
[05:45:54] <mrcoolbp> BlackHole: this is really cool, but it seems he just mentioned it in passing
[05:46:11] <mrcoolbp> I could see waiting for monday on this based on our stats
[05:46:12] <BlackHole> very true, but i don't know that we could really ask for more at this stage...
[05:46:31] <mrcoolbp> Blackhole: don't get me wrong, this is sweet
[05:46:59] <BlackHole> also, i think he's a bit of an underdog in this election, but you never know :)
[05:47:18] <BlackHole> it just seems like it would be cool if he actually engaged directly with the community.
[05:47:33] <mrcoolbp> Blackhole: nice work, were you searching around? How did you find this one?
[05:47:47] <BlackHole> really his quote is just our excuse to entice him into a conversatioin :-)
[05:48:03] <BlackHole> yeah, if you google "soylentnews" in google news, it comes up.
[05:48:36] <mrcoolbp> cool
[05:49:01] <mrcoolbp> Blackmoore: I'll draft an email to him and get the guys attention in the morning for review
[05:49:04] <mrcoolbp> er
[05:49:08] <mrcoolbp> Blackhole
[05:49:16] <mrcoolbp> BlackHole: also BTW, I had/am-still-having a crazy long weekend working but I'm planning on teaming up with NCommander to get paypal (at least) setup the week coming
[05:49:32] * mrcoolbp is stoked
[05:49:57] <BlackHole> very nice. I'm not sure i remember seeing your response to NC's request for a meeting on Monday at 7pm EST.
[05:50:06] <BlackHole> does that time work for you?
[05:50:13] <mrcoolbp> yes
[05:50:19] <BlackHole> nice!
[05:50:25] <mrcoolbp> I may have missed that, I basically worked 15 hours on Friday
[05:50:35] <mrcoolbp> havn't been the same since
[05:50:46] <BlackHole> wow. did you get to play any Independence Day gigs?
[05:51:00] <mrcoolbp> no, that's this friday/saturday
[05:51:09] <mrcoolbp> do you like classic/90s rock?
[05:51:10] <mrcoolbp> = )
[05:51:16] <BlackHole> yeah!
[05:51:22] <mrcoolbp> it's in framingham
[05:51:35] <BlackHole> when?
[05:51:48] <mrcoolbp> Friday 10pm, Saturday same
[05:52:02] <mrcoolbp> we are actually pretty good
[05:52:19] <mrcoolbp> pinkfloyd, tool, pearl jam, etc
[05:52:36] <BlackHole> cool! location? (it's probably too late for me given the drive back, but there is a chance i could make it).
[05:53:05] <mrcoolbp> The Tavern, 102 Irving Street, Framingham
[05:53:23] <mrcoolbp> I promise you'll be entertained
[05:53:34] <BlackHole> great!
[05:54:16] <mrcoolbp> BlackHole: thanks for what you've done for SoylentNews PBC, I really can't believe it
[05:54:39] <BlackHole> i have learned an important lesson myself:
[05:54:52] <BlackHole> the hard part is getting people to agree, the rest is just paperwork :-)
[05:55:01] <mrcoolbp> ROFL
[05:55:13] <mrcoolbp> yeah, we took some convincin'
[05:55:24] <BlackHole> oh, btw, did you see my other awesome story today?
[05:55:31] <BlackHole> it was the stem cell one.
[05:55:42] <mrcoolbp> I saw it
[05:56:03] <mrcoolbp> you're on fire today
[05:56:17] <mrcoolbp> s/today/always/
[05:56:29] <BlackHole> i had a good conversation with jan on this channel this morning about figuring out a way to commmission some original articles from freelance writers.
[05:57:08] <mrcoolbp> cool, lemme check
[05:57:11] <BlackHole> i also think it would be cool to find a way to pay the editors, at least a token sum.
[05:57:27] <mrcoolbp> that's a good idea, they are some of the hardest working guys on the team
[05:57:34] <mrcoolbp> them and paulej72
[05:57:44] <BlackHole> but don't tell them. (i'm sure none are listening, right? ;)
[05:57:46] <mrcoolbp> he should get some kind of stipend
[05:57:56] <mrcoolbp> BlackHOle: I hope not
[05:58:01] <mrcoolbp> = )
[05:58:02] <BlackHole> hahah
[05:59:27] <BlackHole> my favorite comment from the stem-cell post: <cubancigar11> "A. Good good extremely good. I felt I am at the right place reading this article."
[05:59:34] <BlackHole> that made my week!
[05:59:43] <mrcoolbp> Blackhole: PM
[06:19:02] <mrcoolbp> paulej72: http://soylentnews.org!
