Lets start off by examining one of the scores from one of my posts.

(Score:0, Insightful)

Since I start off with a +1 on all my posts, this seems a bit .... Weird. I have been moderated DOWN for being insightful?

A close look at the score table below will explain how this happens.

Starting Score: 1 point
Moderation -1
    30% Insightful
    70% Overrated

30% think it is insightful, and 70% overrated. Since I am thinking that Slashdot rounds the numbers to the nearest 10% so that I have one "Insightful" and two Down mods, the last being "Overrated" for a total of three.

The "Overrated" mod is kind of funny to me. It means that the post has at least SOME interest, just not enough to rate it up, but not really worth modding down, except that is exactly what they are doing.

So this week has Turkey day on Thursday, where we eat enough turkey to sleep for a week afterwords. The magical chemical that makes one sleepy is Tryptophan (or does it?). It is, however, a neat little amino acid.

http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/chemistry/bio/aminoacid/trp_en.html

Eating Turkey which contians elevated levels of Trytophan is probably NOT the cause for all the sleepy heads on Friday.

http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/FoodSafety/foodtryptophan.php

So, what is the cause? Probably over eating and all the alchohol consumed. But what is Thanksgiving except an excuse to eat and drink too much?

A nice bottle of Merlot, and a Chardonnay (for those that don't like real wine) will be on my table, as well as sparkeling cider for those that don't like alchohol and the kids.

I will be carving the bird using the "Presentation" method described HERE

http://www.eatturkey.com/foodsrv/manual/serve7.html

I sharpen my own blades, so the knife will be sharp. Nothing is more dangerous than a dull knife. So take the time to sharpen those dull knives.

http://www.diabetic-lifestyle.com/articles/oct01_cooki_1.htm

http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/pages/c00150.asp

Having work in many kitchens, I can sharpen a blade from very dull to very sharp on a Steel in about 1 -3 minutes. Only on the worst blades, ones with nicks and such do I ever sharpen on a grinder.

Pumpkin, Pecan, and lemon meringue pie are for dessert. Nobody likes Mincemeat Pie, except me, so I don't get my favorite for another year.

I will be making my own yeast rolls using a family recipe from France. They are so simple, yet so good.

Anyway, hoping you and yours have a very nice Thanksgiving. Take time to reflect on all the things you really are thankful for.

Hey Bethanie,

Your tag line is famous. I now predict that it will become the next Slashtroll line.

1. Imagine ....
2. Overlords ....
3. Natalie Portman ...
4. "Do you want fries with that"
5. ????
6. Profit

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/10/28/1710229&mode=thread&tid=137&tid=184&threshold=0

I must be facinated by the whole moderation process. But I have noticed something quite recently. That is not that many articles are getting moderated. And the ones that are moderated remain at 3 or 4 longer than ever.

It makes me wonder if the moderation system is starting to fail or if the SlashDudes have changed the parameters.

I have seen several posts that were RIGHT on target or just plain funny stuck at 1. That is another thing, I don't see many +2s anymore either.

Anyway, it is anecdotal evidence at best; my observations. Nothing scientific or anything.

I have been so tired lately it isn't even funny. Physically, not sleepy. Yet right now, I am sleepy tired, and it is just after 1:00pm.

It isn't like the job of a geek is all that hard. it isn't. The hardest part is lifting equipment on occasion.

I have tried the working out, eating better stuff to no avail, except that it makes me MORE tired. I have had a checkup, and my health is okay.

I just don't get it. Can I get a nap with those fries?

I will be most likely holding my nose tomarrow as I vote in the Recall of Greyout Davis. I don't want any chance of that idiot or his Racist Clone in office on Weds.

Ahhhnold is going to get my vote (Voting early, often). It looks like it is going to be tight.

If it wasn't tight I would have voted for the Porn Starlett, just to waste my vote, and show my contempt for the whole Election process. (I view the whole thing as rigged anyway).

As for the allegations against AHHHNOLD of womanizing, groping or otherwise crude behavior, if this monkey is the best they can come up with, they are really hurting.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20031006/i/r1346780462.jpg

Seriously, when I saw the woman, I though "Planet of the Apes", and no makeup required. If Arnold did grope this woman, he really DOES need to be locked up, for INSANITY.

