I've used a small portable swamp cooler for the last three desert events I've attended, and they do work for cooling and dust abatement. A 15 degree drop or less is about what you can expect, but you do need the airstream directed at you. Still, at 550 kcals/gram, evaporating water is quite the heat...

31 Dec happens to be my birthday, and some of those have been pretty miserable. Most sucked, a few were fun.

I don't think it's a question of rights. My point is more like Wind_Borne's, in that getting into politics these days carries several hazards with it. First (in my mind) there's a partisan hazard. That is, politics these days are extremely polarized, and if you identify with one side, you immediatel...

actiongrl wrote:...it would be folly to ignore the future of that city.

Sounds dire. I didn't know there was a GOP candidate.

Point of clarification, too: Burning Man is not endorsing the candidate as an organization; Larry endorsed him as an individual. Sorry, AG, but that's as much hair-splitting as it is irrelevant; Larry is the final word in the organization, and used an organizational tool to convey his endorsement. ...

A surgical mask taken from a SARS victim.

Not feeding the trolls won't work if trolls provide a foil for post whores to up their count. So, OBtopic, how hard would it be to do away with the post counter? Oh, and III, I could see why 'ignore user' would be tough, but what about thread ownership and thread ignore? Just from the technical pers...

Boundaries, in some form, are essential to everyday life and community here or in BRC. Any place where boundaries aren't respected and cannot be enforced is a place in deep trouble, as this BBS is. I believe that the combination of 'Thread ignore' and thread ownership could permit enforceable bounda...

I think it's weird that so many think education is a right, when it isn't; it's a <b>privilege</b> I disagree, educational institutes are the incubator of the culture: it's where the societal culture is grown, preserved and hacked. Take the kids out of the schools, turn them loose in the world and ...

I think it's weird that so many think education is a right, when it isn't; it's a <b>privilege</b> that one must choose to exercise. Like physical fitness, it can't be given to you, you have to work to acquire it. Sure, the facilities, instruction and support (for either) can be provided, but the in...

It would be more effective from the teacher's perspective, but what happens to that 10 percent? Are you satisfied with Tom's suggestion that (paraphrasing) if they stay out of prison they can catch up later? You want to toss ten percent of our nation's children out of school? Are you fucking kiddin...

technopatra wrote:

TestesInSac wrote:

Don Muerto wrote: I hear [Technopatra] can give a mean spanking to the recalcitrant.

Wonder if she freelances?

My rates increase for state employees.

<smirk>

If I can get management to believe that it's "obedience training", they'll cut the PO.

Thanks for the stats. If the avg school year is, say, 280 days, then that's a little over $30 per student per day. More like (21 days/month)*(9.5 months) = 199.5 days, $42/day. I think you can find child care for less, maybe even safe and licensed. If history is any standard by which to make assump...

Don Muerto wrote:I've heard rumors that she accepts bribes.

<eyes narrowed> I seem to recall your name being at the top of her crush list, and now this. Verrry suspicious.

Don Muerto wrote: I hear [Technopatra] can give a mean spanking to the recalcitrant.

Wonder if she freelances?

De nada. Anything to stay on topic and not incur Technopatra's wrath.

Who you callin' pointy-headed, you NECROTIC LOOKIN' PINATA?

Don Muerto wrote:Race you to Pluto?

:shock: :lol:

I'm so fast, I got there last night.

Don Muerto wrote:Either way, it will be spent and have nothing to do with you sitting around here all day stirring the pot!

Right now, looks like we're the only two in this pot. Fortunately, I have DSL, so there's room for lots of arm-flapping.

Don Muerto wrote:Bullshit, you will spend that budget whether it amounts in tangible benefits or not!

Actually, I'll only spend the budget if it results in tangible bennies to me. If not, I let other people spend it.

Don Muerto wrote:

TestesInSac wrote:I am my own sock puppet.

I can tell you had a slow day at work today, Tom.

True, but that's not all bad. See, I work for the State of CA, so a slow day here is easier on the taxpayers.

And "intelligence" can be measured in many ways, so inevitably the same sociopaths who corrupt everything else would twist it to mean "intelligence" meant you agree with them, because obviously they're right... Since I haven't corrupted anything yet, the voters should let me decide how to measure i...

Better motivation doesn't really require better funding, nor does better funding create motivation. The dot-coms Enron, Worldcom, etc all had great funding. Theoretically. Hmm..having a hard time seeing that example as valid. It's a matter of where the funding goes. It's a counter example to the id...

Hmmm...if "really smart people" is only defined as those who had access to higher education in critical thinking and philosophy... Why wait 'til "higher ed"? Start the training in grade school, which is mandatory for all kids. By graduation from HS, they should be able to switch sides comfortably i...

Hey, now, just because you have a low voter turnout doesn't mean that the best qualified to vote voted.

Patience wrote:Yeah, that's what we need! Fewer people voting!

Absolutely! If we have a relative handful of Really Smart People voting we'll save money. Same goes for driving, too.

Don Muerto wrote:That is *such* bad juju, Tom.

Hehe, I don't mind bad juju. And I think it focuses attention on the part of the system that's really broke.

And if Gen. Franks is right, it'll ultimately be moot anyway.

I advocate a system where voting is licensed, like driving a vehicle. Only people with critical thinking and philosophy training would be given permits, and each election would require renewal. This would enforce Eisenhower's "intelligent and informed" electorate.

Bob wrote:Is my irony so oblique?

Maybe I'm just being obtuse.

Don Muerto wrote:Your abuse of the English language makes you truly worthy of a summary execution.

I'll get the sharp pole.