My mom lives in SLC, UT area and goes out to a rural-ish goat dairy farm every couple weeks just to buy from their honor system store. She calls her order in ahead, and they pack it up for her and leave it in the cooler with a total. Or you can go in and pick out what you want, total it yourself, and put the money in the till.

#131 Why would I spend more time on it. I don't buy the story. Got other things to do and read and see. I've moved on. Next? The only people that should spend any more time than that sussing out the truth are the people who put this story out htere, and a small group of others like Boombotz.

LOL #145!

#143 talia? I dobt you pity is worth the trouble.
Just because some people don't believe this story does NOT mean they don't believe ANY stories like this. I believe stories of this sort when they are better researched and verified.

I've had heartwarming feelings before! We all have a heart. Many of us don't think that requires drinking the coolaid every.single.time.

I was there last June at the end of the month, and hardly noticed it. And I've suffered much worse in Los Angeles waaay back in the day. (Not nearly as bad now. Infinitely better, I would say.) But athletes, rightly, have a different standard.

#1, the freak snowstorm was much further south than Beijing, I think. But (smog clearing!)rain for the summer olympics there would be welcome in that hella-heat!

I'm a skeptical type and I'm with BOOMBOTZ on this one.

Firstly, the media is easily fooled, "fact checkers"/harried "producers" notwithstanding.

Secondly, it just smells like a feel good tale akin to Washington chopping down the cherry tree; or an apocryphal tale like ten things teens did in X decade / ten things teens do now.

Lots of shite like this gets out there in the wind that is totally bogus. Americans love 'em some feel -good stories. We're a sentimental country.

Plus, BOOM revealed his name and contact info. That never happens with flames of that sort. Ergo, he opened himself to liability. That indicates to me some actual righteous indignation. So, I do believe NPR has been bamboozled.

Last thought - What is up with guilt over material things? If the knife wilder demanded sexual intercourse or oral because he was "needy" for this basic human drive - it wouldn't make feel-good-story-of-the-day news if the "victim" was forced into a bj, and while the perp walked away, offered him intercourse for free.

That is just the odd thought that came to mind when I considered the implications of this story if the victim were female.

That's almost exactly what I was thinking. The least weed in my garden has as much innate value as me.

So, when you have a heart attack in your weedy garden, the paramedics are justified in putting down their equipment and picking up your watering can? Good luck to you, #12, but I certainly hope you aren't MY paramedic, doctor, or anything else I need other than a ... well, not even a gardener, really. You'd not pull my weeds and argue they're just as valuable as my herbs.

This seems like yet another bad data gathering effort for everything from park traffic flow to marketing ... at least to me.

In the olden days, when there was just one Disneeyland. they stamped your hand so you could go out and back in.

Now they want to know, when did you go out? What time did you go back in? Are Americans more likely to leave at certain times and return at other likely times? What do visiting Asians do? What do Euros do? It all effects how the market their services to be more attractive, and how they staff the park. No need to have a 1000 employees more than you need at certain hours, etc. The system could save a great deal of money in efficiencies.

Other factors also include "I washed off my inkstamp after diaper change!" and "I lost my badge/pass!"

I doubt they even considered the unintended implications of the toddler's statement in the last paragraph. BUT THEY SHOULD!

That would be a great poetic gesture, #6 ZUZU! You should suggest it to them. Their association, or whatever.

Thanks for the links, Yank!

The non-profit I work for has several adult day care centers; and entertainment, socializing, plus arts/crafts are all part of what keeps clients coming back.

I've seen Cory's rants about airports. I have heard and seen many others. And "some of my best friends ... " erm, work at an airport.

I have heard everything from horrible deaths of detained people(on CNN) to celebutard treatment of ... Oh, let's say "Nittany Snears" (from my BFF) and have personally witnessed many times the de-shoe-ing and wanding of my Tennessee-born 80+ year old mom.

This one takes cake.

As a youth, a young adult, an adult, and as a middle ager ... I have been entertained and amused by various artists of less ore more skill. Whether at school, church (yikes, I know!), clubs, work, parties, whatever.

When I am in a state of decline that requires a nursing home or other somesuch care facility, I hope to have access to the same campy, crappy entertainment I have either enjoyed or suffered through for my entire life.

I loved the bit at the end. it's a parade of floats for the facility bound! One day, when I am there, I hope some gentleman like this shall offer me the silliest, most fantastic hat imaginable for my parade roll.

#26, I friended you, and would love to have one of your CDs for my mother, who is mid 80's. Even if you don't like the notion of strangers making you look silly. (Wondering how anyone in the US manages to avoid such fate?)

