11/28   Kinney, if it wasn't for your girlfriend, would you still be working
        in Iraq?

11/27   You ilyased the motd you ass
        \_ http://csua.org/motd

11/28   John (or others), what's the best way to buy European (or other
        foreign) long term bonds?  Is there a European long term bond
        fund?
        \_ I am pretty bad with investments, but I assume it would be best
           to open an account with a small bank that you like in a non-EU
           country (CH, LI) -- they will buy most funds for you, and usually
           have a bunch of their own.  There are a ton of European-only
           funds (currency, govt., corporate, whatever).  If you drop me a
           mail I will be glad to send you what I find, as I'm looking at
           this myself.  -John

11/27   So I've been told that Italian restaurants in the bay area are
        nowhere close to being authentic. Given the hundreds of
        restaurants out there, I find this hard to believe. Can someone
        (preferably someone who's Italian or who's lived there) comment
        on which restaurants come close?
        \_ A16 in the Marina District (SF)
        \_ Who gives a shit?  Are you Italian?  Homesickness seems like
           the only good reason to try to make sure your food is "authentic"
           aside from being a jackass culture snob of course (see below.)
           \_ I guess you get your international culinary kicks from Taco
              Bell.  -John
           \_ Ironic. The jackass accusing others of being a jackass.
              \_ Not really. I'm a cultural neandrathal jackass accusing
              \_ Not really. I'm a cultural neanderthal jackass accusing
                 other people of being culture snob jackasses.  There's a
                 difference.
        \_ C'mon. Are Chinese in SF/Bay Area restaurants authentic?
           \_ Absolutely, as long as you don't hang out at P.F. Chiang.
              You're obviously not Chinese if you can't tell the difference.
              \_ Are you Chinese?  Do you have any idea of the effect of the
                 food trade on the Bay Area?
                 \_ You've obviously never served (Chinese food).
              \_ You are an IDIOT.
           \_ You can certainly find authentic Chinese restaurants in the
              SF/Bay Area.
           \_ Any Chinese restaurants that serve fortune cookies are not
              authentic.  Any southern Chinese restaurants that serve hot and
              sour soup are not authentic.
        \_ Pick one of Macella Hazan's cookbooks and take a gander.  Italian
           food does not mean tomato sauce flavored of garlic on top of pasta.
        \_ I have not been to an Italian restaurant in the Bay Area which
           serves meals in the way that is typical in Italy.  Generally,
           in Italy you start with an antipasti plate or bruschetta, then
           you have a "primi piatti" (often a pasta, smaller than the pasta
           plates served in the U.S.), a "secundi" (fish or meat), and then
           often a salad to finish.  Generally you're not served bread unless
           you order bruschetta.
           I think there are a number of places which serve food which is
           similar to what you'd get in a restaurant in Italy, but I've not
           encountered one which serves similar-sized portions and courses.
            -tom
           \_ Or which has middle-aged Italian men hitting on desperate fugly
              American tourist chicks.  -John
                \_ mmm, desperate chicks...
           \_ this is true, but you can get food that tastes similar to
              italian restaurants. of course, italian restaurants and italian
              families serve food differently and also taste different.
              \_ MMmmm, I like my Italian families with some fava beans and a
                 nice Chianti.

11/28   Soda coming down today to replace TDA.  Expect less downtime than
        a crash.
        \_ Rsync taking longer than expected.  TDA Sucks!  Hahaha, you
           can't nuke this motd post! (anyone in motd group does not
           count)
           \_ Expect soda to go down for 30-60 minutes tonight (11/29)
              while we pray that soda still boots.
              \_ Ok, it'll go down again once more later tonight or tomorrow.
                 This time, for sure.

I am the cheese

11/28   I was browsing http://foxnews.com and saw an ad for http://bigchurch.com, "Find
        Christian Singles in your city!"  Only on Fox.

11/28   Condos are appreciating faster than single family homes:
        http://csua.org/u/a4t (sfgate)

11/18   [ idiocy deleted.
        \_ Why do you hate cheese?
           \- cheese ---VSNaipaul--> cheej