Book: Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now. Got your next heist planned? Simon: No. But I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache. I'm a traditionalist.

'War Stories'


Natter 36: But We Digress...  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Jesse - Jul 11, 2005 10:19:52 am PDT #8839 of 10001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

The first known instance of using text characters to represent a sideways smiling (and frowning) face is in a newspaper advertisement in the New York Herald Tribune, March 10, 1953, on page 20, columns 4–6.[1] Promoting the film Lili, starring Leslie Caron

For reals?

I'm pretty sure my aunt used hearts to dot the i in her name.


Volans - Jul 11, 2005 10:20:17 am PDT #8840 of 10001
move out and draw fire

flea, your mention of Russian salad reminded me of this Russian dish we had in Romania at some diplomatic event. It was bits of turkey suspended in chicken-fat-gelatin. NAS.ty. Apparently also a delicacy.

Hates the aspic, hates it, my precioussss...

I think my bathroom scale is sulking. I haven't used it in months; today I stepped on it and the digital readout said "No." I tried again; "No." I tried a third time, and was really expecting it to say "Have you considered sideways? Everybody always wants to be weighed, but what about measuring your land speed?"


JohnSweden - Jul 11, 2005 10:22:15 am PDT #8841 of 10001
I can't even.

For reals?

Well, it's wikipedia, and my research consisted of A) google, and 2) click. Perhaps I shall delve a little deeper. This time, two clicks!

ETA: that wikipedia entry goes on to say:

The creator of the original ASCII emoticons :-) and :-(, with a specific suggestion that they be used to express emotion, was Scott Fahlman; the original proposal made by Fahlman on CMU CS general board on September 19, 1982 (at 11:44) was retrieved from old backup tapes on September 10, 2002, by Jeff Baird.


P.M. Marc - Jul 11, 2005 10:23:48 am PDT #8842 of 10001
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

One can chew fingernails off babies if one is trapped sitting down with a nursing baby.

I can never get the angle right for some reason. Plus, they grow at kudzu rates, so by the time the second hand is done, the first needs a redo.


Lyra Jane - Jul 11, 2005 10:24:14 am PDT #8843 of 10001
Up with the sun

When people call me "Cin" (which is pretty much the standard, in person), I always hear it spelled "Cyn" though, which I prefer.

I do not think I have ever heard anyone call my mom -- another Cynthia -- Cyn, or Cin, or even Syn. I might need to try it and see what she says. (Or, actually, not.)


Topic!Cindy - Jul 11, 2005 10:25:11 am PDT #8844 of 10001
What is even happening?

I can never get the angle right for some reason. Plus, they grow at kudzu rates, so by the time the second hand is done, the first needs a redo.
We used to swear Ben was part demon. And I think that was *before* Season 4, which only confirmed our worries. So far though? No Celine poster, and no Cher on auto-repeat.


Nora Deirdre - Jul 11, 2005 10:25:59 am PDT #8845 of 10001
I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast! (Bojack Horseman)

Heh. From Betsy White House press link upthread:

QUESTION: Scott, this is ridiculous. The notion that you’re going to stand before us, after having commented with that level of detail, and tell people watching this that somehow you’ve decided not to talk. You’ve got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium or not?

MCCLELLAN: I’m well aware, like you, of what was previously said. And I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is when the investigation…

QUESTION: (inaudible) when it’s appropriate and when it’s inappropriate?

MCCLELLAN: If you’ll let me finish.

QUESTION: No, you’re not finishing. You’re not saying anything.


Topic!Cindy - Jul 11, 2005 10:26:45 am PDT #8846 of 10001
What is even happening?

I do not think I have ever heard anyone call my mom -- another Cynthia -- Cyn, or Cin, or even Syn. I might need to try it and see what she says. (Or, actually, not.)

Is she called Cynthia, or Cindy? I don't think that over here, people abbreviate Cynthia as much as they do Cindy (that is, when the woman goes by Cynthia). In England, I don't think they use "Cindy" much, but everyone ends up being Cyn.


Volans - Jul 11, 2005 10:28:37 am PDT #8847 of 10001
move out and draw fire

Clipping baby nails is the single worst baby-related chore.

Those quotes from Santorum's book are ill-making. I do like that somebody wrote a sarcastic review on Amazon. Think I might head over and mention that I can't think of Santorum without thinking of Dan Savage's application of the word.

(Go A's! Go A's!)


tommyrot - Jul 11, 2005 10:28:40 am PDT #8848 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Heh. Why does the public record hate America?