RationalWiki:Saloon bar/Archive21

DragonForce
I just saw DragonForce last night, and might I say they are probably the most technical band I've ever had the pleasure of seeing live. You may or may not like metal, but you just have to respect their raw talent. My jaw hit the floor a few times with the crazy shit they were pulling off. 15:03, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Having suffered through a few videos of their live performances, I believe I can say I have a feeling of moot pity for you. I did try listening to Dragonforce, but the honest statement is that I cannot stand the singer. That said, however, I absolutly love their songs on other instruments, such as electric piano, because it nullifies that horrible voice. 15:09, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Meh, if they're ever sober enough to replicate it on stage they're alright. 15:10, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Admittedly, they were pretty hammered. They did do quite well replicating the studio sound (maybe I caught them on a good night?).  The singer is kind of a dick, though.   15:17, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I just heard that when Edguy supported them they kicked DF's arse off the stage with how much better they were. 15:20, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Bah, I've seen whats-his-face out of half man, half biscuit play a double guitar that was hinged down the middle like butterfly wings. Don't talk to me a bout technical :D -- 15:21, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Michael Angelo Batio or however it's supposed to be written? But, as far as technical guitar is concerned, I'll appreciate it for a song or two (Satriani has some pretty good tunes) but give me Slash any day for just pure style. 17:17, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I go for ACDC. Sure, most of their songs sound similar, but at least their good songs.--Nate River 00:29, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I had a roommate who played bass. He hated ACDC.  Said most of their stuff was good, but their basslines were utter crap. --Kels 15:42, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Not wishing to pry but a male roommate Kels? 20:26, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Male roommate and his wife, yes. This is back in 1989/90, second time I went to university. --Kels 23:08, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm not saying DragonForce is the best band I've ever seen, but, as a amateur guitar player, it is amazing to me the things that can be done on a guitar that I have little to no hope of doing myself. 00:33, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I hear that. Just thinking about playing some of those solo's makes me picture bleeding fingers.--Nate River 00:42, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I've heard playing that made my fingers hurt... 01:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * So, I checked out some vids by them I guess. You call that technically impressive?  I'll take Lex Romaine playing lead guitar any day over that.  Wider range of technical - and musical - expertise.  Actually, I'd have to say I've seen scores of players with a wider range and better chops.  Oh well, c'est la vie.  01:16, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hrm, got round to listening to some dragonforce. Jeez, but it's bland. It's like what you'd get if you booked napalm death to play your cocktail lounge. Can I coin the term easy-listenin'-core? -- 21:30, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

And of course:

sigh, I wish I were Don-Wayne Reno. -- 04:34, 2 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I totally wish Attila the Stockbroker's version of that song (as sung by Jean-Paul Sartre) was available on YouTube. You lot would love it. --Kels 15:40, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

At the risk of posting far too many youtube videos, this is my very favourite instrumental of any track I've ever listened to. One of the better permutations of the Albion Band (I think they've had over a 100 members over the years...)

-- 20:51, 2 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Surprisingly good vocals for an instrumental. --Kels 21:16, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Heh, I was just referring to the middle 8 minutes of the track :D I'm not sure if the person who had the idea of combining a wah wah pedal with an electric fiddle ought to be hailed as genius or taken out and summarily shot, but it's awfully effective. -- 21:18, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Teh Albion have been very_good/very_bad depending on whether their current members were very_good/very_bad. 21:31, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Just looked thru my CDs: Dave Swarbrick wasn't an Albioner! Thought he was. 22:00, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Surely everyone in the UK electric folk scene who is over 40 has been in the Albion Band for at least a week at some point? -- 23:01, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Not on any of my albums. Although I think Hutchins almost worshipped him 23:15, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Apocalyptica occaisionally use Wah with the 'cellos. And there's an awesome guy who busks with an electric violin around here that has about 20 FX peddals, not sure about Wah but I wouldn't put it past him to use it. 21:37, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Can you seriously mention electric violin without mentioning Nash the Slash? Apparently not. --Kels 21:41, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Heh, awesome. Though I think like Laika, music to be taken in small doses rather than a whole albums worth at once. -- 21:49, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nash was pretty versatile. He used to be in a rock outfit called FM way back, and did stuff like a cover of "American Band" and "Who Do You Love" along with stuff like this.  He was one of the big pioneers of electric violin, in fact.  He's done a bunch of soundtrack work, too. --Kels 21:54, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Heh, thanks to this conversation and some random youtube clicking I've found my new music of the week to buy, Kate Rusby. Weird I've never heard her before. I'm getting a bit worried that all my recent purchases are all acoustic folk, getting set in my ways. Anyone got any good new reggae recommendations? Something similar to The Scrucialists or summit? -- 22:15, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * What recent acoustic folk could you recommend. I've got loads of electric folk & classical - little else. 22:18, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm still loving Martin Simpson, got turned on to him when he won something or other in last year's radio 2 folk awards. His album's probably worth a download if like that sort of thing. Also loving Eamon Doorley et al., 'course I don't understand a bloody word of it since I don't speak Gaelic, but its very good music. -- 22:32, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm a big Eliza Gilkyson fan, but I dunno if you'd call her "recent". If I had the gumption, I'd think about volunteering at the folk festival again. Maybe next year. --Kels 22:36, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Not been to a festival for over 30 years, I used to live for them. 22:39, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ottawa's a festival city by nature. I volunteered for the Fringe and Folk Fests a few years ago, but never had the luxury of taking the time since then.  Now I'm a student, I really should think about it. --Kels 22:45, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

