Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

You know, I was going to add a bunch of new features this morning, and then I realized that adding new features a day before leaving is probably a very poor idea… So… As soon as I'm landed again I have some little tweaks to do on the forums, and I've also come up with what I think is a decent way of sharing a limited page with non-IAM members (so then IAM members can list this as a public homepage).

Anyway, Toronto Suscon (hosted by iWasCured and I think Rites of Passage — I apologize if I got groups mixed up — and be careful on the ROP site, it has a lot of pop-under ads) should be well under way now (I know because Marty and Clive just stopped by to pick up sutures — someone's chest hook tore out). I think they are planning on suspending about twenty-five people today, which is certainly ambitious.

Then later today there's also Vegan Jonny's party, as well as Gary's MSC bowling party. I think I'll mostly be trying to stay out of Rachel's way as she makes it all happen — seriously, I know I already said it, but as must have been quite obvious to everyone here yesterday helping with both the tower and with loading the moving truck, I really can't get anything done without her. Oh, and I have to fix Saira's computer, and maybe Ashleigh will make it up for the BBQ as well.

Some photos from this morning. I misplaced the digital camera, so I shot them on our little instant camera and scanned them… Nothing wrong with that though, the instants produce pictures with a really nice vibe:

Julie McBedstealer.		The Leaning Tower of IWC		Everyone expects treats.

Also, I've been getting a few questions and comments about the BBQ. I'll answer them here as well as in IM, because I think the questions are relevant:

>(stupid question) is there any chance that people could be
>advised to bring name tags?

Sounds like a good idea to me -- at a couple of the BBQs people have brought name tags and it worked really well. Although the good thing is now that we've been having the BBQs here for I think three years (!), a lot of people recognize each other in person with ease.

>My Plane gets in at like 630 am and i was
>wondering if you would mind if i came and left my bag there
>in the morning! If you need help setting up and stuff id be
>happy to help as well.

Thanks for the offer to help set up -- I think that we're OK in that department. As far as dropping off your bags, I can't promise that there'll be anyone (or anyone awake) here before about 1 PM on Monday... So... It doesn't bother me if you dump your bag in the back yard, but I can't promise to guard it. Once the BBQ starts though (2 PM or so) you're more than welcome to stash any stuff in the house.

Note: I should also add that stores will be closed on Monday because it's a holiday. So, if you're bringing beer or BBQ food, you should probably pick it up on Sunday (ie. today). Also, I'm not doing a killer fireworks show -- I'm saving my "fireworks money" for July 1st... So... The fireworks will be in part a BYOF event -- I'll have some, but hopefully others will being some to (but don't try and bring them across the border, it's asking for trouble).

>I just wanted to confirm if we
>were allowed to bring guests. I thought I read somewhere
>that we could but I wanted to be sure.

Yes, of course -- guests are 100% welcome.

>What are your rules on video taping the event?
>If possible can I bring my camera to interview people for a
>dating documentary?

Personal cameras/videocameras are perfectly welcome, but if you want to interview people for broadcast, don't film crowd shots, and make VERY sure that anyone you're talking to knows what it's for. If the people being filmed are OK with it, it's just fine by me.

Well, I hope that sums things up well enough. Those of you who will/have made it up here, I'll see you in about 27 hours. Remember to dress warm — it's supposed to be as cold as 35 degrees as the evening rolls on, with perhaps isolated showers. I'd also recommend coming early. Then you get to have the nicer sunny part of the day outside at least.

See you soon!
(My god, is that 300 people on the RSVP list?)

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One little newsy thing… I think everyone's been seeing the latest warnings about new Al Qaeda attacks… The story is that their operatives may be (or plant on) renting apartments, filling them with explosives, and blowing up the buildings. Seeing as the intelligence community (as always) has no solid information on this other than some rumor, I really thought it highly irresponsible to release this “warning” for the following reasons:

• Most importantly, it is impossible to guard against this type of attack. There is nothing that can be done to stop them. If you're fighting the Hydra, you don't just cut off its head — another two grow back. You have to cut it off at its root, and cauterize the wound.
• Equally importantly, it's such a vague warning that it's meaningless. Should every landlord in every apartment building in America search every apartment? There is no solution to this warning.
• It will make life utter hell for people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent if they have recently moved in to an apartment building, or are seeking to rent. Considering that it's been drilled into us that “Palestinians use babies for bombs”, I suspect that these prejudices will even stop families from being able to rent.

Finally, a quiz: Why is this photo blurred on the right half? (Warning, it is a nude photo, although definitely not porn).