Bigtime SF reader here and though I read Cryptonomicon too, and all that-
And I am also no conspiracy theorist-

I think I should mention a reality based book called "Blind Man's Bluff" by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew. I highly recommend it for anyone and everyone interested in our submarine service and what it can and does do ... and has done. (Also, for anyone looking for a non-fiction "page-turner!" ... It is thrilling.)

I'm not saying this is a hiccup result of their work or anything of the sort. I just believe they are capable of such a thing. And I'm reasonably sure, based on locations, that the incidents weren't carried out on behalf of the RIAA.

Unless the RIAA bought a sub or two. I wouldn't put it past them!

" ... and I couldn't pay for my visas. Trip cancelled. The End." /sarcasm

Seriously. They're probably buying a whole lot of co-operation and other things besides in advance of this stunt. I can't imagine a BBC camera crew trekking Afghanistan without security, for example.

But it sure sounds like fun. And, since this fellow is investigating the concept of labor exchange (money IS labor exchange - though it makes it indirect for everyone) then I wonder if the BBC can pay him in free lawn mowing at his home for life, instead of cash?

It sounds just a few degrees treble-up of being done by Ron Moore and his wife Terry, just for kicks.

Heh.

I just love it. I don't care who this guy is. This is all kinds of terrific comedic art.

"Scientology is such bad science-fiction. That cheesy logo, the 1950's radio play narrator, the freaking 'Freedom of Valor' award. My god, it's like a cereal brand cross-promotion.
Why can't a talented insane sci-fi author start a wild and woolly cult. You know, like Norman Spinrad? That would rock." ~ #48 Star Breaker

How about Octavia Butler's "Parable of the ... " almost-trilogy? The Religion, a quite sane one actually, called "Earthseed." Tenet 1) "God is change."

The religion established was both individually and collectively empowering. Quite an accomplishment right there. Even if you're not a fan of the series itself (sadly cut short due to OB's death) you have to admit the religion had both internal logic and human appeal .... without all the rediculous dogma and denial of facts-before-your-eyes.

Spot on in comment #3, ONEHANDEDBANDIT.

Also, after many decades of research into just this sort of thing, what ass decides to start from zero with pinheaded monkeys? And why does she think it all starts with spoke language in humans? That is already smelling like hogwash.

I just hate the idea of primates wasting away their lives in her "lab" back at Yale.

My mom was born in '22 and has no trouble operating her TV, cable, dvd, cd, etc.

My pop was born in '25 and has his own computer, and rips his own cd to mp3's for his player. Last year, he learned how to rip from cassettes after I sent him a few links of how-to.

But I can see how a remote like that would be handy for an alzheimers or dementia affected person, whatever the age.

I think that it just may take some extra tutorial time with a standard remote when they first get it. Show once and leave doesn't cut it. There should be a 5x walkthrough where they are the ones pushing the buttons and developing a sense and locational memory of what each button does. Bigger buttons with larger and clearer function titles would also be a help.

You know what else would be cool? Being able to speak to your remote or TV and say "hush" for a mute, or "CNN", or "louder" or whatever.

Fox Fauxficial response: Leagal under the doctrine of Fair Goose.

The ad is obviously designed to entice Rally's semi-regulars to return.

A 'double deal' is often two of x or y type sandwiches for $4.

So, you'll get a third sandwich free. That's a good deal.

Ther4e is a Rallys near me. I'm going to save target, print it, and report back in January.

Yeah, ANKH. I can share more.
IMO, I would have liked to see them put Koko on the stand. She was a direct witness and can testify. Of course, there is always the risk of perjury. She did lie before and claim Michael broke the sink, when she obviously had done the deed.

You just can't punish a gorilla with jail time when they already live in a cage though. Punishments they abhor are 1) being squirted with water. 2) having a snake or iguana in their cage. (That is how we got them from one place to another when they were being too stubborn to move.)

Michael would lie too, but you could tell he was joking. One time, when Barbara commented that the place was stinky, he said "Brenda did it" (my name sign, followed by the 'do' sign) and laughed first. I was around the corner in the kitchen and only heard him, the Barb laughing. Barb told me what he said. We all were cracking up at that point.

To clarify my post above, now that I have read the links, "Penny" is the supervisor referenced in the story. Francine Grace Penelope Patterson. She goes by Penny.

The Gorilla Foundation is her baby. She started with the Gorillas while at Stanford, and then moved them out- leaving in a protest over the university's refusal to stop their experiments on monkeys.

Oh, Shirley, please.
Of course some smart-fool is courting the early-adopters with something porny. It was true before ASCII.

New thought- if you don't know how to please a woman ... ask her! If she's too silly to tell you how, then ask a cougar.

I worked with both Koko and Michael (mainly Michael, who passed away some years back) at the Gorilla Foundation back in the early 80's. Penny Patterson was my boss.