This should be interesting.

Okay, here is where things get interesting.

We should be taxing the crap out of things that are harmful to society, and untaxing things that are actually GOOD for society.

Is having an income good? If so, why are we taxing it?

Think what would happen if we taxed PORNO instead? or Drugs? Or Prostitution? or whatever. Taxing stuff that makes society better is just plain STUPID.

I wouldn't be opposed to a sales tax on Internet purchases, in the current wacky tax/spend system we have today. But here is how I would set it up.

Any Purchase made by or through a internet source or destination inside the USoA would be taxed at a FLAT rate, to be evenly divided among the origination and destination states.

For instance, Ma&Pa Internet Sales INC, sells me a $100 pair of gold plated plastic spoons. They are in Texas, and I am in South Dakota (not really). Texas and South Dakota get 1/2 of the collected sales tax. Let us say that sales tax is 4% that would mean SD and TX would both get $2 each.

Now, if I were in say London, M&P would still collect 4% tax. Tex would get $2, and the other $2 would go to some other fund.

If on the otherhand, M&P were in London instead, that is a tricky issue. I think Import duties and other such restrictions would then apply.

Okay, so I see a post today on some more smart card privacy invasion. This time data tracking who goes where using Public Tramsportation in London.

This time, I can't help myself, and hint that I am one of those WEIRDOS that actually believes in the Bible.

The question is though, would this and should this one aspect of my life affect what others think of topics not even related?

In other words, does the fact that I actually believe in something bigger than myself, affect my ability to comment insightfully or otherwise on topics outside that relm?

Does this totally change how people see me? Not that I really care. I think it is something people should know, because it is important to me.

I should point out that I am not a Luddite either. Since I can remember, I have been facinated with technology, and gadgets and such.

However, I also see the amalgamation of technology coming together in a way where a single entity could control most every aspect of our lives.

This is something I am watching very carefully.

So, the Circuit Court for California are debating the merits of various voting methodologies. Specifically Punch card ballots.

The case involves mostly liberal politicos calling for a suspention in the Recall election of California based upon the notion that an inanimate object can cause "Disenfranchisement" of a certain clase (or classes) of people.

What nobody has brought up, is the disenfranchisement of those who support the recall, if the process is held up for MOSTLY political reasons.

The whole reason this is being suspended isn't because of punch cards, it is because of Grey Davis vs Arnold (and the gang of 135). If this was the other way around, I would be willing to bet a ton of money that they would be quiet, not saying a PEEP.

Further, to insult the core group(s) of voters by insiuating that they are incapable of punching ONE HOLE is incredible. Besides, if people are that stupid, then their votes shouldn't count. I mean, if you can't figure out a ballot, perhaps you shouldn't be voting.

I think it isn't any supprise to note, that it is the DEMOCRATS who are courting the STUPID vote. That should be an indication of what it takes to be a democrat.

Remember, I am Libertarian, not a Rebublican. They have their issues too.

I am taking advice from my personal slashcounselor to post a recipe. The only thing is, this recipe is (was) top secret and only known by a few close associates before today.

It is my recipe, I made it up, and everyone who has tasted it claims it was the "best ever".

16 oz frozen sweetened strawberries.
1 12oz can Kerns Strawberry Nectar.
1/2 cup 1/2 & 1/2
1/4 - 1/2 cup Rum dark Rum (optional)
Whipping cream to top.

In a blender mix strawberries, nectar and 1/2 & 1/2. The Can of Nectar should be VERY cold, almost frozen. The 1/2 & 1/2 is used to help thicken and smooth the blend. Blend till smooth and creamy.

If you use rum, that too should be VERY COLD. Colder the better, as the cold helps keep the Mix THICK.

Pour in to small glasses, and top with Whipping Cream. If it is fresh strawberry season, you can add a fresh strawberry on the edge of the glass for an elegant touch.

Okay, so my occasional slashcomment is modded as "funny" or "insightful" often enough to give me good karma (for what ever that is worth). So how come there are hardly any "Fans" out there.

