Conference rdvax::grateful

    Best of luck rochelle!  How to look on the bright side?  Well, maybe
    George Bush will be in the same situation in a few months?
    
    Keep on truckin'
    PeterT
    

 The deeper they get with this layoff stuff, the more people that I know and
 care about are getting hit...:-(





 Jum

But you just got here 8-(.  Good luck in your new beginning, Rochelle!
There *is* life after DEC!

peace,
t!ng

    I'm sorry to hear this Rochelle, it was nice getting to know you over
    this short time. I gotta admit I didn't always get the tiltles either
    but you sound pretty alive and happy so I figured they were probably
    cool. 
    
    	I just read that Mike Lampson and Oso got hit also, I'm not used to
    seeing so many people leave notes at once.
    
    	Have fun Rochelle, Maybe I'll meet you at a show someday.
    Geoff  

    au revoir Rochelle, Mike and Oso...
    
    					da ve

	I believe that I will be finding out the fate of my product
	at an 11:00 am meeting today.  I told 'em that I gotta split
	at 11:20 in order to make it up to the slash_go_away_lunch...

	
	So, what's it gonna be boys?  Yes, or no?

		.... story at 11am!

	turning points in our lives are never easy - even when we
	initiate them ourselves.

	not knowing exactly what to say but wanting to say something...
	I hope things work out well for you down the road, that you
	look back on this turning point someday and know that it was
	for the best.  Good luck and best wishes to all of you.

	Debess

	i'm real bummed cause I'm missing /'s going-away lunch
	cause I have no way to get there...

I want to be sad for you Rochelle, but I can't be - thanks to your (usual)
uplifting note.  I know you'll shine wherever you are, enjoy yourself and
be sure to tell everyone you meet how lucky there are to know you.  ;^)

Lisa

Wow, just when I was agetting so psyched because we had all sort of new virtual 
faces, they all disappeaer into virtual space!

Definitely a bummer...

	yes, this is depressing,

	I can almost compare the same feeling as when all my friends
	would go off to college in September, I never had the money to 
	go to school, all I could do is wave goodbye.  I get an empty
	feeling when I have to say goodbyes.

    Well folks,. its sad for us leaving too and we gets lumps in our
    throats too (especially reading about other lumps,.. I'm going to have
    to ask Derek if theres anything he can do about all these lumps :-)
    
    But rilly,... for me,.. I feel like it aint a "final" goodbye. I look
    forward to satying in touch with lots of you via e-mail, seeing
    folks at Ronnie/Slipknot/KIND gigs, getting together for parties
    (like the one I keep threatening to have),. you know,.. so..
    it aint necessarily "goodbye",.. as "til next time"
    
    	So,. 'til next time...
    
    							/Soko
    

    Well HELLO everyone!  I'm still on the system til Fryday.  
    
    I want to thank all of you for all the wonderful replies.  It makes me
    feel really grate inside to think that I've made alot of you smile.  As
    for the strange titles, ummm, I make those up....there is no *real*
    meaning.  The only meaning of them is to make you smile.....and it
    seems I succeeded.  Actually, you know, in the beginning I was a little
    worried you would look down on me for kind of _mirroring_ the way some
    of the Dead lyrics go.....but, well, they were mine and someday I will
    take them and put them to use.
    
    If all goes right, I'm taking a train out of dreadful Reno, and I'm
    coming your way to attend the Slippin Outta Summer party.... Now how's
    that for adventure!!!  I've never been out of Nevada and California
    since I was about 2 yrs old....Imagine! *ME* all be myself going accross
    country!!  My mom is gonna hit the floor!!  So hopefully all will go
    right, they will cash my check (no credit card anymore to guarantee
    the check, could be a problem 8-\  but I'm confident everything will
    work out and I will begin a new adventure....and I will have the chance
    to meet alot of you.........:^)))))))))
    
    Till next time....
    
    	may all the rainbows shine upon you
    
    
    rochelle

Re:<<< Note 125.1014 by SANFAN::SCOTT_RO "ALWAYSlookonthebrightersideoflife" >>>

>    Heck!!  ruined that last word on my title...:-|

	That can be fixed after the fact, i.e., without redoing the note
	itself with:

	Notes> SET NOTE/TITLE="your words go here"

    keep an eye out for the friendly DEA man on board, rochelle
    they are in the habit lately of harrasing ANYONE that REMOTELY looks
    suspicious or fits "the profile".........better safe that sorry
    
    rfb

 Good point RFB....Rode the train from SF to Boston last year and there were
 a bunch of people hauled off for all sorts of stuff.  They don't mess around.






 Jum

    I've never been hassled yet in travelling overseas.  In '89 they asked
    to look through my luggage, that was mainly because there was a lot of
    terrorism that year and they were stopping everyone.  But while waiting
    in line at customs in Logan this year (Logan seems to be much more
    paranoid than Heathrow) an officer was walking around with a sniffer
    dog, casually strolling by everyone.  The dog must have smelled Nigels
    dogs or cats on my backpack, as he sniffed it for a while.  I wasn't
    really worried since I had nothing to hide, and just told the guy that
    I had been staying in a house with dogs and cats.
    
    BTW, I think we've finally gotten our revenge on the Brits in the beer
    market.  For years they've been dumping bleedin Watney's Red Barrel on
    us because no one else in the world likes the stuff.  Can't even get it
    in England.  Other Watney's products are pretty good, so I don't know
    why they continue to make this vile brew.  But while doing some beer
    shopping in an off license shop, in between all these bottles of fine
    small brewery beers and Belgian trappistes was Mickey's Big Mouth, at
    99p (almost $2) a bottle.  I thought it was pretty funny, since Chimay
    Red was only about 30p more.
    
    Scott
    

    Even though we know what the DEA is looking for, that was not the
    intent of my warning. I meant to imply that the DEA WILL HARRASS you
    because of the way you look, act, walk, talk. and I should have said,
    "DON"T LET THEM!" tell 'em to shove off, you are an American and have
    certain rights, no matter what George says or the DEA does. 
    
    so there %^)
    rfb

    Thanks for the word of advice!  I won't  be wearing my tye-dyes on
    board for sure then!  I doubt they'll harrass me for that reason if
    they do.  I don't fit the profile of the "Deadhead" if there *really*
    is a profile...;^)  
    
    And you're right, I have certain rights, and if I want to alter my
    thinking, then that's MY choice and not George's, the DEA or even my
    mom's!  It's MINE!  And they have no reason to bother me if I'm not
    bothering anyone so they can all shove off and kiss my big toe, cuz,
    well, I'LL BEHAVE MYSELF!! *8^)
    
    rochelle

    
>    If all goes right, I'm taking a train out of dreadful Reno, and I'm
>    coming your way to attend the Slippin Outta Summer party....

	Rochelle - if you can possibly hold off on your plans for a few
	more weeks - WAIT TILL OCTOBER to come to New England...believe
	me, it would be well worth the wait!  It is the most spectacular
	of seasons here then!  (I'm sure Slipknot will be playing around
	here in October too ;-)

	Debess

    
    
    > (I'm sure Slipknot will be playing around October too)
    
    Sure will!  Tell you what Rochelle... Come out now, and STAY thru
    October!  
    
    Tree_one_of_the_many_who'd_be_glad_to_meet_ya

    but Debess Slip-Out_of_Summer is such a wonderful event how can you
    discourge Rochelle from waiting ! just to see a few trees change color,
    and anyway the weather has kinda pushed up the color changing so she
    might get the best of both worlds :') and like tree said, stay ! and
    she can go see more Slipknot and Cross the Water shows !
    
    Chris

    WAITING?!?!  HA!  Not a chance!!  Actually I'm looking at staying for 6
    weeks, so I guess I'll catch it all!  I heard the colors were changing
    early this year, that's cool I'll be able to catch it.
    
    rochelle    who_can't_wait_to_meet_all_my_new_friends!

    Well, it's come time to sign off and say goodbye.  I have a frown upon
    my heart doing that, but well, there is a warm smile INside knowing
    I will be meeting many of you next weekend!  I have the money in hand
    (god only knows how the hell I got my mom to front me the money!) and
    am heading to pick up my ticket!!
    
    Thank you all for all the warm wishes and allowing me to become a part
    of GRATEFUL.  I have met many wonderful people in here and I JUST CAN'T
    WAIT TIL I GET THERE!!!!  I have enjoyed my time with Digital and I'm
    walking away with greater knowledge than when I first started.  I have
    met many wonderful people in the company, and I hope they can make it
    thru all the downsizing.
    
    Welp, this isn't really goodbye, it's hello to my new adventures......
    Hopefully we'll have the boys back on the road in no time, and may
    Jerry get well soon!
    
    I love you all, and bid you goodnight....
    
    
    rochelle

I'm starting to get really bummed out.  It looks like the
one or two guys that were going to help me move next 
weekend are blowing me off - i.e. they don't return my
calls.

I have a rilly big truck reserved for the 12th (and 13th,
if I need it) and we're getting absolutely everything 
into boxes this week and next, but I need some muscle.
I'd really like to get it over with so I can still go to
S.O.S., but I'm going to need some help if that's going
to happen.

I was thinking of offering to supply the beer, but I 
figure that's not a productive way to go about driving 
between Amherst NH and Littleton MA - i.e. we don't want
any accidents....   So, instead of buying a case/keg,
I thought I'd offer to buy a ticket to S.O.S. for all
of my volunteers who are generous enough to help me out.
I figure that way I can show my appreciation, and at the
same time motivate the crew to get things done...so I can
go!

I have about eight rooms of stuff to move.  I'm not the
least bit chauvinistic - your help is welcome regardless
of gender.  We accept muscles of all sizes...after all,
size doesn't really count, right?  Right? ;-) ;-)

So, please, Please, PLEASE send me mail if you think you
can help me out.  I figure the more bodies the faster 
it'll get done.  Makes sense, right?

Then, if we get it all moved soon enough, we'll hook up 
the stereo, plug in the fridge, and throw an impromptu
pre-S.O.S. party in Littleton.

Most humbly yours (especially if you volunteer), and
eternally Grateful,

tim

DTN: 226-5108/508-486-5108
Home:603-672-2816

>    but Debess Slip-Out_of_Summer is such a wonderful event how can you
>    discourge Rochelle from waiting ! just to see a few trees change color,


	you're absolutely correct Chris...I just couldn't contain myself
	because it's getting so close to the best month of the year
	and I just had to say something...but you're right - she should
	do both!

	Debess

    gee Im right ! wow !!! ;')
    
    	anyway she needs to see the green before the colors to rilly see
    just how wonderful it is !
    
    and SOS will be a not to miss day ! (pray for lots-o-sun)
    
    Chris

    If October is coming - it must be time for a Debess_Pahty!
    
    c

>    If October is coming - it must be time for a Debess_Pahty!
    

	yes Carol ... this is true ... stay tuned for an
	imminent announcement (I'm trying to convince Guntis
	that it doesn't matter if I'm employed or not - we
	still -need- to have an Oktoberfest ;-) )

	Debess

	School starts tonight, major bummer! no more partyin til
	May..... :-(

School's going to stop you from partying?  Good lord, man, you can't simply
make your brain cells go cold turkey like that!

;^)

- dc

re -1
	Yes, it's hard not to party ;-)  After I get mt degree I'll
	have 5 years of partyin to catch up on :-)

Yeah, school starts again next week.  This quarter, I'm taking Spanish,
Advanced System Administration, and Korn Shell Programming.  I think
Spanish is going to be the hard one 8-) (I took French in high school).
I decided that Spanish is a good language to know in California.  To
get all my partying in before school starts, I'm starting my weekend
tonight with the Rads in Santa Cruz, tommorrow night is acoustic Rads
in San Francisco, then electric Rads Friday night, Miles Davis Tribute
tribute Saturday night, Ben & Jerry's One World One Heart Festival in
Golden Gate Park Sunday afternoon (featuring the Band, Jefferson Starship,
Michelle Shocked, Pele Juju), and Wynton Marsalis in Berkeley Sunday
night.  Then school is every Monday, Tuesday, and Thrusday night (which,
of course, leaves Wednesday night open for shows 8-).  Next Wednesday is
Michael Hedges at Great American Music Hall, and the Wednesday after
that is Jethro Tull at the Warfield.  I think I'll have to study at
the stoplights driving to work ;-).  School??  Partytime!!  8-)  It's
the attitude, I guess 8-).

Enjoy Michael Hedges, T!ng!  I've only seen him once, about 2 years ago...
it was without a doubt one of THE BEST concerts I've ever seen.

tms

    Hedges is impressive.  We saw him about a year ago, and hung around
    after the show and even met him...  He just wandered out into the hall
    from backstage before the crowd was gone.  Tampa Theatre only seats a
    few hundred people, so it was a very cozy atmosphere to begin with.
    
    I would definitely go see him anywhere I could find the chance...
    
    Have fun!!
    
    tim
    

A grate way to learn spanich is to watch the spanish programmed TV stations.
They have one here (Chanell 27) and they talk real slow, especially on the soap 
operas. the vocab they use is perfect for first year spanich studints!

> A grate way to learn spanich...

Tell me, Fog, is spanich something like spanish spinach? :-)

tms

:-)


Spainiards cannot pronounce the "sh" sound.

:-)

    I instantly think of Cheech & Chong
    
    :) :) :)
    sparky

And are studints numbers that have lots of girlfriends?

Dave (math/cs-weenie...)

>A grate way to learn spanich is to watch the spanish programmed TV stations.
>They have one here (Chanell 27) and they talk real slow, especially on the soap 
>operas. the vocab they use is perfect for first year spanich studints!

I don't have a TV (no time! 8-) and I can't get Channel 27 from the Bay
Area even if I *had* an IB 8-).  I think I'll just hang out at Mexican
town (downtown San Jose ;-).  Of course, Mexican Spanish is to Spain
Spanish what Canadian French is to France French, so if my Spanish sounds
a little warped, you'll know why 8-)!

> And are studints numbers that have lots of girlfriends?

Ha!  Either that or they might be carpenter's numbers - perhaps a measure
of wall studs!

	"Why that's a mightly big house you're building there, Fred."

	"Ayup, why it took me three hundred and twenty studints just
	to frame out the first floor."

tms :-)

>Spainiards cannot pronounce the "sh" sound.

Can't pronounce words (or names) that begin with "sc" either.  When I lived in 
Spain my name became Escott. 8^)

Scott

    Well, my friend Shane is hitchin' home from North Carolina - he
    was hoping to be here by now but he just called from f***ing 
    Harrisburg, PA!!!:-(  UGH!!  Hopefully he'll get a lot closer
    in the next 4 hours or so or I may have a loooooong drive ahead
    of me - and I only got 4 hours of sleep last night!!  Everyone
    send pick up hitchhiker vibes to motorists travelling from PA 
    to this area!!!
    
    chaotic individual

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
                         **************************
                         *  ACE TRUCKING          *
    			 *                        ******
    			 *   * *             * *       *
    			 ** * @	* ********  * @ *  *****
     			     * *             * *
    
    		       
    
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    Pick Up Hitchhiker vibes being sent!
    
    :)sparky

    Thanks Sparks - I knew I could count on you!:-)
    
    c_i

    GEEEESUUUS T!ng, how do you do it!? I'm havin a terrible time keeping
    up with my JOB, an English oriented 32 week course every Tues and
    Thurs WITH intense homework, my wife and kids (lemme tell ya 'bout kids...) 
    the high country, all my piece-o-sh*t cars, the end of summer/
    beginning of our all too short fall, the remainder of fishing/start of
    hunting, sexdrugsandrockandroll, taping,.......i just re-depressed
    myself.
    rfb

>    GEEEESUUUS T!ng, how do you do it!? 

Easy.  I don't have the kids!  8-)  Last night after the Rads show at the
Catalyst, Reggie walked through the crowd.  He stopped to say to me with a
grin, "I always know I'm on the west coast when I see you - you're my west
coast barometer!"  8-)  Gee, it was good to find out I was useful for some
stuff.  I gave him a hug!  I don't think I mind being a barometer - how
hard can the job be??  I hope Reggie doesn't get too disillusioned when
I don't show up for the shows Saturday and Sunday night 8-}.  There is just
too much good music going on around here to catch them all!  8-( 8->

peace,
t!ng

    Well, I've got my own bummer goin'.
    
    I started feeling a little under the weather about a week and a half
    ago, but though nothing of it.  Started running a fever, and continued
    to try to push through.  I've been out of work since last Thursday and
    saw the doc for the 2nd time today.  He had a chest X-Ray done and,
    yep, I've got Pneumonia!  Yuck.
    
    Medicine, rest, etc.  Gotta stay home for another week.
    
    	~dave
    

 Wow, ~  take it easy and get better!





 Jum sending healing vibes in your direction

    Sorry dude.
    
    Want some chicken soup?  I'm making some tonight!
    
    	Get well soon!
    
    			sparky
    
    :)

Wow, sounds serious!  Hope you get better soon, Dave!!

peace,
t!ng

    take care Probz....that stuff can be bad, even for a health nut such as
    yerself! %^) seriously...TAKE CARE!!!!
    rfb

    
    The Red Sox have clinched LAST PLACE for the first time since this fan
    has been around :^/
    
    Hogan who feels they needed a kick in the ass anyway, and isn't that
    sad about it

    >The Red Sox have clinched LAST PLACE for the first time since this fan
    >has been around :^/
    

Yeah, too bad Frank Viola couldn't salvage some dignity for the team and 
complete the no-hitter last night.  The lead-off hitter in the bottom of the 
9th got Toronto's first (and only) hit of the night.  Still an admirable effort 
though.  Oooops sorry, wrong notefile...  8^)

Scott

PS - I'm actually going to game last two games of the season, against the 
     dreaded Yanks, this weekend.  Probobly wear a paper bag over my head 
     though...

> Probobly wear a paper bag over my head 
> though...

	har har, heh heh!!  what a riot
	

    
    
    psssssst!...hey, Scott...(whisper)..I'll be there Sunday, too!..sshhh
    
    
    (My Dad is friends with Mike Stanley (C) of the Yanks, so we get
    freebies when they're in town)
    
    Steve-O_who_refuses_to_wear_a_bag_on_his_
    head_because_it'll_mess_up_his_"do"  :-)
    
    
    
    
    

    
    
    :-)
    
    

    My boss' father passed away over the weekend . . . he had suffered
    from Alzheimer's for years and then developed pneumonia a few
    weeks ago.  My boss was "waiting" . . . but still, I know it'll
    be hard on her.
    
    Never easy losing someone you love, but it really makes you
    appreciate those that are alive even more.
    
    sparky_bein'_bummed_for_my_ultra_cool_boss
    

>     My boss' father passed away over the weekend . . . he had suffered
>     from Alzheimer's for years and then developed pneumonia a few
>     weeks ago.  My boss was "waiting" . . . but still, I know it'll
>     be hard on her.

I know how you feel.

This spring, my girlfriend lost her mother to a slow/debilitating terminal 
illness.  It had been coming for almost 6 years--Dori had spent the last
three years going to the hospital every weekend to see her mother.  It was
really tough for her to deal with losing her mother, even though everyone
knew it was coming.  It was also tough for me, since I never had the chance
to get to know her mother.  What did I do about it?  Offer a shoulder to 
cry on and give lots of hugs!

Hugs are good!

- jeff

    
    	Saw another 3-car accident on the way home from work today.  I 
    	only live 4 miles from work, but this is the third or fourth 
    	accident I've seen in the past couple months.  One time a car
    	was completely flipped over...

Yeah, a two-car accident happened right outside my house last
night ... from the conditions of the two vehicles, I worry about
the occupants.

It's probably just my imagination, but does it seem like people
are driving even more frantically and aggressively than usual,
lately?  Maybe the pre-winter blahs combined with economic worry?
Strange days ....

- DC

    I've heard that's how all ya'll drive back there!! %^)
    really not a funny topic, we have the same problem here in Colo Springs
    with people running redlites. 
    
    rfb

>are driving even more frantically and aggressively than usual,


I think so. I've been getting cut off more than usual of late, and if you 
looked at my car, you'd think twice about cutting me off, since it has an 
implicit "Hit me, I need the insurance money" bumper sticker.

I dunno, I think its because the thousand points of light-bulbs are all burned 
out.

    >I think so. I've been getting cut off more than usual of late, and if
    
    
    and this coming from the man that invented the breakdownlane cutoff !
    
    
    :')

    Taking route 9 to 495 north every day -- I'll tell ya, there are
    some A$$hole drivers out there recently!!!!   Like the type that just 
    change lanes, without looking, nearly causing an accident!
    
    There was a 2-car accident on route 2 last night right at the
    Acton/Maynard exit -- right before I got there.  They were in
    such a rush to be hours late . . . 
    
    I usually go 65 - 75 mph to work, and I get passed like I'm
    standing still!  Rediculous!
    
    sparky

	Yeah, there have been a lot of accidents lately. Yesterday
	morning on the news there was mention of a major one up
	the street from my house, at Rts 20 and 31, requiring the
	life-helicopter :-/   And on the way home, I was delayed
	by a multi-car multi-ambulance accident on Rt 20 in Auburn.

	Ever notice how people drive *really bad* when there's a full moon ?
	
	(But yesterday, the moon ws about 1/4 full).

	Ken

	Everyone PLEASE fasten up out there! 

	I go around the Concord rotary every
	morning, lately it's gotten so I just
	automatically roll down my window upon
	arrival at the rotary, and hang my 
	middle finger out the window for the 
	period of time I travel around the 
	rotary, when I get on to Rt 2 I roll 
	my window back up! :-)  My friend usually
	is there when I am and we flip eachother
	off as well.  It's getting to be a 
	tradition! 
	

	
    >>Ever notice how people drive *really bad* when there's a full moon ?
	
    >>	(But yesterday, the moon ws about 1/4 full).
    
    
    The moon affects people in different ways.  I believe it mostly has
    to do with your sign (if you're Fire, Water or Earth).  I'm a Fire
    sign.  When the moon waxes (from New to Full) I'm in a wonderful
    mood, things generally go right, etc.  When it Waines (Full to New)
    I'm a clutz, in a bad mood, drive bad, etc.
    
    I think Fire and Earth signs are ok with the waxing moon, but
    Water signs aren't.  They boil . . . 
    
