7/17    We have turned yet another corner in Iraq!
        http://www.csua.org/u/ggm
        \_ 50 people died today but we're spreading LIBERY FREEDOM AND THE
           PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS in Iraq!                -jblack #2 fan
        \_ We're running out of Iraqi corners
           \_ We're just circling the same damn block.
              \_ We should build cities with hexagonal blocks.  50% more
                 corners for the same price!
                 \_ Not octagons, though.  The government would get sued by
                    UFC.
                    \_ Can one fill a surface with octagons?
                       \_ Not in Euclidean or spherical geometry. You can
                          do it in the hyperbolic plane, see e.g
                     http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/apps/teich-nav/report/node1.html
                          Some of Escher's designs were based on this sort
                          of pattern.
                          \_ Wow!  Thx.
                 \_ What if they were all round?  Is that no corners or
                    infinite corners?
                    \_ I'd think of it as infinite corners.  But you can't fill
                       a surface with round shapes.
                       \- if we think about this in terms of
                          differentiability i think it is
                          better to think of round as "no corners".
                          You may enjoy reading about
                          THE WEIERSTRASS FUNCTION.  --psb
                       \- if we think about this in terms of differentiability
                          i think it's better to think of round as no corners.
                          You may enjoy reading about THE WEIERSTRASS FUNCTION.
                          I suppose you can also read about LOCAL LINEARITY.
                          BTW, there are some pretty counter intuitive stuff
                          in this area [space filling sets and covers]. For a
                          Berkeley connection, you may
                          google(dubins, hirsch, scissor) also see
                          google(dubins, hirsch, scissor) also see e.g.
                          http://sciboard.louisville.edu/math.html#q12 --psb
                          \_ Interesting.  I was thinking in terms of
                             circumference and area, which approach 2*pi*r and
                             pi*r^2 as N approaches infinity.  So do the two
                             ways of thinking contradict to each other?  I'm
                             not a math major.  -- PP
                             ways of thinking contradict each other?  I'm
                             not a math major and I'm only good at high school
                             math.  -- PP

7/7     George Bush and Chancellor Merkel in LIEBE ATTACK!!!!
        http://www.csua.org/u/ggk (http://www.bild.t-online.de

7/17    On a lighter note, cute cats!
        http://whatjeffkilled.com (contains gruesome rodent remains)
        http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com
        \_ http://www.catsinsinks.com
           http://www.kittenwar.com

7/18    Hey Chicom, are you in on this?  It would explain a lot.
        http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=24609
        \_ I happened to value freedom of speech, probably value it more
           than you do because I have experienced those things.
           I do curious, though.  Putin has done a lot more harming the
           freedom of speech but why no US media ever bitch about it?
           \_ Because he's not a commie.
           \_ Our government has.
           \_ I've read many articles and editorials about this in the
              mainstream US media.  As with many issues that people
              whine about not being reported fairly, can you show me
              evidence that the US media is biased in favor of Putin?

7/18    No free evacuations for Americans from Lebanon, alive or dead
        http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001155.php
        \_ People should be SELF-RELIANT and be responsible for their own
           fate.                                -SELF-RELIANT Conservative.
        \_ So, uh, apart from like actual government employees, why is it the
           US taxpayer's responsibility to pay for other private citizens'
           evacuations?
           \_ Because we don't utterly suck ass? yet?
              \_ Too late for that.
              \_ tOO LATE for that.
           \_ Because we're a nation of _citizens_, not just taxpayers.
              We're a community.
              \_ I thought we were all "consumers"
                 \_ That's all we will be if we continue to let
                    corporations and conservatives run everything.
              \_ That sounds warm and fuzzy, but why don't the individual
                 states that the people are residents of pay?  Too small?
                 Why don't we pay to evacuate everyone (including
                 non-US-citizens)?  There's an infinite number of things that
                 the government isn't really responsible for that it _could_
                 spend money on; I don't see why this is arbitrarily one of
                 them that people feel we should.
                 \_ It's under the umbrella of foreign policy and national
                    security.  Those Americans are to be protected in the
                    same way as if they were being attacked on US soil.
         \_ Well by going to the middle east they knew they were putting
            themselves in harm's way.  It's not like the government is telling
            people without airfare "too bad, you're stuck", just that they have
            to agree to cover the cost of their evacuation. I fail to see how
            this is much different than billing people evacuated from outdoor
            sporting mishaps.
            \_ That's how I felt..  It's sort of how if it's a little disaster,
               you're boned if you don't have insurance, but if it's a big
               enough deal, FEMA will send you a check.
               \_ You're quite often boned if you _have_ insurance.
            \_ Great point.  We should also start charging people for police
               time when they get shot in a bad neighborhood, since it's
               totally their own fault.
               \_ The police time isn't for their benefit, if they've already
                  been shot.  The medical time is, and guess what, we don't
                  pay for that.
                  \_ "The police time isn't for their benefit"?  WTF?  Just
                     admit that your argument is BS.
        \_ Most of the responses to this post are both predictable and
           depressing.  We've gone from putting men on the moon to this in
           only 40 years?
           \_ What does landing on the moon have anything to do with
              this entire discussion?
           \_ Was the MOTD thread 40 years ago about putting men on the moon
              more inspiring?
              \_ I propose we put the men of MOTD on the moon, or at least
                 host SODA on the moon.
                 \_ People would complain about the latency.
              \_ MOTD 40 years ago was a cork message board, which made it
                 much easier to put up drawings of penises.
                 \_ 8===========>

