[way off-topic] weather around the world

[DanSteph]

DocHoliday wrote:
What are you doing outside?!
Get back in the house and code, dammit!

but I am inside... I sent my litle daughter 3 old to make the photo
I'm not crazy, I do not want to catch a cold...

McBrain wrote:
You have a nice house! It seems to be a bit remote of the other houses, am I right?

You mean "glued" ?   no the other "roof" you see in the back are part of our house also,
it's in three level in fact.

Dan

[McBrain]

DanSteph wrote:
You mean "glued" ?   no the other "roof" you see in the back are part of our house also,
it's in three level in fact.

No, I actually meant that your house is further away from the other houses than the other houses are away from each other. (I mean the German word "abgelegen". The dictionary says: afield, isolated, remote, secluded)

[freespace2dotcom]

but I am inside... I sent my litle daughter 3 old to make the photo
I'm not crazy, I do not want to catch a cold...

So you want your daughter to get a cold, eh?

REAL nice parenting, dan.

[Atom]

I'm basically immune to most things, the last time I was at the doctors was an infected toe, because I cut my own in-grown
toenail then walked 30 miles on a swollen infected toe. (not advisable that one.) Other than that I hardly ever get ill. In
9-10 years at school and I do stuff outside, and catch the bus. I have only been of ill once, and I was better by the time
school started, but I stayed at home anyway and played Orbiter. If you want proof ask Krytom.

[Atom]

Speaking of that, Krytom's come down with an illness that makes you puke. I haven't had it yet, but just about everyone else has.

[Atom]

So you want your daughter to get a cold, eh?

Kids are resiliant.

[DanSteph]

freespace2dotcom wrote:

but I am inside... I sent my litle daughter 3 old to make the photo
I'm not crazy, I do not want to catch a cold...

So you want your daughter to get a cold, eh?
REAL nice parenting, dan.

I'm happy that you agree with my educationnal method free

Dan

[StarLost]

Sorry guys, just getting caught up on this thread again.  Seems my comment earlier about centrepieces to funerals was a bit
prophetic.  The eldest member of my family passed away at age 102.  A very sweet lady and a family favourite.  We said
goodbye and sent her on her way today.

Some sadness but no grief.  102 years is a long time and I know I'll never reach it.

So I apologize if my perspective this evening seems somewhat skewed ...

Dan, are we practicing already for when she reaches puberty and discovers that dear old daddy just isn't interesting enough
anymore?  Somehow I think, judging on past comments, that this little lady does for you what my nieces do to me; she and they
own our souls. Something very special about two legged little kittens, who crawl up in your lap, turn that face and those
biiiiiiiiiiggggggg eyes on you ....   and watch your resolve physically melt. (and pray that they do, in the end, turn into
sweet 102 year old ladies)

ArtLav: could you explain about "privilege riots" a little more please and MSU so that I know what you're referring to?  I
have the newspaper but can't seem to sort what you are referring to, to what's being printed here.  Which may be a comment in
itself, hunh?

[Artlav]

ArtLav: could you explain about "privilege riots" a little more please and MSU so that I know what you're
referring to? I
have the newspaper but can't seem to sort what you are referring to, to what's being printed here. Which may be a
comment in
itself, hunh?

Well, MSU=Moscow State University, it was founded on 25 of january 1755, and yesterday and the day before we
had diffirent celebrations, and Putin made this ex-unofficial day a "student day".

The first point is about a new law, that was activated after this new year. It replaces the old people, veterans,
invalids, etcs privilegies (like free run on a bus, free medicaments, 50% off for services) with monetary payouts. The
problem is, that the amount of money they got is not enough to survive, consequently, there are diffirent
demonstrations and riots all around.

[DanSteph]

StarLost wrote:
Some sadness but no grief.  102 years is a long time and I know I'll never reach it.

All my condoleance... 102 is a good age. I hope his life was fullfilled with hapiness.