Here is what I can share with you: Back then, Koko liked boys (the mailman, but not Michael) candy, and flowers. She's super smart and very curious and funny. If she developed a fascination with human women's breasts it is surely because she was just that- curious and fascinated by them. I would not be at all surprised if she wanted to feel everyone's and see what they're like. No doubt, she would share a preference as to what she would deem ideal or "pretty."

Back then, if something like this was going on and Penny said "show 'em to her." to me, I would have taken it as her usual understated humor.

Gorillas aren't descended from the puritans, and I am not uptight about something like that. BUT I wouldn't have done it for this reason: It would become an everyday game of "show me your tits!" over and over. Followed by raucous laughter. Kinda like Michel and me playing "chase!" everyday ... during that more innocent time. (On the other hand, laughing and playing a game of "show me your tits!" might not be a terrible way to spend a few years.)

There was that one time Michael climbed on Penny's back and started humping. Animals are like that.

On th other hand, if Penny's boyfriend Ron had suggested I play this game with Michael .... I might've sued. I certainly would have found it creepy.

Is there someone new? Or old? Post Burton, post Jackson, Pre ... videogamey - blockbustery - schlocky that could do right by this work?

S.S-berg I do not trust to do it properly. (Yes, I am still mad about The Color Purple, and will never forgive him.) and he doesn't do deeeep well. I'd hate to see this as a YA action adventure dumbed down.

If there is a God, a Jesus, or even a Flying Spaghetti Monster, then MARK F. will have a video of how to MAKE this in time for Christmas/Fitzmas/Solstice/Hannukah/Kwanzzah/Goalongwiththeholidayspiritcakes.

Personally, I'm praying to the FSM.
(C'mon, Mark!)

If there is a God, a Jesus, or even a Flying Spaghetti Monster, then MARK F. will have a video of how to MAKE this in time for Christmas/Fitzmas/Solstice/Hannukah/Kwanzzah/Goalongwiththeholidayspiritcakes.

Personally, I'm praying to the FSM.
(C'mon, Mark!)

"This is your brain."
"This is your brain on 'brain'."
"Any questions?"

I side with the jokesters over the Peta-Sinceres around here. But it's time both groups got together in support of a general sentiment about hoping these ill workers are helped, and get well soon.

PSA-wise... Put the straw down, and walk away from the brains.

NSFYT, I guess.

... And then Mark swung 'round, equipment in hand, toward the next urinal. That's when he got busted ...

Cue music "SIT like an Egypian ... "

Imagine you were listening to a radio host tell a story that required a clip. Imagine that clip taking many tens of seconds to play, while the host pauses his story for power on and scroll to menu stuff. .... zzzz tune out ....

I know what you mean.

When I'm showing someone something, I want to be able to be ... punchy as John Stewart.

It would be fantastic if, during lunch, I could say "Hey, did you see that hilarious bit on last night's Daily Show about iraq?" and show it if they showed interest. Or, "hey, did you catch ... news/ American Idol performance/ whatever?" "Did you see what Senator Craig said?"

Did you see what Senator Craig sad .... wait wait ... wait for it. Okay, it's on. Scroll to vidoe, select title, play. "I am not gay. I love my wife..." takes too fracking long, man. Too long. You lose your audience.

... and then, for years and years thereafter, School kids knocked on the McLean and Stevens doors asking when the next "notorious" party would be.

That would be a good addition to the rash of shite these two weasels receive.

I just want to see Harlan sue Disney over a joke that some kid text messaged while on the Monsters (INC!) ride. Is that so wrong?

And I think "Harlan Sue Disney" would be a nifty name for a band, too.

This Friday is "Black Friday" and I was contemplating spending my check on cool stuff I've seen in boingboing gadgets.

But I think I'll just call my bank (Don't worry, Phil. Your bank will be happy to wire your money.)and let the (family members who are of means)know where I sent their Christmas present.

You can, of course use free software and remap the specific keys that bother you in either layout.

But, another issue is key placement. Check out the keyboards here - putting enter and space-bar in a middle index finger space (if your thumb is what's hurting, like me: this = awesome)... and also check the un-staggered straight-line vertical key layout! Sublime, I am telling you. I bet the stagger layout is, another artifact of arranging the keys for the letter strikers that are no longer there.

They have a couple models, and they have some free software links and tutorial. And they have a model that has both the Dvorak and the QWERTY on the keys- handy for swappers.

http://www.typematrix.com

Check it out. I am lobbying fellow cube drones for another buyer so I can get a discount.

File under "Some things never change!"
This reminds me of Lily Tomlin's Ernestine Phone Company skethes from the Laugh-In era.

"If you don't like it, try two dixie cups and a string!"

"We don't care. We don't have to. We're The Phone Company!"

Ah, good times. 30 years later - it isn't so funny anymore, eh?