More crazy Christians
The article about the supposed Curse of Ham drew my attention to this crazy website. Somebody was assured personally by the angel Radueriel that Obama would never become president, well. There’s nothing remarkable about that as we’re all used to crazy stuff on the Internet. What is remarkable though is how many contributors thanked him for his prophetic utterance. Nobody suggested discussing his angelic communications with a psychiatrist. Proxima Centauri 16:38, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Or the obvious that he was eventually wrong? 16:41, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 16:47, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Whenever I hear something like that, I think of the line from Dogma "When someone has been talking with god, they've been talking to me.... Or to themselves." 17:05, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * absolute PROOF I say that the man known to us as Barack Hussain Obama is a muslim imposter Hamster 17:23, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Good grief. Have you read the comments by these supposed Christians? "God would never put a cursed colored man in chrage (sic) of America"; "That is one frightful looking Negro"; "He is scary looking. Actually all black people scare me." WTF?? If this is the face of Christianity, thank Kiva I'm an atheist - I wouldn't want to be associated with that lot."--PsyGremlinWhut? 14:48, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Parody. Have a stroll around the homepage. EddyP 15:24, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Yes, the Afghanistan war WAS worth it
It has exposed the US army to cricket. The soldiers will now go home and infect their country with the sport of proper gentlemen. Soon all your silly souped up rounders games will be forgotten, in favour of the one true sport. -- 16:57, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Why is this not in the saloon-bar? 17:01, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ooops, it was supposed to be. Not sure how it ended up here. I'll move it. -- 17:04, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I went to see them play Canada during the World Cup qualifiers here and they've got a pretty useful team. When you consider they've gone from 3rd or 4th tier to official ODI status in as many years, it's amazing. Shame they didn't qualify for the tournament though. --PsyGremlinWhut? 17:09, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Dangerous stuff, exposing Americans to sport that they may not be good at! :p Remember that wingnut post on "Soccer" a few months back? 17:15, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Question. If it takes exposure to cricket to make the Afghanistan war "worth it," what would have been the U.S.'s ideal response to the 9/11 attacks? 17:19, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The logical answer is... invade... Great Britan?! [[image:ohmy.gif]] 22:25, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nothing short of levelling the Middle-East with nuclear weapons, obviously. Unless you're being serious, in which case, I'd say concentrate more on protecting your own citizens without repressing them with draconian measures, finding out what really happened rather than breeding hatred and taking a more specific and targeted response (smaller operations in more localised areas against actual threats) rather than jerking a knee and invading a country in a conventional war against an unconventional enemy. But that's a bit too idealistic. 17:23, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The U.S. was unable to engage in such "smaller operations" since the Taliban declined to let us into the country for that purpose. And we did find out what "really happened." 18:03, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * In case you couldn't tell, this whole post was distinctly tongue in cheek. However, the ideal response of course would have been a nice charity game of cricket. What else? -- 17:56, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

wget
Useful for saving Geocities sites before Yahoo! shuts it down completely. 17:50, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The Wayback Machine is probably working overtime to archive geocities as a whole. ENorman 19:30, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I know, but I'm paranoid, and therefore am more secure with it stored locally (I've also considered getting RW, but I'm not sure how deep that would take me). 21:45, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * My first web site was on Compuserve and was featured in .NET magazine (since then it's also been in the Wall Street Journal). 23:10, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * And this is relevant why? 04:39, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Because. Because, if for no other reason, Kan't Getthis is one of us and we care?  06:02, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Compuserve was the forerunner of most of the net and predates GeoCities. I was just reminiscing after a few beers. That's what this place is for. 07:29, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I suppose it would be futile to ask what this site actually was. 15:31, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Old news by 20 years, but still!
The auld genesis music video about fundies. However you hate Phil Collins, set it aside. It's still a classic. Fullscreen it and enjoy! Taytopacket 23:17, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

*sigh*
Talked to a friend of mine for the first time in a while, and now she's suddenly a YEC and things AiG is the best thing since sliced bread. I tried to tell her that Ken Ham's an intellectually dishonest dope, and she rails on about how all she needs is faith not my evil, anti-Christian science (laughable. that would make me anti-me). I think she's fully drunk the kool-aid, and now I'm kinda depressed. ENorman 23:47, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Try to wean her off gently; point her to Old Earth Creationist sites like Answers in Creation. You can also paraphrase Fred Phelps and say, "Don't listen to that money-grubbing quack at AiG; listen to God." 00:02, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Suggest she join CP, odds are she'll get booted for liberal deceit and it might wake her up? 00:04, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I've had the opposite thing happen. A fundie loon loses her faith (though not entirely, just enough to become "tolerable").  It is far more satisfying.  Do not stop attempting to guide your friend away from the punch bowl.   00:06, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Does she have any gay friends she will have to disown? Corry 00:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I showed her the AiC site, at least to make sure she doesn't go down the psycho route of Andy, Ken, or VenomfangX. Hopefully she will mellow out. If it backfires spectacularly I'll say so. ENorman 00:13, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Fear not; if your friend was sane before, religion does not have the power to turn her into a Mr. Schlafly or a 🇰🇪. 00:18, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * You don't think so? That's exactly what happened to Schlafly...  01:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * In fairness to a young woman none of us knows, I think Assfly's circumstances might have been quite different. He was raised by an ultra right wing fundamentalist christian professional female woman hater. Religion found at age 17 or whatever is hardly as powerful as being raised from womb to tomb to be what Andy is. Who knows what happened with the gay brother, though he's also involved in the Eagle Forum and who knows how far from mommy's wizzled hate teat. 01:13, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Andy was raised Catholic, not fundy. He "saw the light" of evolution-denying in his late 30s or early 40s.  But, yeah, his background makes him very loony-prone.  20:06, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Clarification: When I said "sane," I meant sane, not "non-fundamentalist." 04:34, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

