2015.09.21 13:00 - Concordet and Colbert

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Bruce Mowbray: Howdy do!
Aphrodite Macbain: Howdy Bruce!
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: What was that name of the t shirt you sent me
Aphrodite Macbain: I can't find it in my inventory
Bruce Mowbray: ? Can you describe it, please.
Qt Core: Hi Aph, Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Qt!
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles at Qt
Aphrodite Macbain: salve!
Aphrodite Macbain: the one with the planet on it
Bruce Mowbray: Oh yes, that was the Pluto shirt.
Bruce Mowbray: I will give you another one.
Aphrodite Macbain: right
Bruce Mowbray: :) just sec, please.
Aphrodite Macbain: I found it
Aphrodite Macbain: under umbrellas!!
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha!
Bruce Mowbray: I just gave you another one.
Aphrodite Macbain: I have lots now. Thanks!
Bruce Mowbray: Somehow it looks more like an acorn than a planet, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: Lol
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha!

Expo Milano

Bruce Mowbray: So how is everything in Milano, Qt?
Qt Core: quite good, in Expo these past week there were about 1 million visitors per week
Bruce Mowbray: WOW!
Aphrodite Macbain: how does the city handle such crowds?
Qt Core: new visitors record past Sunday, not yesterday with 244,964
Aphrodite Macbain: Is it hard on the residents of Milano?
iBruce Mowbray: I'm sure there is plenty of hotel space, no?
Aphrodite Macbain: I lived in a tourist town once and it was hard- especially in grocery stores
Qt Core: no, it is just that when there are more than 150,000, the queue at the most sought after pavilions (Italy, Japan and Kazakhstan mostly) become very long, up to a new record of 7 hours
Aphrodite Macbain: wow
Bruce Mowbray: ahhhh... long line, for sure.
Aphrodite Macbain: what makes them so special? Have you seen them?
Qt Core: Expo is outside the city and very well served by public transports so no really trouble for the locals
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Qt Core: i've seen Italy and Kazakhstan, Italy ok, is the host country and the biggest pavilion and Kazakhstan is very exciting
Bruce Mowbray: Hmmm. Fascinating.
Aphrodite Macbain: Very efficient planning and organization
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: how is it exciting?
Aphrodite Macbain: Kazakhstan 's a beautiful part of the world, high mountains, lush valleys
Qt Core: there are two shows beside the exposition itself, one of a sand artist and one in a 4d mini-theatre
Bruce Mowbray: Wow.. 4D?: 
Aphrodite Macbain: which is the 4th D?
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, druth.
Qt Core: yes, the floor with the chairs moves, you get 3d glasses and there are fans to make you feel the flying experience
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya druth
druth Vlodovic: hey'all
Qt Core: hi Druth
Aphrodite Macbain: Cal is talking about the Kazakhstan exhibit in Milan
Bruce Mowbray: Holy Hypercube!
druth Vlodovic: sounds like a thing I did in British Columbia
Aphrodite Macbain: ??
Aphrodite Macbain: am trying to remember
druth Vlodovic: near the water they have a sort  of fly over the province thing: you weren't there for some reason

Aphrodite Macbain: ah since I don't remember flying over water

Bruce Mowbray my typist just does hyper without the cube.
Qt Core: for a temporary installation they went a long way
druth Vlodovic: where was this qt?
Aphrodite Macbain: in the Kazakhstan pavilion at expo in Milan
Qt Core: in milan expo 2015, kazakhstan pavilion
Bruce Mowbray nods.

Flying high

Aphrodite Macbain: Interesting our need to fly above things. I just watched a TED talk about a guy who ballooned up to the stratosphere and then fell free-fall for a while and then parachuted down.
Bruce Mowbray: hmmm.
Aphrodite Macbain: He enjoyed it
Bruce Mowbray: I would think so.
Aphrodite Macbain: It took 3 years to plan and many millions
Bruce Mowbray: That was a LONG ride!
Aphrodite Macbain: and he dropped to the earth in 4 minutes
Bruce Mowbray: oh, sry.
druth Vlodovic: all part of growing up
Aphrodite Macbain: a long way up
Aphrodite Macbain: apparently the stratosphere is quite warm
Bruce Mowbray: I think I've given up flying for this lifetime. I really don't enjoy it anymore.
druth Vlodovic: we start tiny and keep getting taller for 16 years, some people don't want to stop :P
Aphrodite Macbain: I fly so I can get to somewhere else
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: lol druth

Qt Core: those are the pic of the day i visited both Italy and Kazakhstan pavilion (first time i went there not alone, u much better experience): https://picasaweb.google.com/1104762...07295631005522
Qt Core: u=a
Bruce Mowbray: ty, Qt.
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks Qt. I'll have a look later. Why was it better not alone?
Qt Core: most experience are better with someone you can say "look there"
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bleu Oleander: hi guys
Qt Core: hi Bleu
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Bleu.
druth Vlodovic: hey bleu
 