    This is my belief -- not necessarily fact.
    
    sparky

Article XVI, Paragraph's 32 & 33, Commonwealth Of Massachusetts general Law
18974, adopted Oct 22nd, 1959 by the Massachusetts State Legislature and signed
into law by Governer Tobin, December 2nd, 1959... 

	Yield right of way to traffic in the rotary unless you are entering the
rotary from Rte. 2 eastbound or Rte 2 westbound. Motorists in the rotary have
the right of way over fleeing inmates at the state prison, but motorists
entering the rotary from Commonwealth Ave must yield to loose Doberman's from
the State Police K9 unit, but only when they are in pursuit of fleeing inmates.
	
	Motorists traveling with other motorist's, pedestrian's, Doberman's, or
State Police's blood on their vehicles have the right of way over all motorists
excepts those on Rte 2 Eastbound during the hours of 7:00 A.M to 9:00 A.M
Monday through Fridays except holidays and those traveling on Rte 2 Westbound
during the hours of 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Moday through fridays except
holidays. 

	hee hee hee

	That's a riot! oh so true :-))))))

	I enter from Commonwealth ave myself, have 
	seen inmates, but no K-9's. :-) 

    The more some things change, the more they remain the same!
    
    I just got off the phone with my mechanic.  Brought the car in 'cuz I
    noticed the little pulley thingie that the crankshaft is connected to
    was a-wobblin'.  Hmmmm, he sez, never saw anything like that before.
    
    Well, now he's tellin' me it's gonna cost me several hundred $$, and I
    won't get my car back till the middle of next week.
    
    The good news is that I brought it in before the gear thingies
    exploded, which woulda wrecked the crankshaft, snapped the timing belt,
    and generally cost me most of the moving engine parts.
    
    And this is why I spent several thousand $$ on a nice car just four
    months ago, right?
    
    ... Bobbb
    

	Bobbb,

	Try to get a 2nd opinion if you can, sounds
	a little weird!

    That WAS a 2nd opinion ... the guy who does my routine maintenance
    pointed out the problem, and I then took it to the mechanic that does
    all my other work, cuz I've known him for years and trust him to do a
    good job.
    
    I just don't get it ... this thing was in GREAT shape when I bought it.
    
    Mebbe I should change my p'name to "Certified Ski & Car Destructor"  :^(
    
    ... Bobbb
    

re:         <<< Note 125.1070 by LJOHUB::GILMORE "It's time for Change" >>>

>    The moon affects people in different ways.  I believe it mostly has
>    to do with your sign (if you're Fire, Water or Earth).  I'm a Fire

	I'm scorpio, is that fire, water or earth ?   I tend to get
	a bit ansi around full moons, though not always.

	Aaaaaaaaaoooooooooooooooooooooo ;-)

	Ken

    Bobbb . . . 
    
    I know you have a Sentra too.  I've NEVER heard of something like
    this happening.  Did your mechanic tell you WHY it happened?
    
    Who do you go to?  My mechanic is PHIL (Phil's service in Stow) --
    who only works on Nissans/Datsuns.  Great guy  . . .  and he tells
    me WHY things happen -- especially if I can avoid having them happen
    again in the future.
    
    What year is it?
    
    Hmmmmm -- sounds odd.
    
    Sorry dude.
    
    sparky

        Re: .1071
        
        Thanks for the rules.  Since I'm staying at the HoJo almost
        directly across Rt 2 from the prison and driving through the
        rotary to get to AKO1 for the next 4 weeks, they will come
        in handy.
        
        _Mike
        
        ;^}

    >>   <<< Note 125.1077 by LJOHUB::GILMORE "It's time for Change" >>>
    >>                            -< Bizzaro >-
    
    I'll say ... nobody's ever heard of this kind of failure, apparently. 
    That's why it's gonna take him a week to get a replacement part (and I
    get to drive a Dodge Aires-K rent-a-wreck ... GAK!!).
    
    My knowledge of automobilia is rather limited, but basically what it
    boils down to is that there's this bolt that holds a pulley in place. 
    And the bolt somehow loosened up, causing the pulley to wobble, causing
    the bolt to strip it's threads, causing the pulley to wobble more.
    
    Inside the pulley is a gear, about four inches in diameter and an inch
    or so thick.  It's got a slot in the center hole that's keyed to the
    crankshaft, and somehow the gear has something to do with the timing
    belt.
    
    Because of the wobbling of the pulley, the key slot in the gear started
    to wear, causing the gear to eventually get slightly out of mesh with
    whatever it was gearing, and slowly wearing the teeth rounded.  This
    gear is the part that's holding everything up, cuz it "never breaks" so
    nobody ever stocks it, and it'll take a few days to get here by the
    usual ordering routine.  All he's gotta do is replace the bolt and the
    gear, and - while he's in there, he's gonna replace the timing belt (the
    car's within a couple hundred miles of 50K).  It ain't as bad as it
    sounded on the phone, but it's still a pain in the a$$ (and still a few
    hundred $$ when you throw in the cost of a rent-a-wreck).
    
    Just my luck ... who else could manage to break a car part that supposedly
    "never breaks" ?!?
    
    ... Bobbb
    

    gee Bobbb didn't ya know a flat tire can cause the timing belt to
    break also ? matter of fact everything leads to the timing belt, even
    the cigerette light burning out !
    
    :'o

    Good thing you're getting the timing belt replaced while they're
    in there!  Very smart move Bobbb!
    
    I don't know what's worse -- your car being broken, or having to
    drive a ***sheesh**** DODGE!
    
    You poor soul.
    
    :( sparky

        Yeah, I drove a Dogde once...
        



        ONCE!!!
        
        - jeff
        

Hey, watch it.  My wife has a Dodge.  It's got 104K on it and still starts 
first time every time.

Wouldn't have been my first choice for a car but it runs great.

Geoff

Yesterday, I received the scariest letter in my life.

Some of you might remember me getting on my soapbox some time in the past about
a law which went into effect in Massachusetts some time ago which allows
certain paying customers access (for a small handling fee) to certain of the
states' data bases. 

Well, yesterday, I got a letter from a Ford Motor Company marketing division
advertising add-on products for the '84 Ford I bought used from another state.

The only way they could have gotten my name, address, car model, make, year, 
_and_ Vehicle Identification Number was from the state.

I'm really upset by this. I believe there should be free access to all to 
public information but I do not believe that private information should be made 
public without the option for the individual to request his data be "unlisted".

I have no recourse on this. The People have spoken and said through their 
representatives in the Massachusetts state legislature that this is Good. 

One thing you can guarantee I will do is write a letter to this marketing 
division manager and clearly speak my mind...

Its bad enough my phone is barraged almost daily by mass marketeers who have 
targeted me by other means as a white middle class homeowner in the suburbs.

:-/

    Not only do they get your name & assorted information from
    the registry, but it seems the post office also gives out
    that information.
    
    It is pretty scary.
    
    You can request to be taken off the mailing list (from each
    place that sends you info), so they don't turn around and
    sell your name to someone else.
    
    I was in Marketing for two different publishing companies -
    can you believe that some places can get $.15 a name?
    
    Rediculous
    
    

    
>    You can request to be taken off the mailing list (from each >    place
that sends you info), so they don't turn around and >    sell your name to
someone else. 
    
While this is true of mass amrketing companies and private companies, I don't
believe this is true with the registry... 

Somebody. PLEASE tell me I'm wrong...

You have obviously never received the one that starts out with:

"Greetings from the President of the United States..."

If and when you think about voting for Perot, think about this letter, and your
kids.

tim

P.S. It used to come from your local draft board...;-)

    I don't understand.  Can you explain a little bit?

    Up until the late  70's, when the Selective Service was still in full
    swing, a candidate (male, 19-year-old) for the draft was notified to
    show up for induction into the military by a letter that began thusly:
    
    "Greetings from the President of the United States,"
    
    which, since we were still at 'policing action' (i.e.  War) with Viet
    Nam, could be loosely translated into "kiss your ass goodbye".
    
    tim
    

    Oops, almost forgot the Perot reference.  Ross is extremely
    pro-military, and it would not surprise me that he would bring back the
    draft in a heartbeat.  Considering his inflamatory and confrontational
    style, I expect he'll have no trouble coming up with a reason.
    
    He's a hawk.  A right-wing, pro-military, flag-waving, nationalist.
    I think nationalists should all be classified 1-A, irregardless of age,
    sex, or health.  Let them get shot at first, and maybe it'll give 'em
    some REAL religion!
    
    tim
    

    I don't know about Ross and the military. He left the Naval 
    Academy when he found it to be full of phonies and unpleasant
    people. Having done the same thing, I can see where he's
    coming from. He's not 100% pro-military.
    
    Ross says we're involved in an economic war with the rest of the
    world. I agree 100%. Both Digital and the U.S. have been slow 
    to respond to the changes that technology is bringing to the
    world. We need to be fast and efficient to compete with the rest 
    ofthe world. A large military bureaucracy sucks up a lot energy
    and resources out of the nation's economy; resources we need to
    compete with countries who are eating our lunch today because they
    don't have huge military budgets.

    He's right about that... we are in an economic war... but we mustn't
    go overboard and cut defense too much... it's a dangerous world out 
    there.

You can make a very convincing argument, if you so choose, that ALL wars
are econmically based.  That's not the issue.  The issue is more one of
arbitration, negotiation, concession and  cooperation, both within our
own country and it's government, as well as with our fellow sovereign 
countries.  Every major war in the past century or four has been based
around the clash of competing nations for dwindling economic oppotunities
and resources.  World War II: why do you think Germany wanted the rest
of Europe, and so they invaded it?  To convert them to the Aryan Nazi faith?
I don't think so!  Same for the Japanese in 1941.  How about that white
minority in South Africa: why do you suppose they don't want to give up
control of the government to the black majority?  BECAUSE THEY'RE ROLLING 
IN IT!  Ferdinand Marcos?  Francisco Franco?  That ugly little bugger in
Panama?  Dun Xiao Ping?  Clarence Thomas?  I don't think these folks worry
about balancing their checkbooks.

So, whom would you rather have out there working towards an equitable and
stable economic environment, that can at least give us a shot at making
some bucks and staying afloat?  The environmental president who vetoes the
Clean Air Act, and whose fortune was amassed in the Oil Industry,
with his trusty, albeit learning disabled V.P.?  Indeed, George, who
can we trust?  How about the abrasive billionaire computer executive
with a history of walking away from tight  situations, whether
it's the Naval Academy, General Motors, or the Presidential
race itself?  I mean, the man's very funny, and he says a lot of righteous 
things, but can you imagine sitting across the table from that
face, trying to work out a deal?  Picture Ross as the guy you meet
when you go work out a deal for a new car, or the person across the
desk from you at the IRS Audit!  Ross' public image has been anything
but one of peacemaker...he wins the hard way, and he's been telling us
that every night for a month now.  He worries me.  Luckily, he has about
the same chance of winning that John Anderson did, with the sole
exception that I liked Anderson.

Better yet, which one most closely resembles what you believe to be
the direction that the country should head towards overall, while 
simultaneously keeping us from incinerating it in the mean time?
Much of our values as people with interests like those in this file
see a different way of living in this country than we now must tolerate.
Which man looks to you like the first step out of this vale of
tears toward a more progressive society, and not just a more
progressive pocketbook?

We have a chance to have a voice in this election - we haven't had that
since Carter won.  The misguided pranksters who still manage to haunt the 
Republican party have contrived to mass-hypnotise the country throughout 
most of the recent presidential elections with red herrings about flag 
burning, Willy Horton, family values, and God knows what other symphony of 
media trash.  But not this time.  This time it's a close race.  This time
there's a reason to vote, simply because that vote can make a difference
by overturning the cruel regime that has driven us not only into the ground,
but underground socially as well, with hyperbolic rhetoric about
Evil Empires and the War on Drugs!

I believe that a vote for Perot is wasted not simply because it might 
draw the race between Bush and Clinton closer without chance of electing
the candidate of choice, but because it's a vote for a single-issue 
charicature whose values otherwise directly conflict with ours.  He
hardly resembles even a remote vision of my viewpoint on life.
I think he'd make a fine Secretary of Abrasion, if we ever need one.

Clinton isn't the ideal candidate.  I don't like some of the things he
has said and done.  He is what he embodies in his own history: a
compromise.  But he is, nevertheless, a compromise I can live with.
And he's the one that comes closest to the direction I'd like to see
the country as a whole take, and not only with respect to the economy.

Even if he didn't inhale.

This time we have a voice.  Say something.  Say Goodbye to the old 
establishment, forever.  Vote for Clinton.

tim

Amen, Tim.

I've never understood it when people say that being president is nothing
more than running a business.  What are we, citizens of a democracy
or human resources?

- Dave

RE: <<< Note 125.1093 by NAC::TRAMP::GRADY "Short arms, and deep pockets..." >>>

Nice werds, tim. After reading that, I convinced. Think I'll vote for Clinton.  

 :-)

>countries.  Every major war in the past century or four has been based
>around the clash of competing nations for dwindling economic oppotunities
>and resources.  World War II: why do you think Germany wanted the rest

Yes, Resources are one of the three reason we war. Resources are power, but so
is religious hegemony and just plain stoopid male ego. Power-hungry leaders
wanting more power, etc.

Gold, God, Glory, in that order, are the reason we war, the legacy left to us by
Bush, Hitler, Columbus, Marco Polo, Ceasar, Moses... 

    how are we treated?

I'm beginning to lean towards Clinton even though I don't agree with all of his
policies.  While the Libertarians most closely match my views, I really don't
want Bush to win again.  I'll most likely vote for the Libs or Reps in the
congressional race.  I wouldn't feel too comfortable with a Dem president *and*
a Dem controlled congress.

		Dave

    Another reason for war:  it boosts the economy.  Pump all sorts of
    money the govt doesn't have into building war toys, thereby making lots
    of jobs and supporting the big lobbiers.  Take a look at our economic
    history and it's taken a war to pull us out of every depression.
    
    Scott
    

Though it's only a temporary boost ... the weapons either sit out
there and rust, or get blown up.  Put the money into the infrastructure.
Russia collapsed because it directed too much money into its military
(though George would like us to believe he waved some magic wand);
when are we going to learn the lesson?

 Speaking of Bush taking credit for ending the cold war..my boss asked me
what I wanted put in my review under accomplishments...I told him the Berlin
Wall came down and teh cold war ended..I figured if Bush could take credit
for it so could I :-)






ZEX
^^^^

dang keyboard :-/

    Just got off the phone with my mechanic ... the gear (balancer?) came
    in yesterday, and after he installed it he realized the crankshaft is
    bent, and will have to be replaced ... gonna cost me $1,500 to put this
    car back on the road, and that doesn't count for the two week's worth
    of rental car ... I'm f#&%ing disgusted (not to mention broke!).
    
    ... Bobbb
    

Wow, Bobbb, that hurts.  I feel for ya man....

Scott

    hey Bobbb...  if it will make you feel better, i have your coffee
    pot from the camping trip still at my house...  i can bring it back
    to you anytime you want it...
    
    at least then you'll have a pot to, well, you know!  :^)
    
    					da ve_hoping_the_worm_turns_again_
    					for_you_soon

>    Just got off the phone with my mechanic ... the gear (balancer?) came
>    in yesterday, and after he installed it he realized the crankshaft is
>    bent, and will have to be replaced ... gonna cost me $1,500 to put this
>    car back on the road, and that doesn't count for the two week's worth
>    of rental car ... I'm f#&%ing disgusted (not to mention broke!).

Jeesh, Bobbb, what are you complaining about?  For $1500 you're getting
a gear balancer *and* a crankshaft -- I couldn't even replace my car's damn
clock fer that! ;-)

tms

    Hey Bobbb . . . 
    
    This is a MAJOR bummer!  You bought the car used right?  Could
    it be something that happened _before_ you bought it and it
    just kept getting progressively worse?
    
    Maybe time for a lunch (we'll pick you up!) . . . what do you all
    think???
    
    
    :'( Sparky_way_bummin_out_for_Bobbb's_car
    

    ain't cars grate????
    rfb with 4 pieces of sh*t

	Bobbb, that's a bummer.  If it were me, I'd be real suspicious that 
	(or disappointed with) the mechanic didn't advise you earlier on the 
	cam shaft, which, IMO, should have been known.   That's a lot of $ 
	to put into a car!

	BTW, how long have you had this car ?  I'm thinking lemon law.
	
	Ken

Bummer, Bobbb.

  BUT...I hear that Cannon's gonna try to open for skiing on Holloween!

:-)

Dave

    >> BUT...I hear that Cannon's gonna try to open for skiing on Holloween!
    
    Well, that might cheer me up if I had some way to get there ... but at
    15 cents a mile, I ain't takin' no rent-a-car skiin' ... besides, I'm
    gonna need all the shekels I can muster to spring it outta the shop
    when it does finally get fixed, so it looks like another week-end of
    hybernating around the shanty and makin' tapes for people.
    
    The real bummer is that this car was checked thoroughly before I bought
    it, and it was in incredibly good shape.  It doesn't even have 50K
    miles on it yet.  And nobody's ever heard of this kind of problem
    before.  Like I said earlier in the week ... WHY ME!  
    
    ... Bobbb
    

	holy cow!

	$1500 ??????

	well, at least it wasn't..er..um..$2500..um...never mind!

	Hang in there Bobbb....I hope your mechanic is
	truely trustworthy.

	< 50K miles ?   5 year/50K mile warranty is pretty standard
	when a car is new, and I think it's transferrable.   Have
	you checked with a dealer ??

	Ken

CSLALL::HENDERSON 
    
>Speaking of Bush taking credit for ending the cold war..my boss asked me
>what I wanted put in my review under accomplishments...I told him the Berlin
>Wall came down and teh cold war ended..I figured if Bush could take credit
>for it so could I :-)

    (heh, heh, heh) and you're probably more justified in taking credit
    for it than he is also Jim. :-)

TLE::ABBOT 
    
>    Another reason for war:  it boosts the economy.  Pump all sorts of
>    money the govt doesn't have into building war toys, thereby making lots
>    of jobs and supporting the big lobbiers.  Take a look at our economic
>    history and it's taken a war to pull us out of every depression.
    
	Lots of things could boost the economy though... imagine if the
    Mars Observer found actual hard evidence of intelligent life?  You'd
    see so much money from all over the world just poured into the space
    program... the economy would boom ... they couldn't hire enough people.
    all sorts of technical skills would be needed... every country would 
    want in on the action.. they'd all be trying to buy their way into the 
    program with us... the race for a manned mission would be on... I can't
    wait..
    
YNGSTR::STANLEY 
    
>I'm beginning to lean towards Clinton even though I don't agree with all of his
>policies.  While the Libertarians most closely match my views, I really don't
>want Bush to win again.  I'll most likely vote for the Libs or Reps in the
>congressional race.  I wouldn't feel too comfortable with a Dem president *and*
>a Dem controlled congress.

    Me too, Dave.. now I'm leaning towards Clinton too.  Gee will I be glad
    when this is over.

    I certainly wasn't supporting the idea of war with my comment.  I
    oppose war and anything related to it.  But, throughout history war has
    been the most powerful influence on bringing a country together and
    getting us out of bad economic times.  I think it's the idea of having
    a goal that keeps us moving forward in such times.  These days it
    doesn't seem like we have a goal.  And with the USSR gone we don't even
    have anyone to compete with - like when Kennedy set a goal for the
    USA to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.  Look at all the
    jobs created by the space program.
    
    It's time for another goal, but what?  A manned mission to Mars may be
    worthwhile scientifically, but these days the space program is being
    driven by private enterprise.  If we have a manned moon base, most
    likely it will be to exploit the moon of whatever riches it holds.  The
    same goes for Mars, if it doesn't prove to be a good investment for
    private enterprise.
    
    Too bad the space program seems so dead, they had some great visions 25
    years ago.  Maybe it was the drugs. :-)
    
    Scott
    

Maybe if we had a president with a vision to fix this country, who
could communicate that vision to the people, *that* could be our goal.
There's quite a bit to do right down here on Earth.

    
>    It's time for another goal, but what?  

	getting Jum elected? :-)  OK ok, seriously my answer off the top
	of my head (and most definitely not the only answer) - Education!

	without getting too high on my soapbox teaching is one of the oldest
	and should be (IMO) one of the most respected professions.  But for lots
	of reasons it isn't.  We don't need to change the teachers, we need
	to change the system so the teachers can gain the respect they deserve
	(from within as well!) which will give them the power to answer thier
	calling and educate this country.  This is going to take ALOT of 
	something and that probably means money.

	Lisa_who'd_be_a_teacher_if_she_weren't_so_afraid_of_becoming_calloused

I just sent mail to Bobbb suggesting for him to call some junkyards to price
out a used engine.  

Whenever a mechanic wants to do more then $500 worth of work on your engine,
SERIOUSLY think about getting a used one.

I've purchased used engines before w/o _any_ problems.  I'm almost certain
that a used engine for Bobbb's car would cost much less then $1500.00....

Just a case and point about junkyards:  my old Z28 ran on used parts:

	alternator - $20 .. dealer cost about $150
	power steering pump - $25 ... dealer cost > $100
	rear axle - $35 - dealer cost probably > $100
	air pump - $20 .. dealer cost probably more then 4 times that.
	intake manifold - $25 .. dealer cost in the hundreds...

I believe _some_ mechanics will go to junkyards and get parts for you if
you request it / make it a condition of giving him the work.

	To add to what JC said, recent parts for the Subaru before
	we dumped it due to *ridiculous* astronomical parts + repair 
	costs:

			At the Junkyard		From the Dealer
			---------------------------------------
	Altenator	$35 			$350
	Distributor	$35			$700+ (yes seven hundred!)
	
	
	Amazing difference for basically good quality replacement parts.

	Ken

	P.S. Thanks for turning me onto those places in Leominster JC! :-)

re         <<< Note 125.1121 by MONTOR::HANNAN "Beyond description..." >>>

>	P.S. Thanks for turning me onto those places in Leominster JC! :-)


Hey, no problem Ken!  In the 6.5 years that I owned my camaro, I estimate that
I personally SAVED more the $10,000 worth of repair bills and parts costs by
doing it myself and buying JY parts.  $10,000 !!!

buy used!!!  recycle, save $$ ...