(undent) Spectacularly failed. Direct quote: "AiG is a tool, not the Bible. AiG is not the end, because all they write about is logic, and the Great I Am surpasses the concept of logic." also, "If you're learning from the world, rather than from God what is right and what is wrong, there's no telling what's actually real... All the world wants to do is bury understanding and the concept of God." I'm gonna go mope now. ENorman 00:23, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * She does say she will disagree with AiG when she thinks they contradict scriptures though. That's at least some progress. ENorman 00:26, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, they won't.
 * By definition, no apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information.
 * -From the AiG Statement of Faith Corry 00:30, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * T_T ENorman 00:32, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * any chance you can let her be a moron and still be her friend? Chances are trying to persuade her will end your friendship, thanks to Ken Ham's teachings.. 00:33, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Probably will just avoid that topic from now on with her. That's how I usually deal with it. ENorman 00:35, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Have sex with her and then get stoned. Get it? Stoned? Yeah...  00:53, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I shouldn't have lol'ed but i did...i lol'ed. 00:48, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Have her read some of Augustine of Hippo and consider what the founders of the Christian Church said about what should be done when faith and reason conflict or creation (next section down). If it is possible for these people to understand that the Bible isn't trying to tell us about genetics and remain faithful (or, to an extent, be the definition of faithful) and read Genesis as an allegory it shouldn't be an issue for the faithful today. --Shagie 00:56, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I was about to high five someone here for writing such a great fucking article. 01:03, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

I assume that gentle mocking is probably out of the question? 21:27, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

My Thunderbird is pooched
OK, this is weird. The "trash" folder on one of my several email account folders has vanished. Oddly, spam that is IDed still apparently gets sent there. I can't "create" the (Trash) folder, it says it already exists. But I also can't delete messages! And this account gets 100 or so spams that get through the filters each day. Any ideas? I checked for updates, none pending. Halp! 04:23, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Try going into the application-data directory for Thunderbird. You should find a directory there with files for all your mail folders. Move all the files starting with "Trash" out of the way and see what happens. 04:27, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hmmm, I deleted "trash", no love. I noticed that all the other directories/mailboxes have a "trash.msf" file, copied one over from a new blank account, no love.  I wonder how this happened?  TB doesn't let you delete "system" folders (I hate that, don't use "drafts", etc.), so I couldn't have accidentally drunkenly Aced it.  And the program is not trying to self-repair.  Weird.  Thanks for trying to help - if you think I didn't understand your suggestion, please re-explain?  05:46, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * OK, I left an empty "trash" file and a copied "trash.msf" file in place, then rebooted and restarted, got my little trashy can to fill with spam again! Not sure if what I think I did is exactly what fixed it, but thanks so much for your help, I suspect it is what made things better.  06:01, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Movie industry idiocy
Speaking of irrational behaviour, the movie industry seems to be a prime example. It is my understanding that they intend to make money from their productions, which I find eminently understandable. What is utterly incomprehensible to me is why then they do everything they can to prevent me from actually buying the movies I want.

Now I'm aware that I'm not the average consumer. I'm trying to learn Russian, and watching movies is a good way to practice the language. BUT, point 1: I'm a Linux user. This point isn't even related to foreign language movies. My computer doesn't play commercial DVDs out of the box. I need to install additional software to crack the encryption, which I understand might even be illegal (not sure about the current situation in my part of the world). Nice way of criminalising people who actually pay for their movies. Point 2: Russia has a different region code. As long as I use the DVDs on my Linux computer, it doesn't make a difference anymore, since I have to crack the encryption anyway. But it obviously limits my ability to use my DVDs for which I paid good money on other devices. (Luckily, at least some of the original Russian movies come without stupid region codes.) Point 3: It's not even easy to obtain the discs in the first place. For example, Ozon (the Russian equivalent of Amazon) won't ship DVDs abroad, not even those that are code free.