7/18    The magnet for my bicycle cyclo/speedometer has fallen off.
        Where can I get new ones without buying a new computer? Thanks.
        \_ A bike store can order you the part.  It won't be cheap.  -tom
        \_ If you're not in a hurry, you can buy it from Cateye.  Look for
           small parts on their web site.  A wheel magnet is cateye part
           number 169-9691.  I picked up a bunch of them the last time I
           bought wiring harnesses.  I think they were only $1-$2, and
           Cateye has never charged me shipping for small parts like this.
           The last time I bought the same thing from a bike store, they
           charged me $8.  It doesn't make any difference whether or not
           Cateye made your computer; you just need a magnet that attaches
           to your spokes.

7/18    When did Hezbullah suddenly become Hizbullah?
        \_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizbollah#_note-0
           "Hezbollah is predominantly used by American media, such as CNN,
            Fox News and The New York Times, as well as by the BBC and The
            Times in the UK, but the organization itself alternatively
            transliterates its name as Hizbollah or Hizbullah."
        \_ I thought it's called "Party of (true) God."
           Just as sometimes I call al Qaeda "Foundation."

7/18    Racist polls. Which ethnicity/race/people love money the most?
        -Chinese: .
        -Jew: .
        -Swiss: .
        \_ If we loved money so much, we wouldn't be so damn bad
           at business.  -John
           \_ We as in Swiss or Jew? You are a Jew aren't you?
              \_ Awesome, I never knew.  Hmm.  -John
        -Nigerians:
        \_ Jewish ethnic Chinese living in Nigeria
           \_ Is there such a thing as Jewish Chinese or Chinese Jew?
              \_ Why not?  Just like there are many Chinese Muslims in China,
                 and many Chinese Christians and Chinese Catholics in Hong
                 Kong.
                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_China
                 \_ So they have the best of both ethnicity, where they're
                    super rich and super stingy?
        -English: .
        \_ Remembering how my former classmate who was a Chinese FOB seemed
           to worry mostly about what else she could possibly do in her spare
           time to make even MORE money despite the fact she already had a
           well-paying 60hr/week programming job, $0 debt, and that her living
           expenses were not much higher than those of a typical UCB student,
           I'd say Chinese.
           \_ Who has all the old money in the world? How do you think
              they got it, by not caring about money? WASP's love to complain
              about how everyone else are only interested in money, while
              they seem to have all of it. It is a subtle form of putting
              down the nuevo riche.

7/16    Dear self righteous German John. I challenge you a game. I will
        learn enough English and graduate from America's top public
                             \_ "to graduate"
                                \_ "to be graduated"
        university, you and you will learn enough east asian language to
                    \_ superfluous "you"
        graduate from any sub-tier university. May the best man win.
        \_ Congrats on your accomplishment.  John's point that you
           should sharpen your English skills because it'll enhance
           your success in the real world is valid, though.  Face it,
           just as in the motd, the real world is full of assholes
           who'll judge you on your language skills.  --PeterM

7/18    John may be an idiot but I enjoy trolling him. Thank God for stupid
        people like him who provide hours of free entertainment. Heil.
        \_ i liked the swedish chef version better
        \_ The troll farm flourishes!  Troll-Gro worked!  Awesome.  -John
           \_ Your chicom troll pen has really blossomed into a best-in-show
              gallery!  Very impressive!

