>  >  > Richard would probably have a better idea what was involved
there, both
>  >  > mechanical and electrical...  
>  >  ML> It's a man's job [g]
>  > Yeah, right.... (G)  Women can be quite apt mechanically and
>  > electrically... just not me....   I'm glad to let him handle those
>  > things...   My niece-daughter, on the other hand, is quite able to do
>  > that sort of thing (better, I believe, than her husband, actually)...
>  > She's actually a Mechanical Engineer... 
>  ML> Actually, I have a buddy who has led the MIT Women's
>  ML> Technology Program and has been on the faculty of the
>  ML> MIT Mech Engineering department for 17 years. We used
>  ML> to do a bunch of music together.
> Thought you were just joshing there... 

I never believed that a woman's life was limited to
Kinder, Kirche, Kueche (children, church, and cooking).

>  >  ML> I used to get a "welcome home, SIR" and a wave.
>  >  ML> No longer.
>  > Sigh... the world has changed... and not much for the better....
>  ML> Regression toward the mean, they call it. At
>  ML> least (with notable exceptions) things are not
>  ML> getting totally worse.
> At least a few a small mercies... 

Though one wonders sometimes.

>  >  ML> been known to take zilch, which also seems to bother them.
>  > Taking zilch could indicate not expecting to return, I suppose...
>  ML> It's irrelevant to him if I wanted to return or not.
>  ML> Without any bag at all, the highjacking scenario
>  ML> wouldn't fly, either.
> Probably not....  Maybe it's just that it is outside the norm, so
> becomes worrisome....

Shortly after the TSA started up, some wag decided to
fly clad just in a thong, no luggage, no carryon. I
thought it was funny. The government did not, I'm not
sure if he was allowed to fly, though there was no
legal justification for preventing him.

>  > learned to only take what I could carry easily myself.... 
>  ML> Yes. As Miss Piggy is quoted as saying, never try to
>  ML> eat anything bigger than your head. Similarly, never
>  ML> try to tote a bag bigger than your qualification to tote.
> Makes perfect sense to me...   Especially after my first
> experience... 

I've got Letitia and Bonnie to cut down to a reasonable-
size carryon plus personal item each. This includes concert
attire. I'm thinking of setting the example by bringing just
a personal item, but more likely I will do likewise, making
my carryon and personal item just a tad smaller than theirs.
We're traveling on an airline that would allow us to take
something like 340 lb of hold luggage for free.

>  ML> In Paris as well, but they schedule the planes in at
>  ML> a certain time frame; the problem was that our flight
>  ML> was delayed something like 5 hours and right smack dab
>  ML> into that slot.
> It's possible that other flights into YUL had been significantly
> delayed, causing the problems with his flight... which arrived a little
> early, but had to wait for half an hour or more to even get a slot for
> unloading, and I think RJ said they finally just brought over something
> to ferry the passengers to the terminal....

Which is the logical thing, except that they had to find
a people mover that works (YUL has zillions of them that
are stored next to International Departures) and a driver
certified to drive it (probably on call from one of the 
suburbs and was taking a nap at the time), an annoyance 
for everyone and an expense for the thrifty Quebecois.

>  ML> So forgetting to reapply has its disadvantages, as
>  ML> they have to start the investigations all over -
>  ML> they quoted a lag of up to 11 weeks! for their
>  ML> background checks. So I'm only spottily getting the
>  ML> precheck these days.
> Oh, dear.... you'll remember next time, I'd guess.... 

This one, about which I haven't heard yet, would take me to 
half my life expectancy, so maybe there'll be a next time.

+

>  >  ML> And some sites are reacting as if ignoring my inputs and
>  >  ML> displaying to the tapping of a different drummer.
>  > That could be right scary...
>  ML> It's happening fairly frequently. I try to remember
>  ML> to put airplane mode on when I'm not actively using
>  ML> the Internet, but I forget all too frequently.
> Would that protect you better from outside influences on the
> computer...? 

No ... what it would do is discourage evildoers from
appropriating my downtime and highjacking my resources 
to make a sort of mini-me bot. There is no way to prevent
outside snooping and influences on any computer. Even
having wi-fi off altogether doesn't guarantee isolation.
It is possible (one of the great paranoid sci-fi writers,
perhaps Lucius Shepherd, wrote about this) with enough
effort and technology and will to surveil anyone with a
computer at all.

>  >  ML> It was amusing in the way Little Shop of Horrors was
>  >  ML> (I saw the original only).
>  > I've only heard selected selections from it on the radio from time to
>  > time... and heard of it.... 
>  ML> In my youth, popular culture was not quite the closed
>  ML> book it now is to me.
> It helps if one has some connection into it, after all... it's rather
> closed to me as well... 

Of course, one needs to want it in order to get it.

>  >  > ... A cat is the visible soul of a home.
>  >  ML> From the cat's point of view!
>  > Mais d'accord...
>  ML> Dander is the real soul, though.
> Or at least more visible.... 

More chewable ... as in ah-chew.

>  >  > They might have some sort of arrangement for out-of-state regular
>  >  > visitors... possibly based on whether one has a current library card
>  >  > elsewhere... 
>  >  ML> They didn't ask for evidence of any.
>  > And I gather you didn't ask, either....
>  ML> I'm not sure about the sense of offering that kind
>  ML> of reciprocity, anyhow.
> Perhaps not, but I have run into it from time to time in my genealogical
> travels.... 

If you describe your mission enticingly enough, no 
doubt doors will be opened. Despite their strict
reputation, librarians tend to be soft touches.

>  > Were I to be likely in CA for any length of time (or lengths of time) it
>  > could be something to pursue.... 
>  ML> Placards do come in handy at times.
> Indeed.   

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.00

      Title: Pastai Persli (parsley Pie) Welsh
 Categories: Main dish
      Yield: 4 servings

      4 oz Shortcrust pastry                   1 tb Chopped parsley
           Desertspoon full plain flour        2 oz Choped steaky bacon
    1/2 pt Milk                                     Seasoning
      2    Eggs

  Cold boiled bacon may be used instead of steaky bacon. Line a flan ring
or
  pie dish with the prepared pastry and bake it blind in a hot oven. Gas
Mark
  6 (400F) for 15 minutes. Blend the flour with a little milk. Break the
eggs
  into a basin and beat well, add the blended flour and remaining milk,
  seasoning and parsley. Put the bacon (lightly fried if you are using
  steaky) into the pastry case and pour over the egg mixture. Bake at Gas
  Mark 3 (325F) for 30-35 minutes. British Egg Information Service Leaflet.
  Welsh Fare Mark 0 = 250 Mark 1 = 275 Mark 2 = 300 Mark 3 = 325 Mark 4 =
350
  Mark 5 = 375  Mark 6 = 400  Mark 7 = 425  Mark 8 = 450  Mark 9 = 475

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