[06:19:03] <monopoly> ^ 04SN Submission by BlackHole 03 U.S. Congressional Candidate is a Fan of SoylentNews! : BlackHole writes: B.J. Guillot is one of three candidates currently seeking to represent Washington State's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Represent...
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[14:05:20] <janrinok> hi anyone
[14:17:00] <BlackHole> janrinok, hi. how are you?
[14:21:35] <janrinok> hi BlackHole I'm good, how about you?
[14:24:10] <BlackHole> very good. as i was telling mrcoolb_p (don't want to wake him up) last night, my favorite comment from the stem-cell post was from cubancigar11: "A. Good good extremely good. I felt I am at the right place reading this article."
[14:24:28] <BlackHole> that officially made my week =)
[14:25:06] <BlackHole> what's new in your neck of the wood_s? (don't want to wake him up either ;-)
[14:25:59] <janrinok> I agree - I would have felt the same. We also have a story - not yet edited and released - where a US Congressman tells the world how he left /. and moved to SN - a completely unsolicited testimonial. We will release that on Monday along with NC's latest update.
[14:26:29] <chromas> Hah
[14:27:09] <janrinok> Things are as good as can be expected. I'm very tired after a busy weekend on here as the US crowd still haven't returned to SN duty! I expect that they'll turn up later today or tomorrow.
[14:27:10] <chromas> janrinok: did you notice the submitter?
[14:27:11] <BlackHole> cool. (that's my submission, in case you didnt' notice ;-)
[14:27:25] <janrinok> I _had_ noticed :)
[14:27:34] <BlackHole> quite the scoop, eh? :0)
[14:27:55] <janrinok> brilliant. NC will be as pleased as Punch!
[14:28:05] <BlackHole> they're probably all hungover. :)
[14:28:26] <BlackHole> yeah, i think he'll like it. seems like things are progressing nicely wiht the site.
[14:29:33] <janrinok> All-in-all, its been a good few days, beginning last Friday with incorporation.
[14:32:05] <BlackHole> yep. it's quite a milestone. as I was also telling mrcool last night, the hard part was getting people to agree, the rest was just paperwork :)
[14:33:02] <janrinok> I think you shouldn't underplay the _amount_ of paperwork - lol. I know a lot of people were sweating blood to complete that document!
[14:34:17] <BlackHole> true. i think bytram has mostly recovered from going over them with a fine-tooth comb ;)
[14:34:57] <BlackHole> so, i understand that you garden? what sort of things do you grow?
[14:37:18] <janrinok> I have 3 separate areas of garden. Between the house and the road is about 15 metres square of formal garden - roses, dahlias, hydrangea etc. My wife is disabled and stuck in a wheelchair or on her hospital-type bed. She likes the colours and smells on the occasional push around that garden....
[14:38:47] <BlackHole> i see. i'm glad that it brings the two of you pleasure.
[14:38:54] <janrinok> Behind the house is a small copse. It is managed but allowed to grow more naturally. It is teeming with wildlife from insects and mice, up the food chain, to visiting owls and raptors. The plants dictate what happens there, I simply try to keep them in some semblance of order....
[14:39:42] <janrinok> The 3rd patch is a fruit and veggie garden. Not had much chance to do anywork in there this year but we will still get some fruit as a crop.
[14:40:27] <BlackHole> how would you describe the climate in your area?
[14:41:24] <janrinok> NW France is a typical W european climate. Plenty of rain from the Atlantic, but enough warm and even hot days to make living here a pleasure.
[14:42:02] <janrinok> My wife cannot cope to extremes of temperature - they play havoc with MS.
[14:42:12] <janrinok> cope with*
[14:42:17] <BlackHole> oh, my goodness. all this time, I thought you were in Australia, for some reason.
[14:42:59] <BlackHole> ah, yes. my aunt was diagnosed with MS some years ago. she and her husband moved to Maine, specifically for that reason.
[14:43:10] <janrinok> no, I'm a Brit who took early'ish retirement from Government service - mostly military - to look after my wife. Settled here in NW France about 7 years ago.
[14:44:18] <BlackHole> in fact, ever since they moved to Maine (it must be 10 years ago by now), her MS has progressed only very slowly.
[14:45:31] <janrinok> Unfortunately, my wife's condition is deteriorating. When we arrived here she could still walk with a stick, and could drive. She has very limited capabilities nowadays and it is difficult to watch what, to me, seems a very rapid change.
[14:46:16] <janrinok> 10 years ago, she was a normal active person with no indications of anything that was to come.
[14:46:17] <BlackHole> i see. i once took a biking tour through the Loire Valley. it was a great experience (and a good way to offsett all of the calories from the delicious food :)
[14:47:09] <BlackHole> ah. are the doctors able to do anything that helps at all?
[14:47:22] <janrinok> lol - I've taken up cooking too, well no other options really, and I am told that I am an accomplished cook. I enjoy it but, like so many things, it is also quite a drain on my time.
