the Ressiemafia log
around midnight, Sunday the 16th of March 2003,
               on the EFnet IRC #Mensa channel

<Datum> rere
<gloriae> hi data
<Datum> heya glo =)
<gloriae> I added your host on pyth after it told taegrr that you had been here 168 days
ago 
<gloriae> Swish looked it up in a log from last night
<Datum> hahaha
<Datum> Yeah, this isp is kind of crazy..different dialin numbers seem to give me
drastically different IPs
<Datum> super dynamic..it'll change hostnames even.
<gloriae> you could end up with dozens ;> and out-quarf the quarf             j/k
<Datum> they farm out connections to other servers, it seems
<gloriae> I'm in the middle of a status crisis in Literati
<gloriae> I decided I wanted to get into the red zone, which is a 2100 rating or above
<Datum> *nod*
<gloriae> I've developed a strategy
<gloriae> which has gotten me into the 2000s and kept me there awhile
<gloriae> which occasional forays above 2100
<panblanco> wow
<gloriae> the strategy is:  Only play people whose ratings are higher than mine, unless
(a) if higher, their win:loss ratio is higher than 2:1, and  (b) if lower-rated, their
win:loss ratio is less than 1:2
<gloriae> my brief times in the red have meant a shorter wait for a good player
<gloriae> moments like this, I miss my ex, because he appreciates this kind of approach
to things
<gloriae> the reduction to quantitative analysis
<gloriae> I saw another mixed-race couple with a similar age difference (he was probably
15 or more years younger than she) on the bus last week
<gloriae> he held her hand as they went down the street
<gloriae> I hope they have as good a time together as my ex and I did
<Swish> mm
<Swish> holding hands is fun :)
<gloriae> we liked it, but we got disapproving looks from passersby so often that
usually we didn't when we wanted to
<Swish> gloriae, do they publish the exact algorithm used to rate literati games?
<Swish> (is it weighted the same as the chess ratings?)
<gloriae> I have no idea, Swish
<gloriae> I worked out my own strategy piece by piece
<Swish> if you really want to play the system, that'd be a great piece of information to
have.
<Swish> because then you can decisively choose to play and know how much you stand to
win or lose
<gloriae> it started with (a) don't play anybody with a win:loss ratio higher than 2:1 
<gloriae> because they're almost always cheaters who use anagrammer programs to sort
letters for them
<Swish> with that, you take out the obvious cheaters   *nod*
<gloriae> then it extended to (b) don't play anyone who is rated lower than I
<gloriae> because one loses more ratings points to a lower-rated player than a higher
<gloriae> and then the only exception to those is if their win:loss ratio is 1:2 or
lower
<gloriae> which I have yet to see in anyone with a rating higher than 1300 or so
<panblanco> how can you tell an anagrammer?
<Swish> panblanco, win:loss ratio
<Swish> unless they're really bad at cheating, they'll win much more than they lose
<gloriae> some of them are bad at cheating
<gloriae> and some of them only pull it out to get out of a tight spot
<gloriae> as when an opponent played VADOSE on me in a game this evening
<gloriae> it's not in my 25 pound dictionary
<panblanco> I got irritated the other day because I played someone with a high rating
and tied them :(
<gloriae> typically, anagrammers are much ruder than average
<gloriae> they're extremely defensive, they don't want to be called on it
<gloriae> they can be quite abusive at times
<panblanco> what fun is playing a game in which you always cheat
<gloriae> a whole cluster of character problems that accompany cheating
<gloriae> some kind of desperation, I think, pan, like when people steal
<gloriae> thrill-seeking or just plain desperate
<gloriae> worth avoiding :P
<Swish> indeed
<Swish> stealing because one is hungry can be understood..
<Swish> but stealing for personal gain...
<Clampy> Well, they just can't stand losing.