    Yah know, this is one of the problems with owning a recent Ford. Maybe
    it's a trend with all newer cars, but at least the VW is all similar. 
    My truck is too new to have many transmissions accessible. A few years
    older and it won't fit. Everything is custom, and yah can't do the JY 
    trip!  
    	But, right now the truck is running as well as it has to and I'm
    counting on it to drive many a ski trip this winter, again. I really do 
    like my truck when it's working, but I'm reminded of this JY stuff
    every it's not. 
    
    Geoff 
    	I blew up the transmission from my Vega by putting it in my
    Chevelle and getting wheel hop in a drag race. 

    
    drunken rednecks with chips on thier shoulders are bummers...

    way so.
    
    Sorry da ve.
    
    Big hug ~~~~~
    
    	sparky

    Wow . . . 
    
    I can't imagine NO Grateful!  Hope it doesn't happen.
    
    Good thing I've started looking for a REAL job!  (Ok,
    so now the cat's out of the bag.)  Don't want to leave,
    but I need benefits and tuition reimbursement and something
    closer to home!
    
    sparky_keepin'_my_fingers_croseed_for_Grateful

    sigh...  it's been one of *those* weeks...  can't even get a 
    gd snickers bar out of the candy machine...  had to settle for a dove
    bar...  (actually 3 dove bars-they wouldn't come out until i pumped
    $1.50 into the f!@#$%^ amchine!)
    
    come on universe...  back off a little will ya?
    
    					da ve

    re .1125  thanks...  i needed that!  :^)
    
    				da ve

>    can't even get a 
>    gd snickers bar out of the candy machine...

i didn't know they made Grateful Dead Snickers bars?

    
    Hmmm.  So either Dove makes candy bars or your candy machine makes ICE
    CREAM!  :-)
    
    

    dove makes candy bars and my candy machine makes me nuts!
    
    

    
    but what do nuts make?
    
    

    nut n' hunny...  :^)

    RE .1132
    
    BABIES!!!

    So anyway, I'm driving home from MSO2 yesterday and I stop to fill my
    car with gas.  Twelve bucks later I varoom off again and notice the
    engine still races a little when I put in the clutch.  My ol' Mazda
    and I are chugging up a hill - it's floored and we're still peaking at
    only about 21 MPH.  We crest the hill and I find that I'm hurtling
    towards the blue Taurus just ahead.  I see that this car is so cool it
    doesn't even need a foot to press the gas pedal; it'll do it itself. 
    I'm a bit leary of rear-ending the station wagon - don't wanna die - so
    I put in the clutch.  This sends the RPMs up around half a million and
    soon I realize I can't see the Taurus anymore.  In fact, I can't see
    anything.  `Cept smoke and flames.  Now folks, I have a mind like a
    steel trap; nothing gets by me.  I quickly deduce that my car should
    *not* be on fire and that this is un-good.  I pull over and calmly ask
    the gentleman sweeping up the auto shop floor if he might have anything
    along the lines of a fire extinguisher?  He does,a nd soon the flames
    are out.
    
    It's times like these when I really wish I could have afforded
    insurance . . .
    
    Anybody know someone who's trying to unload a reliable, fireproof car
    for not a lot o' money?
    
    Peace,
    David

    
    !@#$ing flat tire pulling into the parking lot this morning...  and 
    i just bought these damn things a few weeks ago!!!!  grrrrr....
    
    i guess it is a bad week for dave's and cars???
    
    					da ve

    I'm with ya on the horse thing da ve . . .
    
    How do I install my stereo though?

    velcro...

    Hey da ve, Sooze just called me & said *her* car is down, too . . .
    
    What's up with this?  Some kinda network?

Try the CLASSIFIED Notesfile for cheap cars.  There are always a few for 
under $1000

Geoff

    re : .1139
    
    what's up is that today is the full moon!  That's why things
    mechanical are going belly up. 
    
    :-)
    

    
    I've got a car for sale, and it's even got a Dead sticker (SYF) on the
    back window!
               
    See the Goin' Down the Road note...
    
    Tree

*>        <<< Note 125.1136 by ROULET::DWEST "if wishes were horses..." >>>
*>                      -< i'm getting a !@#$ing horse... >
    
*>   i guess it is a bad week for dave's and cars?
    
              you said it!  last week my car died at the emerald square
           mall. being the weekend  i left it overnight thinking it would
           be cheaper having it towed monday during business hours. well
           when monday rolled around i returned to discover someone smashed
           a window and trashed the steering collumn trying to steal it (of
           course it wouldn't start). i don't have comprehension insurance
           and mechanic estimates ~$500. to fix window and steering collumn     
           . car already needs new steering rack ($450 w/ tie rods and
           alignment) tires, brakes, shocks, plus the unknown problem that
           caused it to die. could run ~$1500-2000. not worth it for a car
           with 130k on it. i'm gonna try to sell it as a parts car. it's
           a 1987 olds delta 88 royal broughm (sp?) fully loaded with no
           dents or rot. i should be able to get $500+ for it. so pretty
           soon i'll be looking for something to bounce off snowbanks with.
    
                                                                 ^dave

Oh oh ... maybe I'll take a taxi home tonight ....

- D stands for Dave C

    >>      <<< Note 125.1137 by ICS::ODONNELL "I am the Lorax . . ." >>>
    >>              -< a horse, a horse, my Mazda for a horse >-

    >> I'm with ya on the horse thing da ve . . .
    
    >> How do I install my stereo though?
    
    
    I KNOW!
    
    SADDLEBAGS!
    
    Get a portable little stereo, and buy some saddlebags for your
    horse.  You'll be all set!
    
    Just remember your Chaps in the winter, or you'll freeze!
    
    sparky

 Get one o' them horse and buggy thingies and put the stereo in the buckboard
or whatever the h*ll they call those thingamabobs..





 Jum

    Anyone know how I can access the CLASSIFIEDS note?
    I'm a mental midget.
    Peace,
    David

> Get one o' them horse and buggy thingies and put the stereo in the buckboard
>or whatever the h*ll they call those thingamabobs..

	Hey! Let's not get so f(*&ing technical!!!

;-)

tim

Try this:

Notes> Add entry iese::classified_ads
Notes> Open class

good luck.

tim

    tim-
    
    thanks, but I got squashed.  It said:
    
    "insufficient system resource at remote node"
    
    or sumpin' like that.
    
    Hmmm . . .

    
>    "insufficient system resource at remote node"
    
Wait until after five...


I think the file has hours, now

There's discussion about this in topic 1002 of the EASYNET_CONFERENCES
conference (press KP7 to add to your notebook) ... here's a blurb
from the troubleshooting guide posted in note 1.5 of that conference:

2) If the error is "insufficient system resources at remote node," it means
   that the remote system is overloaded right now and cannot service your
   request.  If you wait and try again later, eventually you will get in.
   If this condition persists for several days, you may wish to complain
   **VIA MAIL** (NOT a note in this conference) to the conference moderator
   or to the system manager (user SYSTEM) on that machine.

Last I read, I think they were saying that the node hosting CLASSIFIED_ADS
was having some problems ....

- Dave

    thanks for the help, folks . . . we'll see what happens . . .

RE:  <<< Note 125.1148 by NAC::TRAMP::GRADY "Short arms, and deep pockets..." >>>


>	Hey! Let's not get so f(*&ing technical!!!



 Sorry, Veep...got a little carried away there :-)




 Jum

    Ok, update on the burning Lorax-hicle:
    
    My friend offered to give me his old Nissan Sentra `cause he's tired of
    it being stolen (3 times in 1 year).  I picked up a speedometer at a
    junkyard on Saturday (thieves stole it - why?) and cruised up to Lowell
    on Saturday to pick it up.  I pulled into the church parking lot (this
    friend is a priest) and went inside.  Had a beer with Seamus, then went
    outside to get the car.
    
    It was GONE!
    
    It had been sitting there untouched for 3 weeks & somebody rips it off
    (no plates, no ignition, no speedometer) an hour before I get there.
    
    Pretty funny, huh?  Somebody's stolen this priest's car 4 times . . .
    somebody's goin' to The Hot Place . . .
    
    We hit the pub.
    
    Peace,
    David the Lorax

    gee Dave your notes of late have been such a bundle of joy to read !
    
    Chris

    That's what I'm here for Chris!
    
    Actually, my life is pretty great - I think it's funny when all this
    stuff happens at once.  Aaannnd, good news:  I saw my first Slip Knot
    show this weekend and *loved* it.
    
    Much Peace to da ve, Geoff, and Geoff, and Treemon , and anyone else I
    met there but forget names.  Geat folks & great tunes all around!
    
    Lorax

    
    
    Yeah Lorax, Nice ta meet ya...
    
    See you next time (in whatever you'll be driving)
    
    Tree

    yeah Lorax!  i think it's time to move out of the bummer note! :^)
    
    good meeting you the other night...  maybe we'll get to do the powwow
    thing sometime?
    
    					da ve

    Absolutely da ve!  I'll keep me ears open to the wind; you do the same
    and we'll hit the first Ceremony that comes along.
    
    Hozhoni ("peace" in Navajo)
    Lorax
    
    P.S.  Can't get the image of your daughter out of my head; it's a
    beautiful one.  I actually started to write a poem about it.  I'll send
    it to you if it turns out OK.

    I heard from Pete Kibling that my friend (and sometimes Grateful Noter)
    Bud Samiljan had a heart attack last week !!!
    
    Please send some good vibes Bud's way ... he's far too young and too
    nice a person to be having to deal with something as serious as a heart
    attack.
    
    Pete says he's doing OK ... that's all I know for now.  I'll post any
    further news as I hear it.
    
    ... Bobbb
    

    ~~~Good Vibes to Bud~~~
    
    I remember him from a few notes here & there . . . what a total bummer,
    I hope whatever stress which caused his heart attack is no longer a 
    part of his life!
    
    Big hugs to you Bobbb . . . 
    
    
    				sparky

    
    bummer indeed. :-(  good, healing vibes heading out from this direction
    as well..
    
    

    always around the holidays!!!
    
    VIBES------------------->

Get Well SOON vibes headed out to Bud!

Peace and warmth...

Dave

Good vibes X 1,000,000

Scott

 More get well vibes from me too...






Jum

    from me 3...   ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

	bummer :-(
	
	I've worked with Bud on a cupla projects.
	Please keep us posted.
	
	postive thoughts for the gratest good.

Gone forever!...

Removing group alt.cellular
Removing group alt.control
Removing group alt.culture.tamil
Removing group alt.desert-shield
Removing group alt.dice-man
Removing group alt.elvis.sighting
Removing group alt.ernie-pook
Removing group alt.fan.bruce.woodcock
Removing group alt.fan.itchy-n-scratchy		<<----  :-(
Removing group alt.fax.bondage
Removing group alt.fax
Removing group alt.finals.suicide
Removing group alt.flame.eternal
Removing group alt.flame.gigantic.sigs
Removing group alt.flame.hairy-douchebag.meredith-tanner
Removing group alt.flame.hairy-douchebag.roger-david-carasso
Removing group alt.flame.sean-ryan
Removing group alt.flame.spelling
Removing group alt.fusion
Removing group alt.grins.und.grunz
Removing group alt.hash.house.harriers
Removing group alt.hotfut
Removing group alt.irc.bot
Removing group alt.jubjub
Removing group alt.kodak.cd.bitch.bitch.bitch
Removing group alt.lawyers.sue.sue.sue
Removing group alt.letter.chain
Removing group alt.maroney
Newsrc file safely closed...
Newsrc file purged ...

re -.1

worse yet fog, you broke the rec.chain.letter ;-)

Tough day, even for a Monday.

I'm trying to close on a house this week...I'm out of the one I'm
renting as of Saturday, so if I don't close, I'm homeless.  No
small risk.

So I get up this morning and get ready, and the lens in my
glasses popped out.  Pop it back in and head out to the Bronco,
pull into the street and notice I have a flat.

Finally get in here, and find more and more goodbyes -- I've got
a billion things to do if I'm going to move by Friday, and it's
just not getting started...

And I know for sure I'm having a good day compared to a lot of
people on Pearl Harbor day - positive vibes to all of you out 
there - I hope we make it through the day.

Either way - see ya Wednesday night!

tim

    
    
    Don't know if this is the right place.  12 Years ago today John Lennon
    was murdered in NY.  I remember driving back from a Bruce Stringbean 
    concert in Hartford and hearing the news.  An incredibly depressing
    ride home.  Couldn't help but shed some tears.
    
    	

    Jeez, I forgot.  As a kid, Lennon was my first hero.  I had grown up
    disliking the Beatles at first because of their bubble-gum sound
    (mostly due to tunes like "I Wanna Hold Yer Hand") but as I got into
    high school (no pun intended) I became a fiercely loyal Beatle Freak. 
    It was a major disappointment in my early life when they split up.  I hated
    Yoko, for my perception that she was to blame.  Silly me.
    
    Anyway, believe it or not, the only copy of Playboy I ever bought was
    the December 1980 edition, that had the extensive interview with John,
    ironically published the very month he was murdered.  I doubt that I
    have it any more...
    
    Nothing you can do that can't be done.
    Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
    Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to play the game.
    It's easy.  All you need is love.
    
    I miss him, still.  Occasionally, I wonder how he'd think of our world
    today.  Is  it closer to his vision of peace and love, or, like Abby
    Hoffman seemed to think, is it dessimated beyond the point of despair?
    
    tim
    

NAC::TRAMP::GRADY 
    
>    Nothing you can do that can't be done.
>    Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
>    Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to play the game.
>    It's easy.  All you need is love.
    
     It's true, Tim... it's still true today.
        
>    I miss him, still.  Occasionally, I wonder how he'd think of our world
>    today.  Is  it closer to his vision of peace and love, or, like Abby
>    Hoffman seemed to think, is it dessimated beyond the point of despair?
    
     Neither... but it's heading in the right direction now.. I think so
     anyway.    

    yep, i remember not going back to work after lunch.....riding around
    listening to beatles/lennon tunes, wiping away the tears in
    disbelief...
    rfb

    I remember where I was when Kennedy was shot (3rd grade classroom, got 
    sent home early, very eerie).  I remember where I was when I heard 
    Lennon was shot (first computer job, night shift operator.  I wrote
    John Lennon is dead!! on the computer roll).  I don't remember where
    I was when Regan or the Pope were shot, but I do remember thinking that
    it didn't compare to the other two (though perhaps Regan was shot
    before Lennon?  Don't think so though.  Somehow I think I knew the
    name Mark David Chapman before I knew the name John Hinkley).
    Sniff.....
    
    PeterT
    

I was in 8th grade.  I was home for the day with a cold, so I heard about it
pretty quickly on the local (NYC) news.  I heard 3 women committed suicide that
week, apparently related to his shooting.  Hard to believe...

Reagan was shot a few months later, sometime in 1981.  I remember coming home
from school on the subway and hearing about it there.

Which reminds me, speaking of subways.  In 1980 (or was is 81) when John Bonham
died, I barely knew Led Zeppelin, but as I was walking down the stairs to the
subway platform after school, I heard mumblings about "John Bonham is dead".  I
had to ask who he was.

adam

    I can remember not wanting to go into work, but did anyhow, and I 
    was in a daze from the news, the recent 20/20 interview with Chapman
    made me ill. It is unbelivable what 1 insane person can do with a gun.
    
    I remember waking up to all Beatle music in the morning, and having
    the feeling something was not right, I also blamed Yoko for the
    breakup. 

    todays bummer...   hmmm...  hard telling which is worse...  still being
    sick after a whole week home coughing and choking, or being back at
    work again...  :^/
    
    					da ve

re        <<< Note 125.1180 by ROULET::DWEST "if wishes were horses..." >>>

>    todays bummer...   hmmm...  hard telling which is worse...  still being
>    sick after a whole week home coughing and choking, or being back at
>    work again...  :^/
 

	i just went to mr doctor this am for a throat problem.  i have this
	white virus growing on one of my tonsils... yuk!

	:-%

	yukko!

    
    sounds like strep, JC.  Did he give you penicillan?
    
    

Soak that virus in homebrew, JC ... a good source of vitamin B!  ;^)

- DC

>      <<< Note 125.1182 by TERAPN::PHYLLIS "in the shadow of the moon" >>>
>
>    
>    sounds like strep, JC.  Did he give you penicillan?
 

Strep Throat is a bacterial infection, not a viral infection.  Never ever 
ever take Penicillan, or any other *cillan for viral infections.  it won't 
do any good, as cillan's are antibiotics, and you will build up resistances 
to the cillan's so they won't do any good when you need them for something 
else.

Dr. Geoff    
    

re: doctor

He took a culture of the "thing" and he said it was either a virus, which should
just go away on its own, or strep.  If it is strep, he'll give me penicillan.
If not, he said just to hang out and if it doesn't go away in a weeks time,
that I should see Mr. Throat_Doctor....

I hate going to doctors/hospitals/etc !!!  I had a bad experience once and
now it is nothing but a stressful time for me!!  Anyone have this problem?
Anyone get over it?  If so, what did ya do?  Whenever I go, even for the
most basic things, I get nervous and typically break out in a sweat... makes
my blood pressure crank up and everything... Doctorphobia!!!

    I usually make sure I have a good buzz goin before I enter a dentists
    office.....I usually scedule apts. for after lunch and drink my
    lunch....
    rfb

Ask for nitrous, and lie about your weight....

tim

    JC,
    
    I had an EVOL doctor for 4 years!  He was my "everything" doctor
    from sore throats to my gyn exam.  My mother and two sisters had
    gone to him, so I followed in their footsteps.  I should have
    questioned him when my mom told me what he'd done to her.  My mom's
    had a real bad back for close to 15 years.  He diagnosed her with
    Degenerative Disk Disease . . . even gave her a presciption.  When
    her back didn't get better, she finally went to a chiropractor.  
    Turns out she had a slipped disk the whole time!
    
    But, I continued to go to him.  It seemed every time I went in for
    an exam, he'd call a day or so later and tell me I had this infection
    or that infection, and I'd have to take a prescription and come back
    for a recheck.  Now, most people know if they have an infection 
    (and definitely most women know when they do!) of that sort.  I never
    had any symptoms and thought it to be a little odd.
    
    The last time I went to this doctor was when my knees were at their
    worst (I could barely walk).  I was waiting in the room with my
    file for the doctor.  I just happened to decide to look through
    my file . . . and at the lab reports for the past 5 female exams
    with him.  Each test on each lab report for the past 5 times 
    when he'd told me I'd had an infection was NEGATIVE.  I NEVER had
    anything!
    
    I was so mad I didn't do anything, except stop going to him.  I
    should have sued, but it would have been more trouble than it was
    worth.  I now have a wonderful doctor:  Dr. Sheila Kennedy at
    Emerson Practice Associates, Inc. in Westford.  I told her of
    my horror experience with my previous doctor and she said she's
    heard of it before.  Basically it was insurance fraud.
    
    I *was* extremely nervous when I first went to Dr. Kennedy, but
    when she asked why I'd changed doctors and I told her, we
    instantly formed a bond of trust.  I think in order to feel
    comfortable with your doctor, you have to let them know of 
    problems you've had in the past.
    
    :)sparky

    I've had good doctors and I've had bad doctors, but I also have had
    more internal organs previously in my life as well. I guess the overall
    experience of remaining alive helps mainatin my confidence, but there 
    are certainly those I would not trust for the time of day. 
    
    Too much of this doctor stuff to get into here. 
    
    Geoff

    RE: JC and Doctorphobia...
    
    I have it too!  Real bad!  
    
    I usually get myself so worked up and all that I end up
    fainting!  It's horrible!  Not to mention getting shots!
    AUGH!!!!!  Instant head rush and plop...  I'm on the ground!
    
    I've passed out getting x-rays and just visiting someone 
    in the hospital!  Gawd, I hate that smell in hospitals!
    
    MJ_fainting_expert!  (right DW and LS?)  ;-)  ;-)  ;-)
    
    

    Gee, I kind of like doctors.  I don't even mind getting shots.  I'm
    always trying to check out what's going on when they take blood and
    I often donate.  Biology is pretty interesting and we're just 
    another biological organism.  Obviously there are good and
    bad doctors.  A second opinion is always wise to get if you 
    suspect the one treating you is not up to par.
    
    PeterT
    
    

Unfortunately, this biological specimen can feel fear and pain ... ;^}

- dc who also has gets the palpitations

>        <<< Note 125.1180 by ROULET::DWEST "if wishes were horses..." >>>
>
>    todays bummer...   hmmm...  hard telling which is worse...  still being
>    sick after a whole week home coughing and choking, or being back at
>    work again...  :^/
>    
>    					da ve
    
    
    Had this same thing, da ve.  It's been making it's rounds.  It took me
    a whole month to get back to normal.  First I had post nasel drip,
    which turned into Broncitis, which turned into an ear infection.  This
    virus/cold really has it's ups and downs! :^).
    
    It's been about 3 weeks since I got rid of it.  Now my wife just got
    it!  Strange!  My brother-in-law has it, too.
    
    I took antibiotics (2 prescritions), cough syrup with real Codeine
    (yea!!), Tavist-D for a while, then Sudafed, which worked better than
    Tavist-D.  Lot's o water and vitamins also.
    
    dave

re                   <<< Note 125.1190 by ISLNDS::CONNORS_M >>>

>    RE: JC and Doctorphobia...
>    
>    I usually get myself so worked up and all that I end up
>    fainting!  It's horrible!  Not to mention getting shots!
>    AUGH!!!!!  Instant head rush and plop...  I'm on the ground!
>    
>    I've passed out getting x-rays and just visiting someone 
>    in the hospital!  Gawd, I hate that smell in hospitals!
    