I'm stupid enough to still pay for my movies, and sometimes I honestly wonder why. Downloading the movies from the internet instead would a) cost me nothing, b) be much faster and easier, and c) provide me with a product which I can use on whichever device I want. Maybe I should join the EFF or something, though I don't expect the industry to learn anything anytime soon. Anyway, rant over. --Just passing by 14:35, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, I'll tell you how I handle this situation. I subscribe to a DVD rental service (LoveFilm, formerly Amazon DVD rentals) and simply don't use the service. Then I download the movies I actually want to watch when I want to watch them and delete 'em afterwards at a rate of no more than 8 a month. This isn't actually legal, and if I were ever hauled up before a magistrate for my behaviour, I have to cough to it. However, I do think it is justifiably moral. I get my films on demand in a format convenient to me, I also watch Lost, a TV program I'd otherwise have to wait almost a year to see on the day after it's broadcast in the US which I like but is perhaps a little more iffy morally since I really ought to be watching the adverts I suppose. I'm not sure I recommend the approach, but it works for me. -- 14:59, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ohhh, evil industry. So I teach French, hubby teaches Japanese, and we both teach ESL to predominantly Spanish speakers.  We also travel routinely to France and Japan for work and pleasure.  We buy lappy tops so all of our documents can go with us.  We go to watch a rented video *in* France, but no, our lappy top says "you cant do this, you illegal villain of the worst kind.  cause we say so".  We want to show cartoons and "daily tv" dvds (like you might buy the DVDs for season 1 of Lost... only we do french tvs) for our students, but as you say, can't legally play them.  Owning a dual region dvd player is technically illegal.  GRRRRRRR.... hate that industry.  Also the record companies that say "use our download system to pay 1 buck PER SONG."  It would be one thing if the artists got any (much) of that money, but until you are "established" you're doing good to get a few 100,000K for your work.-- 19:37, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * You might be a wee bit generous on that figure, WfG. This article is pretty well-known and gives a breakdown from a few years back but from what I gather it's not that much better today.  One reason bands go on tour is because merchandising is where their actual income comes from, not CD sales.  Although there are outliers like Issa, who put her entire catalogue online. Janis Ian also wrote an interesting couple of articles about the whole downloading thing that's worth a look. --Kels 19:54, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * YEah, when I quoted that 100,000K it was after reading an article, so it was probably this one. I was pretty shocked, myself.  I figured the artists were making hundreds of thousands per album, even when not established.  But this article is also biased, in that the record company pays for much of the bands living and daily expenses for the time they are "in the light", including homes, cars, food, hotels, etc.  But still, it was an eye opener.
 * The irony is that in the ensuing years since those articles, self-publishing music has become exponentially easier. Any decent band already owns a bunch of instruments and mikes and stuff, so all they need nowadays is a decent computer with good software to work from recording to burning final product - with artwork - on an "actual cost" basis.  The artist can (or should be able to) readily outsource anything they can't do well themselves, whatever step it might be (like a good job of mastering, say).  And when you have a working disc and art put together, you can get them "pressed" for a buck or two a copy in relatively small runs. So the "industry"'s role becomes to offer their services to artists at all levels of commercial success.  They would still play a big role working with very successful artists, since they'd need more high-end services (high quality music video production, tour promotion, royalty & mechanical rights collection, etc.)  This way the artist is a real business, and not an employee/slave, and can shop for what they need among competing providers.  And, oh yeah, that "region" crap on DVDs is whack.  22:27, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Wiggidy whack? --Kels 22:49, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * You reminded me to check in on how Jono Bacon's Severed Fifth were getting on. They're doing the whole produce the stuff yourself thing. Music ain't my style of kidney at all, though, I was more a lugradio person. Interesting thing to keep track of though. -- 22:55, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

PyWikipedia
We have our family file. Now how do we add it? -- 20:34, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Can you read? If so, why don't you look at the documentation linked to from RationalWiki:Bots. 21:37, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, I can. I went to the families directory, looked around, and couldn't find a link that would enable me to stick it there. Unless. . . just a sec. -- 00:45, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Intellectual elitism is go!
Take the test and post your scores here. I got 21/30, which is apparently good and gives me a good chance of passing the mensa test. Woo. EddyP 20:44, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 20, but I'm too tired to try the anagram questions, so I'll give myself 24. --PsyGremlinWhut? 21:46, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 26, but I'm a bit of a cryptic puzzle fiend, so that helped with some of them. I'm pissed I missed the fruit square one, I guess I'm not good at addition ;)  Also, Fibonacci ftw!   22:53, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 28, I missed the two anagram ones- I suck at word jumbles. Mensa_test.PNG  23:33, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 25, irritated that I got the prime number one wrong. Duh. -- 23:43, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * ZOMG I did all the questions but at the end it just said Oooh bad luck, intelligence isn't objective. Try again next week. Mei 00:25, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 21, but I skipped the three anagram questions because I hate anagrams. --Kels 01:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 25: Math good, anagrams, not as much. Sterilewalkie-talkie 02:19, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 25. Probably could have got more, but I misunderstood a couple of questions rather spectacularly. -- 04:07, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yossie, what aspect of intelligence do you think you may be overlooking? 08:07, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Reading comprehension, apparently. I skimmed over a couple of questions a tad too fast, and ended up misreading what they wanted me to do. -- 20:27, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * ME? CRAP. Not gonna tell you. Roll on senility! 08:15, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Same here. It's Sunday morning, for Belenos's sake. Totnesmartin 08:53, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 22, but didn't bother looking up a translation for "radish" and got #23 right in my mind but answered with her age in 4 years. Correctly randomly guessed #8 and flunked #6 spectacularly. 13:45, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I did the same on the age one. I didn't bother with the anagrams either. EddyP 14:12, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Come on, people. Age problems are simple math.  Just set up a system of equations


