From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V11 #365 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Sunday, November 10 2002 Volume 11 : Number 365 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: if it's not scottish it's carp! ["Stewart C. Russell" ] World Cafe [Stefan Cooke ] Re: DELETE NOW! DON'T READ THIS! EYE-STRAIN! WRIST-SPLINTS! [Ed ] Random Thoughts (a lil RH in there too) [Mike Swedene ] RE: feeding the fire ["FS Thomas" ] Re: feeding the fire [drew ] RE: feeding the fire [Jeffrey with 2 Fs Jeffrey ] Re: feeding the fire [steve ] Re: feeding the fire ["Michael Wells" ] On a nautical note... ["Michael Wells" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 11:12:56 -0500 From: "Stewart C. Russell" Subject: Re: if it's not scottish it's carp! drew wrote: > > 2. I have a copy of Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, but it > occurs to me that it might be nice to ask for a really good dictionary > for Christmas. Can anyone (Stewart?) recommend such a thing, > preferably no more than one or two volumes and not too newfangled > and fruity? okay, my experience of American English dictionaries is not great. I've never been a fan of their archaic typography, and why they're illustrated, I'll never know. I'll spare you the theory going around UK lexicography circles about illustrations; you can probably guess. Merriam-Webster Collegiate 10th ed is okay, as far as it goes. It's cheap, and the coverage is reasonable. Shame it's so ugly. If you want absurdly good coverage, the Shorter Oxford (two slightly unwieldy volumes) has every the OED has, but none of the citations. I had one, but only used it twice. It didn't fit on my shelves, but it comes in a pleasing carboard box. The New Oxford Dictionary of English is not bad, if a bit big for one volume. Oxford want it referred to as 'Node'; rivals call it 'Noddy'. The Chambers dictionary is good if you like quirky. Encarta is the butt of jokes in the industry. Australia's Macquarie Dictionary is really pretty nifty. Nice coverage, and fast/respected production team. I still reach for the Collins English Dictionary. Its US coverage is weak, its Canadian hilarious, but its mix of encyclopaedic and etymological entries is great. It's also got just enough heft to be useful, but won't break your wrist. I'd always recommend browsing for a dictionary first. They are very personal things. Check out the page count of competing dictionaries (don't be fooled by size -- some manufacturers have started to use high-bulk paper). See how they handle huge entries like "take". Make sure they fit on your reference shelf (which I trust is near your dining table for those dinnertime etymology sessions, yes?). Completely ignore cover blurb on word counts (they're, um, "creative"). Likewise ignore new and buzzy words on the cover. Stewart ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 11:15:21 -0500 From: "Stewart C. Russell" Subject: Re: Oh Canada barbara soutar wrote: > > By the way, the usual for us is two coffees with > double cream and two blueberry bran muffins. our donuts of choice are sour cream glazed. I've started having Vietnamese-inspired ca fe sua (black coffee with condensed milk) with them. Tooth decay follows. Stewart ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 16:50:11 +0000 (UTC) From: Stefan Cooke Subject: World Cafe I'm ba-ack... I taped the World Cafe session/interview off air to DAT and am now adding as filler it to disc two of the flawless Chicago Double Door recording I traded for on DAT-heads. What a fantastic show! Why didn't they come to Boston??? I'd like to distribute via a mini-tree/weed (a la my Boston Soft Boys recording last year) - I send copies to three people who in turn send it to three others, etc. I'd really like to get super quality recordings of any other SB02 dates in trade for these Chicago/World Cafe tree discs. And if Bayard is reading this, I'm still waiting for your CDs from that Boston tree! Stefan ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 13:20:41 -0500 From: Ed Subject: Re: DELETE NOW! DON'T READ THIS! EYE-STRAIN! WRIST-SPLINTS! On Saturday, November 9, 2002, at 11:09 AM, steve wrote: > >> Of course, I'm just arguing for the sake of it, because I think the >> 14th Amendment jurisprudence of the last 50 years has been correct in >> applying the Bill of Rights to the States. > > > The question, of course, is how much the coming Federalist Society > dominated federal judiciary will agree with this jurisprudence. I > think we're pretty close to returning to the time when the federal > courts were not interested in protecting individuals from state/local > majorities. I think you're right and certainly that's the direction the Court has been heading at least since Rehnquist became Chief (as an illustration: in 1985, the last year of the Burger Court, the Court agreed to hear over 150 cases; last year, less that 75. Rehnquist makes damn sure he has a majority for his side before he will allow a case to be heard -- if it's close, or if the "liberals" have a shot at reaffirming or extending earlier precedents