StarLost wrote:
that this little lady does for you what my nieces do to me; she and they
own our souls.

That's it...  

Dan

[DocHoliday]

Same from me. 102 is actually phenomenal. My grandma died about half a year ago. Aged 84. The last of the WW2
fighters in my family..

[Atom]

I had a great grandma who reached 101.

[StarLost]

Thanks guys.  Like I said, sadness but not really grief. She had a good run.

ArtLav:

I remember seeing an article on it a couple of days ago, but I can only comment "off the cuff" as the kid has thrown out that
issue, so I can't quote directly.

I will point out that in Canada, we see a lot of international news items.  We also, of course, see a lot of items from south
of us, and I do note very little international items there unless there is a direct "American" connection (they may see more
in their domestic broadcasts, I'm not sure).  Sort of illustrates a major difference in attitudes between our two peoples.

So your item here, as I remember it, was reported basically as Putin cutting off retirement benefits, including pensions.

Take that  with a grain of salt, I am winging it.  I'll try to find a press article on it and fire it to you verbatim, for
further comment.

My opinion, though, is that while your country goes through the transition from a totally socialist state to one that
incorporates more of a market economy, there will be much pain and your society may not have the financial robustness to
continue to offer certain perqs, for a while. (For the benefit of non-english speaking people, perqs is a contraction of
"perquisites",  a profit or allowance given or looked upon as one's right.)

Your people should look very carefully at how they rush to join the "democratic" west.  The "American Dream" is largely myth
for all but a very few.  But personal economic gain through merit is possible, which didn't and doesn't seem to be the case
in totally socialist societies (unless one is a "prince or princess" of the party, or possibly corrupt).

And for the benefit of all, I am Canadian.  Our political and economic system is defined internationally as a "Social
Democracy"  and as a  dominion of a constitutional monarchy.  Depending on how you look at it, we have the best ... or worst,
of both systems.

 Oh, and ArtLav.  This particular discussion deserves a thread of its own.



Post Edited ( 01-28-05 09:04 )

[DocHoliday]

Agreed. When we seceeded in 91, we went through a period where it was almost chaos, but the politics actually
managed to pull it off well enough.

We had massive job losses, because most companies considered Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Montenegro
as their main markets. Then there was wild privatization of companies. All companies used to be gov't owned and this
had to be changed.. So there was a LOT of under-handed play as this process took place (I'm sure Starlost can come
up with a more suitable work)...

Incredible differences in income suddenly appeared, rich class, homeless people. When I was a kid, I NEVER EVER
EVEN ONCE saw a homeless person. I MEAN it.... now? well....

The social welfare system is undergoing major overhaul. We are now forced to pay BOTH the government funds for
the CURRENT generation of elderly as well as into private funds for our own pension, because by the time we are
pension-ready, there won't be a gov't pension system as it is now... sucks eh?

There are also issues with people. A lot of people got disoriented, never able to find their place and calling in the new
order of things. Most of our people actually consider capitalist values as repugnant.. Gathering of money,
individualism, decaying family values or rather opportunism in every situation in life.... So, these people drifted.. and
went depressive.. never got to their feet again.

Now for the big punch line.. MY country has 2 MILLION people. Now imagine a country such as Russia and the
implications....

As far as privatization goes -> organized crime has a good chance to get its hands on it.
Social welfare -> forget about it
Jobs and such -> I see people from Poland and Russia working as constructions workers in my country.....
Mentality of people -> Russians are even more sensitive souls than my people.. I expect massive rates of suicide,
alcoholism, violence and just plain gloom attitude... -> stagnant economy.

In many way, communism.. or some sort of of mid-way socialism would serve Russia a lot better than democracy..
because the system you use both depends on and defines the mentality of the poople.. Transitions in the 90's went
against that... Sad to acknowlede that, but even setting up democracy in Iraq as good as it might appear, is DEAD
wrong.. it will boomerang back so hard, it won't even make sense....