This sounds just about like me, although I've never actually fainted.  It
seems that I can pull it together right before the moment of doom!  One time
I remember feeling wicked light-headed and ready to fall over.  The nurse
noticed this and grabbed some smelling salts.  I saw that and snapped right
back to normal!!!  Man I hate those places!!!!!!!!

i'm getting worked up just thinking about it!!!  when the Doc said i might
have to see a throat doctor, i gasped!!!  another doctor!!!!  

man, i need a drink right now!! :-)

    Remember to avoid milk and dairy products both when sick with
    ear/nose/throat problems and when taking antibiotics.....
    
    rfb holisticdeadheaddoctor

re                     <<< Note 125.1195 by CXDOCS::BARNES >>>

>    Remember to avoid milk and dairy products both when sick with
>    ear/nose/throat problems and when taking antibiotics.....
 
i'm not a big diary product mon anymore, so this is not a problem!  milk (1%)
on the cerial in the morning, and that is about it....

i've been drinking a modest about of brew - this seems to help! :-) actually,
mr doctor is gonna call today to tell me the news.  hopefully, i won't have
to take any drugs for it.

/drugfree/jc/:-)

re                     <<< Note 125.1195 by CXDOCS::BARNES >>>

>    Remember to avoid milk and dairy products both when sick with
>    ear/nose/throat problems and when taking antibiotics.....
 
Interesting comment... I assume you're referring to the mucus
producing effects of milk when you make that recommendation?
Any other reasons?  And why this bit about antibiotics?

I'm also recovering from this nasty bronchial infection, and
an R.N. friend of mine recommended that I eat yoghurt (with active
cultures).  Antibiotics tend to kill of the intestinal flora, 
leaving you susceptible to other infections (and perhaps killing
off the flora that allow you to digest milk products?)

 

    RE: .1194
    
    hey JC .. that's exactly the way I feel when I have to go talk to
    my mechanic!
    
    

re    <<< Note 125.1198 by SELL1::ROBERTS "a blinding flash o'the obvious" >>>

>    RE: .1194
>    
>    hey JC .. that's exactly the way I feel when I have to go talk to
>    my mechanic!
 
:-)  really???


anyways, the doc called on frieday w/ a preliminary prognosis:  NO STREP.
ya hoo.  he's going to call me today only if the prelim. diag. was wrong.

/feeling_much_better/jc   
    

    re .1181
    
    That sounds like what I had once: a yeast infection in my throat.  Very
    contagious, but just annoying.
    
    Jamie

re      <<< Note 125.1200 by STUDIO::IDE "Can't this wait 'til I'm old?" >>>
>                               -< don't ask >-
>


	i pondering this for a minute then started laughing a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!


:-)


	btw, the "white thing" is still there, but its death is near.

    re .1197
    yep 
    
    you answered the question in yer second paragraph....
    
    When my 15 year old was 4-5, she had tonsils and adnoids removed
    because of excess fluids in the ENT path. Wasn't good enough for the
    butcher doctor..he wanted to poke holes in her head and install tubes
    for drainage. Bout that time, we discovered our holistic healer, she
    put Tiffany on certain herbs and vitamins, instructed us to keep her
    off of certain foods (dairy mainly) and feed her LOTS of other certasin
    foods (beans and rice mainly)..within one week fluids were gone. Took
    Tiffany back to butcher-doctor and he couldn't believe the progress...i
    came unglued and alomost killed  the b#st#rd right in his own office.
    
    rfb

	Well, this weather is a real bummer for me.  I know for some that a
nice warm sunny day in the winter is about as good as yummie pizza, but not
for me.  I was really psyched on Dec 11-13 when we got a ton of snow.  Now
all that snow is just about gone.  Tomorrow it is supposed rain again.  Is
this winter or spring?  I want to live in a place where it snows in the winter
and rains in the summer.  None of this mostly rainy winter stuff we've been
having for about 12 years or so!!

	jc_bummed_because_my_favorite_season_ain't_what_it_used_to_be

    
    I think you better head out to Utah or Montana, JC!  ;-)
    
    

    
    

	Or buffle off to shuffalo...


:-)

re            <<< Note 125.1205 by CSCMA::M_PECKAR "Pray for snow" >>>

>	Or buffle off to shuffalo...


Nah, New York ain't for me....  

re: MJ


Too bad Mont. doesn't have a lot of computer companies out there otherwise
i'd be there.   In mont, you pretty much have to be a logger or host some
sort of tourist activity....  logging is a very hard and scary job!




MAN THIS WEATHER SUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHERE IS WINTER????????????????????

	:-(

    high temp for Great Falls Mont today......-1 degree
    
    rfb who lived in great falls for 3 years in the late 60's and wouldn't
    go back in the winter for anything

    And the record High temperature for th 5th of Jan. was broken today at
    4:00 AM at Logan Airport. Sixty Two degrees eff at four in the morning.
    What's wrong with this picture? 
    
    	They say it's unusually warm air leading a cold front. Winter
    should return by tonight as soon as any trace of snow has been washed
    away. 
    
    Disheartened 
    Geoff 

    well my luck finally ran out...got a $58.00, 4 point speeding tix at
    lunch, 68 in a 55 mph zone. I KNEW he hung out where he was, just
    wasn't payin attention, dammit! he was nice though, despite the dancin
    bears and world peace bumper stickers (wife's honda with a 5th gear
    DAMMIT!) called me sir and i called him sir back. 
    said "take care of yerself" as he left. 
    My plan is to throw myself on the mercy of the court with the "good
    driver option", no tixs in over 3 years, reduction in points, hopefully
    a reduction in the fine too. This usually means a wave of troubles in
    the near future, so I'll be lookin over me shoulder.
    
    rfb

    
    Guess we'll have to call you Blaze from now on!!
    You going get a haircut and wear a suit to court to see if it gets ya
    any more mercy!  . .
                      ,
                    \___/
    
    
    Sorry to hear that the cops have time to chase speeders when there are
    so many "real" crooks out there.
    
    
    See ya tonight
    
    
    Divide Dave
    
    
    

Well, over the weekend, I found out about 3 people's father's dying.

1 was the father of friend of a friend.

1 was the father of a casual acquaintence.

Never met these 2 men.

The hardest on me was the father of my roommate from college.  I've
known him, and his dad (who was a great guy) since I've been 8.

F!CK

The older I get, the more people that I know die.

I don't like it! :-(

Life goes on...

Dave

	Yesturday, I was out skating around Long Lake in littleton and I 
noticed a dog hanging out on the ice by the edge of the land.  I approached
the dog and it got up, limping quite badly, and went into the woods a bit.
I tried to convince the dog to come to me but it wouldn't:  it even growled
a bit at me.  So, I skated along.  On my return trip, I decided to check out
the dog again.  It was lying on the ice near the edge of the woods.  Once again
I approached it and it went into the woods, out of my reach.  So, I skated
across the lake and told some kids about the dog ('cus they lived very close,
I though they'd call for help).  Anyways, these kids had no interest in the
well-being of the dog.  I skated back and the dog was just hangin' out, like
he wanted to just die and go away.  Its rear leg looked really bad.  So, i
walked home and told deb about my adventure and she thought I should call the
cops.  I did, and ended up meeting them at the beach around dusk.  they asked
me where i was skating and I told 'em the dog was right about there (pointing
to a jutt of land about 1/2 mile out).  the cop said there's nothing they can
do right now "because we're not allowed on the ice and the animal control
person isn't working."  I thought the dog would freeze to death over night.
The cop didn't care.

	So, last night I went to sleep wondering about the dog.  This morning,
I put on my skates and skated back to the place where I saw the dog.  Thank
god I didn't find him, but, I still have to wonder if the poor fellow
survived the cold night?

    
    somebody stole my electric pencil sharpener.  :-/
    
    

    Now that is a bummer...that anyone would steal anything is just beyond
    me...but an electric pencil sharpener???  What people will do to obtain
    the comforts in life...*;')

    acck Phyllis!  That would really bother me too.  At long last, after
    years of yearning after one, my daughter bought me my very own
    non-DEC-issue Electric Pencil Sharpener (capital letters to show the
    importance of the item).  They can't take it away - bu tI guess someone
    COULD steal it.
    
    I firmly believe that some of us are pencil people and some of us are
    pen folks.
    
    Carol

    
    yep - this is what happens when we are no longer allowed to order
    supplies.
    
    wondering what will go next..
    
    

re      <<< Note 125.1216 by TERAPN::PHYLLIS "in the shadow of the moon" >>>

    
>    wondering what will go next..
 
Maybe your workstation!


Actually, when my group was disolving, the word got around and many "outsiders"
came down to our area and did some shopping.  We nailed one person who took an
entire VS3100 !!


   
    

    F***in' NYers will steal *ANYTHING*, eh???
    
    Marc (A F***in' NYer!!!)

    
    :-)
    
    They moved the ACT into our office building a couple of weeks ago and
    when they were unpacking the equipment they discovered tons of memory
    and disks had been stolen.  
    
    Of course that's nowhere near as traumatic as having your very own
    electric pencil sharpener stolen off your very own desk, but I just
    thought I'd mention it.  ;-)
    
    Good thing we hired all this new security...
    
    

>    wondering what will go next..
 
someone stole my mousepad a month or so ago; someone else's mousepad also
disappeared that same night

i've done some legitimate "swiping" of my own; got a nice desk chair from one
person who quit, got some screen cleaner from another person that quit, and
i swapped my old monitor for a hi-res monitor used by a co-op whose term was
up   
    
- rich

    quit ? or do you mean layed-off ?
    
    I've come into lots of stuff over the past few years after the
    layed-off people left, matter of fact a few came to me with the office
    supplies they could not take with them....
    
    Chris

    i stole some salt form the cafe......

re: -.1 >>>rfb:
    i stole some salt form the cafe......
		      ^^^^

what form was it in? ;-)

jeff

    re: Rich and the missing mouse pads.
    
    It's obvious Rich a new, large family of mice moved in to the area and
    they all needed a place to live. Clearly one pad wasn't enough ;^),
    
    

As of this morning, it does not look like snow in the Littleton area.  What is
the story on this storm?????

i'm bummed to have awakened this am w/ no snow!!!!!!!!!!!!

>  <<< Note 125.1225 by ZENDIA::FERGUSON "A blues guitar echoes in my mind" >>>
>
>As of this morning, it does not look like snow in the Littleton area.  What is
>the story on this storm?????
>
>i'm bummed to have awakened this am w/ no snow!!!!!!!!!!!!


it blew out to sea.  Forcast now is for light snow and flurries.  Heavier 
snow towards the coast.  Not much accumulation.  Posible breaks of 
sunshine.  Tomorrow starting sunny, turning cloudy, chance of flurries 
every day through Sunday.  No major storms.  temps about normal.  Lows 0 - 
10 below north, and 5 - 10 south.  Highs in the upper teens north, low to 
mid 20's south.

Thats it for now.  At least the can blow snow.  The Down East Section of 
Maine still expection some heavy snow later today.  Nothing in the 
mountains.

Geoff

    Yes the storm went east. I was bummed that with every breath Mr.DJ dude
    with a last name I won't try to spell had to tell me that the storm
    wasn't.
    
    	NOAA says the storm went east and Chatham might get an inch. The
    word was that it no longer threatened the main land but, "Will make
    life nasty for mariners". It's still a storm, but you can't ski well
    off shore.
    
    At least it's cold {:*}
    

    what form? dyslexic form of course!!!!!
    
    rfb

>    quit ? or do you mean layed-off ?

i mean quit; last summer our project was in quite a state of disarray
(officially it was "re-directed", but i consider that it was "canceled"),
and people weren't too happy with DEC; offhand i can quickly think of 7 people
that left to take jobs elsewhere; i think the actual number was a bit higher;
this was definitely people leaving voluntarily

- rich

    
    Howdy all,
      Big Bummer, I am heading into the hospital for a liver biopsy 
    Wednesday.  Any spare positive vibes out there around then would 
    be appreciated.
    
    	-Mark
    

    Mark, a *liver biopsy*?!  What is it that's wrong?  Man, some
    good vibes heading your way !
    
    Sparky sends good vibes too and she's keeping you in her thoughts.
    
    
    	Chris

    
    Mark,
    
    Major good {{{vibes}}} headed out your way.  Hang in there..
    
    Phyllis
    

    Yow, Mark....I'm sending out positive vibes...many good lucks...
                            
    :), danielle

    
        i hope this just sounds more serious than it is...major vibes
    heading your way!!!!
                                           ^dave

	all the good vibes (and thoughts!) I have are headed your way!!
	

    Mark,
    
      Prepare to receive mucho good vibes and a prayer or two.
    
    Marv
    

    
    Sending all the good vibes~~~~~~~~~~I can muster your way.
    I can definitely relate to the tension surrounding getting
    a biopsy ( though not for liver problems).  My thoughts and
    prayers are with you.
    
    Rose
    

I can also relate -- just finished with that biopsy "stress" myself.  All my good 
vibes are yours!!!!

Dorothy

    Mine heading out there too..
    
    mary

Mark, Many vibes from Rachel, Charlie, and myself...

    
    good luck Mark,  All the good vibes I can muster are yours!!!
    
    MJ

    
    Thanks for all the grate thoughts.  No worry for the big C, just
    finding out what kind of damage has been done by hepatitis.  If 
    things come out well, no problem.  If not, I can give up booze
    start some treatment to prevent future damage and resort to just 
    reducing my cholesterol for my entertainment.  
    
    Thanks for the vibes,  I know they'll help
    Mark

Gary Burton heading your way Mark ;-)  Best of luck

PeterT

    still more vibes emanating from my corner of the net-world...
    
    			oooohhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......
    
    
    
    						da ve

....and more good vibes!


	hope the results are ok mon.......


			.... rastamon/jc

    good luck Mark...I'll be in touch later
    rfb

	Good vibes being sent........

	Medical stuff is a b!tch!

	Hope things work out!

    ...good luck there Mark.
    
        crossed fingers and good vibes fer ya :^)
    
         Andy

Good luck, Mark.

Good vibes from Maynard, MA.

adam

and even more vibes {{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{} headed your way Mark

                   
    Hey there,
    
      I just received an 11th hour reprieve from the Doctor, Yah.  I had 
    to take a last series of tests for pre-admittance and the Doctor
    said that my liver enzymes were within the normal range!  He gave
    me the option of following through with the procedure or to hold off
    and continue monitoring the enzymes periodically.  I told him I think 
    I'll avoid the intrusive procedure along with it albeit small risks. 
    
    Thank's so much for the positive vibes and wishes.  I have faith they 
    helped and it really meant a lot to me.  Now I just hope the counts 
    stay down there.   
    
    Thanks for the Vibes!
    	
      -Mark 

    
    Excellent news, Dude! Keep on smilin'  :-)
    
    Steve-O
    

    glad for ya Mnelson! good talkin to ya last nite, too...
    take care of yerself, keep da faith, and stay away from that devil
    whiskey!!!!!
    
    rfb

    That's grate to hear.  Good health.
    
    Marv
    

	Phew!  Wipe the sweat mon!!

	Good news that you can safely avoid surgery!

Glad to here it Mark :^) 

    
    did someone set my clock back this morning?  this day
    seems to be crawling along awfully slowly....  :-(
    
    MJ

                   <<< Note 125.1257 by ISLNDS::CONNORS_M >>>
>    did someone set my clock back this morning?  this day
>    seems to be crawling along awfully slowly....  :-(
    
Hey MJ,

Just think of they all speed along at a fast pace then you'll be old in
not time...

?? :)
bob

    
    Yeah, your right I suppose!  ;-)
    
    there's plenty of times I'd like to slow things down...
    but work I wouldn't mind zipping right through with the
    blink of an eye!  ;-)
    
    

You must be waiting for something....? ;-)

tim

    for all you Celts Fans, if ya didn't see the news over the past 12
    hours heres a news flash.....Robert Parish was busted for marijuana
    in San Fran a drug sniffing dog pointed out a packaged address to the
    Chief (it had @7 oz of MJ) when the package got to the Federal Express
    office in Natick it again was pointed out by drug sniffing dogs ....
    the cops now had reason to get a warrant to search his home where they
    found @5 oz of MJ.....Parish was charged with possion.....
    
    
    Chris

    
    
    
         i heard he didn't inhale! ;^)
    
      

	Apparently, they might have a hard time proving that it was solicited,
but, i dunno know the details.   I doubt he'll do any time, but, ya never know,
they might wanna make an example out of him which would get a boost due to his
"celebrity" status.  

I saw the news item last night about this, and thought it was encouraging,
in perverse kinda way...First of all, I thought they said it was 2 oz. in
the mail, and another 5 oz. at home - totalling 7 oz.  The cops said they
saw no indication that this was for any purpose but personal use, and wouldn't
be pursuing 'intent to distribute' charges.  I got the impression that being
a first time offender, he could get a suspended sentence or n months of
probation.

Think about the precedent.  Five years ago, he would have gone to jail for
5-10 years.  7 oz. is a LOT of pot to get busted for nowadays, only to get
a suspended sentence.  It used to be that more than a couple ounces was
de facto grounds for getting busted for dealing, no matter what.

It was also a good little reminder for that part of the population that
thinks mailing contraband via Federal Express is 'safe'...

Maybe I'm just being prematurely optimistic, but the whole incident sure had
a very different tone about it compared to when Ronald Raygun was prez...;-)

tim

    ya know Tim, this might be good for the drugs on war...or is that war
    on drugs...well I see your point, but in the same vein the media might
    start sticking their little pointy heads into it and causing a problem.
    like so if you are someone like Chief you get a slap on the wrist but
    if you're a avg. joe you get 6months "." although I like to see the
    laws get relaxed by this HIGH-profile )ooo a double pun) bust I only 
    feel it will get worse.....

    They would've found a diet scale in Joe Pothead's house and he'd get
    intent to distribute.  Seven oz.?!?  The Chief wasn't recreating
    prudently . . .
    
    Who (beside me) thinks they'll bust Bill Walton on the other end?
    
    Jamie

    supposedly on tv the Weston police say he is still considered a "model
    citizen"...
    
    my thoughts are somewhere between Chris and Tim...  on the one hand,
    if Robert Parrish can get misdemeanor posession for almost HALF A POUND
    (not to mention totally overlooking the potential interstate trafficing
    charges) then it bodes well for those of us who might pick up a bag
    every so often...  however i suspect that he is being treted this way
    for who he is...  if i got picked up in Weston with half an OUNCE i
    would expect to be arrested and treated like a criminal...
    
    maybe it's time for some letters to the editor that start out "Three
    Cheers for the New Drug Policies in MA!"... :^)  
    
    if indeed he gets special treatment for his celebrity status i will be
    pissed...  i have no doubt in my mind that if you or i were bagged in
    that town with almost half a pound of dope we'd be sitting in jail
    calling our lawyers right now...  i hope this will signal a change
    in policy but i suspect it will become evidence of the fact that there
    is one set of rules for the people of "status" and another for you and
    i...  and guess what, they aren't the same...
    
    					da ve_who_hopes_we_all"get_off"_
    					including_the_Chief

    It'll be interesting to see what happens. With the forfeiture laws he 
    could stand to loose an amazing enormous pile of property. 
    	If this were persued, he's big enough to afford a good lawyer for 
    a long time and get things possibly changed.
    	If they (the estaBlUSHment) recognizes this and want to continue 
    getting free cars and houses, then they probably wont pursue anything.
    
    	Coincidentally this with the new administration and hopefully a new 
    line of reasoning maybe some things can change
    
    Geoff but_what_do_I_know_?

    hey, i completely forgot about that!!!!  shouldn't he be homeless now?

    
    re.1266
    
    Jamie, thats the first name that popped in my head..
    
    Don

Au contraire - I hope they DO let him off easy because of who he is.  Six
months suspended sentence would be perfect, maybe a little community service,
or such.  No big cash fines - that would be a regressive precedent.

Da ve, the way I look at it is this: if that happens, and then next summer
you get pulled over in Weston with a half ounce in your car, then when you
go to court you have a perfect precedence (assuming you're a first time
offender) to get exactly the same treatment.  It would be discriminatory 
for the courts to come down harder on you than they did on the Chief, and
they couldn't go back and make his sentence harsher after the fact.

Since I've never been arrested for anything, I like having this kind of
insurance.

Legal precedence is a wonderful weapon, especially when it's married to
massive media coverage.  They're doing us all a big favor, and maybe they'll
relieve a little of the overcrowding in prisons in the process.

tim

Does the forfeiture law apply if he's charged with a misdemeanor which, at 
least by last night's news, is what he's being charged with?

Walton: Someone asked about the who sent the package and the answer was no 
one connected with the NBA. Granted maybe Bill knows of a good source or 2 
and the source could implicate him, but I don't know if they can directly tie 
him to anything.

Ah, the war on drugs. They'll bag the Chief for smoking pot but turn their 
head on the steroids being sold to the local high school football teams (at 
least as long as they win)


jeff

    >    supposedly on tv the Weston police say he is still considered a
    >"model citizen"...
    >
    >    my thoughts are somewhere between Chris and Tim...  on the one
    >hand,
    
    
    so da ve which one of us is the model citizen ? me or Tim ? :'j

That's exactly what I'm talking about.  Parrish was arrested with 2118 times 
that much pot.  That means his fine should be $1,186,080, right? ;-)

Busted for 1.5 grams...that's assinine.  Do you have the option to have your
record erased (expunged) after some period of time has passed?

tim

    
    that's exactly what i'm talking about too...  Robert gets nothing
    (really) while Deane gets reamed...  that's the inequity that 
    irks the shit out of me...
    
    now, don't get me wrong...  i agree with you Tim, in that this kind of
    precendent would be really nice...  still, i have little or no reason
    to believe that the law would be applied equally no rich-rich,
    non-famous, non-NBA heroes...  i still say that if you or i get busted
    for close to a half pound of pot, we would lose our property and be
    faced with charges of posession, intent to distribute, conspiracy to
    transport across state lines (a FEDERAL rap mind you) and that's
    probably just for starters...  none of this misdemeanor "model citizen"
    bs...  
    
    again, i want to see him get off because *in principle* that means you
    and i will get the same treatment in the future...  however, just as
    much as it would set a precedent, i believe it also illustrates how
    the law (sheeeesh, i almost said "justice"!) is not applied evenly to
    the haves and the have-nots...
    
    						da ve

I agree.  That's the difference between having a good lawyer, and having
a public defender.

A good lawyer would apply the precedent.  A public defender might have
trouble spelling the word.