protecting individual liberties, it's safer just to not take the case). Of course, these jurists are not principled in their application of this type of "hands off" jurisprudence -- sure, they will "defer to the will of the legislature" or promote "states' rights" to solve problems as they see fit, UNLESS those state/local majorities decide to enact (1) medical marijuana or other partial drug decriminalization laws; (2) laws extending equal protection on the basis of sexual orientation (e.g., employment and/or housing anti-discrimination; same-sex marriage); or (3) gun control laws. In these arenas, the former proponents of a weak federal judiciary suddenly find religion and start spouting off about federal supremacy and striking down popularly enacted legislation (even the Holiest of the Holy forms of majoritarian expression -- the ballot referendum: direct legislation by the voters). Golly, it almost sounds like "judicial activism," no? - -ed ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 19:12:01 +0000 From: "Montauk Daisy" Subject: 5%Robyn:100% Sense(thou your judgement may differ) Drew >Yeah, I'd be far more willing to agree that Buffy's a show worthy of study Agreed. I wrote this a while ago but decided to spare Feg. But hey--now its an ongoing thread...(And if I may say, even a sensical(is that a word?)one ;0) I wrote it to go with the my observations on the bad hair demon and somehow(by some demon perhaps,) it ended up being saved in my drafts section. Anyway, heres my short "paper" on Buffy: "Proof that I take Buffy or Jung too seriously -- After the show, drifting off to sleep, I was thinking about the nucleous of the original cast, Buffy, Willow, Zander, Giles and came up with this : Buffy(buff)--physical, sensation, earth; Giles(guile)--intellect, thinking, air; Willow(will)--life-force, inspiration, fire(well, she is a red); Zander(world-conqueror)--love, feeling, water. Im sure I could easily argue a different order, but what struck me is that with Giles and mom gone -- that thinking function is lacking. Its not just that everyone cept Spike is young, its a human quality thats missing and needs to be filled." - --------------------- More Drew: >Can anyone (Stewart?) recommend such a thing, >preferably no more than one or two volumes and not too newfangled >and fruity? The hardback(which is different than the paperback)of "The American Heritage Dictionary." Im not Stewart but I find this one the most useful of the wieldly American dictionaries. Its the one I own. The one I didn't look up sensical in;-) And BTW -- my feelings on Beefheart go from slight appreciation to running out of the room screaming. Like you, I may have just never heard the right stuff. Unlike you, I'm too grumphy to explore - --------------- Did anyone tape Largo? - ---------------- Kay, not quite ready for the MLA _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 11:21:54 -0800 (PST) From: John Barrington Jones Subject: Recording off the soundboard : That pesky XLR chochke THe last few times I've asked for soundboard accesss at gigs, I've gotten permission, only to be SOL when they ask for my XLR connector. I don't have one! How, and where, do I get one? The ones I've seen other tapers use seem to be homemade or something. I am no good with wires and solder and such. And what exactly am I looking for? Male, or female XLR to 1/8" stereo miniplug? Thanks in advance for any help you can give. And how do you really spell chochke? Its a yiddish word meaning trinket. I figure it starts with a T. Have a great three-day weekend, =jbj= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 14:35:07 -0500 From: duplanet@global2000.net (by way of dances with virgos ) Subject: new Soft Boys "Side three" EP available now! A new CD EP by The Soft Boys titled "Side Three" is now available. Packaged in a cardboard sleeve, the six new songs are: 1. Narcissus 2. Disconnection of the Ruling Class 3. Each of Her Silver Wands 4. Om 5. Comin' Through 6. Evil Guy. Released by Editions PAF!, it can be purchased at www.robynhitchcock.com for $12 in the US and Canada and $15.50 to the rest of the world. (also avilable through thesoftboys.com) AND......... We also have limited quantities available of Robyn's "Jewels for Sophia," in its advance package. It's the same CD as the commercially released version, but in a slim purple case stickered with all of the song titles on the front. This can also be purchased at www.robynhitchcock.com for $12 in the US and Canada and $15.50 to the rest of the world. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 15:28:39 -0500 From: Ed Subject: Re: Recording off the soundboard : That pesky XLR chochke On Saturday, November 9, 2002, at 02:21 PM, John Barrington Jones wrote: > And how do you really spell chochke? Its a yiddish word meaning > trinket. I > figure it starts with a T. you figure correctly: tchotchke - -ed "everything but the kitsch 'n' sync" poole ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 15:18:59 -0800 (PST) From: Mike Swedene Subject: Mac OS X Looks like I have one of the "bad discs" for OS X. I am forced to reinstall OS 9 and try and get a newer copy of OS X (Jaguar). I appreciate all the answers and assistance I recd during this time. Herbie np-> Blur "Bad Day" mac-less now for _5_ days.... ===== - --------------------------------------------- View my Websight & CDR Trade page at: http://midy.topcities.com/ _____________________________________________ U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 15:22:11 -0800 (PST) From: Mike Swedene Subject: Random Thoughts (a lil RH in there too) Any word on Robyn's novel? I was listening to the Bowery Ball Room SB show and thought how it would be a great book to read over the winter months. odd thought: Listening to the NIRVANA disc on the way home from work this evening.... ALL APOLOGIES - I was thinking it'd be funny if Cher covered it. Some of Kurt (Curt/Kurdt)'s vocals are quite cher like. Did Grohl get a nose job? How high did they crank the BLEACH stuff on that album. Did they re-record over Chad's drums with Grohl or just flat out buy him out? Curious.... Herbie np-> Blur "High Cool" ===== - --------------------------------------------- View my Websight & CDR Trade page at: http://midy.topcities.com/ _____________________________________________ U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 22:45:08 -0800 From: drew Subject: feeding the fire I was thinking that Greg's mandatory civil service idea sounded quite nice at first. Then of course the small problem that most citizens are ignorant undereducated motherfuckers raised its head, but I think there's actually a worse one: since politics would not be their "real job," since they would not already be rich fat cats with sources of income outside of their salaries, since their "terms" would be short and limited anyway, and since they wouldn't have any need to convince an electorate to vote them into office for the next term, there would be absolutely no incentive for people not to take bribes and do favors for friends and family. You don't have to be a complete pessimist about human nature to believe it would work out this way; part of the reason this discussion got started was the observation that lots of people dislike jury duty and are willing to be less than honest to escape it. It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to see a fair number of people figuring, "hell, I have no choice about doing this, I might as well milk it for my own benefit." The moral integrity that would enable people to do this right is rare, and the people who possess it 100% (as opposed to 95% or less) are often somewhat sociopathic as a result (when you get right down to it, I guess I don't trust anyone who looks to any source but their own consciences for moral authority, and lots of Americans are theists). Maybe this sort of system would work for a society of philosophers but it's not so hot for 21st century America. Does a country exist at present that uses such a system? How does it work for them, and how do they avoid the problems I described? - - Drew ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 02:10:42 -0500 From: "FS Thomas" Subject: RE: feeding the fire Scratch "civil service" and scribble "conscription" in the box and you might have something. Mandatory military service works for Israel pretty danged well. Given the idea of military service v. mandatory jail time for disobeying a military order and you might not have such a lazy and, at heart, corrupt populace. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-fegmaniax@smoe.org [mailto:owner-fegmaniax@smoe.org]On Behalf Of drew Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 1:45 AM To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Subject: feeding the fire I was thinking that Greg's mandatory civil service idea sounded quite nice at first. Then of course the small problem that most citizens are ignorant undereducated motherfuckers raised its head, but I think there's actually a worse one: since politics would not be their "real job," since they would not already be rich fat cats with sources of income outside of their salaries, since their "terms" would be short and limited anyway, and since they wouldn't have any need to convince an electorate to vote them into office for the next term, there would be absolutely no incentive for people not to take bribes and do favors for friends and family. You don't have to be a complete pessimist about human nature to believe it would work out this way; part of the reason this discussion got started was the observation that lots of people dislike jury duty and are willing to be less than honest to escape it. It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to see a fair number of people figuring, "hell, I have no choice about doing this, I might as well milk it for my own benefit." The moral integrity that would enable people to do this right is rare, and the people who possess it 100% (as opposed to 95% or less) are often somewhat sociopathic as a result (when you get right down to it, I guess I don't trust anyone who looks to any source but their own consciences for moral authority, and lots of Americans are theists). Maybe