<gloriae> it's funny, in a sense, to see these cheaters yelling at honest people that
they're terrible players because their scores are lower
<gloriae> they're fooling very few people
<gloriae> funny in a sick, twisted way because it's so false
<gloriae> they can be nasty
<gloriae> and then you get the cowards who suck up to them and defend cheating, because
they're scared,  even though they won't cheat, themselves
<gloriae> they can't handle the abusive language
<Swish> a game is by definition something meant to entertain.  if someone really gets
their kicks out of cheating at a game.. if they *truly* find it entertaining even while
cheating.. then I guess I can understand why they keep doing it.
<panblanco> maybe they consider themselves hackers or something if they use that program
<gloriae> just like people who suck up to bullies offline
<Swish> but still, it's not a good character trait to enjoy cheating.
<gloriae> it's like bringing a motorcycle into a bicycle race
<gloriae> and screaming abuse at the bicyclists because they're not going as fast and
making as much noise
<Swish> and they'll win the race, for sure.
<Swish> but the emotional high they get from winning on a motorcycle is nowhere near as
complete and intense as if they hadn't cheated.
<Swish> or at least... I'd hope that's the case :)
<gloriae> for all I know, it's more intense
<gloriae> like the thrill dedicated thieves get from stealing
<Swish> i spose you're right
<Clampy> It's probably a lot harder to steal than it is to cheat in a game.
<Swish> not really.
<gloriae> as for thinking they're hackers because they use a program someone else wrote
*shrug*  ever hear of script kiddies?
<Swish> now, it's harder to steal a particular thing, sometimes
<Swish> but it's just as hard to say to someone, "cheat in this particular way"
<Swish> so imho it's very analogous
<gloriae> Swish, there are bots that come through the lounges advertising the cheat
programs
<Swish> wow
<gloriae> it takes very little effort to acquire one
<Swish> innnteresting.
<Swish> I wonder who hypes those.. my first guess would be the authors, or people
affiliated with the authors
<Swish> but hmm
<Swish> I do remember the day when games were so "hard" that I enjoyed finding the
cheats and using those
<Swish> beating some levels in wolfenstein 3D :D
<gloriae> people with sites loaded with ads, hoping for click-through
* Swish puts on god mode
<Swish> ahhhh
<Swish> good call!
<Swish> i'm still waiting for my cheat-enabled cellphone :)
<Swish> put in an earpiece/mic, and carry the cell on at all times like the jewel in
Ender's ear.
<Swish> the phone has a GPS in it, so it's capable of whispering driving directions (or
walking directions) in your ear while you're going somewhere
<Swish> you can ask it how to spell a word, or what the definition is...
<Swish> it can recognize music being played around you and give you artist/song title
information.. (or for classical music, the composer/conductor, etc)
<Swish> can IRC from it, of course :)
<Clampy> For some reason, that reminds me of the Borg.
<gloriae> I always like Hugh.  Hugh was my favourite Borg.
<Swish> :)
<Clampy> The only one with any personality, yah.
<Swish> what else could you do with that... useful stuff...
<Swish> dictate a personal reminder system
<Swish> "remind me that I have a dentist appointment at 4pm"
<Swish> etc.
<Clampy> If it can give you whispering messages, you could use it to creep people out.
<Swish> "tell my mom that I'll be home around 10 o'clock"
<Clampy> "If you build it, they will come".
<Swish> and it would call up "mom" to voice message her that
<Swish> hehe
<Swish> and letting it google for you...
<Swish> or search encyclopedias or the news...
<Swish> that's *phat*
<Swish> "how do I play cat's cradle?"
<Swish> and having it able to read off an explanation from a googled website..
<gloriae> it's already creepy seeing people talking to someone who isn't there on the
street or at the grocery
<gloriae> one must look closely to see the tiny headset
<Swish> mmmmph! :D
<Swish> that is the future, methinks.
<gloriae> hi Resurgam
<Swish> Resurgam!!!
* Swish perrrounces
<Clampy> Hi Res.
<Resurgam> OH MY GOD IT'S A SWISH!
<Swish> give it 10 years.
<Resurgam> hi glorie :D
<Swish> we'll see it.
* Resurgam kisses swishiepooziedorqusidiotimus ;P
<Swish> awww
* Swish smooches rezzie hullo
* Datum pokes res in the eye
<Resurgam> DATUM?
