Lessons learned from the Buffistas: I was about to reply to an email and start the reply with "Mr. X," based on the first name, when I suddenly remembered that that is bon's first name, and thus could be female. Which, well, leaves me with no opening, BUT at least I won't start off by possibly offending them.

Aww, now I feel guilty. FWIW, if someone doesn't know whether I'm a dude or not, I am not offended if they assume as much. I guess you could start off with "[First Name],"

It doesn't really feel like Friday until I see the Friday Cephalopod... anyway, today's is especially cute: [link]

It's a Nautilus belauensis....

Free lunch again today. We've been idly speculating about what said free lunch will be. My guess is sandwiches. Our days are so exciting here.

Argh! The Space Shuttle is about to be attacked by a TIE fighter! [link]

Actually, the Shuttle crew themselves remarked that the ISS, with its new solar array, looks like a TIE fighter from a distance....

Our free lunch is always chinese because it is cheaper than sandwiches. Once somebody complained, and then we got no free lunch.

The vending machines in the lunch room are refusing to sell me caffeine. Is this how the revolution begins?

Is this how the revolution begins?

Probably, yeah.

Unless it's one of those smart vending machines - it could be part of a plot by SkyNet....

I'm not sure depriving shrift of her much-needed caffeine is a wise strategic move on the part of something that exists within a computer network.

Our free lunch is always chinese because it is cheaper than sandwiches. Once somebody complained, and then we got no free lunch.

Our is always pizza and/or deli sandwiches. I'm pretty sure the company has a deal with these two nearby places (one a pizza/sub type shop and the other a deli) that have the same ownership, since the pizza and/or sandwiches are always from them.

My lunch is going to involve some place with a drive-through window, because there's nothing in the house and I want to keep contact with people to a minimum.