rich-c: test
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changed username to George rich-c: hello George George: Hi Rich George: i just got home rich-c: how is the weather in Philly today? George: overcast rich-c: been out, have you? George: slight drizzle George: i had to go to my doctor rich-c: we have bben alternating rich-c: bright and sunny then ten minutes later its rAINING George: he syringed my left ear rich-c: buildup of ear wax? George: he got everything but the back yard rich-c: you should be feeling much better tyhen George: yes George: now i need the other ear done rich-c: that sort of buildup can upset your balance and stomach George: now i can hear rich-c: I am surprised he didnt do both at once George: the water was cold rich-c: no doubt warm water is $10 extra - per ear George: oh rich-c: that's the American Way George: medic won't pay extra rich-c: exactly rich-c: a Canadian doctor would do both ears George: next year i'll get the other ear done rich-c: and would soften the wax with warm oil before a warm water flush George: i got my flu shot too rich-c: I need to get mine but last I checked the vaccine wasnt in yet George: and cipro rich-c: have to see the doctor soon anyway rich-c: had a bit of an episode last Sunday George: i still have a bit of a cold but no fever rich-c: colds will go away and there is no cure but time rich-c: nice - Saskatchewan just made a field goal from 54 yards George: my father is away on a weekend church retreat rich-c: yes, many of my American friewnds are itno that sort of thing George: my sister just called rich-c: that mean you have to go away? George: no rich-c: OK George: i have two lines rich-c: well yes but can you talk nad type both? George: i'm doing it now rich-c: guess if I can watch football you can chat successfully
moved to room Meeting Place rich-c: well, someone new George: is someone stuck?
left chat session rich-c: looks to be rich-c: now I csee they've retreatesd rich-c: sometimes Java applets can get uncooperative George: well they almost made it rich-c: also, Guy often has trouble with his ISP George: what ISP does he have? rich-c: he uses netzero rich-c: they are cheap - too cheap George: they also have juno don't they? George: i think they are combined rich-c: I dont know, there has been so much change in the industry George: all of the trully free ISP's are gone George: i had freei rich-c: not true, there are lots of them, but you have to work to find them George: i liked baby bob rich-c: well all the free ISPs are dialups rich-c: many are community nets or freenets George: looks like the cold front is clearing rich-c: we are back to cloud rich-c: we were supposed to get sunny ths afternoon and high 14C George: my windows just got bright like the sun is shining rich-c: it is only about 9 George: our high should be 60 F rich-c: that would be about 15C George: it feels cooler rich-c: the rule of thumb is take 30 and split George: split what? rich-c: e.g., 60 - 30 = 30 /2 = 15 George: i can't do splits rich-c: you cant figure halfof 30? George: i meant another kind of split rich-c: anyway you might as well get used to it rich-c: except for Burma and Liberia, the whole world is metric George: and Britain rich-c: no, Britain is metric George: really rich-c: thereare still old fogies like me who talk about miles nad pounds and stuff George: surprise surprise surprise rich-c: but we talk about shillings and furlongs too George: Britain's don't use euros George: they opted out rich-c: no, but they have changed to 100 penc in a pound George: pound of what? rich-c: their unit of currency, the pound sterling George: just kidding George: i won't do conversions though rich-c: I suspect that historically the pound was defined as a pound of silver rich-c: with 20 shillings in the pound and 20 pence in the shilling George: i just stick with the US dollar rich-c: sorry, 12 pence in the shilling rich-c: don't you ever read history or histporical novels? George: no George: my reading is bad rich-c: anyway pounds were American currency for over 200 years George: yeswe stole from Britain rich-c: right, all British colonies used British currency George: even after we kicked them out rich-c: though in fact coins were so scarce all sorts of other nations coins were used George: we still needed the trade rich-c: spanish dollars were very common George: i never saw one rich-c: they were scored to br broken into 8 pieces George: wow rich-c: that's why they wre called pieces of eight George: ok rich-c: the pieces individually were caled bit rich-c: called bits George: then 2 bits are 2 pieces rich-c: so even today a quarter of a dollar is two bits George: i never seen any confederate money rich-c: I have but only in museums George: no wooden nickels rich-c: seen those too an know the background George: i seen Canadian pennies rich-c: but then I read a lot and visit amny useums George: i get them every now and then as change rich-c: yes, Canadian coins will often work in American vending machines rich-c: and who ever looks at a penny? George: i don't like getting bum coins rich-c: I have even had Greek money turn up in small change George: and i would never pass them on rich-c: I find them interesting enough I like to keep them rich-c: game is at the half so nothing going on George: American money has a higher value than your money rich-c: no, it enjoys a higher exchange rate - there is a big difference rich-c: just