7/18    http://www.commutercars.com
        Ultra narrow car that'll increase capacity by as much as 2X!
        (ob rollover and lawsuit discussions below)
        \_ 0-60 in 4sec!
        \_ what does the "(ob rollover ...)" line mean?
           \_ ob = obligatory
        \_ 0-60 in 4sec!  1000 lb-ft torque!
        \_ ...it won't roll over, it's got heavy-ass batteries on the bottom
           read the site.  they're getting a patent for the wildly novel
           concept of using batteries as ballast.
           \_ Did they take into account the upward shift of the CG when the
              vehicle is driven by the average fat-ass American?
                \_ The vehicle weighs an amazing 3000 pounds (is that a typo?)
                   even the fattest American won't affect it much.
                   \_ 3000lb with no regenerative brakes.  This vehicle is not
                      going to be very energy efficent.
                      \_ http://www.commutercars.com/features100.php
                         claims 2200lbs and regenerative brakes.  The T600 is
                         their like "race car for rich people" version.  Also,
                         electric motors are much more efficient than IC or
                         Diesel.  This is why gas + fuel cell + electric
                         motors is almost a win.
                         \_ I didn't realize there are more than one model
                            until now!  Gee, the web pages are confusing.

7/16    DEAR SELF R1GHTEOUZ GURMAN JOHN. I CHALENGE U A GAME! I WIL
        LEARN ENOUGH ENGL1SH + GRADU8 FROM AMURICAZ 2P PUBLIC
                             \_ "2 GRADU8"
                                \_ "2 BE GRADU8D"
        UNIVURSITY. U + U WIL LEARN ENOUGH EAST AS1AN LANGUAGE 2
                    \_ SUPURFLUOUZ "U"
        GRADU8 FROM ANY SUB-T1UR UN1VURSITY. MAY THE BEST MAN WIN.
        \_ Congrats on yo' accomplishment.  Rastus's point dat ya'
           should sharpen yo' English skills 'cuz it'll enhance
           yo' success in de real wo'ld is valid, dough.  Face it,
           plum as in de motd, de real wo'ld is full uh assholes
           who'll judge ya' on yo' language skills.  --PeterM
           \_ I assume that both of the above posts were generated using
              scripts.  Someone should write a script that converts
              real English to chicom troll English.
              \_ It's actually cheaper to just outsource this to a real
                 chicom troller.
                 \_ Didn't the Chinese govt. just hire something like 500
                    of these?  -John
              \_ Dat's 'esactly whut it is. Sheeit. Dere is some whole
                 bunch uh dese in /usr/games --(michener | /usr/games/jive)

7/18    "The U.S. government says it has evacuated more than 100 Americans,
        but their efforts are clearly lagging behind those of other countries.
        The French and Italians have gotten hundreds of their citizens out."
        Clearly, cheese eating surrender monkeys are better at ESCAPING!
        http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog

7/18    Afghanistan to re-form virtues ministry
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060718/ap_on_re_as/afghan_virtues_ministry
        \_ GOD DAMN IT I hate this fucking planet.  Why must people be such
           fucking morons?  How on earth in Afghanistan is this a priority?
           Of course the US won't say "get your head out of your ass and do
           something important" because half the fucking US probably wishes we
           would move on something like this domestically.

7/18    Breaking News: Seeing how unpopular it is to charge evacuation
        fees which will affect the November election, two Republican senaators
        tell CNN that the fees will be waived. So much for preaching
        "self-reliance" and "you're responsible for your own lives."
        \_ Oopsiedoodle!
        \_ Of course they do.  We're in the era of "borrow and spend"
           social-but-not-economic conservatism.