this sort of system would work for a society of philosophers but it's not so hot for 21st century America. Does a country exist at present that uses such a system? How does it work for them, and how do they avoid the problems I described? - - Drew ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 00:21:05 -0800 From: drew Subject: Re: feeding the fire On Saturday, November 9, 2002, at 11:10 PM, FS Thomas wrote: > Scratch "civil service" and scribble "conscription" in the box and you > might > have something. > > Mandatory military service works for Israel pretty danged well. Well, it works pretty danged well for Israel's leaders. I know a boy who's doing his time right now and I can tell you he's not too happy about it. > Given the idea of military service v. mandatory jail time for > disobeying a > military order and you might not have such a lazy and, at heart, > corrupt > populace. Yeah, that sounds like the country I want to live in. Anyway, the whole point of this discussion was trying to solve the problem of corrupt, ineffective, and self-serving politicians. Unless you're suggesting that previously being indoctrinated to a rigid hierarchical organization that discourages free and independent thought and encourages blind obedience, ruthlessness, and homicide will somehow make one perfectly fit to be a benevolent, humane leader with original ideas later in life, your post here is pretty much a non-sequitur. Play again (y/n)? - - Drew ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 08:46:16 -0600 From: Jeffrey with 2 Fs Jeffrey Subject: RE: feeding the fire Quoting FS Thomas : > Scratch "civil service" and scribble "conscription" in the box and you might > have something. > > Mandatory military service works for Israel pretty danged well. > > Given the idea of military service v. mandatory jail time for disobeying a > military order and you might not have such a lazy and, at heart, corrupt > populace. And while we're at it, let's make the trains run on time. Israel's mandatory military service may or may not work well, but Israel's situation is considerably different from ours. They see themselves as a nation continuously under siege, and although some of that comes about because of their own actions these days, there's some historical truth to that notion. (Please: if anyone wants to post about how they are that way because they booted the Arab population out of "their" land at the nation's founding, okay, fine, sure, whatever, the last thing we need here is a debate on Israel vs. Palestine.) Also, while I *might* be persuaded to view mandatory *civil* service as a good - so long as the people in such positions were unlikely to do anyone any harm, like picking up litter, for reasons Drew mentions - the fact is we all already *do* serve the government: it's called taxes. I find it ironic that people who rail against taxes are often the same folks who then start huffing about mandatory military service - apparently, they'd rather wear constricting uniforms and be told what to do than pay money. In the real world, of course, you can pay money to have someone tell you what to do while you wear a constricting uniform. And why military service? That would only reinforce the notion that blowing things up and putting holes in people is the best and only way to solve problems. Oh yeah, it'd be great if people who decided to rob banks or kidnap people had specialized military training to do so. I mean, if even more of them did. ..Jeff J e f f r e y N o r m a n The Architectural Dance Society www.uwm.edu/~jenor/ADS.html :: sex, drugs, revolt, Eskimos, atheism ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 09:04:39 -0600 From: steve Subject: Re: feeding the fire On Sunday, November 10, 2002, at 12:45 AM, drew wrote: > I was thinking that Greg's mandatory civil service idea sounded quite > nice at first. Truth be told, it's a silly idea. - - Steve __________ So how about using the same shock-value tactics the administration uses in the drug war to confront the public with the ultimate - and much more linearly linked - consequences of their energy wastefulness? Imagine a soccer mom in a Ford Excursion (11 mpg city, 15 mpg highway) saying, "I'm building a nuclear bomb for Saddam Hussein." - Arianna Huffington ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 09:33:27 -0600 From: "Michael Wells" Subject: Re: feeding the fire > In the real world, of course, you can pay money to > have someone tell you what to do while you wear a constricting uniform. In Milwaukee? Where? Michael "there used to a place down by Mader's" Wells ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 13:48:08 -0600 From: "Michael Wells" Subject: On a nautical note... I know the sea shanty thread is passed, but they're having a weekend full of 'em here coming up: www.shanties.chicago.com I'll probably go to the Sunday program "The Old Bells and Friends" presented in English & Polish if any other locals are interested. No, seriously. Michael "call me Quickbeard" Wells ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V11 #365 ********************************