[14:48:28] <janrinok> We found out early last week that she is facing some fairly serious surgery, with no possibility of any recovery from where she is today, but a significant risk of yet more deterioration.
[14:49:18] <janrinok> One reason that I volunteered to be an editor, is that it is something I can do and be only a matter of a few yards from her bedside.
[14:49:23] <BlackHole> i didn't know that there was a surgical procedure for treating MS.
[14:49:33] <BlackHole> i see.
[14:50:24] <janrinok> There is one for treating MS, but there are several to correct the deterioration that can occur on other organs which might, without treatment, prove serious or even fatal.
[14:50:39] <janrinok> sry 'There isn't one'*
[14:50:49] <BlackHole> ah, i see.
[14:51:21] <janrinok> But everyday is a new day - and we take each day as it comes.
[14:52:17] <janrinok> Anyway - where abouts are you - general country or region will suffice...
[14:52:21] <BlackHole> that seems like an excellent attitude. i am sure that she enjoys having your company during the day now.
[14:52:30] <BlackHole> i'm in the Boston area.
[14:52:44] <BlackHole> i actually met NC in person while he was in town!
[14:52:51] <janrinok> It seems like SN has quite a following in the NE of America!
[14:54:12] <BlackHole> which reminds me, i hope that mattie_p's move was a success. any news on that front?
[14:54:46] <janrinok> Yep, he and family arrived safely. Not sure when their belongings catch up with them.
[14:54:52] <BlackHole> he was moving to upstate new york, IIRC.
[14:54:59] <BlackHole> nice.
[14:55:23] <janrinok> Not sure of the exact location - an people value their privacy so I don't like to pry into specifics.
[14:55:28] <janrinok> and*
[14:55:50] * janrinok notes that typing with the ends of 3 fingers in sticking plasters is not easy
[14:55:59] <BlackHole> good point :) i'm just looking forward to the inevitable NE USA SN Party.
[14:56:07] <BlackHole> oh dear, gardening accident?
[14:57:24] <janrinok> lol yes - several months ago while cutting up some trees that fell onto a corner of the house during a storm, I injured the tips of 3 fingers. Nothing too serious. But I'm at the stage now where the nails have grown and are partly shedding the old bruised portions. Damn, if they don't get in the way of everything!
[14:58:46] <janrinok> the doc reckons I mad for even trying to do such things at 'my age' - cheeky devil!
[14:59:07] <BlackHole> hah! is he fresh out of med school?
[14:59:42] <BlackHole> next time, best use a chain saw, i think ;)
[15:00:03] <janrinok> no quite the opposite - She is approaching retirement, but skis, does equestrian eventing and other outdoor pursuits. yet I'm supposed to drink cocoa and wear my slippers all the time!
[15:01:31] <janrinok> I _was_ using a chain saw. But a bit of tree under tension after the fall whipped back when I cut part of the trunk. Could have been nasty, but it only caught my finger tips. I've not been playing my guitar or banjo for a few months now!
[15:02:29] <BlackHole> oh my! i can picture it.
[15:03:09] <janrinok> ...and as you can see my typing is pretty crappy too...
[15:03:13] <BlackHole> i also play the guitar (a bit). i've been too busy lately, though, so my calluses are all gone.
[15:05:16] <BlackHole> ...and so does mrcool, i believe. i may have a chance to see his band perform next weekend.
[15:05:33] <janrinok> I'm currently trying to debug a python program that has been working well for over 12 months and has suddenly decided that it doesn't want to play anymore.
[15:05:46] <BlackHole> side project?
[15:05:48] <janrinok> LaminatorX aslo plays
[15:07:44] <janrinok> Well, to keep my software skills even remotely current, I have eight (most old and unwanted) computers scattered around the house and networked together. They each have a purpose but do not always remain on. So I write realtime software to manage them, and to control their individual tasks while remaining seated at my main position.
[15:09:59] <janrinok> Not necessarily a valuable software project but it keeps my brain active and lets me try various ideas.
[15:10:02] <BlackHole> very cool. my colleague is working on a python program to organize our lab's database of dna sequences. i think he likes it (i guess he must, since he chose to use it).
[15:11:40] <janrinok> I also use C++ where necessary - python isn't good as a realtime language although it can be coerced into doing some amazing things. But it is a very good language that can do most things and, as they say, is 'batteries included'.
[15:13:12] <janrinok> Realtime software can be difficult to debug because it might only be an event that occurs periodically that sets a chain of events going, which in turn cause the problem. Which is where I am now.
[15:14:18] <janrinok> And with a number of networked computers, one has to first discover where the problem begins and not only where it manifests itself...!