 * y= girl's age             x=boy's age


 * y-4 = 2(x-4)
 * (3/4)(y+4) = x+4


 * y-4 = 2x-8
 * 3/4y+3 = x+4


 * y+4 = 2x
 * 3/4y-1 = x


 * Now, just substitute and solve


 * y+4 = 2(3/4y-1)


 * y+4 = 3/2y-2


 * y+6 = 3/2y


 * 6 = 1/2y


 * 12 = y


 * And VOILA, you have the girl's age.  14:54, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * We got the maths correct...we just didn't read the question. EddyP 14:59, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * 27. Missed an anagram and 2 sequences. I am so smart, S-M-R-T   14:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Table
For easy comparison, to see who you can discriminate against based on intelligence. 15:10, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Damn you Aboriginal Noise! I ec'd with you on creating a new table! 15:49, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You one-upped me on score, I one-upped you on timing.  15:58, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

My only consolation at my poor placement is the thought that I'm younger than most of you (even though age has no bearing on IQ ;_;). EddyP 15:51, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Of course, just look at Toast :) We need to get CUR to take this  15:54, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * No doubt he'll trounce us all. EddyP 15:57, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Darn, now whe have to do as Theemperor says. 16:12, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * You know, I think I may have forgotten to do the age one as well as the anagrams. So I would have left off four questions unanswered.  Pity.  Of course, some of it doesn't rely so much on "intelligence" as "remembering formulae I haven't used in nearly 25 years". --Kels 16:27, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * 29 - Somehow I just couldn't see one of the anagrams even through I frequently do crosswords. 17:16, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Just you wait, CUR will beat you and get 30. He has an IQ of eleventy billion don't you know? I think he founded mensa. -- 17:55, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It was only losted for a bit. User:Mei

No, CUR's IQ is OVER NINE THOUSANAAAAAAAAND!!!!11!!!!1!1!!!!!111!!!!!!11!1!111 (theemperor)
 * Ha-ha. Actually, I got 28 about half a year ago. -- 20:41, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * My hypothesis is proved. You can all go home now. User:Mei


 * If anybody's looking for me, I'll be in the corner, trying on my dunce's cap. --PsyGremlinWhut? 18:56, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Genghis himself shall poke you with the pointy stick. EddyP 19:01, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nobody's poking me with any stick of theirs, unless they buy me dinner first. --PsyGremlinWhut? 19:08, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I can't bring myself to do these. The second I try to get the cogs turning, I'm instantly reminded that it's not worth it. 20:35, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Proof of FSM existance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL7FcvEydqg captured in Germany  Hamster 20:53, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

And now for something completely different
I'm eating poached salmon (from M&S), rice & veg & it's Loverly. 22:35, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Mmm. Sits back & pats tummy. Delicious. 22:41, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I've got a couple of nice pork chops ready to barbecue tomorrow night, probably with a bit of mashed. I'm quite looking forward to it. --Kels 22:43, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Will this cruel recession never subside??? Mei 00:26, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * You too? It's eggs, rice and beans chez Totnesmartin. Own brand stuff too. Totnesmartin 07:41, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

I am going to punch IKEA
Right in its giant Scandanavian head. --Kels 22:45, 2 May 2009 (UTC)


 * To assemble punch, please follow instructions in handy booklet.  22:46, 2 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Booklet not included. Refer to PDF in a not readily apparent part of the website.  No, instructions on PDF are not in numerical order. --Kels 22:48, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Treat it as a puzzle, adding to the value of the purchase! 22:55, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It worked out in the end. Second and third shelves are entirely books related to drawing and comics. --Kels 23:03, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I hear that in the US, you can pay Ikea to put the furniture together for you. Kind of takes the fun out of it, if you ask me. Lazy bastards :D -- 23:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