<Resurgam> OH
<Datum> it totally wasn't me.
<Resurgam> MY
<Resurgam> golly where the HELL have you been?!
<Datum> Oh you know me..I wander about..like a minstrel. ;)
<Resurgam> while you were gone, my tummy is much better, thank you :D
<Datum> I was just about to ask
<gloriae> heheheh swishiepooziedorqusidiotimus
<gloriae> translation:  beloved moron
<Resurgam> very much so, glo :D
* gloriae speaks excellent resurgamese
<Resurgam> aka court jester ;)
* Resurgam must take swish shopping *Gr*
<gloriae> I am SO wiping the board in this game
<Resurgam> you interpreteramoroius to the maximusglutimus ;)
<gloriae> this game is a gift
<Resurgam> what, illiterati?
<Swish> hehe :D
<gloriae> my opponent is 2145 and I'm more than 100 points ahead of him
<Resurgam> heh
<gloriae> as I'm at 2090, it might take me into the red again
<Swish> gloriae :D
* gloriae is developing a liking for being in the red
<Resurgam> heh
<Swish> I love this beloved moron thing
* Swish puts on the dunce hat
<Resurgam> swish you cow when did you return?
<Swish> I returrrrned... the 14th? 15th?
<Resurgam> and datum, you gotta keep me updated as to your whereabouts ;D
* Resurgam loves her datumie
<gloriae> 311 to 183 at the moment
<Swish> gloriae, neat :D
<Resurgam> 3 year anniversary on tuesday!!!
* Clampy wonders why Swish is wearing a dunce cap.
* Swish cheers gloriae on
<Resurgam> clamperoonie :)
* gloriae enjoys being around people who occasionally pretend that what she's up to
matters a bit :)
<gloriae>                 *group*hug*
<gloriae> Resurgam, your 3rd wedding anniversary?
<Resurgam> *gr*o*up*hu*g*
<Resurgam> yes, glo :D
<gloriae> congratularoonies to the max
<Swish> gloriae, meh.  honestly, since I like you, it does matter :)
<Resurgam> thankyouramalicious
<Swish> anything that makes you happy makes me [not as happy] but marginally more happy
:)
<Swish> hehe
<Swish> if I hated you, something making you happier would probably piss me off just a
little :)
<Resurgam> and i would also like to extend my congrafrickin'lations to you, glo, for
being the first city in these united states to carry LUSH on powell street!!! :D
* Swish hears thunderclouds roll in, overhead
<Resurgam> where data go now?
* Swish zaps Resurgam's tush with a lightning bolt
<Datum> Data's right here =)
<Resurgam> swish is my right hand man in the ressiemafia
<Resurgam> hehehe
* Resurgam cackles deliriously
<gloriae> hahahaa the ressiemafia
<Swish> :)
<Resurgam> that tingled!!
<Swish> :D
<Resurgam> ;@
<Clampy> Ressiemafia?
<Swish> it makes little fuzzie peachfuzz hair go perky!
<Datum> I'm just a lowly footsoldier in the ressiemafia, I guess. ;)
<Resurgam> hehe
* Datum decides to be hurt with his plight in Res's imagination. ;)
<gloriae> Resurgam, if you succeed in drafting Datum, you'll find he's a very special
asset indeed
*** gloriae changes topic to 'The RessieMafia'
<Resurgam> datum might get a promotion as the head feather teaser if he's good ;)
<Resurgam> woo!
<Swish> has anyone met datum!?
<Datum> Yes, I am...you know why?  I sweat honey.  Not many people know that. ;)
* Swish looks around!
<Swish> hehe
<Resurgam> woohoo!
<Resurgam> lemme lick ya, babEE. :P
<Clampy> Swish, I'm sure many people have.
<gloriae> hahahaha
<Resurgam> LOL clampy
* gloriae hits the RED ZONE
<gloriae> 2109!
<Datum> hah
* Clampy blows a kazoo.
<Swish> woo woo!
<Datum> Noone knows me...I'm an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in fried chicken
livers.