7/18    6000 Iraqis killed in sectarian fighting in May and June, approximately
        100 a day.  Six thousand deaths in two months, in a country of
        26 million residents, is the equivalent of 9/11 every two and a half
        days.
        http://www.uniraq.org/documents/HR%20Report%20May%20Jun%202006%20EN.pdf
        \_ But we're spreading freedom!
        \_ That will all stop once we turn the corner.  Just wait!
        \_ Maybe they should stop fighting each other then. If you need a
           totalitarian police state to prevent your citizens from butchering
           each other then something is wrong with your culture.
           \_ Sooo I guess that's "oopsiedoodle" on the whole Iraq thing then.
              \_ Saddam used biological weapons on his own people!
                 ... maybe we should use some on them too!
        \_ ob we're fighting them there so we don't fight them here.
           ob if you disagree, you're giving aid and comfort to the enemy
           and not supporting the troops
           ob mushroom cloud over major american city
        \_ so long as the right people are dying what's the problem?
           If it is truely innocent civilians very very sad.

7/18    If you hike in some park, fell, and broke your leg or something,
        and had to be rescued, are 'they' gonna send you a big bill?
        What if some criminal chase after you with a gun and shot you?
        I assume the police won't send you a bill. What about the fire
        department?
        \_ Actually that might not be true.  For instance a small chunk
           of park entry fees may go into a "rescue fund".
        \_ Who is 'they'?  You would definitely get billed for the ambulance
           or helicopter medical evac.  If you had health insurance, it would
           probably cover some or all of this. -dans
        \_ The question of who pays for wilderness rescue remains a matter
           of some debate, but a good place to start is 42 U.S.C. 1395dd, aka
           EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
           http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/1395dd.html
           --Jon

7/18    GOOG will go up to 850 next summer and deflate back
        to 750 before winter.           -motd stock oracle
        \_ Why?
           (ObWhere'sShortGOOGAt100/200/300 Guy?)  -tom
           \_ If you try to reason why stock market is the way it is, you'll
              never catch the wave. The reason why it'll go up to 850 has
              nothing to do with any reasoning except for expected human
              irrationality.      -pp, hope to win the stock prediction award
              \_ *boggle* holy shit, that's stupid.

7/18    So, we call that guy a "chicom", but isn't that sort of a misnomer?
        Isn't chinese communism extinct, just like communism everywhere
        in the world except Cuba?  I mean, with all the market reforms
        in China, haven't the leadership admitted, in essense, that
        communism doesn't work, that the market does, and that they're
        retaining political control nakedly just for the sake of
        holding power?  And so, shouldn't we rename "chicom troll"
        after some abbreviation of "Chinese totalitarian governmental
        pawn" instead?
        \_ How 'bout: Chipotle?
        \_ I started using chicom because it's so absurdly anachronistic
           (like half of his rants.)  I think heil cherman john guy left
           because I didn't have a good name for him.  I think every good
           troll breeder should know his trolls by good names, so feel free
           to suggest.  -John

7/18    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060718/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_out_of_control
        A Sunni driver lures Shiites into a trojan horse van by promising
        jobs-- then blows it up.
        \_ I read an article over a year ago about dudes blowing up copy
           stores where job applicants were photocopying their job
           application forms to apply for jobs as cops. - danh

7/18    Juhn mey be-a un ideeut boot I injuy trulleeng heem. Thunk Gud fur
        stoopeed peuple-a leeke-a heem vhu prufeede-a huoors ooff free-a
        interteeenment. Heeel.
        \_ bork bork bork.

7/17    http://www.lcurve.org
        The L Curve.
        \_ That's a lot more alarmist than a simple Gini curve, and I'm not
           sure it's as educational.
           \- i think they illustrate different things. for example the
              gini curve [sic ... you mean gini coef and lorenz curve]
              may say something about the fallout from a tax law change
              or maybe even something like school vouchers or other cases
              where you may think in terms of income bands, but if you
              want to talk about say money and politics [free speech and
              elections per Buckley v Vallejo, political contributions,
              campaign spending per huffington, corzine, bloomberg etc] then
              maybe it makes sense to talk about super-rich individuals.
              i assume you also realize the gini coef with wide bands
              will be lower than the GC for the same distribution chopped
              into narrower bands. there are a lot of problems with the
              "educational" gini coef. i think this example is just something
              to keep in mind when we talk about the "american metritrocracy"
              or "death taxes" [aka "the billionare tax"] and obviously not
              intended for econometrics calculations or macroeconomic
              comparasions of economies at different points in time or
              in different countries. --psb

7/18    http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog
        The American government is very financially saavy. By cutting
        unnecessary fat, we save a lot of money to pay for our deficit.
        \_ After 10 years of Republican control, there is no more fat to cut,
           government is as lean is it can possibly be!