http://basicinstructions.net/?p=1055 23:14, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Hehe, I read that as "pray Ikea to put together..." 23:21, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Is that a Totally Hair Barbie sitting on the top shelf? I've had one with African skin tones riding a lamp bracket for years now...  23:24, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I like the one in inverted suspension - bit of bondage going on there? 23:27, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, it used to be relevant to my interests. In fact, I gave my old latex dress to a friend just last weekend so she could use it in the airbrushing business she wants to start.  And human, that's actually a knockoff Sailor Jupiter doll.  There's also various GiantMicrobes scattered about. --Kels 23:39, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Oh, I've a couple of those, and the instructions to boot! I should've uploaded portions of them to taunt. 23:42, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Try doing that with machinery. Not only is it complicated, but heavy as hell too!--Nate River 00:48, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Kels, what's the blue thing on the drawing board? I'll upload my own IKEA bookshelf later but as it's Sunday I'm going into work. 08:14, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The blue thing is a towel. I recently had a Hitchhikers-themed birthday party, and I hadn't found a place for it yet. --Kels 15:20, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Did you go as Darwin, like Trillian in the film? Totnesmartin 17:31, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Do not speak of that abomination in my presence. --Kels 17:40, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Good point - the radio series was best. Totnesmartin 18:25, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Indeed so.  I well remember it.   It was Saturday mornings on Radio 4 or something, wasn't it?   After Mornington Crescent was done with?    I loved the radio show, enjoyed the book, hated the first film and have consequently avoided the remake.   Should I bother with it?   I do like the look of the massive-headed Marvin in the recent one.    Oh, well done with the shelves Kels.   I assume you didn't assemble the whole thing only to discover you'd got one bolt-screw thingy left over and now you're going to worry for five years if it's going to explode because you can't be arsed to take it all apart to put the damn bolt-screw thingy in?   Just sayin'.   DogP  22:59, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Only leftovers I had were some extra nails for tacking the back on, but they were clearly extras. And I used to listen to H2G2 on CBC Radio at 5pm after school let out. --Kels 23:07, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Free Comic Book Day!
anyone else go? Got a nice EC sampler, Swamp Thing, Resurrection, some Love and Rockets, and Love and Capes...Amin7b5 23:34, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Didn't really occur to me this year, although I guess it should have. I'm lame. --Kels 23:38, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Heh
This one. I was laughing rather hard at that. 00:34, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Curse you for making me browse random C&H cartoons. For that, I give you this. --PsyGremlinWhut? 01:33, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Anybody know any good DVD ripping software for Windows?
I'm looking for suggestions because I just lost my Superbad DVD to scratching (bought it used but still feel ashamed for it going like that) and thought it would be a good idea to back up my others. ENorman 04:49, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Purely by chance I Stumbleuponed this and this. I know nothing about them at all but ... 10:11, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * try www.videohelp.com they have a list of tools including freeware, shareware and commercial software. the 1 click dvd ripper or Fabdvd are both free and work on many movies. Note: scratched dvd can be resurfaced ask at a video rental store or library. Hamster 16:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Alarums and excursions
6:00 am. Just had a knock on my door: two neighbours' cars been broken into in the night: "Did you hear anything?" I never heard a thing! Taken radio from one, other guy takes front cover off so they took nothing. 05:10, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Something I just remembered
Last night, before my violent encounters, I was talking to a very beautiful girl at a bar. Somehow or another the conversation turned to science, religion and the like and I suddenly discovered I was talking to a YECer, a beautiful boxom blonde YECer, but one all the same. She pulled out all the most ignorant of arguments. Firstly she told me that "Evolution is just a theory" and I countered of course with Gravity being a "theory" also and described what a scientific theory actually meant. I was explained that just because the title of something says "theory" does not detract from validity. Then she pulled out the one I hate the most - If humans evolved from monkeys then why are there still monkeys? I again countered by explaining the humans are not monkeys but a sub-set of the Great Ape family and, secondly, that is like saying that because there are sharks why are there still fish? Finally, I asked her what her best evidence was of a god and she said, honestly and straight from the Schlafly "Autumn foliage is beautiful" playbook", that the sunset was the best evidence of god. Yes my brain exploded and I called for the waiter to bring several more drinks. I have met several, and debated online, with god fearing Christians whom believe in Creation however this was the first time ever that I have been presented with one, at my table, and have had them explain to me their fallicious and intellectually desolate arguments. I was truly amazed. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 05:20, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The sceince debate is good and all, but how did you end up going with this beautiful buxom blonde? 06:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, he wound up with cracked ribs. So use your imagination. 07:16, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Did you ever get the feeling that she was listening?  Or was she - as is typical with these types - basically sticking her fingers in her ears and going "La La La I can't hear you!".   When I've met these types, I've just basically given up arguing, they seem to not want to listen.  Of course, they say the same about us, but then we're right, so they can eff off.   DogP  23:05, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Wish me luck
As part of the promotion for the show I'm appearing, I have to go sit through a Sunday morning church service. I was hoping I could pull off the old headphones wired through the shirt trick, but they're putting us in the front row, so no nice. Here's hoping that I don't go crazy and commit some illegal act as a result of this. If I don't post anymore, please send bail money to Denver. 07:33, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * See you on aSK tonight then. Totnesmartin 07:38, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Bring us back some crackers. -- 08:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Now that's just plain naughty, Jeeves. 08:13, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Jeeves wins! Totnesmartin 08:55, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * That's a cracker! . 09:24, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Bring The God Delusion and read it in the front row. And while you are doing that, hum Imagine by John Lennon. Blurt out corrections and contradictions in the pastors speech while he is presenting, and when you are finially done with that, bring home not just one, but state that the severity of your sins require an increased closeness with the cracker, and bring home several. EPIC WIN. (or just don't, and be a friendly turn-the-other-asscheek athiest. 20:20, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yay for living through other people. User:Mei
 * A little late for that, and I don't think I would do it anyway. Actually, the service wasn't to bad as religions go... Methodist church, female pastor (she was kinda cute too) and a pretty laid back sermon.... Not something I'd volunteer to do again, but not the worst experience of my life (that would be the Catholic service I had to go to)  22:16, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

Sunday evening viewing.
Just spent 2 hours watching "Time of the Gypsies" (Dom za vesanje). First Yugo/Bosnian/whatever film I've seen, and flipping brilliant. and now... to bed. --PsyGremlinWhut? 19:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)