[15:14:24] <BlackHole> i think the 'batteries included' aspect was a selling point for my colleague. i believe there is a package called "pydna", even, which was just what he needed.
[15:15:49] <janrinok> I've not heard of it, but it sounds about right. I used to use perl, but Python appeals to my way of thinking and writing code - so I switched a few years ago. Now, perl looks to me like line noise on a teleprinter...
[15:16:58] <BlackHole> i do hear quite a few stories around here about the challenges of perl ;)
[15:17:15] <janrinok> lol - brb 5 mins - wife needs help
[15:17:20] <BlackHole> k
[15:17:26] * BlackHole goes to get a coffee
[15:20:47] * BlackHole can see people dismantling a huge fireworks setup from his window.
[15:22:08] <BlackHole> in boston, they launch fireworks from a giant barge in the river. people lining the river get an amazing view!
[15:22:51] <BlackHole> now that is what i call riparian entertainment!
[15:23:56] <BlackHole> (ever see "Keeping Up Appearances"?, it's one of my favo(u)rite british comedies!)
[15:29:34] <janrinok> BlackHole: that's a comedy that people either love or hate. It seems that there is no middleground.
[15:31:30] <BlackHole> oh, dear. how could anyone hate that, it's perfect! =)
[15:32:17] <janrinok> I've known people rush home to watch it, and I've seen people walk out of the room when it begins....
[15:32:22] <BlackHole> like every good American, i watch at least 8 hours of tv a day :)
[15:32:46] <janrinok> actually watch, or is it background noise?
[15:33:09] <BlackHole> mostly backgound noise. drowns out the voices in my head. (kidding!)
[15:33:31] <BlackHole> usually i have it tuned to CNN. i guess i'm a news junkie.
[15:34:13] <janrinok> I let the voices in my head win nowadays - it saves me lots of guilt as I just blame the 'voices' for everything I do wrong.
[15:34:41] <BlackHole> how is your French? do you watch French tv or get plenty of English channels?
[15:36:49] <janrinok> We watch UK tv via satellite. I speak (at various levels of competency) Russian, Serbian, German and French. The latter is by far the worst - although I can get by when shopping, doing tax returns, chatting to the neighbours etc. But, other than than, we have limited social life and we use English in the home.
[15:38:06] <BlackHole> i see. i am limited to English and let's say "basic-to-moderate" Japanese.
[15:39:08] <janrinok> But I have lived or worked in each of those places for at least a year or more - so I _should_ be able to communicate to some degree or other.
[15:39:12] <BlackHole> doing tax returns in a foreign language! i'm pretty sure that counts as advanced =)
[15:40:00] <BlackHole> i spent a year studying in Japan. there really is no substitute for an immersion of at least that duration.
[15:40:41] <janrinok> Not really, I receive a UK government pension, taxed in the UK. Under EU rules you only get taxed once. So, as I earn nothing in France, it is simply a case of proving the payments of my pension and the tax taken from it, and then they give me an additional tax bill of 0 euros.
[15:41:18] <BlackHole> i see. makes sense. how is the EU doing these days?
[15:41:29] <janrinok> Local housing taxes and such like are slightly more complicated but not much.
[15:43:19] <janrinok> The EU is like the EU has always been. There are regulations. The Brits try to obey them all, fail to meet some and admit it, and then get chastized by the EU paper-pushers. The French ignore EU laws, thumb their nose at any challenges, and live their lives as though nothing has happened. Other nations, Greece, Spain, Ireland, all have their own variations on how to manage the EU.
[15:45:48] <BlackHole> hmm. doesn't sound like the most sustainable situation, but i suppose it could work as long as everyone remains flexible to some degree.
[15:47:18] <BlackHole> my only recent experience/exposure to EU beurocracy comes from our recent patent application that is now entering the "regional stage".
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[15:47:58] <janrinok> Britain tries to apply some common-sense, everyone else is busy looking after their own position or wanting to increase their power, and see that commonsense would not be advantageous to them. Hence, boo, hiss, the Brits are the bad guys. No change for the last few 100 years then...
[15:49:02] <BlackHole> it is very convenient to deal with the European Patent Office (EPO) to get everything sorted out and in shape before having to go to the patent offices of the individual countries. (and saves a lot of money by postponing translation into a bazillion different languages).
[15:49:07] <janrinok> I didn't realise that mattie_p was even on channel - he often lurks but it seems he just timed out.
[15:49:20] <BlackHole> i think we bored him :)
[15:50:34] <BlackHole> Britain is still outside of the Eurozone, correct? does that offend the sensibilities of many other EU countries? (i can imagine that it would)
[15:50:52] <janrinok> The original idea was that you could do it in any of the acceptable EU languages and that would be valid for the whole of the EU. Some countries felt that they were being slighted and so now you have to do what you always had to do but with another layer of EU paperwork on top. Not much of an improvement in my book.
