3/5     What exactly is the purpose of an obituary in the newspaper?
        I mean it probably made sense in the 50s in a podunk town but
        in today's world where you don't even know your neighbor's
        last name, it doesn't seem to make as much sense. I mean, who
        in their right mind besides George Castanza's dad reads through
        a long list of the deceased with less than 0.01% of hit ratio?
        \_ I guess it's for legal purpose.  For example, if your evil brother
           doesn't show up within X days after the obituary, you get to
           inherit 100% of your dad's worth.  Something like that.
           \_ What world do you live in where you get to keep the entire
              family's inheritance because someone didn't see the obit?
        \_ In small (say up to 60k people?) communities you'd be amazed
           how connected people are.
           \_ Yes but how many people actually live in such a community
              today? People are more virtually connected, esp. the
              tech/motd/Silicon Valley crowd.
              \_ Most of the rest of the country outside, NY, Chicago, and LA.
              \_ People in small towns are very connected, in cities less
                 so and in suburbs the least of all. But about 25% of the US
                 poplulation still lives in small towns and rural areas.
                 \_ And big cities don't have the same kind of obituaries.
                    You generally have to be someone to merit one.
                    \_ Nonsense. Obits are purchased. You can write your own
                       or pay the paper to write one for you. The paper may
                       run its own obit for a famous person, but most obits
                       are just normal people whose family decided to spend a
                       few bucks on their memory.
                       \_ I don't think you can purchace at obit in the
                          New York Times.
              \_ You really think most people live like the SV crowd outside
                 SV?

3/5     http://laughingsquid.com/10-awesome-things-about-dungeons-dragons
        "1 hp halfing mage with a dart"
        \_ I remember the module Castle Greyhawk, with Vicious
           SOB's and root beer elementals.
        \_ "Going to the game store and staring at the dice."
        \_ anyone have a scan of that old daily cal kao cartoon about
           a party of people playing D&D and a meteor strikes them and
           they all die?

3/5     My gf was a victim of an ebay scam. She bought a high priced item
        from a "reputable" seller and the item never arrived nor has
        the seller responded to emails. What legal actions can she
        take against the seller to reclaim her money? She has filed
        a complaint with ebay but ebay doesn't offer any protection.
        \_ Maybe call the cops?  That said, good luck.  eBay seems to
           be fraud central.
        \_ How did she pay for it? Paypal and your credit card have ways
           to get your money back. How much money was it? Any idea if the
           seller is in the United States?
           \_ The seller had a mailing address in the United. Unforunately,
              the seller also requested a cashiers check which she
              obliged. The item was for $1500.
              \_ Depending on your definition of "reputable," a power seller
                 requesting a cashiers check should be a clear sign of
                 fraud these days.  You should consider it a lost cause,
                 and maybe deduct it from your income tax or something.
              \_ "requested" or "required"?  If the former, that was dumb.
                 If the latter, that should have been a sign.
        \_ You're screwed unless the seller lives close to you. It won't
           be worth your while to fly somewhere for $1500 in small claims,
           if you ever find the person and collect on the judgement.
           Consider it a lesson learned.
           \_ You're dimwitted, and a total ass.
              \_ I'm not the pp, but what about that is dimwitted?  Call
                 the police in the city where you mailed your check, and
                 kiss your money goodbye.  Chances are so slim that you will
                 get anything back that it is not worth the investment.  Fraud
                 sucks.
            \_ Fraud sucks, but sending a cashier's check is just stupid.
               Sorry about your gf getting ripped off but it was a cheap
               lesson.  Don't use cash for business transactions or anything
               else where you can't afford to lose it.
        \_ This is a fairly common ebay scam, because there's no way to get the
           money back.
           \_ yeah, it's too bad not everyone knows that requesting a cashier's
              check / money order on eBay == >90% fraud
           \_ BTW, even so, I would recommend calling the cops there anyway.
              Even if you don't get your money back, it's a public service.

3/5     gushing teens want to ride my pole.

3/5     I'm still not getting laid.  I'm considering donating all of
        money to Obama, then throwing myself under the L train.
        \- Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth;
           whenever it is a  damp, drizzly November in my soul;
           whenever I find  myself involuntarily pausing before
           coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every
           funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get
           such an upper hand of me,  that it requires a strong
           moral  principle  to  prevent me  from  deliberately
           stepping into the  street, and methodically knocking
           people's hats off - then,  I account it high time to
           get to sea  as soon as I can.  This is my substitute
           for pistol and ball. --ishmael@pequod
        \_ If you MUST commit suicide, go do some high-risk activity
           like join the Marines and kill some terrorists before
           you go out.
        \_ Some good clothes.  A haircut. A bit of therapy.  Lower standards.
           \_ The gym, regular showers...
        \_ And a shower more than once a month.