 * I've just watched Panorama on BBC News 24 about a nurse, Margaret Haywood, who has been struck off the nursing register and lost her job for exposing poor quality care in an NHS hospital. There is a petition, linked to from the Royal College of Nursing website where you can show your support. Anyone can sign but I hope all UK editors can make this simple gesture. 20:08, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Nice bit in Private Eye about her. "With M.D.: “The smearing of whistleblowers is a depressingly common tactic. [Nurse Margaret] Haywood was reported by the trust to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and it also threw in an absurd allegation that she had failed to assist when a patient had a ‘grand mal’ convulsion. This was found to be groundless…" 20:16, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yay for breaking the hippocratic oath. Mei is controversial

Swine flu *yawn*
So I went to wikipedia to pull up a few numbers on the swine flu. So far, a confirmed 925 people have been infected (for sure) and a bit over 5000 are believed to be infected. Of these, 20 people have died, mostly toddlers. Now, not all of those 5000 people are definitally infected, so I used 2500 for the calculations, assuming about half of them are indeed infected.

100/(925+2500) 0.0291970803 ANS * 20 (the amount of deaths) 0.5839416058

So that means that of all the infections, only half of a percent have died from it. Am I worried about swine flu? No, not really. (and by the way, assuming ALL those people had been infected, the final total comes out to a whopping ⅓ of a percent dying from the flu).

So... meh. 20:56, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Its a non-event. The only time you need to worry is when you start dreaming of an old black woman who wants you to visit her on a farm in a cornfield in Nebraska. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 21:02, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'd be more worried about the guy in Vegas personally. Totnesmartin21:42, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * M-O-O-N, that spells swine-flu. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 21:45, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I think the "issue" is that it's a variety we have very little immunity to (it's different enough from other flus we may have antibodies for), and if it changes a little bit, making human to human infection easy, it might become a big deal. (If 10% of the world population were infected at that 0.5% mortality rate, that would be 3 million deaths) If it also became slightly more lethal, it could get really bad. Also also, even without killing people directly, a flu pandemic can cripple human productivity.  Luckily, chances are, the virus won't achieve the needed adaptations, and we are watching it really closely.  21:29, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The worst part about this whole thing is that the medical profession, who should be the ones telling people not to panic are the ones running around screaming "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE." Add in easily led people who put too much trust in their news and a 24 hour news cycle that reported on it like it was the black death revisited and I'm surprised the panis was as contained as it was... Total failure in all sectors.  22:21, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, what's up with the school closings? Are they schools where a student was positively identified as being infected?  I suppose they must be, and I guess that's the right thing to do to contain the virus?  23:32, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

according to the last available weekly update available from the CDC 53 American children died of the flu this flu season (stats count from October through mid-April). Never made the news, nobody cared. Combine a few sick Mexicans with illegal immigrant paranoia, basic racism, and the US Culture of Fear, and you have a news story with legs. Amin7b5 23:40, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I was half expecting to get flamed for creating the swine flu article earlier today the way I did, but it looks like everyone is mostly in agreement that right now it's a non-event and a case of media hysteria. US Culture of Fear is right.  Do we have an article on culture of fear yet? Secret Squirrel 00:51, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * If it was really anything worth worrying about Madagascar would have shut down by now. ENorman 02:27, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Ha, ha, CUR fucks up
At RWW. He alleged that this account was a 'Jinx sock' when it is really my sock, as he should have seen from the otder of edits (I created the user's talk page before the user). Also he didn't delete all of the troll's edits, like he probably meant to.

No, I won't talk to him there, as he no more deserves authority over me than a woman does. Fall down 22:58, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Oh yes I do. . . -- 23:28, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * actually, (without agreeing with the misogyny part of that screed....) you don't. Why feed the troll? Amin7b5 23:30, 3 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Actually, I'm temporarily taking away Holyroller privaleges until he can behave. He is also blocked for one day. -- 23:34, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

I thought we didn't block here--only vandal-binned. Amin7b5 23:40, 3 May 2009 (UTC) Never mind, you're talkin' 'bout somewhere else..Amin7b5 23:41, 3 May 2009 (UTC) I gave him back Holyroller rights- he can't do much damage with them, and frankly they aren't very useful.

Complete list of people interested in what Fall down has to say

 * User:Mei 00:53, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * CUR
 * XD User:Mei