[15:52:12] <janrinok> Britain is _in_ the EU, but _outside_ the Eurozone i.e. we still use our own currency and do not subscribe to a Euro over which we would have little control, but Germany and France dominate. Would you give up the dollar under the same rules?
[15:52:27] <BlackHole> true, but i guess one saving grace is that you can postpone the country-specific fees, which provides some flexibility in how you proceed with the prosecution of the application.
[15:53:35] <janrinok> I'd never thought of that aspect - I suppose it is true. It is at a much higher level that we fundamentally disagree with handing over control of our currency.
[15:53:35] <BlackHole> i hear that they are still working on pushing through some "European Patent" legislation. hopefully if they do, it turns out to be an improvement to the current system. it's so difficult to anticipate the long-term effects of that kind of thing.
[15:54:56] <BlackHole> frankly, i'm surprised that so many countries did. it seems like one would have to control their national pride to a remarkable degree :) i can't imagine people here switching away from USD. we can't even get rid of the penny!
[15:55:10] <janrinok> It will work if everyone agrees to compromise - if everyone wants to be the chief then it will fail as have many other initiatives. The reason being it would entail handing over control of a nation's laws to a non-electable body based in Europe.
[15:56:27] <janrinok> The UK is fighting to regain control over some of the laws which dictate, for example, that we must provide shelter and financial assistance to some who have aleady been proven to be a threat to the UK.
[15:57:21] <BlackHole> it seems to me that one challenge to any Europe-wide financial policy is the disproportionate wealth of a few key countries, Germany in particular.
[15:57:30] <BlackHole> i guess that's stating the obvious, really.
[15:58:29] <janrinok> Yep, but unsurprisingly, Germany doesn't see it that way and cannot understand why 'Britain is always being awkward'.
[15:58:58] <BlackHole> ah, yes. UK social policy is interesting. so liberal in some ways and conservative in others (compared to the US).
[15:59:56] <janrinok> For trading purposes - we are well and truely integrated with Europe. For other things, we cannot quite see why we should have to compromise on our financial wellbeing and security.
[16:00:56] <janrinok> you can probably see by my views why having a small social circle here isn't much of a handicap for me!
[16:01:25] <BlackHole> lol!
[16:01:42] <BlackHole> aren't there any other ex-pats in the area? there must be, i would think.
[16:01:50] <janrinok> lovely people until the after dinner argument beings....
[16:02:08] <BlackHole> just open another bottle of wine. problem solved.
[16:02:20] <BlackHole> ...or made much worse. one or the other.
[16:02:32] <janrinok> Some but we arrived here not wanting to be part of the expat community. We _do_ try to do things the local way, wherever we are.
[16:03:07] <BlackHole> i would want to do the same, i think.
[16:04:18] <BlackHole> the only negative aspect of my previously mentioned bike tour (i have taken several around Europe) is being in a peloton of tourists.
[16:04:54] <janrinok> I even try to get excited about Bastille Day (14 July) when France has its version of your Independence Day. Then someone will ask why we still put up with the Queen, and why don't we become a republic like France. Nah, I'll stay at home a have a beer to celebrate!
[16:05:13] <BlackHole> Hah!
[16:06:05] <janrinok> I live in a very rural area. A traffic jam here is 2 cars meeting on the road, or a car following a tractor....
[16:06:32] <BlackHole> very nice. it sounds quite peaceful.
[16:07:45] <BlackHole> i am not a fan of urban life. sadly, it is a necessity of my work, currently, but some day i hope to escape from the city :)
[16:07:51] <janrinok> Actually it is, but we are only a few hundred metres from a main road. But it is the sort of place where you can sleep without having to lock your front door, everyone looks out for each other, and we all stop to say hello to each other whenever we meet.
[16:08:57] <BlackHole> wow. yes, i think that the number of shootings in the city here was down slightly from last year, which everyone sees as great progress :) quite a different attitude toward life, i think.
[16:09:06] <janrinok> We are also very close to the coast and between 2 reasonably-sized towns.
[16:09:48] <BlackHole> you must be in an amazing location for stargazing!
[16:10:10] <BlackHole> that is another of my many passions (hence the nickname) =)
[16:10:18] <janrinok> The biggest crime to hit the papers here (seriously!) was a lawn-mower being 'stolen' and subsequently found outside the home the drunk that took it. The Gendarmerie 'so
[16:10:37] <janrinok> 'solved' the crime and he was fined 50 euros or something...
[16:12:01] <BlackHole> hah! that reminds me of a story i saw on the local news when i was visiting my grandparents in Albuquerque. apparently a local man was arrested for shooting at a duck with a pellet gun, after the duck had "stolen" his wallet.