Sigh.

tim

    
    	I'm having a little problem with all of this flying off the handle
    stuff. I heard the reports, last night the first report said
    several ounces, then later it was 5 ounces, and this morning I
    heard 7 ounces.....It reminds me of those busts in the 70's
    where they would exagerate the "street value" - "Last's nights
    bust collelcted over $10,000 worth of pot". We would joke, yeah,
    that's by the pencil thin joint.... no one would buy that.....
    
    	I think we really have to wait for all the dust to die down, and we
    get a chance to see the real facts, if we ever do....
    
    

    I heard on two different news services that it was 2oz in fedex, and
    another 5oz when they raided his house (the discovery of the fedex
    shipment being sufficient probable cause for a search). 7oz total.
    
    re .1272
    
    You do not have to be charged with ANYTHING for the forfeiture laws to
    kick in. Remember, they appear in civil court where "guilty until
    proven innocent" does not apply. The prosecution need only establish a
    "preponderance of guilt" to win the case. In other words, he would have
    to prove that everything he owned was purchased with money legally
    earned. The RICO laws allow the Feds to seize this property until the
    civil case is resolved.
    
    The Feds tend to avoid high profile cases like this; it is more
    profitable to go after people who can't afford lawyers.
    
    The Government has no place in civil court IMO. It has laws to protect
    it.
    
    gary

    re .1279
    
    "My record will be there forever."
    	Don't let that bother you.  Most people don't give a shit about
    that type of thing.  Granted, some do but they are usually the type
    that are anti everything.  
    
       	I speak from experience on this.  That "permanent record" rap is a
    guilt trip tactic and is as bogus as things get.  
    
    	Unless you want to be a FBI agent, a cop or a few other things, a
    non-feloney reefer bust is a non-issue.
    
    Regards,
    
    Marv
    

>    You do not have to be charged with ANYTHING for the forfeiture laws to
>    kick in. Remember, they appear in civil court where "guilty until
>    proven innocent" does not apply. The prosecution need only establish a
>    "preponderance of guilt" to win the case. In other words, he would have
>    to prove that everything he owned was purchased with money legally
>    earned. The RICO laws allow the Feds to seize this property until the
>    civil case is resolved.

yup; this basically means that you are guilty until proven innocent; if you
want to read more about how absurd this abuse of the system is, send me
e-mail and i'll try to dig up my copies of the Pittsburgh Press cover stories
from August 1991 and send them out to you; it's pretty scary stuff

hoping that the system will someday change, but not too hopeful that it will
happen anytime soon...

- rich

Viral bronchitus.

This is day eight of this. Ruined last weekend in the Whites and its going to 
ruin this weekend too. Had to miss four days of work, including important 
training that I won't get another opportunity to take. Only been able to 
sleep a couple of hours at a time for the past few days, and am on this awful 
narcotic drug that makes me feel constantly hung over, but without it, I'd be 
constantly hacking. 

vibes, pleez.

Wheezing Idiot

    ask and you shall recieve...  i've had my share of that sort of thing
    this year!!
    
    			oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm............
    
    
    					da ve_vibing_from_a_safe_distance

    bummer, that stuff is nasty...avoid all dairy products and stay away
    from all that candy you eat!!!!!!!! %^)
    
    candy IS dandy,
    but likker is quicker
    rfb

	
	sorry to hear your ill mon!

	I had pnuemonia over Christmas....I can sympathize

    
    Hey there Fog,
      Bronchitis is a real drag.  Lisa had it for 12 days and is just
    coming out of it.  Send some positive thoughts eastward.
    
    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    	Mark 

    		here have a cough drop !
    
    viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    
    
    Chris

    
    {{{vibes}}} headed straight at ya!  
    
    

    Fog,
    Sending all the good vibes I have your way~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
    Get all the rest you can.  Bronchitis, like pneumonia is 
    aggravated by physical activity.
    