3/5     America is "just downright mean" says Mrs. Obama
        http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/10/080310fa_fact_collins?currentPage=3

3/5     I'm gonna get laid in 2008.  WHO IS WITH ME.
        \_ Stay away from my farm animals!
        \_ been there, done that.
        \_ You left or right handed?
        \_ Yeah! I'm getting lain in 2008 too!  But, I'm married, I get
           laid every other day.
           \_ Does your wife know?
           \_ Damn, good job. My wife only has sex with me every third day.
              Are you still newlyweds?

3/5     How does Google Map widget work? Is it a flash program or a
        pure Javascript program? When you include a Google Map on your
        home page, how does it talk to the <DEAD>maps.google.com<DEAD> server?
        I thought cross domain is not possible.
        \_ Pure JavaScript.  It uses an <iframe> to avoid cross-domain issues.
           \_ You mean the thing that scrolls/moves around is an
              iframe? Holy cow...
              \_ Why does that amaze you?

3/5     America is "just downright mean" says Mrs. Obama
        http://preview.tinyurl.com/23jjtf (newyorker.com)

3/5     Defence spending has been what has busted the budget, not
        domestic programs:
        http://www.csua.org/u/kys (The Economist'v View)
        \_ What is Defence?
           \_ It's what's around dehouse.

3/5     http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/politics/22mccain.html
        (old but tasty) McCain:  "At no time have I ever done anything that
        would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would
        not be in the public interest or would favor anyone or organization."
        Asked if he had ever had a romantic relationship with the woman, Vicki
        Iseman, Mr. McCain responded, "No."
        Translation:  Blowjobs and/or other inappropriate physical contact.
        They specifically chose one or two reporters who would ask the question
        in a certain way.  This is not tinfoil--just the way it usually works.
        \_ Not everyone is like that horn dog Slick Willie.
           \_ okay, maybe just heavy petting or fondling
              \- what about Hillary's Alaska "into the wild" Lesbo Phase?
        \_ McCain is a politician who helped out some special interest and
           slept with some woman. Yawn.
           \_ he also married his 2nd wife, age 25, when he was 43
              \_ What is wrong with that?  It is a perfectly normal age
                 spread in this country.  It is also none of your business.
                 There are plenty of reasons not to vote for McCain, but this
                 is not one of them.
                 \_ Don't you think dumping his first wife for a younger,
                    hotter model says something about his character?
                    \_ 30 years ago it probably did. Today, no.
                       \_ well he has been married to th "hotter model"
                       \_ well he has been married to the "hotter model"
                          for ~27years.
                          \_ If McCain was contesting an election in the
                             70s the fact that he upgraded to a newer
                             model might have mattered. These days I think
                             it is a non-issue.
              \_ 25 is the prime age of hotness for women. GOOD JOB
              \_ Really?  He's my hero!
                 \_ Then you should get them around 22-23, that way you
                    will enjoy the prime age longer.
                    \_ not if you replace them every few years, with a newer
                       model.
              \_ He's my hero!
        \_ All the yellow journalism that's fit to print.

3/5     Dear housing experts, what's the difference between a P.U.D.
        and Single Family Home? I went to a P.U.D. home today, and it
        is completely detached with its own land, backyard, etc, but
        it is not considered a SFH on the contract. Sure the backyard
        is pretty tiny but it still looks like a SFH. BTW this PUD
        home is a lot less expensive than SFHs nearby   -confused
        \_ A PUD has common areas like swimming pools and open space that are
           owned and maintained by everyone. You usually get a monthly bill
           for this and often restrictions as well. Think of them as
           master-planned communities. With a SFR you can usually tear
           down your house and build whatever you want. In a PUD you often
           don't have that freedom. You also have to deal with an HOA,
           which is not strictly a PUD thing but I'm pretty sure all PUDs
           have them.

3/5     The more Hillary & Obama fight each other, the less $$
        they'll have against McCain. Stop the infighting!
        \_ Hillary's win in Texas has sustained my hopes for riots at the DNC
        \_ Billary v. Obama just means ALGOR will be the next president.
        \_ It is called "an election", not infighting.
        \_ I wonder how many of Clinton's votes are coming from Rs trying to
           follow Limbaugh's suggestion.
           \_ Clinton will probably get the Republican votes from Repubs
              who want to sabatoge Democratic primaries while Obama will
              get Republican votes who actually want to see him win.
           \_ Probably not many.  I'm R leaning, but I voted for Obama because
              I figure there's a chance that whoever has the D in front of
              their name will win by default.  Given that, I'd rather have
              the prez who posseses at least a few admirable qualities.  Of
              course, I don't like Limbaugh anyway.