[16:12:18] <janrinok> We have a ver low level of light polution, especially after 2200hrs when all unnecessary street lighting is switched off. The nearest lights are about 500m at a roundabout, but cannot be seen directly from my home. Lying on my back in the garden with a nice drink is a great way to stargaze.
[16:13:00] <janrinok> Was the duck arrested?
[16:13:08] <BlackHole> that sounds great! have you every seen a metor shower? do you have a telescope (if not, you should get one!)
[16:13:22] <BlackHole> i think they reconciled their differences once the man sobered up :)
[16:13:32] <janrinok> The shower of persides (sp?) is due in a month or so!
[16:13:40] <BlackHole> nice!
[16:14:42] <janrinok> over 2 or 3 nights it is spectacular providing cloud cover is OK. When my young nieces first saw it several years ago, they were literally struck dumb at the display.
[16:14:59] <BlackHole> i once built a telescope. i remeber imaging the ring nebula for the first time. it was really incredible to do the long exposures with the different filters, and see something so beautiful that is not visible to the naked eye.
[16:15:49] <BlackHole> and the andromeda galaxy, which you can just make out with the naked eye, is also quite amazing to contemplate.
[16:16:29] <janrinok> I haven't got a telescope and it is not high on our list of priorities unfortunately. Perhaps in the future sometime....
[16:16:50] <BlackHole> i even patented the design: https://www.google.com
[16:16:51] <monopoly> ^ 03Error 401 (Unauthorized)!!1
[16:17:11] <BlackHole> =)
[16:17:23] <janrinok> your link works for me thx
[16:17:24] <BlackHole> not sure why monopoly choked on that one!
[16:18:44] <janrinok> That looks very cool!
[16:19:04] <BlackHole> yeah, it's super awesome. lol!
[16:19:49] <BlackHole> i think it is such a shame that more effort/funding isn't devoted to space exploration.
[16:19:49] * janrinok looks in junk box for a mirrored membrane..... :(
[16:20:12] <BlackHole> i'm sure tinfoil will work too.
[16:20:58] <janrinok> If I get some spare time (if?!) I might even play with that idea.
[16:21:25] <BlackHole> jk. tinfoil will definitely not work. lol!
[16:22:06] <BlackHole> perhaps we can lobby our eventual many friends in high places to increase funding for space exploration =)
[16:22:36] <janrinok> I know that, but I might be able to find a mirror spray paint and a suitable membrane. Just for the lulz, so to speak.
[16:23:36] <BlackHole> hmm. the trick is getting the surface roughness below the wavelength of light (say 500 nanometers or so). you could build a radio telescope. maybe far-infrared :)
[16:24:01] <BlackHole> *500 nanometers or so for visible light.
[16:24:16] <janrinok> That would be more within my usual capabilities - but nowhere near as much fun.
[16:25:08] <janrinok> I wouldn't be able to look at the stars, but if I could even look at a point a few 100s of metres away and magnify it I would be made up!
[16:25:17] <BlackHole> there is a great community of telescope enthusiasts who actually grind and polish their own mirrors. now that takes patience! (and probably builds a good deal of upper-body strength)
[16:25:39] <janrinok> Do you need all of your fingers to be working...?
[16:25:59] <janrinok> ...might have to wait a few months then.
[16:26:14] <BlackHole> nope, in fact, plaster might help increase your grip!
[16:26:21] <janrinok> lol
[16:27:58] <janrinok> I'm going to have to do soon to start preparing the fish for dinner. Again, thx for your company and a very interesting afternoon chatting. I hope the cells are somebody else's responsibility today - you took care of them yesterday!
[16:28:34] <BlackHole> ok. nope they are my responsibility. i have been procrastinating (if you couldn't tell), and should go tend to them :)
[16:29:08] <janrinok> enjoy the rest of your day - say hello to the cells from me. I'll be back on tomorrow I guess.
[16:30:02] <BlackHole> cool! feel free to give me a shout if you need anything from me regarding that story (i think mrcool was thinking of drafting an email to the candidate to make sure he notices it.)
[16:30:16] <BlackHole> otherwise, have a good day, and enjoy your fish!
[16:30:21] <janrinok> thx will do. cul8r
[16:30:32] <BlackHole> bye bye :)
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[20:41:48] <janrinok> hi anyone
[20:43:14] <janrinok> Azrael: are you on?
[20:57:54] <Azrael> janrinok: evening!
[20:57:58] <Azrael> I am here
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[21:03:58] <janrinok> Hi Az, we were saving that supportive congressman story until more people would be online which would be about 1200 UTC. As it is it is too early for Europe and too late for the US.
[21:04:41] <janrinok> I should have tagged the story - its my fault because I forgot to do so.
[21:05:16] <janrinok> Azrael: ^^^
[21:05:24] <janrinok> Bytram: Hi
[21:05:36] <Bytram> greetings!