    Rose
    

~~~~~~~~ healthy vibes ~~~~~~~~~

    ouch, not fun.  Hope you get better soon Fog...
    
    PeterT
    

    a rill bummer news......bellbottoms are back in fashion.....yuk

>    a rill bummer news......bellbottoms are back in fashion.....yuk

	awe..cmon...

	I've wanted to whip on a pair of them all my life!!!

	I would like to snag a pair of orange,purple,and
	brown plaid ones!!!!!

	

    
    re. 1294 Bobby Brady effect
    
    my brother met Bob Brady out in Utah at a Dead show in '83..
    
    Don

    you guys are makin me feel old!!!
    
    rfb who had some wayout bells in his younger days

	did he have on bell bottoms?  ;-)

C'mon, bellbottoms weren't that bad.  I mean, it could be worse.  It could
be polyester leisure suits.


;-)

tim

    I ADMIT...I NEVER wore a plyester leisure suit...except on halloween
    one year
    
    rfb

    You mean I shouldn't have been wearing those bell bottoms all these
    years?  And I thought I was being so hep.

Good new/bad news...


First the bad news: My condition has been upgraded to pneumonia, so I'm 
officially on STD now and won't be back to work til march.

The good news: I'm totally naked!!!


Fog_who_is_little_punchy_on_Hycodan,_a_narcotic_cough_suppressant.

    hang in thar Fog...sounds serious but cureable...keep da faith
    
    rfb
    p.s and put some clothes on dammit, yer makin me sick! %^)

    
    Well at least your illness hasn't effected your sense of humor!
    
    :-)
    
    Good vibes to you Fog, get well quick!!!!
    
    MJ

    I think Fog likes the medication!  
    
    get well soon ... and stay warm!
    
    c

Rachael...   Get home quick.  Fogs naked and Charlie's asleep:-):-):-)

Hmm, if Fog is naked, should we really be sending him vibes?

Get well soon Fog ...

- DC

as CharlieO would say .... "uh oh!" .... take care of yourself Fog

I'll stop by with sugar fixins for ya ifn you want, let me know.

Lisa

    Fog,
    Good wishes for a speedy recovery coming your way.  Now you and
    Charlie can watch Sesame Street together.  It's about the best
    show on daytime TV
    
    
    Rose              

Be careful, Fog.  And put some clothes on, fer chrissakes...howdaya think
you got sick in the first place?! ;-)

tim

    
    Good Health to ya Fog,
    
    	Take Care
    	Mark

Hope you get better mon!

Are ya gonna quit cigs as a result of this illness?
I know a couple of people who quit due to illnesses
similar to yours....


take it slow and not too many drugs now!

JC, Fog quit smoking years ago.  Not sure exactically how many but am pretty
sure it is more than 2.....

re           <<< Note 125.1312 by MRNGDU::YETTO "the future is here" >>>


>JC, Fog quit smoking years ago.  Not sure exactically how many but am pretty
>sure it is more than 2.....

where does the time go (or, where does my mind go???) ???

Re:     <<< Note 125.1313 by ZENDIA::FERGUSON "I had one of those flashes" >>>

>>JC, Fog quit smoking years ago.  Not sure exactically how many but am pretty
>>sure it is more than 2.....

>where does the time go (or, where does my mind go???) ???

	have another homebrew and think about it, then let me know tomorrow.

:-) ;^)  ;^)  ;^)  :-)

Today is day 20 of my illness, and the tenth day of work I've missed. The
third antibiotic treatment I started Saturday isn't doing diddly. I've
learned that some strains of Pnuemonia are tough, but this whole ordeal would
probably be over, however, if I had received a bit more attentive care in the
first place. 

Serious malcontent spleen venting follows:

Fallon has really sucked in caring for me, too. How unfortunate that places
like Fallon are the way Clinton is steering our Health Care industry. They
really could give a shit about my condition. Here I am feeling reeally bad,
even a phone call is an effort, and I'm having to expend a lot effort just to
get an appt with a doctor. On my first visit, five days after my first phone
contact with them, which would not have been sceduled at all had I not
emphatically insisted on seeing a doctor, I was told I had pnuemonia, but the
doctor only passively mentioned that furthur tests might be available, like
chest xray and culture test, which would have given them some indication
which antibiotic to subscribe. I feel that they just pidgeon-holed me into 
some pre-defined corporate program of medications which were empirically 
derived by a panel of statisticians and whose primary purpose is to save 
money (I've noticed my treatments have only progressively gotten more 
expensive).

On Friday, when my condition worsened, I asked the nurse to have the doctor
call me. I'm not allowed to talk to my doctor, or even schedule an
appointment without going through what seems to be a labarythine computer
program written in ADA or COBOL to maximize profit/minimize personal
engagement.  Over the weekend, I was prescribed some stuff by the weekend
fill-in, but I still wanted to talk to my doctor. I called again yesterday,
and again this morning, still no call back. On this last call, I insisted on
talking to my doctor, and having her schedule an appointment for her to see
me again for furthur tests, but its against thier rules.  In this whole 
ordeal, I've spent hours on the phone, yet less than five minutes with my 
doctor.

In general, you don't get anything from this seemingly faceless corporation
without insisting on it. After three phone calls, I still have not been able
to get anyone their to call the DEC STD people to let them know I'm sick. 

This is not the first time I've have serious problems getting adequate
care from this HMO, sme of you have heard me vent at length about these 
people. Wish I could change now. 

PLEASE, I request you do not forward this outside this conference. I am not
reccomening that if you are considering them as an hmo, you change your mind.
I am only relating my personal experiences with them. I MUST say that when
Rachel was pregnant, they were superb in delivering care for Rachel and
Charlie; they are the only HMO around here who currently offer midwifery
services, and while the whole birth experience did seem a little like an
aseemblyt line procedure, the people were greate and the care exceptional;
but for general healthcare, I've had nothing but nightmares. 


Under Clinton's health plan, assembly-line healthcare will become the norm, 
not the exception. Not everyone, including me knows how to, has the aptitude 
for, or the disposition to "work the system". While I agree it is essential 
that health care can be provided to all that need it, I do not agree that it 
can be successfully done under capatilistic control; in order to control 
health care, it must be socialized, even if its just a little; unfortunately
that will _never_ happen in The United States of Ronald Reagan.

Nap time for mikey....

    switch to CMHC. They've been good for my family. Dr. Hart in
    Sterling is good. 
    
    - DAve

    Gee Fog that sucks, you go to the one in Worcester right ? I have not
    heard much good about that site....odd they did a great job with the
    baby thing but can relieve a flu/namonya.....get well you sicky-poo you
    
    I just switched to Fallon from CMHC, reason was my Drs. kept quiting or
    dying....and at one point I could not get a Dr. and was told I was no
    longer covered until I found one, but I stilled had to pay the
    $27/week. I switched to Fallon and the 1st time I used it they tried to
    charge me $50 for Julie's eye exam, it should have cost me $5 
    (which was part of the coverage, and the main reason I choose them) 
    after a call to the head office explaining my problem they told me that 
    the remote office had made a mistake (duh!) they told me when the bill 
    came to my house (I refused to pay (even the $2 or is it $5 co-payment) 
    and walked out the door after the lady headed me the bill) to call them 
    back and they would take it off the books. Well I got the bill, I called 
    them told them the story and was treat very nicely and they apologized 
    for the mess up...I asked if this was going to happen again and asked 
    them to check my records for the type of coverage....
    so I will be going for a full check up soon and I hope this is going to 
    be a good HMO....
    My Mom & Dad have the same Dr as I do and they have praised him up and 
    down.....and the office is in my home town (Westboro) so no trips to 
    Worcester.
    
    
    Chris

Yes, Chris, Worcester is where we're based. fwiw, I finally got in, got my 
X-Ray, got a good twenty minutes of my doctor's time, and some good drugs. 
took yet another phone call, though.

Unfortunately, I am stuck with these people until the next open enrollement: 
November.

>    $27/week. I switched to Fallon and the 1st time I used it they tried to
>    charge me $50 for Julie's eye exam, it should have cost me $5 

Funny you should mention this. I tried to get an exam last month and also was
told it would be $50.00. They said they could schedule me for four months
down the road. I said "screw it", cause that's the kind of person I am. I
_thought_ when I signed up that there was only a $5 copay on eye exams, but I
couldn't find the paper work when I got back home.  This sucks. I'm _really_
_really_ _really_ pissed now. 

I wonder how many other poor saps these people have phucked over???

Fog,

Be importunate as necessary to get the care you need.  Pneumonia kills.  This
is no joke.

Tufts health plan is expensive, but we've been very happy.  Everything is 
coordinted through your family physician, and you get to talk to him if there 
are problems.

Bill

    Well Fog the eye exam is $50 for you (you are over the age of 17...and
    under the age of 65).....
    
    Chris

I have a friend who used to be a hospital administrator in CA.  He basically
said that all HMOs pretty much suck as they are always looking for ways to
do the job cheaply.

FWIW - he would know - he dealt w/ them.

    I owe this lousy state $300 in taxes.  All because they tax interest
    (which came from US savings bonds which we cashed for a house
    downpayment) income at 12%, unless it's from a Mass. bank which is
    taxed at 5.95%.  Why oh why did I ever leave New Hampshire?
    
    I wouldn't feel too bad if I thought my tax money were well spent.
    
    Jamie

    I got home last night and there was a letter from the IRS (hey that was
    a quick return!)  Turned out they wanted to make an adjustment to my
    1990 return as I failed to report my 401K income.  This would just 
    result in my owing about $5000 in taxes!!!
    
    Well, at least I know what's going on.  I left Prime in 1990 and 
    withdrew my 401K money with nothing withheld.  After finally getting
    the check, I rolled it over into the 401K plan at my next employer.
    There is a 60day grace period to allow this, and I was well within
    it.  I guess, though, that instead of not reporting it as income, 
    maybe I should have indicated somehow that I received it and rolled
    it over.  Sigh....   More forms to fill out.
    
    PeterT
    

I tell ya, that f'n FORM 1 and the Scheds. in the MA tax forms are a total
piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!    they have so many "do this if it is < x but
if x is from source abc, then put 45.564% of x in box 10 and 20% of x in
box 11, and if the remaining x is > nnn, turn to page 224345 of MASS tax
code 4902-ADSFD to figure out what to do"



lots of cussing comin' outta my mouth while doing that one!

    RE: HEALTHSCARE
    
    I belong to Pilgrim Healthcare and am very satisfied.  Pilgrim HMO is
    not located in big building, instead, they have doctors scattered all
    over MAss. and RI that belong to the HMO.  You can pick any primary
    care physician you want!  The doctors I've had have been very good.
    
    I pay around $7.00 a week, single.  That's up from $3.00 something a
    week last year.
    
    dave

    re: [dave]
    
    I belong to Pilgrim, also, and I am also satisfied.  I like the eyecare
    part...discounts range from 20% to 40% off eyeglasses and contact
    lenses at various optometrists.  I went to Cambridge Eye.  I recieved
    a 40% discount on glasses, a free eye examination (the limit is
    1/year), and a free pair of contacts (they have a free eyewear program
    for those that fall under the guidelines....and I have no idea what the
    guidelines were).  They have a wide selection of doctors, and they have
    been great...and it's $3.00/visit.... I pay the same as Dave, around
    $7.50 a week, single, which has doubled form last year...

    
        wow, i've got to look into that! i've also got pilgrim (fallon 
      bites, i had it once...ONCE!) and i have an appointment for an eye
      exam TODAY, but i think i'll cancal cuz this place only offered a
      10% discount off glasses, and nothing towards contacts or the 
      appointment fee itself. luckily i brought all my pilgrim stuff
      with me today, guess i'll hafta actually read through it ;^).
      thanks for the timely reply!
                                                        ^dave                                            
    

    You can always see your regular doctor and ask him for a prescription. 
    Then buy your glasses, etc. at Cambridge.  This is what I do, however,
    I haven't tried Cambridge yet for glasses and contacts.  I dought if
    I'll get free contacts from them; my contacts are pretty expensive for
    my prescription.
    
    Personally I never trust optomitrists that have their practice at optometry
    stores like Cambridge.  I tend to go for the ones that own their own
    practice.  I have pretty bad eyes and am not going to screw around.  It
    sounds prejudice but it's my eyes and no one elses.
    
    dave

    ->> Personally I never trust optomitrists that have their practice at
    ->> optometry stores like Cambridge.  I tend to go for the ones that own 
    ->> their own practice.  I have pretty bad eyes and am not going to screw
    ->> around. It sounds prejudice but it's my eyes and no one elses.
    ->>
    ->> dave
    
    Dave, although i go to Cambridge Eye, I do agree with you.  Their
    service was good, but I was very lery of going there at first...I've
    always had optometrists with their own practices before I moved to 
    Mass.  Cambridge Eye has been good to me, though.  But if you have bad 
    eyes I suggest going to a private optometrist.....
    
    :),d
    

    
         good advice dave. i think i will stick my regular doctor. they 
    just really irked me last time, when i asked for a copy of my
    prescription they kinda hassled me. i guess they take offense by
    their patients going elsewhere. but hey, it's my right. 
    
                                        thanx for the input...^dave

	Hey!!!

	Is today just a bad day or is there some sorta
	stratospheric disturbances happening?

	It seems as though everyone everywhere is pissed
	at me and at eachother, I just can't figure why, 
	I had better check my de-oderant.....although, 
	that shouldn't make it through the ethernet wires....

	Anyone else having a rotten day?

>	Anyone else having a rotten day?

Yup.  I got into the lab this morning to find that someone had hacked up
some test equipment I needed to use.  Spent the bulk of the morning fixing
stuff that someone else broke!

...makes me feel like I'm back in grad-school... 8-|

- jeff

re               <<< Note 125.1331 by EBBV03::SMITH "Think show" >>>

>	Anyone else having a rotten day?

nope, not me, foretunately.


You guys _need_ a DOSE of the blues tonight to cure dem rotten daze bluez!

    i am having a bad week....earache for 3 days now, no Phish last nite
    due to earache, weather sucks, kids givin me a hardtime.....
    rfb

	Im having a decent day.  First off, I think the flu from hell
	is finally departing my body - it's about time, been 2 weeks and a 
	couple of days!  Current project just about done.  And I just got
	back from a really wierd Garth Hudson brown bag 30 minute concert 
	at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.  Oh, and it's gorgeous outside!

	Ken

    the only bummer about today is that Im inside and not outside welcoming
    SPRING !
    
    otherwise its a wonderful day in the na-bore-hood.....
    
    
    Chris

	Yup, there is definitely something up....

	hang in there! 

	Did anyone hear that the moon has jumped off 
	it's normal axis?  I heard something this morning
	on the radio and they mentioned that high tides
	and volcanoe erruptions will be a direct result
	as well as the unseasonal weather.	

	JC- 

	don't think I can make it to dah Bull cause 
	I have school tonight....I'll try...

	"I sing the blues nearly all night long!"

    i was going to suggest the moon thing as a possible cause...
    
    fwiw, i don't think it's off its normal axis though...  :^)
    my understanding is we just had a full moon and it was at it's lowest 
    orbital point in years and won't come as close to us again for
    decades...  
    
    i wouldn't be heading for the shelters however, to protect myself from
    earthquakes, floods and volcanoes...  kinda chicken little thinking to 
    me...  remember all the disasters that were predicted for the harmonic
    convergence a couple of years back?  we had most of the planets in the
    solar system all lined up and the chicken little's were predicting
    earthquakes, floods and volcanoes then too...  never happened...
    
    high tides and out-of-the-ordinary weather i might believe (esp tides
    as the moon controls them), but if you're looking forward to the other
    natural disasters, i'm afraid you may be disappointed! :^)
    
    					da ve 

>    as the moon controls them), but if you're looking forward to the other
>    natural disasters, i'm afraid you may be disappointed! :^)
    
	awe...I was all hyped out for total chaotic hell! ;-) 
	
	I think Saturday's and Sunday's weather may impact 
	the coastal regions extra heavily due to this....

	maybe the moon will prolong the ski season for me :-)

	

    How can the moon affect high tides?

re: Note 125.1340 by BINKLY::DEMARSE 
    
>How can the moon affect high tides?
    
    Tides are caused by the moon's gravitational pull on the Earth. 
    In essence, the closer the moon, the higher the tide. I now
    turn this topic over to Mr. Pedantic for a more in depth
    explanation. :-) Provided he is well enough to log in.
    

    Neat......I was born on a full moon, as well as 2 of my younger sisters
    ...I think it was that gravitational pull.....                        
    
    :), danielle

Full Moon's have also been known to effect female cycles.  I wouldn't be
suprised to learn births are up during them either.  Two things I never
underestimate ... gravity and hormones!  :-)

    so true....

 >>   Neat......I was born on a full moon, as well as 2 of my younger sisters
 >>   ...I think it was that gravitational pull.....                         
    
    
           ha ha ha!!!!  too funny!
    
                                             ^d

> Two things I never
> underestimate ... gravity and hormones!  :-)

'course, I never studied law...

Dave :-)

re: .1342

>I was born on a full moon, as well as 2 of my younger sisters

	But if they're your younger sisters, how could you have been born on
them? :-)

Mark

	Green Grass and High tides....and hormones!

    re: [mark]  funny, funny.......:)
    
    so was the full moon last night?

    
    Monday night.
    
    

    congrats to Danielle for being the first confirmed birth on the moon-
    full or otherwise! :^)
    
    the moon has also been given credit (or blame as the case may be) for
    affecting human personality...  ever heard of LUNAcy?  seriously!
    that's where the term comes from...  there are even theories that
    work to support this conclusion...  to put it simply, lunar gravity
    affects bodies of water here on earth...  your body is mostly water...
    in the full moon the gravitational pull is stronger...  more water is
    pulled into your cranial cavity thereby affecting mental states and
    functioning...  or so the theory goes...  your mileage may vary...
    
    also, from an etymological standpoint (no, i am not the pedantic one
    but i may play him on tv) it is no accident that early treatments
    for LUNAtics was to have them sit in SOLARiums...  it was thought that
    the sun had purifying effects on people suffering from too much of the
    moon's influence...  and again, interestingly enough, there is some
    evidence to support this (though it only tends to support mild cases
    of depression and not actual "lunatics"...  no amount of sunshine is 
    going to make a nut into a sane person!  i mean, look at me?! :^)...
    ever heard of SAD (seasonally adjusted depressions or something like
    that?)  they think it comes on as a result of less sunlight and even
    now is often treated by having sufferers sit under sun lamps...
    
    					da ve
    

    	Now this time I know it's the wrong note, but I have a problem with
    the idea that the moon's gravitational pull in greater during a full
    moon. It just simple make no physical sense. Gravity is directly
    related to mass and proximity and if the mass doesn't change the 
    gravitational attraction can't change it the distance doesn't change. 
    The moon being at Apogee (the closest to earth it gets in it's orbit)
    will increase the gravitational pull, but being full doesn't. 
    	The reason the effect is greater when the moon is full or new is
    because the sun has an effect on us too. When the two effects are in
    phase then they add up. A new moon tide is actually higher than a full
    moon tide. While the forces are out of phase, somewhere between full
    and new, there is a funky vector that is working wuth a canceling
    effect. The full moon doesn't cancel out the higher tide because there
    are two high tides each day. 
    
    	It has more to do with the phase matching with the sun than the 
    gravitational attraction of a body changing. 
    
    Does this mean I get another point on the nerd test??
    Geoff 

    awww, c'mon Geoff...  of course the moon's gravitational pull is
    stronger when it's full...  anyone can see that the moon is bigger
    then, right?  ;^)  :^)  :^)
    
    seriously though, you are right...  the fullness of the moon will not
    change it's gravitational pull, but it's proximity to earth will...
    i erred in my note...
    
    as to whether or not you score another point on the nerd test, i think
    we should leave that open to another round of voting...  :^)
    
    					da ve

    .1351 and 1353/1354
    
    Hey Geoff and da ve.  How did Fog get into your accounts?  Did you know
    he's been masquarading as U's guyz?
    
    :-)
    
    Marv
    

>Hey Geoff and da ve.  How did Fog get into your accounts?  Did you know
>he's been masquarading as U's guyz?
    
    Yeah guys, who *died* and made *you* Mr. Pedantic? :-)
    

    much like a hindu deity, we are actually different revelations
    of a single entity, dispensing peace and enlightenment on the general
    populace...  
    
    either that, or it's another one of those aftermath-of-the-full-moon
    things...  :^)
    
    					da fogeoff ve :^)

    Actually, the moon is at or near perigee at present, i.e. its as close
    as it gets to Earth. Apogee is the furthest point.
    
    gary

My tape of Parts I/II of the 30 year Dylan thing ended in the middle of  Neil 
Young's Watchtower.  Caught all the groveling though.

Grr.

Bill

    see ! its a curse I swear ! Neil could be behind this ya know....gets
    those bootlegers going then snip snip ! AAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG !
    
    Chris

When I got home last night, I noticed a couple of unmarked police cars and 
a couple of other marked ones down the street.  Small crowd of people hanging
out.

It seems a neighbor (whose kid my kid hangs out with) was being busted for 
drugs...unknown what type, etc.  Sniffer dogs and the whole thing.

Yikes!  This is just three houses away from me.

We're all freaked.  Don't know what's up with the kiddo (who's 10 years old) 
or the parents.

	dsn%dave

I don't have details.  It was certainly planned, though.

A reporter from the Patriot Ledger was there.  The "authorities" had made
arrangements with the local animal shelter to house the family pets before hand.

I doubt that they'd go through all that just for a possession bust.

	dsn%dave

    
       i saw slipknot at jack's saloon in uxbridge friday night. i won't
     be back to that place anytime soon. first off, there didn't seem to
     to be too many heads there, just obnoxiuos locals. i met my friends
     patrick and jennifer there, and we had a table in the back. jennifer
     went to the bathroom and while she was gone this gross druken biker
     type chick sits down and starts running off at at the mouth. she kept
     pointing at me and saying "i could f*ck you up". i was like "i believe
     you". well finally she spills her drink all over our table and leaves.
       next during the break we decided to go out for scoobie snacks. we
    walked downstairs and out the door, and i noticed "spike", a bartender/
    bouncer type dude follows us to the door. well, once i stepped outside
    i noticed about 8 people in line trying to get back in, uncertain if
    they would. so we run back up to spike, tell him we still have our
    coats and stuff inside, end up getting into a big argument with him,
    but finally get back inside (snackless nonetheless).
       for the second set we went right up front and danced, trying to
    forget where we were. this seemed to work (that scarlet was smokin').
    well we left after the end of the second set and walked out to
    patrick's car to catch up on the snacks, only to find some as*hole
    slammed into his car causing major damage. no note, noone around.
    major bummer. come to find out though that there were a couple of
    witnesses who gave police apartial description of the truck, with
    some company lettering on the side of it. they'll be investigating
    it today. 
    
                                                               ^dave 

    Sorry to hear that Dave.  I guess you won't be all that interested
    in finding out when Crystal Ship is playing there?  I'd been
    considering going Friday night, but ended up making a cheesecake 
    instead.  Oh well.  I think Slipknot is due back there in April.
    Unless I have other plans, I'll let you know if there's been any 
    improvement.
    
    PeterT
    

    Yah, I was going to mention that Lynn ????? (not from DEC) saw the car
    slamming. Sounds like she's the one who gave the description. When you
    were up front you missed the fight back by the bar. Did you notice that
    it closed a little early. Last call was immedeately after the fight and 
    no encore ate 12:45. 
    
    	Jack's has it's problems and except for the snow most of my weekend
    belongs in the bummer note. I guess some people wouldn't have even
    enjoyed the snow.
    
    Geoff

    Yeah, theres some odd, mutant folk up around that Blackstone river
    area!  I believe it starts around Woonsocket and flows in either
    direction.  :^)
    
    dave

    
       re: -1
    
          ain't it the truth!!! (big smile on my face cuz i know exactly
          what you're talking about, living next door to woonsocket ;^)
    
       re: geoff
    
          well make sure you give her a grate big thank you from patrick!
          hopefully the police will catch up to this jerk. i'll keep you
          posted.
    
                                                           ^dave

Man, that Jack's Saloon sounds like a totally beat place to go!
Sorry to hear that your friend got hit... that sux.

    > Man, that Jack's Saloon sounds like a totally beat place to go!
    
    But... they do have Bass on tap for a $1.50 a pop!  It can't be all
    bad!  Unfortunately you can have bad experiences anywhere you go.
    And sometimes when you don't go anywhere!
    This car problem reminds me of a semi-amusing incident that happened
    to me.  I was dating my friends sister at the time and went with her
    to see some movie.  It turned out that we sat right behind my 
    lifeguard buddy and his friend.  Well, after the movie we went out
    into the parking lot and my girlfriend started to freak out because
    someone had put a crowbar through the back window of her VW bug.
    But then she realized it wasn't HER bug, so she started laughing from
    relief.  At which point my lifeguard buddy comes up and wants to 
    know why she's laughing at the crowbar sticking out of the back of 
    HIS window!
    Somebody is always affected.
    
    PeterT
    

    doesn't it really bum you out when you show up in the morning and
    someone meets you at the front door to let you know that you 
    made a mistake that has you in a little hot water????
    
    what a drag...  looks like another shitty day in paradise...
    
    					da ve

re        <<< Note 125.1371 by ROULET::DWEST "if wishes were horses..." >>>
      -< start the day off with a screw-up...  it's a real eye opener... >-

>    doesn't it really bum you out when you show up in the morning and
>    someone meets you at the front door to let you know that you 
>    made a mistake that has you in a little hot water????
 
care to elaborate mon?

hope things work out for ya mon!!!

    
    a scheduling mix up...  i was supposed to run a training session for
    third shift last night at 2:30 am...  i thought it was tonight...
    had the whole third shift production crew waiting on me while i was
    home snoozing...
    
    					da ve

    don't get me wrong, and i feel for ya dwest, but......
    I FIND THAT VERY FUNNY!!!! %^) prob. because a similar thang happened to me 
    rfb

    And nobody had your phone number??  I've worked on the night shift and
    I was told, 'don't call any one unless the building is on fire!'
    But I've also done support duty and the operators seemed to have
    particular glee in calling up at 2 or 3 AM.
    
    PeterT

Look at the bright side, da ve..

At least you distracted all those over-worked folks from having toi do their 
jobs for a few minutes.  They probably deserved the break...

    we will survive...  all of us! :^)
    
    just a really crappy way to start the day...  caught it from 3 people
    between the front door and my office...  :^/
    
    					da ve

this reminds me of a story with a similar twist....



I was livin' in NJ at the time with this family who had a business as an
OEM for DEC (I was working there).  Anyways, this guy was my college roommate
and we loved to go out and get hammered.  well, one this one particular
morning, his parents were due to fly out toe Germany in the early am and
we were responsible for opening up the business (unlocking it for the most
part and turning off the alarm).  so, the night before, we go out, and get
VERY drunk... stumble home, and his parents were packing and what not for
their trip.  we went outside on the porch and ate something then passed out
on the floor (it was pouring rain outside that night)...  around 2-3am, his
parents (still packing) discover us on the porch, totally drunk and passed
out!  i helped my friend up to bed and i crashed too... the next morning, his
parents wake us up (gave all sort of talk about being drunks and how our
rooms smelled like booze/beer/bar) and remind us that we have to open up....

....

at 9:00 am, 45 minutes late, we get a call saying there are 60 (!!) people
waiting outside to get in!!   my roommate rushes over and opens up... looking
very hung-over........  we caught a bit of hell about that plus his parents
wanted to send us to detox !!

it was funny at the time anyways!  :-)

    Shit, I am so tightly wrapped that I actually feel like I'm going to
    vomit.  My wife is a basket case and my son is bummed big time.
    
    We are currently taking care of my wife's old dog.  When we got married
    we lived in an apartment and could not take the dog with us.  Her