Minor assistance request is minor
I'm trying to spliff up my user page in preparation for the massive festivities on May 22, and I want to get the TOC, the balloons, and the userboxbox to display all in the same horizontal "field", or row - that is, left, center, and right all starting at the same vertical point. Feel free to 'speriment if you think you can fix it for me. 00:20, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * What happens on May 22nd? Is it my birthday? Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 00:26, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Why not use a wiki table? Also on the subject, the holydaze. Is RW's birthday two separate days or is it considered to just be the 22nd? Also do we need two separate tamplates for NOBK or do I have to fiddle with parser functions again? 00:28, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I did try an html table, but something borked it - care to try for me? I think there may be some messy unclosed or overclosed stuff in the ubb.  Sadly, not very literate in wiki table markup unless I have something to copy. RW bday is two days long because the server went on line late Sunday night.  Also it's twice as special as any other holyday.  NOBK is another two day one.  If you can magically make them run two days as a single template that's cool, but they are just transclusions, after all. We running out of space for them?  00:33, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Fixed, used the float right example at the help page, but floated it left. 01:32, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I think what I will do is give them there own template and then fiddle with the parameters. I started this about 4 or 5 months ago and have left it unfinished. Then I realised it is May and I should get them working already. 00:35, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Fixed. 00:45, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * You'll be eleven days late anyhow. 00:48, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Why? 00:49, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Teh boozeup's on May 11 (my boozeup, anyhow). With any luck, I'll be doing an Ace.  00:58, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * What is so special about May 11? 01:13, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I'll be .... 65 01:15, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * We'll be drinking then, too, don't worry... 01:19, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I assume you're well and truly sick of that Beatles song by now. Time to move on. --Kels 01:25, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Out of  that cottage in the Isle of Wight? Yeah - back home. Actually I'm just rather surprised to be still here!  01:28, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It only seems like last year that SusanG Toast was telling us she was going to be 64. 08:35, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It only seems like last year that SusanG Toast was telling us she was going to be 64. 08:35, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Dead letter box
With n people dying every day, what happens to emails sent to them? Are they just sitting in some limbo for ever? Not to mention websites blogs & stuff. How long before the dead outnumber the living on the net? 01:20, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * The emails will sit on the server until the provider deletes them or the account gets cancelled. "Normal" websites will fall down when the bill isn't paid.  However, the "free" stuff could get quite interesting (google mail, most blog hosting sites, etc.)  01:27, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It was the second type I was thinking of. Used to be that you got free web space with an ISP account too. I think they're all gone now. 01:30, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I've got a site at my ISP. But like the other pay to play stuff, that will get vaped when I stop paying the bill.  01:33, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * There's services that forward e-mails to people you know online saying "hey, I'm dead!" that work by you responding to e-mails regularly sent out and once you miss enough you get marked as dead. Additionally they can send your passwords to people to let them sort crap out and perhaps delete/archive it all. But now that geocities is going boom are there still any major free web services? ENorman 03:22, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, there are the blog and networking sites, but they of course aren't "full service" web site providers. 03:47, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * With most mail services, each account has a quota of disk space. Presumably, the mailbox sits there until it uses its quota and then any new mail bounces. This isn't a problem for mail providers associated with paid ISP accounts. You stop paying, and you email box goes away. So far technology has prevented it being a problem for free email providers either. Disk space keeps getting cheaper, so their costs don't increase exponentially just for their existing customers.


 * However, I think for providers like google who offer vast and perpetually increasing quotas, this may come back to bite them in the arse. In a decade, they may have literally millions of defunct and unused accounts filling up with gigabytes of spam taking up exabytes of space without any sane way to distinguish the defunct accounts from the live. If they were smart, they'd make some way to actually close accounts rather than simply forcing their customers to abandon them. The address space couldn't be reused, but it would solve problems both for them and their customer's privacy concerns. -- 07:54, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It's easy enough to "close and delete" - no log-in by user for x days/years. 08:41, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't know if the problem will be due to spam, modern free email providers have fairly decent spam. My unsued gmail account has no spam going to the inbox and my in use hotmail account also has no spam going to the inbox. Everything directed to the junk folder deletes automatically after so many years. There's also a similar problem with bank accounts being unused, but as that's with money, it's a slightly more serious issue, possibly millions are just sat there unclaimed. They were going to pass legislation recently in the UK that would default any money that's sat there for a decade or so (providing attempts to contact the onwer have failed) to the government. 11:20, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

I fail at being angry
Last night I was feeling lonely because of the breakup and my parents were gone and my friends were busy, so I stayed up late watching Shane. And just when the movie ended and I was at my most emotional point my ex called me, I didn't answer, but waited for the message. It was basically her saying I miss you, but I called her back intending to be angry because I had been trying to get a hold of her since Thursday. We talked for a while, and at some point, probably overcome with sadness and a deep sense of loss for Shane, I asked her to prom, and we're going. Not dating again, just going. So I've managed to go to prom two years in a row with a ex-girlfriend, probably why I think school dances are the most cruel form of self-torture ever created. Yorick 03:55, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I went to my prom with an ex myself. Seems almost normal, really, considering the planning time involved and the fragility of high school relationships.  03:58, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I went to the prom with my mom. No one else would. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 04:27, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 *  now why doesn't that surprise me?  04:29, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * With your mom?!--Tom Moore fiat justitia ruat coelum 04:32, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ace lies!!! I went to the prom with his mom. 04:34, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ace went to the prom with gunfire. The concept of gunfire. And he got drunk on the tears of Mark Twain. User:Mei
 * Well not really no. In NZ we dont have proms and every dance I went to I would always get to fucked to do any dancing. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 04:37, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Is Ace's mom booked for the 16th? Because who knows I might need different date. Yorick 04:51, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, she's not busy then. I can wait.  04:56, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

(FD was FD here)
 * Shut up FD, you fail at being a human being. Whoa, I got EC'd and FD's asininity got deleted? 04:56, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
 * We are now just going to ignore him and not even respond, just chuck another IP in the bin. 04:58, 4 May 2009 (UTC)