My grandmother was born on the reservation near Norman Oklahoma, but when her family moved out to California in the 30s they renounced all ties to their heritage so that no one would mistake them for Mexican.

Yay for Emmett's good game!

(thwacking dead horse) The other thing about Northern Exposure that bugged was the character of Ed Chigliak being played by a blond dude that (reportedly) only has 1/8 Native American ancestry.

Very strong incentive is a very strong euphemism. How about "on pointed pain of death" for a less strong one?

I was trying to encompass "You can't do that" and "You don't want to do that" and "You don't have much opportunity to do that" in the same sentence. Because, I have seen cases where people did it anyway (not many), and did not suffer death as a result; but in many cases people didn't do it not because somebody said "Don't you dare" but because, e.g., a mixed-race Indian man on the Plains in 1855 was unlikely to meet very many white women, and those he did meet were unlikely to spend much time with him.

(Actually I've been reading up on the history of New Mexico, and found it a wellspring of racial counter-narratives. Not just because of the influence of its original Spanish colonizers, but because, e.g., even mixed-race American men had high status among the (roughly white-identified) Mexican women there; and thus the 1830s-40s featured several interracial marriages where the bride was white. In that case, nationality trumped race.)

in the PEI/NS area

I am totally convinced that I am the only person on the whole board who is accidentally scrambling those five letters, and losing the slash.

I am totally convinced that I am the only person on the whole board who is accidentally scrambling those five letters, and losing the slash.

Think again.

I am totally convinced that I am the only person on the whole board who is accidentally scrambling those five letters, and losing the slash.

So totally not just you.

in the PEI/NS area

Maybe I'll start calling PEI and NS the PENIS Area.

On a totally bummer note, the vet called again and those are tumors. So I'll probably take him home tonight and put him to sleep on Monday.

Supposedly this is the worlds most advanced robot dog (available commercially, anyway): Sega Dream Dog DX: The first robot dog you can truly love

Many attempts have been made to create the perfect robot dog, but we can now safely say that a new bot called the Dream Dog DX Golden Retriever reigns supreme over them all. More cuddly than a tribble and ten times more believable than the AIBO, the DX made its debut at the recent Tokyo Toy Show and blew visitors away with its realistic antics.

Responding to voice commands, the DX will sit, roll over, bark and even nip at your fingers when you play with its nose. The "toy" is actually rather cute and comes closer to a realistic dog than any robot I've seen. The plaintive dog sounds it emits are enough to tug at your geek heartstrings. Imagine what life would be like if this thing had an embedded, live-updated Wikipedia database and speech functions enabled--scary.

Still, I think it could be improved. Here are some possibilities:

• Built-in IR remote so it can control your TV.
• WiFi, so it can go on the internet and buy stuff.
• Friggin' lasers on its head.
• Acid for blood.

I was trying to encompass "You can't do that" and "You don't want to do that" and "You don't have much opportunity to do that" in the same sentence.

Then it's not that much like the black man thing, because of the lack of a strongly (and violently) worded "Don't do that."

I am totally convinced that I am the only person on the whole board who is accidentally scrambling those five letters, and losing the slash.

On which board? Well, maybe the losing the slash bit--that seems to be rare (hi, msbelle!) around these parts.

Damn, sorry to hear that Sue. What's up with all the sick kitties, lately?

I'm so sorry, Sue.