    ex-husband and his new family agreed to take Smoker and she's lived
    with them for hte past 3 years.
    
    They went away on a vacation and we agreed to dog-sit since we now live
    in our own home.  The dog is 16 yrs old, slow, frail and deaf.  The
    first night with us the dog kept my wife up much of the night whining. 
    The next night we brought the dog upstairs to our room and she was
    quiet but had crapped on the floor.
    
    Early this morning, about 3:15am, the dog woke me and I decided to take
    her out for a quick pee and whatever.  As I was letting her out my cat
    distracted me and tried to get out the door.  I grabbed the cat and
    tossed him back into the house, turned on the outside light and THE DOG
    WAS GONE!!!!!
    
    This animal is so old I figured it could be far off.  It was dark and
    snowing and cold.  I was in my bathrobe and sneakers.  No other
    clothes.  After a couple of minutes I went back in, put on pants and a
    coat and went back out looking for her.  No luck.
    
    I spent an hour walking the area.  Then after a quick warm up, I went
    out on my bike for another 1/2 hour.  Another warm up and my son and I
    drove around, still without finding Smoker.
    
    I've called the Nashua Police, the Milford and Merrimack Police as
    well.  I'll be calling the Nashua Humane Society when they open at
    10:00am.  I can't think of anything else to do.
    
    My wife has lost three dogs in the past and she is taking this very
    hard.  I know she blames me and that hurts a lot.  I'm so worried that
    if Smoker doesn't show up, she'll never forgive me.  My son says HE
    will not tell the owners what happened.  Of course, I said I would if
    we can't find Smoker.
    
    What am I going to do?  I feel so bad.  I LIKE SMOKER and don't want
    anything to happen to her.  
    
    This sucks so much...
    
    Marv
    

Hi Marv.

I'm sending good vibes your way!  I wish you the best of luck finding
her!

Dave

p.s. What area of Nashua do you live in?  You may wanna post a note in
the DOGS notesfile (DOGS::CANINE) and definitely the New Hampshire
notesfile, too.

    North end of Nashua.  Fox street, off of broad, between the Dairy Queen
    and Berman Realty.  I posted in New Hampshire conference.
    
    Anyone in my general area are urged to call family and friends and ask
    them to be on the lookout.
    
    Home is 598-8527, office is dtn 264-2963.
    
    Thanks Dave and to all,
    
    Marv
    

    
    Hey Marv,
    
    Hang in there, more good vibes are on there way...  :^)
    
    Tree 

Beams to you marv...

    
    Hang in there Marv..
    
    

My vibes are with you and Smoker Marv!  Check quiet, private alcove type
places like underneath porches ... she has probably hid herself and stayed
put for hours.

    
    Lots of positive vibes coming your way Marv.  I know the pain of
    looking for a lost animal.  Keep the faith and hopefully everything
    will work out.
    
    Ohhhhhhmmmmm,
    
    	Mark

    Thanks you guys.  Nothing's turned up yet.  I'm scared.  
    
    Lisa, good points.  I have a lunch meeting with the Big Boss from
    Maynard and after that I'm going to try to split and do a thorough
    "house-to-house".
    
    Come on Smoker!  Come home.
    
    Marv
    
    P.S.
     I'm also going to head to Smokers real home and see if she's tried to
    make it back there.
    

>    P.S.
>     I'm also going to head to Smokers real home and see if she's tried to
>    make it back there.
 

This is probably where you'll find him.

Geoff   

    My fingers are crossed for ya Marv. Hope ole Smoker turns up for ya.
    
    Andy

    I am so happy to tell you all that Smoker has been found.
    
    She was spotted about 5 miles away near the Merrimack River in east
    Nashua.  A man saw her laying on a lawn down the street and called the
    Police.  The cops called my home and then the man called my wife.  She
    had to lift Smoker into the car.  Smoker is shivering and very stiff
    but is fine otherwise.
    
    My marriage is saved.  My stomach is settling down.  My fatigue is
    beginning to overtake me (up since 3:15am and tense the whole time).
    
    My deepest thanks to everyone who sent vibes and good wishes and
    suggestions.  I am in your collective debt.
    
    Marv
    

    congratulations; glad to hear smoker's OK and you're no longer a
    nervous wreck.
    
    	Mike
    

    cool!  i like happy endings...  
    
    strange coincidence...  just last night a friend was telling me how she
    had searched all day for a cat...  never found the kitty though... :^(
    
    						da ve

good to hear that everything turned out ok

- rich

Glad to hear Smoker's okay!

When I was a kid we had a cat that would 'disappear' for ~3 months at a time
every spring and come back in the summer.  We never knew where or how far
she went, but she always came back...

- jeff

    
    Grate News Marv,
      Glad it all turned out ok.  
    
    	Peace,
    	Mark

    great news !!! so do you think it will be a movie of the week soon ?
    :')
    
    Chris

GRATE, Marv!

   I was very nervous that this was gonna have an unhappy ending!  I'm
very glad for Smoker (and you) that it didn't!

  Good vibes are a good thing!!! :-)

Dave

re                   <<< Note 125.1390 by TRACTR::MACINTYRE >>>
                              -< Smoker returns >-

>    My marriage is saved.  My stomach is settling down.  My fatigue is
>    beginning to overtake me (up since 3:15am and tense the whole time).
 

sounds like you need some oatbran muffins with a couple of brews mon! :-)
yikes, major stress for ya!  

glad everything turnout cool mon!

     Phew!  I feel much better so I know you must Marv.  Good news!

    
    Great news!
    
    :-)
    
    

    Gee, I had a good feeling about the whole Smoker Affair from the
    beginning.  But, being a pet owner, I know how unnerving it is when
    they disappear.
    
    Our deaf cat got out on one occasion when my wife and I were living in
    the Hollywood Hills.  There were often hungry coyotes coming down into
    the residential areas, so were concerned.  (Deaf cats don't come when
    you call them.)  We told our dog to "go find the kitty" and I'll be
    damned if he didn't run up the street two houses and into the garage
    where the cat was hiding under a car.  Took him all of 30 seconds.
    True story.
    
    Anyway, I'm relieved to hear about the happy ending to Smoker's Big
    Adventure.
    
    Bud

    happy ending before I could send vibes! %^) 
    
    having raised basset hounds and owning Arti the Assh*le now, i can
    relate....
    
    rfb (get a german shepard, they come home!)

Not quite on the same vein but my dog used to find the gerbils when they
routinely escaped. This pleased my mother to no end.  :-)

	whew!

	I was glad to log in and see that good news!

	I like that name "Smoker"   heh heh

>>Not quite on the same vein but my dog used to find the gerbils when they
>>routinely escaped. This pleased my mother to no end.  :-)
    
    Our cat was in charge of finding the hamsters when they got out.  Of 
    course, his idea of retreiving them varied a bit from ours. :-) As a
    matter of fact, I am convinced that the cat had learned how to open the
    hamster house whenever he needed some exercise.

    I'm all excited to go to the Rat this Friday to see my favorite Boston
    band, Mystery Jones.  Then I call and find out the show is 21+ !!!!!!!!
    AAAAARRRGGHHH!!!!  This is sickening....I don't even care about drinking, 
    I just get upset that I can't get into any shows because I'm not 21...
    and worse yet, I won't be 21 until October 25....that's 6 months away! 8(  
    I'm Mega bummed...:(  I was all excited to go....this happens to me all 
    the time.....I'm going to have to get some form of identification
    soon...
    
    :(, danielle
       

    If it's any help I'm pretty sure slip-into-summer is all ages and
    that's only 1 month away.
    
    	It may be a long month, but that's just me
    Geoff

    That's cool...Most of the slip shows have been 21+ this winter....i
    can't wait to see you guys!  
    
    There are some clubs I can get into, but I have to pay $8-$10 to get in
    because I'm under 21 and they won't make any money off me from drinks... 
    whereas my 21+ friends get in free...
    
    Bummer bummer...
    
    :), danielle

>I'm going to have to get some form of identification
>    soon...

not that i would ever advocate breaking any laws, but it's amazing what a
macintosh, a camera, and a little investment of time will do for gaining
entry into bars

- rich

    I remember when the state of Massashottis raised the age to drink from
    18 to 21.....I was 3 months and 16 day away from 18.....well RI was
    anoly a 30 minute drive :') fridays in school was get the list and
    money day for the weekend parties, take the old mans micro-bus, fill it
    up and bring it back ! white-lightin' runners :')
    
    Chris

    Marv,
    I just logged into notes after several days absence.  Was very glad
    your fright had a happy ending.  Be good to yourself today.  That
    was a tremendous range of emotions you went through yesterday.
    
    Danielle,
    
    I hope something happy happens to you to make up for your loss.  
    
    Rose
    

I remember when the drinking age was lower also.... i was on the "find a 
location for senior High school skip day committee" and MA was 21 by this
time.  VT was still 18, but, too far to go.  CT was 19, and we had i think
1 guy in our class who was 19, so we went there... Thompson CT.  

	The drinking age was 18 when I started college at 17 yrs.
	So after a couple of months I was legal.  But then when I was 
	19 yrs old, the drinking age was raised to 20!  So I was legal 
	then illegal!  That was tough, until I found an id which 
	coincidentally I could use till I turned 20 - I could pass
	for the picture. 

	Ken

A popular thing to do to get an ID in my day was to take you older brother's
stuff (birth cert, ss card, etc) and go to the registry and say you lost your
license.  bars were not concerned w/ duplicate licenses then, nor was society
as litigious at today, and this made it easier to get 'in'.

    
    Sounds like I had it easy.  Not only was the drinking age 18 when I was
    young, but NY didn't have picture licenses.  
    
    

    
    I also remember when they raised the drinking age from 21 to 18 and
    then back up to 21.  I was 20 years 9 months when the age was raised
    back up.  I was illegal for 3 months again.   I had a tab down at the
    local packie and he told me to wait til I was legal again.
    
    Weird, old enough to vote, get married, fight and die for your country 
    yet too young to be trusted with a beer.
    
    	Mark

    i rememebr when the drinkin age was 10........
    
    rfb

yea, in NY it was 18 (till I turned 17 I think) but there were no pictures
on liscences so I just gave my friend Sue, who was also 5'1" with blue eyes,
money to get me a duplicate liscence.  She hit all the grandfather clauses
when the drinking age went from 18 -> 19 -> 21 so coincidentally so did I. ;^)

    My cousin is 22 and she was going to let me borrow her I.D....she was
    supposed to send it out a month ago and hasn't done it yet... but like I 
    said I could care less if I drink I just hate being turned away from shows
    because I'm not an 'adult'...I don't have any older sisters either. 
    But I do have 3 younger sisters.....they will be all set...;"))...
    
    :), danielle

    
       well i remember back when there was no drinking age...and we had to
     walk uphill to AND from the bar....
                                                        ^dave
                                                         

    
        FWIW...the loompanics catalogue has a whole section of books
     about false id's. this catalogue should be on everyone's coffee
     table...never saw such a collection of strange, exotic, bizzare
     books in my life...definitely worth the $5. investment...thanx
     to whoever it was who posted the ordering info a few months back!
    
                                                            ^dave

    
    
    Call me prude, dude, but messing with fake ID's, borrowing ID's, et al,
    isn't worth the risk. Some places will just confiscate them, but others
    will call the 5-O's. Believe me, getting arrested *SUCKS* no matter
    what they bust you for. Just wait it out...time flies (really),
    especially if you don't count the months, days...
    
    re: Getting in to see the band
    
    If you know somebody in the band, you might be able to get in early.
    They can say you're a "roadie," photo/video-person, or sound/light
    assistant. It works most of the time.  
    
    
    Steve-O

    >> If you know somebody in the band, you might be able to get in early.
    >> They can say you're a "roadie," photo/video-person, or sound/light
    >> assistant. It works most of the time.
    
    Well, I know the singer pretty well (or so I think).  I was thinking of
    doing this, but I think that they get there early to set up, then come
    back right before they go on...but I'm not sure.  They need someone to
    sell tapes and shirts for them, so I was thinking of going in with that
    excuse...maybe it'll work...
    
    :), d
                                                        

    >> If you know somebody in the band, you might be able to get in early.
    >> They can say you're a "roadie," photo/video-person, or sound/light
    >> assistant. It works most of the time.
    
I know a couple bands that can't play the Whitehorse any more because
of that (well maybe not that but what happened after they are in and are
having some drinks and not acting responsible ... not to even remotely 
imply that anyone in this conversation would do that).

bob

    
>       well i remember back when there was no drinking age...and we had to
>     walk uphill to AND from the bar....
 
	:-)  yeah, and it was so cold that icecyles formed on our eyelashes!

>>       well i remember back when there was no drinking age...and we had to
>>     walk uphill to AND from the bar....
> 
>	:-)  yeah, and it was so cold that icecyles formed on our eyelashes!
    
    and of course back then we couldn't afford shoes to wear to the bar :-(

>>>       well i remember back when there was no drinking age...and we had to
>>>     walk uphill to AND from the bar....
>> 
>>	:-)  yeah, and it was so cold that icecyles formed on our eyelashes!
    
>    and of course back then we couldn't afford shoes to wear to the bar :-(

	HA!  ;^)  My mom used this one too - which carried absolutely NO
	weight considering her father was a shoe maker!

    >>       well i remember back when there was no drinking age...and we
    had to
    >>>     walk uphill to AND from the bar....
    >>
    >>      :-)  yeah, and it was so cold that icecyles formed on our
    eyelashes!
    
    >    and of course back then we couldn't afford shoes to wear to the
    bar :-(
    
    
    But we were glad to have it!!      ;^)              -jeff
    

I turned 19 when the drinking age in NY was still 19.  I was legal as of Oct.
14.  Then, on Nov. 1, NY raised the drinking age to 21, with no grandfather
clause.  I had to wait another year and 11 months to drink again!

Then again, when I was home in CT, there was a liquor store that served me
anyway.  Of course, I'd have to get there before 8 pm! :-(

adam

re -< weird laws >-

Hozabout that wonderful rule at the Garden where if you have an out-of-state
license, they won't sell you a beer unless it says you're 25!!!  What kind
of rule is that?!?!

...so now I hafta turn in my perfectly good NY license and stand in line for
3 hours and blow $80 to get a $%#&* MA license in order to drink a beer at a
B's game???  Nuh, uh!  Not this cowboy!  No siree!


- jeff_who_gets_his_girlfriend_to_buy_the_beer_instead_8-)

>Hozabout that wonderful rule at the Garden where if you have an out-of-state
>license, they won't sell you a beer unless it says you're 25!!!  What kind
>of rule is that?!?!

i'd rather drink nothing than blow $5 on a cup of the piss-water that they
call beer

but the rule is stupid anyway

at Great Woods they won't serve you if you have a license that was valid before
you were 21; i.e. if you got your license renewed when you were 20 and it's
good for 4 years, they won't serve you until you get a new one at 24; they
might just be this anal for out-of-state licenses 

- rich

    >> i'd rather drink nothing than blow $5 on a cup of the piss-water that
    >> they call beer
    
    hahahaha...
    
    :), d

Well folks, YOU CAN'T BLAME THE BARS/LIQUOR STORES FOR THE PARANOIA...



Blame the people who provoked them, mainly, lawyers and all the people who
like to sue others for everything and anything they can get whenever there
is a chance to get some money outta someone.....


btw jeff, MA license doesn't cost $80... actually, after July 1, Gov Weld
lowers the rates... not sure what it'll be though....

    I was a senior in H.S. back in 1974 when I turned 18.  The drinking age
    in NH at that time was 18.  It was a weird situation in that I could
    legally go to a bar, have some drinks and then have to get up the next
    morning and go to highschool.  I don't think it was a very good idea
    having the drinking age that low.
    
    I wasn't an overachiever in H.S. and I think *some* of that had to do
    with the fact that I could booze it up.  
    
    My little (younger) brother was caught in the "Legal then not legal
    drinking age" change when he was 18.  After drinking legally for about
    6 months he had to stop and wait for another 2-plus years to do it
    again.
    
    Maybe now that I'm an old fart I'm a little more conservative on this
    but I think 21 is as good an age as any and better than 18.
    
    Just MHO,
    
    Marv
    

re                   <<< Note 125.1434 by XCUSME::MACINTYRE >>>

IMO, not attacking you marv, just commenting...


>    morning and go to highschool.  I don't think it was a very good idea
>    having the drinking age that low.
 
during my H.S. years, it was always 21.  BUT, that did not stop us from 
getting whatever we needed whenever we needed it.  we had a network of
guys we could call to make packy runs for us.  the drinking age thing presented
nearly ZERO resistance.

>    Maybe now that I'm an old fart I'm a little more conservative on this
>    but I think 21 is as good an age as any and better than 18.
    
i think it has to do primarily with the way alcohol is treated in this
country.  my old man used to let me and my friends have a couple around the
house when i was younger... it was no big deal, i sort of grew up with it.
but, i saw some folks who hit college, had their first drinks, and ended
up flunking out later on.  it starts in the home, really.  education on
alcohol is important, and should be taught by those who have experience...
alcohol can be used responsibly.

when i was in austria, you'd often see young kids having a beer.  these kids
didn't slam back 10 beers, they'd just have one or two.  same with the young
kids i saw in ireland.  same in germany.  same in the netherlands.  it is
a social thing there, where as kids in the USA today are taught that alcohol 
is taboo.  

about the ID thing people have been talking about:  never once have i been
or have i seen anyone asked for proof of age while travelling in europe.
definitely a USA kinda thing.

This leaves me with a couple of impressions...

First of all, I always feel grateful to anyone nice enough to card me.  I've
been known to frequent places more often because they will.  Mid-life crisis,
I guess...;-)

The other thing - a friend of mine from long ago (high school) became a high
school teacher when he got his B.S.  At the time, in New Jersey, the drinking
age was 18.  He found it more than a little awkward going to a bar on a friday
night only to find his waitress was one of his students....I guess that's the 
other side of Marv's coin, eh?

tim

>At the time, in New Jersey, the drinking
>age was 18.  He found it more than a little awkward going to a bar on a friday
>night only to find his waitress was one of his students....

that could still happen; you can serve alcohol if you're 18 - you just can't
drink it

/r

    When I turned 18 back in '73 the drinking age was still 18, but I
    wasn't interested in alcohol at the time.  I had some other vices
    which appealed to me more ;-)  I think it was about towards the
    end of my freshman year that I had my first drink, and it still wasn't
    all that thrilling.  I eventually found beer ;-) and settled into my
    niche.  I've still got all the hard liquor we bought for the guests
    that was left over from our wedding coming up on 10 years next 
    month.  I did open up some vodka recently to try to soak the flavor
    out of a vanilla bean when I was making choclate chip cookies and
    ran out of vanilla extract.  I guess I could have used some of the
    kahlua we made a few years back too.  Hmmm, now that would probably 
    make some interesting cookies ;-)
    
    PeterT
    

   A bummer and a question. 
 First the story.  Last night we witnessed for the second time one of our 
 cats have a siezure. The first time it happened (that we witnessed) was
 in the middle of the night, Our son woke my wife and I up screaming at the
 cat to "Stop it!". When we went in his room the cat was spazing out, foaming
 at mouth and his bladder let loose. We called Angel (?) memorial in Boston.
 They explained that it was epelipse (sp?) and that if he was ok wait till
 morning and call our vet.

   Well, this occurred again last night at 3:00 am. And who knows how many 
  other times. We have found other areas he likes to sleep that smell of urine.

   My wife is bring him to the vet today to discuss options.

  My question is to pet owners, in particular pet owners who have had pets die
 when they have had young children attached to said pet. 

  "How did you (or would you) explain to a young child the death of a pet?"

 Shawn

Wow Shawn ... death is never easy, young or old and I think that of a pet is
especially tough because the pet can't tell you how they feel.  However, it is
important not to lie to or mislead children.  As his parents your son will trust
and believe anything you and your wife tell him - and you may be suprised to 
hear what he remembers 20 years from now.

If I were you I'd be as gentle as I could while I said that the cat was sick
and is now in Heaven with God (or whatever your personal religious beliefs
dictate) where he/she feels much better and is enjoying herself/himself.

At some point in our lives we are all exposed to death and must learn to accept
it.  That is a long process, takes some of us a lifetime and we don't get it -
but the best thing you can do for your son is give him a realistic, valid
base to start with so that he won't have to deprogram himself years from now. 

Lisa

    ...and a lot of  hugs...
    
    tim
    

>>           <<< Note 125.1440 by MRNGDU::YETTO "the future is here" >>>


>>Wow Shawn ... death is never easy, young or old and I think that of a pet is
>>especially tough because the pet can't tell you how they feel.  However, it is
>>important not to lie to or mislead children.  As his parents your son will trust
>>and believe anything you and your wife tell him - and you may be suprised to 
>>hear what he remembers 20 years from now.

  I wouldn't be suprised at all. At 3 1/2 yrs. his memory is already sharp as
 a tack. He brings thing up from over a year ago.

  I'm really hoping my wife comes back from the vet with some optomistic news.
 But the last time we talk with the vet about medication he said the cat 
 would not have much of a life.

>>If I were you I'd be as gentle as I could while I said that the cat was sick
>>and is now in Heaven with God (or whatever your personal religious beliefs
>>dictate) where he/she feels much better and is enjoying herself/himself.

  I really don't want to put the cat down because of this. Yesterday my son
 saw a commercial for the show "Highway to Heaven". He then asked me 
 "What's heaven?" I ignored him for a while (not the right thing to do, but
 I didn't want to try to explain my beliefs till he's a little older.).

 When he persisted (which he always does. 8-) I told him.. "It's where you go
when you die if your good."  He then said "Well I'm Bad." I asked "Why?"

  he replied "I don't want to die." so I explained that you don't die if your
 good... etc. He misunderstood what i said.   NEways since he is a little 
 confused right now about death I fear that if I put the cat down and tell
 him it was because the cat was sick, my son might equate "sick" to dying.
 

 Shawn

ps. thanks for the support, Lisa.

Here's my take. I do not have experience with kids this age however.

I believe its o.k. to tell kids this age about heaven and hell, the devil 
and angels, and God, regardeless of your own religion/philosophy. Our 
culture is too proliferated with these symbols anyway, so every time he see's 
a reference, it creates an uncomfortable situation. Same deal with Santa 
Claus, etc.

Do it, however, with the understanding that when the child is old enough to
grasp more abstract concepts, then you tell him/her that devil's don't
really exist; they are only stories made up for little children to explain
life and death in simpler terms. Older children will understand this. Not
only will your child be less confused in the long run, but he/she will feel
more mature when the understanding comes. Perhaps mature enough even to
understand the logic behind the lie. The child must definitely learn that 
the parent is fallable and human too...

Does that help?

    My kids are 13 and 16 now, but we've had oddles of pets die throughout
    the times our family has been together...that's cause we've had oddles
    of pets. Death is inevatable <--(sp), the best thing to do if the cat
    has to go is get another one real quick. Replace the pain with anew
    love. We have a german shep that gettin old, maybe one more year. I do
    not believe in letting animals suffer, even if i do stick to the theory
    "it's just a -----" (insert dog, cat, mouse etc.) which just helps me
    cope. Death IS a part of life...that concept eventually must be taught
    to kids, at whawt age dependss on the kid....IMO anyway. 
    
    rfb

   Well some good news.

  When the vet called with the results of the blood tests he gave Max (the cat)
 a clean bill of health. He then spent twenty minutes on the phone with my wife.
 He said that cats feel no pain and suffer no ill-effects from the siezures.
 It's alot more painful for the person viewing it. After seeing two of them 
 I can say it is VERY horrible to watch, and I find it hard to believe that
 cat can't feel anything. But I not a vet(and i don't play one on tv 8-).

  The vet gave us a choice 1. is to do nothing except chart the siezure the
 best we can, and if we see one LEAVE THE CAT ALONE. Let it run it's course
 and time it, as long as it's short (no more than five minutes) he'll be ok.
 Also make sure there is nothing near the cat that he could knock over onto 
 himself. The best thing would be to confine him at night and look for signs
 (puddle of urine) in the morning.

  The second choice is to put him on medication. The downside of that is Max 
 must have it at the same time of day every day of his life, which could be
 another ten years 8-).  The vet thinks that unless Max was has five siezures 
 a day there really is no need for medication.

  NEways it turned out to be good news in the end.

 Shawn

    jeez, as long as it doesn't hurt Max, I'd think you'd have a most
    excellent party trick to show people...%^)
    
    rfb

Shawn, did the vet say what causes the seizures?  Maybe a poisonous plant,
or something?

- dc

 RE: <<< Note 125.1447 by NRSTA2::CLARK "Electric Music for the Mind and Body" >>>

>>Shawn, did the vet say what causes the seizures?  Maybe a poisonous plant,
>>or something?

   They really don't know. He said with dog's it's usually from alot of 
  excitement through out the day, ie; a party with alot of people, then 
  when they sleep they dream about it and have a siezure, but where cat
  have a BFD attitude about everything it's not that. What I can't believe is
  that no brain damage or pain occurs. It really is a traumatic thing to see.


    When I was in grade school I saw a classmate have an epileptic siezure.
  That doesn't compare IMO to the cat's. 

    My other cat Tigger (with 2 g's) doesn't know what to make of it. If
   a cat can look concerned, Tigger does. 

 RE: rfb 

   AS warp as ever 8-), I've sure missed read your notes for the past year 
  or so. 


Shawn

phew Shawn!  Thanks for the update.  I'm happy for Max, and the rest of the
family!!!

> What I can't believe is that no brain damage or pain occurs. It really is
> a traumatic thing to see.

With human epilepsy, a person can sallow her/his tongue and choke, causing
dain bramage or death in rare instances.  Human epileptics can also injure
themselves falling (when the seizure starts) or thrashing about banging
their heads into the floor, objects, etc.  That's why if you see someone
have a seizure, its good to hold/protect their head and make sure they are
breathing.  Just don't stick your fingers in the person's mouth (they might
bite).

I don't know if the same things can happen to cats, but the vet should know.


re: lying to kids about pet deaths

My parents lied to me two times when two pets died when I was young.  They
said that the pets just ran away.  For years I waited for them to come back,
expecting that eventually some day they would.  MANY years later, the topic
came up in conversation and I found out the truth.  It pissed me off that
they lied to me like that, assuming that my young tender mind couldn't
handle it.  Sheesh, I'd been killing things (ants, worms, etc.) for years!  

It's better for a child to experience the pain of the loss of a loved
one/pet/etc., than to be put (unknowningly, to find out later) through
denial.  Teaching one's children to deny traumatic events, either by example
or directly, rather than to face their pain and get-over it is very wrong,
imo.


- jeff

    Hi, 
    
    I had a dog that had seizures (?).  He was a big poodle (maybe 85 lb.).
    We kept him at our farm for about a year while his people were having
    housing problems.  My biggest fear was that he would have a seizure
    while among the goat, who do NOT like dogs at all.  Well, one day it
    happened.  he collapsed with the herd around him.  They all stood there
    looking at him for a minute and then roamed off.  It was as if they
    understood that he was harmless in that state, and did not require any
    defensive action.  
    
    NOTE:  I did find a strong correlation between his seisures and hunger.
    If he go really hungry, like with a lot of exercise and excitement, and
    missed a meal, he would have problems.  If I fed him several small
    meals a day, so he never really got hungry, he would go for months
    without a seisure.  Your cat's case may be entirely different, but it
    is ssomething worth observing.
    
    Judy
    

    Well, Digital in its infinite wisdom has decided to give me the summer
    off ( and the rest of my life too).  I put this in the bummer note
    because losing the ability to enjoy this notesfile is the worst part. 
    I've sensed for awhile that this was coming.  I'm going to take this as
    an opportunity to investigate new directions for my life.  I'll be
    around for a few more days so I won't say good bye yet.

    
    :-(  We'll miss you in here, Rose.  Good luck on your new path.
    
    peace,
    Phyllis
    

    The "Bummer Note" is exactly where this belongs.  Sorry to hear this. 
    Other friends here in MKO are being notified today also.  Good luck
    Rose.
    
    Marv
    

    Hey Rose,
      THis is a big bummer.  Sorry to hear the news and hope you find