Thank goodness, one of my friends actually lets me know that at least there is someone as crazy as I am out there. You know who you are.

Anyway, short of being a girl, how does one become famous on slashdot? Any Ideas? Bueller? Bueller?

On a sad note, one of my favorite musical artists died last night. Tonight, I will walk the line one last time.

Okay, one of my bosses comes to me today (Thurs) to try and promote the latest greatest "Content Management System" for our web site. But the story doesn't start there, it starts tuesday at the bi-monthly tech meeting for all the techs in the department (spread across various sites).

At that meeting, this boss (not pointy head by any stretch), mentions that several schools have set up new web sites using this Content Management system, and mentions how crappy my web site looks, and how it could be helped by a "content management system" like this.

That is when I first mentioned that I am running a content management system, that didn't cost a dime. And the site's crappy features were do to NOBODY willing to learn how to use the system.

She was explaining all the various things that this new system could do, and I kept saying "Mine does that" to EVERYTHING. No FTP (yup), No HTML (Yup), Management features (yup), secure editing (yup)......

Well that went over like the lead brick I knew it was. Which leads us to today's meeting (un announced). She showed me the system (looks nice, easy etc). And I gave a tour of ours.

It was then that she realized that it wasn't the tool that was causing problems, it was the people.

Which gets me to my next point. Why do people use the phrase "I am not techological" to mean "Don't even try to teach me as I am not willing to learn"?

I mean how hard can it be to WYSIWYG a Web Page? Cut and Paste from WORD etc. I could understand if I were talking about Perl or the intracacies of Network protocols and the OSI model.

But I am not. I am talking about click here, click there, type this, and bam, you have a web page. Want a calendar, click "Calendar", want to add an image, click "Image".

Yes, it is NOT the tools, it is the PEOPLE. Spending money on a "professional" system is not the answer, unless it is "why are we broke?"

---steps down off of High Horse---

Okay,

I have moderation points again. But this time, I am taking requests for moderation, both UP or down. First five suggestions taken will be awared the points.

The only restrictions I have are,

1)Trolls will be Modded as -1, at my descretion
2) Find the obscure post that deserves moderation
3) If you comment on a request, and I think you are trolling for Moderation points I will MOD you -1

I don't have the time or energy to read every post. I am looking for truly "INTERESTING" or "FUNNY" posts that have been ignored and neglected.

On your mark,
Get Set,
GOOOOO!

I am getting ready to deploy a new server for some sort of groupware system. I am strongly considering using OpenGroupware, a newly opensourced (formerly propriatary) groupware system.

But I have had no experience with this particular system and am wondering what are the REAL LIFE requirements for this software. I am mainly looking at Processor/HD Space.

I know that much will depend upon how many users and such, having built a Exchange Server or two (Ewwww). But not knowing the average "Per User" load, I have no idea where to start.

Going to the web site http://www.opengroupware.org doesn't provide any sort of planning or requirements page.

I have a few months to try to get this organized and setup, and I am just looking for info right now.

Last question, what other OpenSource Groupware Servers are there?

Have a great weekend.

My goodness,

I just reread my last journal entry, and thought to myself "What kind of Crack were you smoking that day?"

Reminder to self: Don't write in your journal when you are both hot and tired.

Not to worry, I am not on Crack or any other drugs, nor was I on that day in question. In fact, if I were smoking something, it wouldn't have been Crack, but that green herb, not that I smoke anything anymore. Body is a temple thing.

And if I was on the Ganja, I assure you my ramblings might have made alot more sense. When I was a pot head (My nick in College was "IronLungs", had a theme song and everything, thanks Ozzie), I got my first "A" in my English 101 class writing while stoned.

The professor said "Whatever you did to write this keep on doing it". No Kidding! I am dead serious. My only thought now, was that that the professor figured I was stoned and was encouraging me to stay that way.

Come to think of it, my last JE must have been some sort of "flashback" or something, yeah, thats the ticket. A flashback, that really explains things doesn't it.

Hopefully this JE makes more sense.