[21:05:45] <janrinok> had a good holiday weekend?
[21:06:23] <Bytram> so far, yep!
[21:06:45] <Bytram> spent WAYYY too much time working on UTF-8 testing, though. Needs to get out and enjoy the warm and sun!
[21:06:46] <janrinok> its been mostly 'Yurpean' eds for the last 72hours
[21:07:23] * Bytram needs more hours in the day
[21:07:48] <Bytram> I saw you folks were holding down the fort all right and I pressed forward on UTF-8 test development
[21:07:55] <janrinok> I've being doing some python programming today but have spent too much time on here to achieve what I wanted to achieve...
[21:08:08] <Azrael> janrinok: want to change the time on it then?
[21:08:12] <janrinok> np - I wasn't criticising your absence...
[21:08:40] <janrinok> I'll do it, and put a filler story in there. If you give me 15 mins you can 2nd ed it please?
[21:09:17] <Bytram> no offense taken; it's nice to know there are enough folks around to be able to cover things... I took advantage of it, and probably should have made it explicit - I apologize for not being more forthright about it!
[21:09:53] <janrinok> Az I've moved it - I'll go do another to fill the gap.
[21:11:55] <Azrael> cool :)
[21:13:05] <Azrael> and am around to 2nd ed too :D
[21:14:35] <Bytram> brb
[21:18:37] <janrinok> Azrael: if you would be so kind....
[21:19:58] <janrinok> Azrael: Thx also for your efforts this weekend - I hope that the 'Muricans' have enjoyed their holiday.
[21:22:04] <Azrael> :D done
[21:22:21] <Azrael> well I know one Murican that didn't :/
[21:23:15] <janrinok> life's like that....
[21:24:44] <janrinok> That's been a good output for a weekend - and we actually had a good number of acceptable submissions, which is also nice for a change.
[21:25:43] <janrinok> time for my last cup of tea of the day... brb
[21:32:19] <janrinok> Azrael: I suspect that the US Congressional Candidate story will gather a few good comments, and I also think that NC will be pleased to see it!
[21:37:22] <Azrael> :)
[21:38:25] <janrinok> NC will be pleased with his weekend too - Incorporation and high profile recognition of the site, he will be like a dog with 2 tails.
[21:41:54] <Bytram> I'm back.
[21:42:00] <Bytram> huh?
[21:42:17] <Bytram> ok, what did I miss? "high-profile recognition of the site?"
[21:44:27] <janrinok> Its in the story queue for 1230UTC tomorrow. Read it!
[21:44:36] <Bytram> on my way
[21:44:42] <Bytram> thanks!
[21:48:32] <Bytram> janrinok: that's great news!
[21:48:52] <janrinok> lol - I wonder if the other site are covering the story in quite the same way?
[21:49:58] <Bytram> THAT would be interesting! Maybe someone should submit this story (after it runs) to other sites such as Ars Technica and TOS (The Other Site; The Original Slash, whatevah!)
[21:50:49] <janrinok> I only hope that he makes it into Congress. He seems (at this early stage in his potential congressional career) to be talking commonsense.
[21:51:19] <Bytram> btw, you'd not know it from over there, but "Washington State's" is somewhat strange capitalization for us yanks... I'd like to change it to "the state of Washington's"
[21:51:27] <Bytram> nod nod
[21:52:13] <janrinok> If you think that it would be better for the US audience, ok - but to us it looks quite normal.
[21:52:42] <Bytram> lemme think a bit more
[21:53:07] <janrinok> It was written by a fellow Murican, by the way.
[21:54:03] <Bytram> it's a bit of a strange one from the possible confusion of "Washington" by itself being unclear whether it's the state or the District of Columbia (aka D.C.)
[21:54:26] <janrinok> yep - but the link makes it clear, at least to us Brits ;)
[21:54:30] <Bytram> off-hand, I can't think of any other state for which there is such possible confusion
[21:55:24] <Bytram> yeah, but he *is* from the USA, so it'd make sense to phrase it in a way that merican's would expect, no?
[21:56:04] <janrinok> The link does suggest that it is a safe D seat, and that our follower is R, so perhaps he won't get too far unfortunately.
[21:58:23] <Bytram> brb food!
[21:58:25] <janrinok> Bytram: your call - you know more about what sounds best to your own folk than we do.
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[22:01:17] <janrinok> hi BlackHole - your story is queued for primetime tomorrow - 1200UTC
[22:01:19] <Bytram> yeah, i'm not so sure... I'm on the opposite side of the country from it...
[22:01:48] <Bytram> okay, finally loaded. According to wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org
[22:01:49] <monopoly> ^ 04Wiki: 03Washington (state): Washington i/ˈwɒʃɪŋtən/ is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States located north of Oregon, west of Idaho, and south of the Canadian provin...