But I REALLY got carried away, so:
My weather is currently lightly overcast, with sone blazing through and tiny snowflakes falling in moderate winds..
Temperature is -15C... brrrrrr
Current news:
- Situation in Iraq prior to elections very unstable because of violence near places of voting
- A cruel physician, dubbed Doctor Death in his 27 years of "working" killed over 250 people.. what's that all about?
- Neonazies sent a letter to EU commissar Frattini, in which they warn him against making nazi symbols illegal.
- A reward has been put out to find a bomber terrorist in Italy called Unabomber, who's been terrorizing northern
Italy for years.
- 5 terrorists killed in a millitary attack in Phillipines.
- Microsoft will not apeal to European court's decision and has agreed to offer Windows without Media Player I
really wonder what it is like in the US?

Geez. Just ONE piece of good of news out of 6.. I guess that is quite typical.

Cheers,

[StarLost]

DocHoliday wrote:

<snipped>

 So there was a LOT of under-handed play as this process took place (I'm sure Starlost can come
up with a more suitable work)...

Oh, Doc, can I.  In Canada it's called political patronage.  An indispensible, and corrupt, part of the system.  For us it
shows up mostly as a crown corporation (government owned business), being sold to "friends" of the political party currently
in power.  That is, the assets of the corporation being sold, usually at an incredibly low price, far under the current
market value, with the liabilities (debts) being retained by the "government" (we, the people).

As for the rest of what you mentioned, they have not disappeared under "capitalism" or democracy.  They are still there, just
as bad. A point quite often unmentioned, or unrecognized, by proponents of "the Dream".

No political system is perfect. But in my experience a social democracy works better than most, because the potential of
personal improvement by merit is still there.  For pure "humanitarian" values, a socialist system seems better, but it really
only works well in small groups, such as tribal societies.

As aside, for those who would like to flame me based on political opinions, bear in mind that my family has been particularly
politically active, for Canadians.  My maternal grandfather was a local campaign chairman for a former prime minister, both
of my sons have university degrees in political science, and I have been involved at the local level.  Political discussions
in my family are a minefield.  And since we are ethnically Irish ...

As for your "good" news, I may be mistaken, but I thought Microsoft's European legal problems were over the embedding of IE
in to Windows and they were supposed to unbundle IE (an impossibility given how the OS and IE are intertwined).  I take it
then, that unbundling Media Player is the bone Microsoft is throwing to "solve" the problem?  

Over here, those in the know, are so pissed off over the SP2 issue that the movement towards Linux is gaining strength once
again.  Now if only more usable software were ported to it ...

And there's a reason we call Microsoft M$.  

Be very careful when looking at Microsoft's new antispy software (since they bought out Giantsoftware).  Microsoft is using
the downloading of it to find "unregistered", "pirated" and "illegal" copies of Windows OS. Since by far the majority of
systems sold in North America by independent dealers are bundled with "free" Windows, M$ will be looking at a windfall of
selling "legal" OS to these people, or leave people vunerable to netpests with antispy software that will not work.

Do yourselves a favour.  Stick with third party.

[DocHoliday]

hehe, I do... the computer I last bought came with a "free" WinXP, so I really don't know if it's legit or not and it ain't
even my fault if it is

I agree: social democracy as you call it seems to be the best of both worlds. Socialism in its theoretical pure form is
heaven on Earth, no matter what anyone says and as such Utopia. The practical side of it though neglects things
such as personal ambition, high-technology, cost-control and hierarchy of roles... The effect is, that through personal
ambition you get dictators, because noone expects them.. you get ignorant people running complex organisations,
you get worker pay over asset amortization mentality in companies and you get bad leaders and of course lousy
workers....