<Swish> gloriae is a master! :D
<gloriae> I am one of the 3 lowest reds
<Swish> (k, so what's the red zone mean again?)
<gloriae> 2100 and above
<gloriae> that's all it means
<Swish> yes but
<Swish> is it top 0.5% or something?
<gloriae> not that I know of
<Swish> how cool are we talkin :)
<gloriae> we're talking pretty cool
<Swish> :D
<Resurgam> as long as you're not all that wrapped in a falafel bread...
<gloriae> way less than 1/5 of the players
<gloriae> possibly less than 1/10
<Swish> hehe
<Swish> top 10% woo :)
* Swish guesses you're being tres humble :)
<gloriae> what am I wrapping in a falafel bread now?
<gloriae> pita bread actually
<Datum> Actually, my back side is one big falafel...I call it my HummusBumus
* Swish wraps lush soft satiny female body in falafel bread
<gloriae> yoicks
* gloriae backs away slowly
<Swish> as a lebanese, I can attest to the yumminess of falafel :)
<Swish> hehe
* Resurgam thinks swish needs to come back to reality and out of atlanta ;)
<Resurgam> hehe
<Swish> shush you
<Clampy> Swish is a lebanese?
<Datum> hah
<gloriae> few things have the yumminess of falafel
<Swish> my cousin's wife.. makes the best falafel ever tasted by human
<Swish> ever.
<Swish> just.. unbelievable.
<gloriae> a few ... giros, perhaps, and  ....  what's that one where there is ground
meat packed in a cylinder, rotating before the fire
<Swish> gyro, yes
<Swish> there's one with lamb/beef and one with chicken
<gloriae> one cuts off slices or chunks to plonk into a monster delicitude of a sandwich
sort of thing
<Swish> shawarma
<Resurgam> heh
<gloriae> shawarma!
<Swish> :)
<Swish> it's very good, yes.
<gloriae> I first had that in Vancouver
<Datum> How do you spell that Syrian raw meat dish...sounds like "kibbey"
<gloriae> though there are many sources closer to home in SF, Berkeley, Oakland
<Swish> try it in beirut.. it's to die for.
<gloriae> raw??
<Swish> mmm
<Swish> kibbey neighyie
<Datum> Yep
<Swish> (kibby "raw")
<Datum> Oh, I *love* it
* Swish tries to transliterate it a little better
<Swish> I love it too :)
<gloriae> that looks like a good transliteration
<gloriae> I could even get it right the first time, looking at that
<gloriae> but that's because I know the GH is silent
<Datum> Raw meat never tasted so good
<Swish> crushed wheat, I think.. blended with perfect raw meat
<Swish> with olive oil...
<Swish> and a sprig of mint...
<gloriae> ah, bulgar?
<Datum> Right, raw meat and crushed meat served with olive oil
<Swish> yep gloriae
<Swish> burgul
<Swish> same stuff as in tabooleh
<Swish> mmm :D
<Datum> In christian households, isn't it traditional to have a cross carved in the
middle of the Kibbey?
<gloriae> or kibbeh
<gloriae> well, artistic chefs do that sort of thing anyway
<Resurgam> kibbey!?
<Resurgam> kibbeh!?
<gloriae> like in the top of a good loaf of bread
<Resurgam> er...
<gloriae> it makes it prettier and it rises more
<Resurgam> that'd be a first for me.
<Resurgam> ahh like hot crossed buns?
<gloriae> well, those are frosted
<Resurgam> er...
<Swish> yes
<Resurgam> yeah.
<gloriae> on bread loaves, it's cut into the risen dough with a very sharp knife before
going into the oven
<gloriae> or diagonal slashes
<Swish> but the cross isn't for christianity
<Swish> it's to hold more olive oil :D
<gloriae> different bakers use different designs
<gloriae> Crux Probat Omnia:  The Cross Tests Everything :)
<Datum> Ohhh
<Datum> Interesting..I guess I just assumed that, because the only time I've eaten it
was with a Christian lebanese family
<gloriae> maybe some have the tradition and some don't
<gloriae> I've failed to develop any enthusiasm for raw meat
<gloriae> unless it's quite hot, in the middle of a blackened burger or steak
<gloriae> and not really quite raw any more but still red
<Datum> Well, I was kind of stunned, given that a group of doctors were telling me that
it was Ok to eat raw meat...I took it without much question and eyed it suspiciously
until I tasted it.