[22:01:52] <BlackHole> hi! Awesome! btw, i have no idea which capitalization is best :P, so good luck with that!
[22:01:58] <Bytram> Although its official, unambiguous name is "The State of Washington," the state's name is often reversed and referred to as "Washington state" to distinguish it from Washington, D.C., also named for George Washington.
[22:02:09] <janrinok> Bytram: 50 % of the world will be asleep or elsewhere no matter what time we pick....
[22:02:34] <BlackHole> on the official homepage of Washington (the state) it uses almost all of the possible word orders and capitalizatioins o_O
[22:02:53] <janrinok> Yeah, I noticed that - as if they aren't too sure either....
[22:03:00] <Bytram> janrinok: Oh, *that* is simple, just send out when most of the people are awake: Daytime!
[22:03:11] <janrinok> rofl
[22:03:24] <BlackHole> whatever you think will minimize the number of "wait, are we talking about washington state or washington D.C.?" comments.
[22:03:45] <chromas> Just say "The good Washington" :D
[22:03:56] <Bytram> LOL!!
[22:04:18] * janrinok notes that why Bytram likes the UTF-8 problem. His logical mind quickly cuts through the unessential to accurately spear the main point.
[22:04:31] <chromas> We brought you Nirvana and Microsoft. What did that dinky town ever do?
[22:04:43] <chromas> oh wait a minute there
[22:04:47] <Bytram> hire politicians?
[22:05:14] <Bytram> chromas: are you from WA?
[22:05:58] <chromas> Yeah. We just call it Washington but I don't know a lot of people
[22:06:06] <chromas> SirFinkus would be a better one to ask
[22:06:07] * janrinok steps backwards away from potential bloodbath.
[22:07:18] <BlackHole> btw, to let you guys in on the next step towards world domination: once we get a response from this candidate, we approach his opponent, who will then need to engage with us to avoid being seen to be evasive. so, whoever wins, SN wins!
[22:07:26] <janrinok> Gosh, is that the time, I must be going.... Seriously guys, time for my much needed beauty sleep. I don't think the sleep actually helps, but I frightened to find out what I might actually look like if I stop...
[22:08:07] <Bytram> btw, I think "may" in the title of the chocolate story should probably be capitalized,
[22:08:17] <Bytram> janrinok: LOL!
[22:08:43] <janrinok> laters guys, have a good one!
[22:08:56] <Bytram> thanksa bunch for keeping stories flowing this WE!
[22:09:08] <janrinok> np - its what we do!
[22:09:35] <BlackHole> janrinok, goodnight!
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[22:10:50] <Bytram> chromas: IIRC, DC does NOT have a vote in congress... right?
[22:11:06] <chromas> Just bribes
[22:11:12] <Bytram> lol!
[22:12:08] <Bytram> so, if there's no congressional district for DC, then there's no confusion.
[22:12:22] <chromas> WP says they have a non-voting delegate
[22:13:18] <Bytram> do DC residents vote for the delegate?
[22:13:41] * Bytram has a very slow internet connection today.
[22:14:12] <chromas> "D.C. residents elect a non-voting, at-large congressional delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives but the District has no representation in the U.S. Senate. The District receives three electoral votes in presidential elections as permitted by the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961."
[22:14:35] <chromas> "at-large"? Like they robbed a bank and are on the run?
[22:15:17] <Bytram> lol. nah; political term (as opposed to one running in a particular District)
[22:17:33] <Bytram> I got it! I'll use *just* "Washington", but make it a link to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org(state)
[22:17:35] <monopoly> ^ 04Wiki: 03Washington (state: Other reasons this message may be displayed:
[22:17:37] <Bytram> tadah!
[22:18:54] <BlackHole> ...maybe it should be "the State of Washington's", after all...
[22:19:13] <BlackHole> luckily we have several hours to figure this out ;)
[22:19:44] <Bytram> LOL!
[22:19:49] <chromas> make it inciteful: "the state that brought you Metro and ribbons"
[22:20:24] * Bytram spent *many* years testing/verifying documentation and programs/compilers/OSs
[22:21:16] <Bytram> there's lots of things that I can no longer not notice.
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[23:33:33] <Bytram> http://feedproxy.google.com
[23:33:34] <monopoly> ^ 03US bans uncharged cell phones, laptops from some flights - CNET: The Transport Security Administration says that security has been stepped up on certain flights into the US. This includes asking passengers to power up their devices. ( http://www.cnet.com )
[23:35:10] <chromas> Well obviously if it doesn't power up then it's a bomb in disguise
[23:37:09] <Bytram> riiiiightt. no way someone could have run down the battery waiting for the plane to board, no?
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