Full capitalism (or whatever the correct term opposite to socialism would be) in effect reverses these, but neglects
personal liberties, environment, intangible goodies and assets (such as consideration for peoples wellfare and
emotional states) and through promoting of classes actually prevents any kind of equality and passage from one
class to another in the long run (if you are born REALLY poor, there is not much chance you will ever be filthy rich,
especially if the current rich see it coming)... Also the other way around. If you're born rich, live off royalties, rents,
bank interest and whatnot you'd have to put a really active and focus effort to waste it all...

Cheers,

[freespace2dotcom]

Enough about politics!

It's about -1c, or 30f.

it snowed again a few days ago. all the plows moved the snow off the street, but onto the sidewalks, making
jaywalking all but an impossibility, as often the relocated snow piles exeeded 3 feet in height.

About half of it's melted now, but it was fun while it lasted. I was tempted to make this huge snowman, as I live right
across the street from a big city park, with lots of area to accumulate snow from. I had saw a snow-fort built for
snowball throwing, so I thought a snowman would be a good idea, but I'm lazy...

Oh, and I'm currently listening to a German song. Go figure!

[McBrain]

freespace2dotcom wrote:
Oh, and I'm currently listening to a German song. Go figure!

What song is it?



In the last 1.5 hours the temperature dropped from 0°C to -4°C.
The sky is cloudy, but on some areas you still can see the blue sky.
There's still enough snow to survive until tomorrow evening.

[freespace2dotcom]

What song is it?

"moskau" by some people called "Dschinghis Khan" They say "moscow" a lot, and it's got a really catchy tune. so
much so, that I'm just playing that one song, over and over again...

It's completely cloudy here. It took  quite a bit of flexibility to see the sky from where I am without getting up from my
chair.

[McBrain]

freespace2dotcom wrote:

What song is it?

"moskau" by some people called "Dschinghis Khan" They say "moscow" a lot, and it's got a really catchy tune. so
much so, that I'm just playing that one song, over and over again...

I know that song! It's ,well... funny!

[freespace2dotcom]

McBrain wrote:

I know that song! It's ,well... funny!

Irony, isn't it? I've got my share of songs, but that's one of the catchiest non-english (and non-japanese) songs I've
heard. right up there with "Dragostea din tei" (by "Haiducii" I believe)

[Krytom]

Is there a way that I or anyone else can aquire this 'well funny' song? (I know that Dan wouldn't like the link here, if
there is one, so use your initiative and send me a message instead!)

[StarLost]

freespace2dotcom wrote:
Enough about politics!

Hey, we were commiserating, not fighting (as usually happens on M6)!  At least the way we exchange here is much more polite
and civilized.  And a learning experience, too.

But anyway ...

Free, thank God another NorthAmerican avails themselves of World music rather than that drivel that passes for music in North
America these days.

Now if I can just turn you guys on to Modern Celtic (Corrs, Clannad) and to the joys of Enigma.

And, of course, those very modern performers of music, Bach, Dvorak and Rachmaninov...


Oh yes, weather ...

Grey, Grey, Grey,  cloudy just like the last ten weeks (with the exception of 3 days), no wind, temp -2C. Was just out taking pictures of my place to use as textures for more playing in 3dmax.



Post Edited ( 01-29-05 23:18 )

[DocHoliday]

Well, actually Dschinghis Khan was an east German group back in the 70s. Moskau is just one of the songs I have
their tape somewher (that's right, the ancient tape) but no cassete player to "sample" it all....

I'll try to though, now that I see you guys like it..

weather? I dunnot. Haven't been out and my shades are down.. I guess gray, but stable

[freespace2dotcom]

StarLost wrote:

Free, thank God another NorthAmerican avails themselves of World music rather than that drivel that passes for music
in North America these days.

hehe. oh, the things I could say about US culture and music...

thankfully, despite that I would never be exposed to other cultures where I'm at, at least I have the chance to
experience something if I look on the internet.

And Doc, the song does sound old, but it's still catchy.

I found out about it through one of the blogs/link-sites I visit. The guy there had a link to a video of them performing
in front of an audience in costume.

I don't think I'll ever be able to erase those costumes from my mind....