like AOL gerts a high premium price for an inferior quality product George: i'd rather pay for Canadian products with Canadian money than American money rich-c: sooner or later it all gets exchanged anyway rich-c: doesn't matter whether you do the exchNGE OR THE vendor does it rich-c: of course if you are shopping in Canada you get the best exchANGE BY BUYING cANADIAN MONEY AT THE BANK AND USING THAT George: anyway i don't think i can leave the country rich-c: me, I just use plastic on either side of the border ;-) rich-c: since your medical entitlements end at the border, guess you are stuck where you are George: i'd lose all my benefits rich-c: but then I have to buy medical insurance to visit outside Canada rich-c: my Canadian coverage is only for Canadian cost levels George: bummer rich-c: not really, unless I want to be away months at a time i's very cheap rich-c: it is often a throw-in if you buy a premium credit card George: i'm afraid i would lose my citizenship and be without a country to go to rich-c: you can't lose your citizenship rich-c: you can deliberately formally renounce it rich-c: but that is very rare and difficult to do George: i'm a New Jersey native but i don't feel like it though rich-c: your citizenship is very strongly protected in the Constitution rich-c: yes, I am a New Jeersey native too George: that we have in common rich-c: yes, though I was born in Jersey City George: south jersey for me rich-c: and yes, that means I still rate as an American citizen George: do you have dual citizenship? rich-c: yes, and so does Frances - she was born in Brooklyn George: oh George: does Canadian citizenship extend to Britain rich-c: in fact as the child of American-born parents Pamela could likely get US citizenship for the asking rich-c: no, I can claim British citzen privileges though becuause my grandfather was born in Wales rich-c: all countries have different rules George: does Britain still collect taxes from Canadians? rich-c: of course not rich-c: Canada is a fully independent nation and has been since 1867 George: so I have been told some distortions rich-c: obviously rich-c: we have sentimental ties to Britain, of course George: i thought the land still belongs to the British crown rich-c: well, that is because the Queen is also Queen of Canada rich-c: therefore anything public belongs to Her Majesty in right of Canada George: so ties are not fully cut? rich-c: only to the extent that like many Commonwealth nations we ask the Queen to serve as our head of state too rich-c: you have to understand how constitutional monarchies work rich-c: in theory, the monarch has all the power, in practice the monarch has none rich-c: but because in theory the monarch can reclaim the power delegated in trust, the monarch can revoke that delegation George: i don't even understand how our system works rich-c: in effect it provides an automatic and legal centre of resistance should a dictator try to sieze power rich-c: few Canadians understand what it means to have a Queen who reigns but oes not rule rich-c: and I likely understand the American system better than most Americans George: its getting cold here rich-c: yes, we just dropped a degree too I see George: sometimes our system doesn't work George: hanging chads rich-c: part of the reason for that is citizens who do not understand it and force politicians to make it work George: voting fraud rich-c: well yes you have a lot of hat too George: too many dead people voting rich-c: but the deeper problem is dishonesy media and dirty money rich-c: if the papers and tv dont tell you what is reLLY GOING ON AND WHAT IT MEANS, HOW CAN YOU VOTE INTELLIGENTLY? rich-c: having problems with the caps lock today George: i give up rich-c: giving up just gets you screwed - you need a better answer George: i try to elect people i know personally rich-c: that tends to be a little hard to arrange rich-c: who is your senator? George: Arlen Spector rich-c: did you vote for him? George: no rich-c: do you know him? George: no rich-c: did you vote? George: i do know my state senator Mike Stack George: i go to his office rich-c: did you vote in the last federal election? George: I vote everytime i get a chance rich-c: you are dodging the question George: they wouldn't let me vote because i was in the hospital i'm still fuming over it rich-c: OK that is an acceptable answer - up to a point rich-c: but you can get to vote if you really want to George: they took my vote away George: i do rich-c: no one can take your vote away rich-c: if you want to vote, call the campin office George: i was involuntary in the hospital i couldn't leave rich-c: sorry, campaign office of any candidate rich-c: preferably one you want to vote for but that isnt essential rich-c: they will arrange a proxy ballot or absentee ballot or whatever it takes George: things are very different when you are involunary commited rich-c: makes it harder but it can still be done rich-c: just remember the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November - and dont mess up George: i called campaigns but it didn't work, i even called the election commitee rich-c: OK, credit for trying, then George: its a hard pill to swallow rich-c: that should have worked - pity they screwed up rich-c: anyway time for me to sign off rich-c: see you Wed? George: ok. bye for now George: yes rich-c: take it easy - bye George: bye
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