    something good to do in the future.  Keep the faith and positive vibes
    coming your way.
    
    	Mark

:^(

    Oh nooo! I'll miss your smiling face here. You've always made me
    happier with your peaceful, caring attitude. Stopping and chatting
    with you every now and again left me with a good feeling that there
    are indeed people like you in this world :^)
    
    peace, and good luck,
    
    Andy

Best wishes Rose!
jc

    Here comes another holiday which has been corrupted into a three day
    weekend.  How long before all of our holidays lose their meaning?  I'm
    especially ticked off this year because New Hampshire has given in and
    made Memorial Day fall on a Monday instead of celebrating it on its
    traditional day (May 30).  That leaves Vermont as the only state which
    puts any stock in this tradition.

    That also leaves Independence Day and Christmas (Religion Appreciation
    Day or somesuch if you live in Cambridge) as the only federal holidays
    celebrated on their traditional days.

    I like a three day weekend as much as anyone, but these holidays lose
    much of their meaning, and we lose a bit of our heritage, when we move
    them around to suit our schedules.

    Jamie

    PS - You older GRATEFUL noters can feel free to bemoan the loss of
         Armistice Day.  :-)

    RE: .1459
    
    Armistice day you say!?!?!??!!  Sllllowly I turn, step by step .... 
    Jamie - what about the real arbor day?  what about the real
    thanksgiving day?  what about the real Ode To Batman day?
    
    let's keep our priorities straight :-)
    
     
    

    take a 4 day weekend!!!!
    
    rfb goin fishin

    I kinda like the long weekend.....and specific days are irrelevent to
    me.  Whether Memorial Day is on a Monday or on May 30th I'll still 
    memorialize the same....<  
    
    :), danielle

>    me.  Whether Memorial Day is on a Monday or on May 30th I'll still 
>    memorialize the same....<  
    
    Here Here !!!

    Re; Here Here!!!
    
    Not me! I'm going home!
    
    

    Well gang, I just got TFSOed.  I has been grate noting with you all.
    I am not sure what I will do next, but I am sure it will be
    interesting.  Best of luck to all of you.
    
    Blessed Be
    Judy

    
    :-(  Sorry to hear that Judy.  :-(  
    Good luck wherever life leads you.
    
    peace,
    Phyllis
    

    best wishes in life beyond DEC!
    
    					da ve

    Yikes!  It's starting again.  I got a call from a head-hunter this
    afternoon looking for bodies to place.  I guess they're useful, but
    I don't like the tactics.  Good luck Judy!
    
    PeterT
    

good luck Judy, and enjoy your life after DEC ... it exists if you'll let it!!

    

    Just got a call from my wife that she had a small car accident.
    It seems that while driving into the garage, she got distracted by my
    daughter, and ended up impaling the car on one of the handles of 
    the wheelbarrow!  And now she can't get it out.  Well, hopefully it's
    just the bumper (as she said) and it hasn't gone through and
    impaled the radiator as well.
    Hannah (daughter) said it was all her (Amy's) fault ;-)
    Somebody suggested I get a picture of this, as it isn't an everyday 
    occurence...
    
    PeterT
    

    sorry to her you're leave Judy! This seems to be hitting the file agin.
    
    Good luck with your future!!!
    	Geoff

    Good luck with whatever comes your way Judy. 
    
    peace,Andy

    
    Sorry to hear the news Judy.  Hopefully something grate will come your
    way.  keep the faith
    
    	Mark
    

    wanna second, third, and fourth all the good luck wishes in here for
    you Judy...keep da faith
    
    rfb

    
    Good,good,good luck Judy!
    
    Things will be better in your new life!
    
    
    Divide Dave

I thought I enetered this a few days ago, but probs reminded me that I 
hadn't.

Rachel broke her lower fibula while taking a bad step off the kitchen porch
last friday. To top it all off, I had gum surgery Monday and my back is out
after having to move about four tons of stuff last weekend. Funny thing is,
My back was fine until yesterday when I picked up just one thing the wrong
way. Just goes to show... 

The big bummer is having to cancel a camping trip we've been planing for
two months; our first trip this season. Having to punt on doing EICON
training in Montreal next week and missing Giants wasn't so bad in
comparaison. 

Many thanks to da ve in particular for helping us out this weekend...

    keep da faith fog.....hope both ya'll are back in the pink soon
    rfb

    
    lots of {{{beams}}} to the fogs!  Hope Charlie's taken good care of you
    two. :-)
    
    

    hey fog,
       I sending some good vibes your way also.  Tell Rachel I said hello. 
    
    	Mark
    

Hope you feel better soon Fog.  I know how that back situation can go.
Sometimes I wonder if doing a lot of heavy work pre-dispositions you
for for the "How the hell could I hurt my back lifting that book?!"
type accident.  But, I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV.

Saw a nasty looking accident this morning.  Coming off the Rte offramp onto
495 northbound, one small red sedan was flipped over onto it's roof, a 
delivery van had the drivers side (fortunately behind the driver)
crumpled in.  A few other cars might have been involved but those were
the worst.  This must have happened just minutes before I got there.
No real backup on the road, no cops yet, and one woman looking into the
window of over-turned car to check on the person or persons inside.
It occured to me to stop and help out, but there were already about 10
or more cars pulled over and I think I would have just added to the 
inevitble tie-up and confusion.  I did think about flagging down a cop
as I continued on, but didn't see any in the usual construction areas
that I pass by up Rte 3. (Well, I did see one car, but not the cop, and
there wasn't really enough space to stop)  Sigh.... Doing a lot of driving
as I do it hits home how one minute you can be listening to a dead
tune and the next ....
Hope everyone was all right.

Later,
PeterT

Fun with Pathworks:

	C: COPY R:*.*
	C: DEL R:*.*
	All files will be deleted!  Are you sure [y/n]? y
	C: DIR

	WHERE THE HECK ARE MY FILES?!?

Oh well ... 5 hours of work down the drain, what the heck ....

re  <<< Note 125.1481 by NRSTA2::CLARK "Electric Music for the Mind and Body" >>>
                          -< gloomy day in nerdville >-

>Fun with Pathworks:

Sounds more like fun with DOS!   DOS does some really stupid non-intuitive
things sometimes!

I think what happened is Pathworks locked up a bunch of files, and the
DOS COPY command wasn't able to copy them but didn't report that it
couldn't ... and being the naive kinda guy I am, I assumed it did.

Oy.

- DC

healing vibes heading to the Fog estate. Based on all of the running I saw 
Charlie doing at SIS, he should be able to take care of you and Rachel easily 
:-)

jeff

Thanks for the vibes.  Speaking of accidents, last weekend while I was 
driving up I-95 in CT in a large truck, I saw a guy fall asleep at the 
wheel and swerve off the highway into the gaudrail right in front of me.  
He also severed a tall light pole, and I watched helplessly as it slowly 
fell right in my path. I ran over it just after it hit the road. Scary, but 
no damage to me or the truck. The guy was allright, too. It was actually 
fun to watch those alluminum poles work the way they are supposed to.

Geezus Fog, that musta scared the crap out of you mon!!!!!!!!!!

Not really. I used to commute up and down that very same section of I95 
between Bridgeport and The Bronx, seen all kinds of stuff: hey you gotsta 
when there are 200,000 cars per day crusin' through.  Also, those public 
safety films from the seventies which showed how collapsable light poles 
worked sure went a long way towards easin' my worried mind when it came down.

The most scary incident: Discovering that I had passed over the section of 
Mianus River Bridge between 10 and 15 minutes before it collapsed back in 
'84 or '85-ish. I still get the heebie geebies thinking about that one.

Missed saying bye to all those folks who left last week.

oh well that's what happens when you are/were on vacation....
bob

My folks called me last night...

...to tell me my grandmother passed away.

8-(


- jeff_bummin'

    
    sorry to hear that, Jeff.  :-(
    
    

    me too Jeff...  peace...
    
    					da ve

    
    thoughts are with you.  
    
    	Mark

    my thought are with you too.....keep da faith
    
    rfb

    Sorry to hear about it.  Blessing to you and family.
    
    Marv
    

    
    
     Jeff sorry to hear that.. 
    
    Divide Dave
    

	I hate going to the doctors, but this time I was smart to go,
	cause it may save my life.  I was unfortunately told that I have 
	a form of skin cancer and that it needs to be removed.
	I wasn't to pleased to say the least.  I really shouldn't 
	be putting this in the bummer note because it seems that as long 
	as the spreading is minimal, I am going to be fine, I guess I'll 
	know fer sure come Monday.  
	
	It seems like everything in my life is going to pot right now...
	cept my lungs! ;-)

	"I'll get back on my feet someday"		

	

sending good vibes your way, deane

/rich

    
    major {{{vibes}}} heading your way...
    
    skin cancer is definately completely curable.
    
    wear that sunscreen everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    

    hey SMITH (DEAN?),
    keep da faith, man. My dad has had a form or skin cancer for years.
    He's only had it cut out twice in those many, many, many years. 
    And the procedure was no big deal. 
    Keeping out of direct sun will help in the future also. 
    So, although it looks/sounds bad now, hang in there and things will be
    all right.
    
    rfb

Thanks for the kind thoughts and words, everybody!


------

re: last few

Dean-O ... I'm vibin' for ya!!!


OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

- jeff

    
    hey Dean-o al sorts of good vibes headin' your way.  Positive attitude
    can go many many miles.  Keep the faith and take extra care mon.
    
    	Mark
    

    still more vibes comin for Deane....
    
    a friend of mine here just recently had some similar problems...  fear
    not dude...  this is one thing they know how to deal with...
    
    						da ve

    best wishes Deane-O'  Keeep yer head up!
    
    	Mike

Hope things look up soon for you Deane.  Watch out for the sun!

PeterT

	Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

	sniff....

	It's real major to know how great of a support group 
	there is out there.  

	It's also nice to see grate things happening to 
	other people out there (Julie's skating, birthdays,
	newborns) and it gives me da faith that good things
	will happen soon, despite the bad things! :-)

	Speaking of good things, last night I got a 98% on a
	difficult exam...

	it just goes to show you don't ever know. :-)

	and everyone wear sunblock DAMMIT! it can happen to 
	anybody!

Deane, hang in there. The positve-vibraphone is aimed in your direction

    Well, there comes a time in every good kitty's life when #9 rolls
    around.  The cat we had for the last 13 years died on Friday.  He'd 
    had some kidney problems and they just kept gettin' worse.  The vet
    said he was probably comfortable, not in pain, so we might as well
    keep him around the people he loved.  Mr. Kitty got darn near skeletal
    in the last couple weeks, but he just seemed lazy more than anything
    else.
    
    When my wife and kids got home Friday afternoon, Kitty was curled up
    on the chair, just where we'd left him earlier.  He looked like he was
    sleeping with his eyes open, only he had gotten kind of stiff.  He would
    have made a good coat hook at this point.
    
    My wife and I found that cat the day we moved in together 13 years ago.
    We figured he was about a year old back then.  He was deaf and had two
    different color eyes.  He'd been through a lot with us; travelled 
    cross-country, moved to several homes, watched us have a couple of kids.  
    He was a part of us, as you pet owners know.  He was a good friend,
    even though we did use him as a pin to play "Bowling for Kitties" in
    his younger days.
    
    My three-year-old and I went out and dug a good hole along the stone
    wall in the back yard.  (Three-year-olds are a BIG help on projects such
    as this.)  It was kind of tough explaining to him why we had to put
    his old pal Kitty into this hole in the ground, but he didn't seem too
    upset.  I tried to explain how living things eventually stop breathing,
    moving, seeing, and just plain stop "being."  This was a difficult
    concept when he could see the cat right there all wrapped up.  My son
    is still asking about the cat, and I expect he will continue to do so.
    In fact, the next morning, my son told me he had seen Mr. Kitty walking
    away from the house up the street.  I'm not so sure he didn't.
    
    It's funny when you lose an animal you've had for along time---you
    still see him around out of the corner of your eye, still hear his steps, 
    or the jingle of his collar.
    
    We're pretty bummed out still, but we're doing fine.  These things take
    time.  You can't easily forget a presence that's been in your life for
    that many years.
    
    I knew I'd find some understanding here.
    
    Bud

    
    Bud, I'm so sorry....  I'm sure Kitty had a wonderful life 
    with you and your family.  I have not experienced the loss
    of a pet (yet... my kitty (TJ) is 16+).  I'm sure this is a
    tough week for you.  
    
    peace...
    
    MJ 

	Sorry to hear Bud,

	I've never had a pet too long....I did see my parakeet
	crawl up and croak right in front of me when I was about
	5 or so.  My Mother told me that I had no choice but 
	be strong and face the fact that ol Tweety was gone and
	it wasn't bad to have been told this at a young age...
	thats fer sure!
	
	Little did I know, she taught me what I consider now
	to be one of the most valuable things I ever learned:

	How to try'n deal with loss!

	I don't know anyone who's got the ol loss thing mastered
	but if someone out there has a recipe or something,
	don't hesitate to post it! :-) 
	
		

    sorry to hear that Bud, get another cat, it's the best thing to help
    eleveate the loss..
    
    Dean, 
    I cry.....
    
    
    rfb

    
    Sorry to hear that, Bud.  I remember what I felt like when our dog
    died.. it definately hurts.  Peace to you..
    
    Phyllis
    

      Some #@&*%^# truck driver ran over one of our swans here at DAS
    over the weekend....the other swan just stands around looking so
    sad.... :-(

Bud, sorry to hear about your loss.

Deane brings up a good point: learning to deal with loss.  The death of a
pet to a child can be a dramatic introduction to dealing with loss.  As an
adult, there are so many different times you need to use this skill that
it's valuable to learn it early on.  The death of someone close, like a
parent or a child, or even a good friend; divorce or the loss of a serious
relationship; even serious financial loss, like being laid off and the
social pressure that can result - these all remind us of the ephemeral
nature of our lives.  Put two or three of them together in a short time
frame, and you really have a problem.

It undermines our sense of security, especially in the future.  A child sees
this in the loss of a pet, and wonders about the mortality of their parents
or themselves.  An adult sees it in the loss of a parent or loved one, and
questions their own values, goals and even self-worth.  The challenge is to
face the grief, go through it without losing yourself, accept the loss and
move on.  The last part is the hardest.  Friends and family can help, but
in the end we must find the strength in ourselves.  I think, more often than
not, we surprise ourselves at how much strength we have.  After all, in most
cases it's not like we have any choice but to go on living.  It takes time.
You cry alot.

Carpe diem.

tim

    re: -.1
    
    Thanks, Tim.  Nicely said.
    
    Bud

    
    First I get shut out on series 1 for Bahston Gahden,
    
    Then I get shut out on series 2 for same,
    
    Final straw comes Friday afternoon when the decision to do
    training via Video conferencing rather than face to Face back east.
    
    This is almost too much bad karma for me.  I made my own reservations
    this a.m. anyway.  
    
    	Mark
    

    driving to work and all 3 'commercial' stations I had
    programmed in (BOS, ZLX, and BCN) were playing Don
    Henley songs SIMULTANEOUSLY. I almost spewed hot coffee
    on the radio :-(

    ...Don Henley must die!!!

    NEWSFLASH......
    
    
    
    I just got a call from Jen (aka Sparkey) she told me that CHETS is on
    fire !!!! (she was told by a co-worker who just got to work)
    
    I will have an update after lunch.....
    
    
    Chris

    good news....
    
    	its not CHETS its the CAR-CRAFT place next door....
    
    I called John Brigham (Slipknot's Bass player) to confirm....
    
    
    the party is still on for the 29th !!!
    
    Chris

>     good news....
>     
>    	its not CHETS its the CAR-CRAFT place next door....

Of course, not good news for the Car-Craft folk...

PeterT

>>     good news....
>>     
>>    	its not CHETS its the CAR-CRAFT place next door....
>
>Of course, not good news for the Car-Craft folk...

But you haven't seen their lineup of used cars...

;-)

    Brett Turner is going into surgery today.  They're removing some stones
    from his bladder.  OUCH!!  Puts a new meaning to getting stoned!  :^}
    
                       Let's send him some GOOD VIBES!!
    
    dave

>                      <<< Note 125.1522 by SPOCK::IRONS >>>
>                           -< GOOD VIBES TO BRETT!! >-
>
>    Brett Turner is going into surgery today.  They're removing some stones
>    from his bladder.  OUCH!!  Puts a new meaning to getting stoned!  :^}
>   
>                       Let's send him some GOOD VIBES!!
>    
>    dave


Hang in there Brett.  Healing energy coming your way.  We'll see you back 
here soon...

Geoff

    Yow!  Sending some vibes...
    
    :), danielle

    Lots-o-good-vibes comin' your way, Brett!!!!
    
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

    _-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-_-^-

    .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'
    
    Take it easy, dude!  
    
    
    - jeff

    
    really cool screen SUBPAC::MAGGARD!  looks alot like a sewing machine
    instruction manual i used to own.

    ...Yeah, I'll be all set when I can figger out how ta do button-holes
    in ASCII...
    
    ;-)
    

    aw, Jeff...  i'm sure you'll have that sewn up in no time...  :^)

    	Oh no, do I see another thread of puns going here?

    I'm on pins and needles in anticipation!
    
    

You guys got me in stitches!

Christ, another SERGE of puns.  Seams like you'd have 
something better to do than to needle us with all of this
silliness...

;-)

tim

    don't want to get collared on this thread, especially since many of
    these puns are, at best, sew sew
    
    :-)

    the bummer today...
    
    one of my friends here in my group lost her brother last evening...
    young guy, long illness...  :^(  i'm sure it's a relief for them that
    it's over, but it sure does suck for them saying goodbye now...
    
    					da ve

Shares of Novell Inc. dropped 3 5/8 yesturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ouch....


jc_who_has_200_shares

I'd hold the Novell (I have a few myself) for a while. With Ray Noorda 
retiring in June and a low stock price, I think they could be attractive 
to a Lotus or maybe Sun.

Then again, if I'd sold before yesterday I wouldn't have to worrry about 
the paper loss either.....

re  <<< Note 125.1536 by SSGV01::GPEACE::Strobel "Psychotic Friends Network" >>>

>I'd hold the Novell (I have a few myself) for a while. With Ray Noorda 
>retiring in June and a low stock price, I think they could be attractive 
>to a Lotus or maybe Sun.
>
>Then again, if I'd sold before yesterday I wouldn't have to worrry about 
>the paper loss either.....

that's my plan: to hold.  however, in retrospect, i should have dumped it
at 25 1/2 and rolled into a few other companies i'm looking at...   btw, do
you use a discount broker?  full service?  some other means?

y
    
    after years of not getting pulled over, it happened again today. this
 morning on the way in, i was travelling at 60mph in the left hand lane
 and saw the statie coming up on me (learnt my lesson from last week).
 i pulled over into the middle lane and he pulled up on the side of me.
 he then faded back and pulled behind me and flashed his blues. i thought
 "oh great, he's gonna write me up for doing 60". turns out my taillights
 were out....blown fuse. i fixed it right there, but was still given a
 $35. citation for operating with defective equipment. you would think
 he would have given me a warning. what sucks worse is that i don't even
 think i had to have my lights on. sunrise was at 7:08am today and the
 citation was written at 7:05am. i believe mass law states that headlights
 (and not taillights) must be on up until a half hour *before* sunrise. i
 definitely plan to fight this one also. geez, i believe if i get one more
 infraction i'll lose my license for 30 days. MA staties suck!!!

                                  ^dave_who_can't_wait_'til_biking_season   

re  <<< Note 125.1538 by BUSY::IRZA "Juneau Oates Neely..best line in hockey" >>>


this one should be a piece of cake to fight mon.  

	"now judge, if you were driving, how would you know your
	tail lights we're not working?  I checked 'em this morning
	and they were working fine;  must have been that big pot hole
	the DPW failed to fix that screwed 'em up, eh?"

    
    :-)
    
    I just mailed $52 to the Boston Office of City Parking for 2 tickets I
    picked up Halloween weekend.  They were $20 tickets but went up $6 each
    for non-payment.  I knew they'd catch up with me eventually (it was a
    rental car - pretty easy to trace) but I figure $12 was worth the
    chance they'd slide through somehow.
    
    

Dave,

Take a different route to/from work!!!!  


"...Gonna get your number, and finger prints too, and they gotta little place
down in Virginia stirrin some soup just for yooooouuu...   Gonna getcha, Gonna
getcha, Gonna getcher numbaaaahhhhhh....."

Actually Dave, just go to work latter.  Maybe that's my secret.  There's
so many damn people on the road when I drive, I'm not the most 
obvious person out there.

PeterT

    geesh what is it with that Jackson Family anyway ? Janet Jackson just
    canceled her Worcester Centrum concert tonite....now what will I do for
    the nite ?
    
    
    ;')

    Apparently, she was injured in a show last night....

    yup thats what they said....even more of a bummer, the show will now be
    this sunday, the only day I CAN'T make it !!! :') its Superbowl Sunday
    and I got a few loads of whites to wash too :'o
    
    
    Chris

    It's SUper Bowl Sunday!?! Wow, I have to go skiing on Super Bowl
    Sunday. But this year I think I'll go nordic. but that's another topic
    
     

>    It's SUper Bowl Sunday!?! Wow, I have to go skiing on Super Bowl
>    Sunday.

i guess super bowl sunday is a good day to avoid crowds while skiing, right?
so what sunday is it, this sunday, or next?

- rich-who-cares-infinitely-more-about-skiing-than-football

    this sunday<

>    this sunday<

then i definitely wanna go skiing somewhere, perhaps killington; anyone wanna
join me?

(hmmm, perhaps this should be somewhere other than the bummer note)

- rich

    Actually I've tried this several times and it doesn't work out.
    More than once I've been waiting in one of the longest lift lines
    of the season and heard people around me say, "I figured with the
    super bowl, no one would be skiing". 

Same logic applies at Disney World:

"Nobody goes to DW on Tuesday, right?"

That's what I mistakenly thought, too.  :-)


- jeff_who_sez_to_go_to_DW_during_the_
  2nd_week_in_January_and_the_first_
  week_in_September_for_no_lines_;-)

jeff -
	Drop the 2nd week in Jan from your DW options. They had the first 
Disney World marathon this year which had the (planned) effect of filling 
up the hotels and the park for much of the 2nd week according to a friend 
who ran.

jeff

    
    re: Disney World
    
    I was there last year first week in February.  Good time to go....
    
    Hogan

    
     I was at DisneyWorld on the 4th of July one time....talk about
    HUGE! crowds.
    
    Sean
    

re: 2nd week in Jan


Duhhhh  ...no wonder why they chose that week for the marathon... :-)
If yer bizniss is slow, throw a party!  

(Hmmm, here's hopin that BP is reading this note :-)

- jeff

    Try October.  School's in session, the weather is still quite warm,
    enough to swim but not sweltering, crowds are minimal, Europeans have
    all gone home, it's a good time to go.
    
    Avoid: all summer, November through mid-January (Holidays), March-April
    (Spring Break)...
    
    I've been going ever since they opened - lived in Florida half my life,
    and if ya gotta go (and some of us find the place a little repulsive *
    now that we've grown up) then October's the time to go.
    
    *to many Floridians, Disney World represents everything that's totally
    phoney about Florida - the antithesis of the Floridian experience.  I
    tend to waiver, having kids who just oggle over the place tends to sway
    my opinion.  If you want to see real Florida, well, that's hard to do. 
    Sanibel used to be it, but it's pretty commercial now too.
    
    tim
    

    yeah Oct is a good time (mid to late Oct) the last time I was there was
    Oct 31 - Nov 9 1990....the main Park closed at 9 I think but Epcot was
    open until 1230.....so spend the day in the main park then head over to
    Epcot arund 6ish check out the sights then have a nice dinner at the 
    English pub (they serve beers) at around 8-9 (get a reservation in th AM) 
    kick back at your table and watch the lazer light show and fireworks...
    then head over to the Hard Rock Cafe (at Universal Studios) for some 
    drinks to cap off the nite...
    
    
    did this 7 nites in a row ! the last night at the hard rock they paid
    our tab because the manager was a head and I believe withoutanet had
    just came out and we listened to it most every nite over the HRC
    system kinda made friends with the people there :')
    
    Chris

    
    re: Tim
    
    Don't EVER grow up Tim!!!!!
    
    ;-)

Easy for you to say, short-stop! ;-) ;-)

tim

I've been to Disney World twice in early December (five years apart ;^) ...
both times the weather was perfect and there were practically no crowds.

- DC

    wow...  we went the entire month of february without a single bummer
    entry!!!!
    
    kinda makes me not want to enter mine...  :^(  but i hafta...
    cuz i'm bummin' so much...  i've been trying (to no avail) to get
    soime of my counterparts to cover my classses sos i could have my
    birthday off...  but NNOOOOooooOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOO...  can't get
    help...  only sympathy!  :^)  now i have to teach two (yes two) 
    protocol classes for the cleanroom from hell on my birthday...
    yucko...  what could be worse???  (yeah yeah...  i know... 3 protocol
    classes... :^)  i sure wish i'd thought of this way back when the
    schedule first came out...
    
    i think this is going to call for a long lunch...  followed by taking
    thursday off (doesn't everyone have st patricks day off? :^)
    
    					da ve

>now i have to teach two (yes two) 
>    protocol classes for the cleanroom from hell on my birthday...

i'll teach 'em for you!

don't forget to wash your hands, brush your teeth, ...

or is it not that kind of cleanroom?

;^)

- rich

    SOLD!!!  thanks!  :^)  (just don't forget to mention that it has to be
    a cleanroom approved, lint-free toothbrush and you'll do fine :^)
    
    					da ve

    in the words of Marty Feldman...
    
    "....could be worse, could be raining !"

	Some disturbing news today.....
	
	In March of 1991 I read that by 1995, the average American will 
	know 1-2 people that are HIV positive....

	Well, here it is, 1994, one year ahead of time, and I know 2 
	people with HIV positive and 2 people that have passed from Aids, 
	not too mention the dozen or so people who are friends of friends 
	that I have heard are HIV positive, or have Aids.  

	HIV+ in heterosexuals is up 125% since the last study (when that 
	was I don't know), almost 75% of this number are women who are
	especially vulnerable to the virus.
	   
	Being what I consider to be your average, Heterosexual, 24 
	year old American male, I am frightened by these stats, and 
	although I have been tested and have always been cautious,
	I am scared for those who refuse to do so, or are unaware
	of the facts.

	I think it's time they start putting the facts up on billboards,
	or something.  

	

	

	 

	
	
	 
	

    I know, it's a really scary thing....
    
    some people just don't get it.  Wear a condom if you are going to have
    sex.  Plain and simple. 
    
    There are too many ignorant people out there that don't think they
    could ever get AIDS...then voila as a result of not taking precautions
    he/she becomes HIV Positive...it's really sad.
    
    :(, danielle

Unfortunately, education about AIDS and HIV has been sparse, and not exactly
consistent either.  For example, on "World AIDS Day" in Nashua last year,
there were speakers at Nashua High School telling the students that latex
condoms have pores in them which are ten times larger than the HIV virus,
so the virus can get through.  

Also, even when the correct messages get through, they can be confusing.
For example, kids are told that you can get infected thru the exchange
of bodily fluids, and then are told that you can't get infected by kissing.
Isn't saliva a bodily fluid?

I think the quality of education about these issues could stand to improve
dramatically ....

- DC

First of all, I think it's about time somebody went and told the
Catholic Church about this stuff.  They're still parked in the
wayback machine...

Secondly, DC - from what I've read and heard, the virus is not
particularly robust and cannot survive in the relative acidity of
saliva...so not ALL bodily fluids count (urine too, I suspect)...

That bit about latex is also wrong.  Animal membrane yes - latex, no.

tim

>Secondly, DC - from what I've read and heard, the virus is not
>particularly robust and cannot survive in the relative acidity of
>saliva...so not ALL bodily fluids count (urine too, I suspect)...

Yep ... I just think it would be nice if kids were given more specifics,
to avoid what sounds like conflicting information ... maybe I'm being
idealistic.

>That bit about latex is also wrong.  Animal membrane yes - latex, no.

I know ... I read about this event in the local paper, and other things
mentioned in the article about these speakers led me to believe that they
may have had a religious-right agenda.  I just found it discouraging that
the high school would allow this kind of misinformation to be given to
the students on a day which was (nationally) dedicated to HIV/AIDS education.

- DC

Good point.  I wasn't trying to correct you - there wasn't anything
in your note to indicate the inaccuracy of those two points, so
I just sort of felt compelled to say something...source was 
C. Everett Koop from an interview a couple years ago, btw...

tim

BUMMER!  Our babysitter (the one and only one we know) just backed out on us
for friday night -- looks doubtful for Tom's B-day at Shakedown :^(

Glenn_bummin...

    
       wow! da ve enters a bummer and opens up a floodgate!
    
          NO MORE BUMMERS, DAMMIT!
    
                                                     ^dave