Ah, yes, of course. The gypsies, they gave you your soul. The gypsies are filthy people. Ptui! We shall speak of them no more.

Ilona Costa Bianchi ,'The Girl in Question'


Natter .44 Magnum: Do You Feel Chatty, Punk?  

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.


sarameg - May 31, 2006 4:21:09 pm PDT #9809 of 10002

Yep, I've done that too. Coldpack around the neck helps too. The reverse (hot) works well in winter too. Same principle, reverse effect.

OK, so I'm watching the Frontline thing on AIDS. And I just saw a President actually RESPOND to the charges of a heckler, taking responsibility, not making glib, looking tormented and saddened to admit fault. And admitting failure. Not a President I was particularly pleased with a lot of the time, but THAT was accountability. God, I miss that.


msbelle - May 31, 2006 4:33:31 pm PDT #9810 of 10002
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

I have Targeted. I have a memory foam pillow and a home planaterium. WHEE!

I also have pizza slices and I need to eat those.


sarameg - May 31, 2006 4:43:27 pm PDT #9811 of 10002

msbelle, have you ever a desire to make a special field trip in NM to a real live telescope, I can hook you big time.

OH! Speaking of which, my dad had a Tale from the Telescope. Often in the evenings, they open up the ops building (it doesn't have ac but for the computer room) including the doors. An observer wandered out of the control room to see... a Very Large black bear walking into the foyer.

Oops. It turned and left upon seeing the human but OMGWTF! Foyer opens immediately into a common kitchen and living room area. Had the observer not come out, it'd likely have been a kitchen raid. I told him they need to get a screen door or something.


msbelle - May 31, 2006 4:45:45 pm PDT #9812 of 10002
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

not that a screen door would do much to deter a black bear that smelled food.

No telescope, but thanks. NYC skies don't so much work for telescopes - not that I have any knowledge of that.


sarameg - May 31, 2006 4:52:07 pm PDT #9813 of 10002

not that a screen door would do much to deter a black bear that smelled food.

I was thinking the wrought iron bars so common in that part of the world. Also, a non-opening wouldn't prove as curious as an opening to a nosy bear.

Also, I mean, should you ever find yourself with an astro-loving kid, I've got connections down there. I'm biased because I have fond memories of getting into unauthorized portions of telescopes. Giant wheels! Getting to push the buttons that turn tons of glass and iron! Swinging from the secondary mirror supports! OK, don't tell dad's bosses about that part.


Liese S. - May 31, 2006 5:03:31 pm PDT #9814 of 10002
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

Hee. That's a great story. The bear was probably all, "Damn! And I was just about to check out Ursa Major at close range. I'll just act casual and leave."


sarameg - May 31, 2006 5:06:22 pm PDT #9815 of 10002

Actually, knowing the observers, the bear was probably like " DONUTS! Wonder if they are from the Lodge or the General Store. Hope these pinkies aren't vegan..."


Kathy A - May 31, 2006 5:08:18 pm PDT #9816 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

OK, so I'm watching the Frontline thing on AIDS. And I just saw a President actually RESPOND to the charges of a heckler, taking responsibility, not making glib, looking tormented and saddened to admit fault. And admitting failure. Not a President I was particularly pleased with a lot of the time, but THAT was accountability. God, I miss that.

I saw part of the first half of that last night, and my reaction was the same as yours. As much as I dislike Reagan's politics and especially his delayed reaction to the AIDS epidemic, the fact that he didn't have the hecklers to his (only) AIDS speech escorted immeditately out of the room just shows how far the Presidency has fallen in the past 5 1/2 years.


sarameg - May 31, 2006 5:11:33 pm PDT #9817 of 10002

Kathy, the funny part is I missed that part. My reaction was to Clinton tonight.


msbelle - May 31, 2006 5:12:34 pm PDT #9818 of 10002
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

oh a trip out there to see the 'scopes I think will have to happen. What age would that make sense at?