<gloriae> it is OK if all the implements used were very, very clean
<gloriae> the animal healthy, the knives and saws germ-free, the grinder/chopper
likewise
<gloriae> and whoever assembled the dish healthy and clean
<gloriae> that's a lot of trust in my book
<Datum> It's a lot of trust..I probably won't eat it again, but it was so very good
<gloriae> mmmmmmm yes, you all have made me want it
<Resurgam> mmm... bread.
* Datum pokes res in the eye with the feather teaser
<Datum> whoops
* Resurgam growls
* Resurgam contemplates on getting her right hand man to whip datum into submission ;D
<Datum> That sounds somehow more painful than I would probably expect. ;)
<gloriae> I'm not going to play for awhile, I'm just going to admire my red square
<gloriae> I don't think he responds well to whipping
<gloriae> hmmmm
<Clampy> Is Data made of egg-whites?
<gloriae> perhaps res doesn't respond well to being poked in the eye with a feather
teaser
<Datum> Right, well..I respond fairly well to whipped potatoes.
<gloriae> I'm giddy
<gloriae> normally I wouldn't be minding anyone else's business
<gloriae> much.
<Datum> That's fine, you're welcome into my business...it's getting to be burdensome to
be this angsty all by myself..perhaps you can take up the slack. ;)
* gloriae pokes aroung the angsty stuff to see what looks good
<gloriae> something shiny and bright
<gloriae> pretty beads 
<Datum> That's my bottle cap collection. ;)
<gloriae> something for which I'd trade Manhattan
<Datum> <-- went to Mardi Gras and got pretty beads
<gloriae> ah, did you now
<gloriae> that's a low-down mess of thieves, that mardi gras crowd
<Datum> and by pretty beads, I mean, "Grimy New Orleans filth soaked beads"
<gloriae> like hallowe'en in the castro district
<Matriac> lol..
<Datum> Yep, it's a crazy, crazy town during Mardi Gras
<Matriac> You know the world is going crazy when...
<Matriac> The best rapper is a white guy,
<Matriac> The best golfer is a black guy,
<Matriac> And Germany doesn't want to go to war.
<gloriae> hahaha Matriac
<gloriae> topic material
<gloriae> can you fit that in the topic?
<Datum> haha
<gloriae> open topic now
<Datum> I don't think you can fit that
<Matriac> hey, i didnt pay attention, ;P im idling..playing AO, just recieved that and i
thought this was a goodp lace to tell it :P
<gloriae> what's AO ?
<Clampy> Anarchy Online?
<Datum> Apoplexy Online
<Matriac> yea, Anarchy Online :P
* gloriae does the dance of shiny new red shoes *twirl*
<gloriae> I'm never playing this stinking game again
<gloriae> I'm just polishing my red square
<Matriac> lol..
<Datum> hah
<Datum> re beezy
<beezy> re urf
<Resurgam> beez
<beezy> uf
<beezy> didja find anything on that site?
<Swish> hehe gloriae
*** Swish changes topic to 'The RessieMafia endorses gloriae's position as Supreme Red
Chancelor to all things Literati'
<Datum> all hail chairwoman glo ;)
<gloriae> hehehehe
<gloriae> you crazy ppls
<Resurgam> hahahahaha
<Resurgam> great :)
<Resurgam> yes yes i endorse ;D
<gloriae> wait.  We carried LUSH on powell street?  wha' dat?
<gloriae> tonight's scroll is rather good :D
<gloriae> worth several giggles as I went through it
<gloriae> damn, it should be a log, I ordain it
<gloriae> time to cut and paste awhile and book it to Quarf
<gloriae> for placement on the log page of the channel website
<gloriae> back in a few ....
*** Disconnected (logging off to preserve text ...)