Less than a concert, more than a rehersal

So as it ended up, almost nobody was in the open filk at Conflikt for the afternoon session. This was, I was told, because almost all of the convention membership were at the charity auction (in another function room) or were getting dinner early to make the concert series in the evening. So when I started, there was really nobody around except Anna. However, I did draw in a little crowd - as people would wander by outside, they'd come in, and most stayed. Two people started trying to improvise drum parts, which is part of the participatory meme, and as such an indicator of a positive reception.

So. Crime and the Forces of Evil semi-setlist, 26 January 2008 (Conflikt):

1: Untitled warmup piece, which I list because I had listeners, including this one kid who really liked it and danced around to it a bit. After this, I had a bit of a break because Sooj and Betsy showed up and we chatted a little, and I didn't want to distract them from their concert prep. Once they left for sound check...
2. Roadrunner (working title only, flute part only)
3. Leaffall
4. 桜木町 (Cherry Tree Station)
5. Dancing with Mrs. White
6. もののけ猫 (Mononoke Neko)
7. Goin' Up (with Special Pick Incident, consisting of me managing to throw my own damn pick into the mandolin. Very nice.)

After that, Anna and I played a bit with Luki, but I didn't play that all the way through, unlike Goin' Up, which we at least got through once. Audience participation on 桜木町 (Cherry Tree Station) and もののけ猫 (Mononoke Neko), if I remember correctly.

Then we went to the Skinny White Chick concert, and then to cflute's concert, and then as expected we had to leave, because annathepiper wasn't feeling well. And that's too bad, I was looking forward to opportunities later that evening to play in front of more people. Ah, well. Soon.

Computer stuff I don't want or need

OKAY, so, computer crap I don't want or need! Yours for the taking:

• Every heard of an LPX-format power supply, LTX-format motherboard, and LTX tower case? No? Neither had I. But I HAVE ONE! LPX was an intermediate step between AT/BabyAT and ATX; it has AT-compatible motherboard connectors but also some extra cables including a power switch lead that is not ATX compatible. I fixed the power supply and think it's good. The case is in fine shape. The CPU is probably damaged but could be replaced; it's a Celeron 400. You could replace the CPU, or put a BabyAT-format motherboard in this and probably be good. You cannot put an AT-format power supply in it, or an ATX motherboard, but you could put an ATX-format power supply in it, for all the good that would do you.
• Soundblaster or soundblaster-like ISA, yes, ISA, soundcard. (16-bit ISA, sorry ) Worked when last used, we think.
• External-only SCSI card, probably originally for a scanner. 16-bit ISA, same notation
• ATX-format motherboard with, um, Slot 7 I think it was called? It's loaded with a PII-350, can take up to a PIII-550, I know that much. Works fine except that the onboard hard drive controller failed, we don't know why. Slot cage was fine at last test.

All free and U-Haul from Murkworks North.

Euphemisms

Euphemisms being created: Racists devise new code word: "Canadian." Yes, really.

Euphemisms being ignored in favour of reality: the Asia Times writes about "US-style torture" spreading to Thailand.

Euphemisms as a business model: I thought the idea was dumb - cutting up movies to remove "offensive" content for Mormons and "social conservatives" - but I didn't see the harm, and if customers wanted their movies cut up like that and the proprietors weren't making bootleg copies, I figured, hey, leave 'em alone, what's the problem? I kinda had some sympathy for these guys. Oh, look, here's the problem: turns out that the "FlixClub" people doing this? They were also busy soliciting 14 year olds for sexual favours and filming them for kiddie pr0n. Bastards.