Chosing a pavilion

Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Bleu!
Aphrodite Macbain: That was a good meeting yesterday
Bleu Oleander: yes it was
Aphrodite Macbain: Did Darren make any changes?
druth Vlodovic: so we all want to be up in company, planet of the monkeys
Bleu Oleander: actually I think all the pavilion sessions have been interesting and a lot of great observations
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi FC!
Aphrodite Macbain: Great to see you
Qt Core: Hi Fc
FcSeeker Resident: Hello all
Bruce Mowbray: Fc!!
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes- it is interesting what becomes important to people
Aphrodite Macbain: What things people notice and what some don't
Bleu Oleander: yes
Bleu Oleander: hi Fc
Aphrodite Macbain: Is San going to do a proposal?
Bleu Oleander: will be interesting to see how people vote
Bleu Oleander: no this is the last
Bleu Oleander: voting starts next Monday
Aphrodite Macbain: ah-I guess San is too busy
Bleu Oleander: yes
Bleu Oleander: so 5 pavilions to choose from
Aphrodite Macbain: Do we vote for only one or for 3 favourites?
Bleu Oleander: photos are in the art gallery and on the wiki if you need a reminder
druth Vlodovic: rather like the colour scheme on this one
Bleu Oleander: top 2
Aphrodite Macbain is glad to see that Fc has a cushion. Thanks Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: Bruce Mowbray: yw.

Bleu Oleander: favorite and also second choice
Aphrodite Macbain: ah OK
druth Vlodovic: though it seems to need tiny poses :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder what we will do if there's a tie
Bleu Oleander: I think which ever pavilion we choose we can do a tiny pillow for Fc :)
Bruce Mowbray: I sure hope so.
Aphrodite Macbain: Of course!
Bleu Oleander: WG will figure out if a tie
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe 6 months each....
Qt Core: on a voting with two choice to make we can use Condorcet method
Aphrodite Macbain: what's that Bleu?
Bleu Oleander: special way of voting
Aphrodite Macbain tries to imagine
druth Vlodovic: http://pbfcomics.com/271/
Qt Core: if there is a tie discard the first choice of the people voting for the least voted one and add their second choice to the results (and so on)
Bleu Oleander: assigning value to #1 and #2 votes ... coming up with a way to get a better vote... more complicated but supposed to be better

Elections

Bruce Mowbray ponders doing that in a Presidential election in USA.
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll wait and watch
druth Vlodovic: I wish we could do our federal election like that
Bruce Mowbray nods.
druth Vlodovic: we don't even have a bad hair billionaire to choose :P
Qt Core: it is in several place, Australia and Ireland at some level i think
Bruce Mowbray: Look out for hanging chads.
Bleu Oleander: imagine our gov't trying to figure that out lol
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha.: 
druth Vlodovic: or just try the Russian method of voting against, rather than for, the turnout would be stellar
Bleu Oleander: :)
Qt Core: i like the idea, it is a way to say, ok i like x, but if i can't have him i'd like y, absolutely not z for me too
Bruce Mowbray nods, a good plan.
Qt Core: in another news we are trying to make our upper house not elective...
druth Vlodovic: I found a questionnaire that made me wish I could vote directly for policies instead of talking heads
Aphrodite Macbain: Like our Senate Qt....which we are trying to change so they are elected!
druth Vlodovic: in Canada we are trying to eliminate our unelected house, dangerous idea to my small mind
Aphrodite Macbain: The prime minister appoints his cronies
Bleu Oleander: back to royalty and inherited power??
Aphrodite Macbain: Some do nothing and are paid big bucks
druth Vlodovic: maybe we could let it along idealistic lines instead of territorial
Bleu Oleander: a lot do nothing and are paid big bucks ha!
Bruce Mowbray: In US, we elect both houses of the federal legislature, and we have a popular vote for President - although technically, the President is elected by a "College" of electors - who are required by law to vote for the popular choice.
druth Vlodovic: and give them all minimum wage :P
Aphrodite Macbain: Most Canadians want to change it so the senate is elected but it's a very slow process
Qt Core: ;-) no, some system to bring local elected people out from what they were elected for and take them to the upper house
Aphrodite Macbain: ah so they would come from the lower house Qt?
Qt Core: no, from biggest municipalities, provinces and regional level houses
Aphrodite Macbain: then would they retire to the upper house after their term is over?
druth Vlodovic: just imagine a house consisting of nothing for "communist party" "Islamic party" "jewish party""marijuanna party" etc
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: What is the advantage, Qt?
Qt Core: they would be more related to the land, in some form how senate in us should be
Qt Core: (i think but haven't followed it very much
Aphrodite Macbain: the land being the whole country?
Bruce Mowbray: Hmmm.
Qt Core: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
druth Vlodovic: supposedly both our houses are regional, but there are ways around that, legal and not
Bruce Mowbray: In US, the lower house is elected for only two years, then they have to get re-elected; whereas, the upper house is elected for 8 years.... before having to be re-elected.

Arisia Vita: greetings all
Bleu Oleander: hi Ari :)
Bruce Mowbray: Ari!
Qt Core: hi Ari
Arisia Vita: what a nice group of friends
Aphrodite Macbain: well the House of commons represents people from all across the country but the division is not always fair or representational
Arisia Vita: great to see you again Fc
Aphrodite Macbain: Ari! Hi
FcSeeker Resident dies from laughing....
FcSeeker Resident: Hello Ari <3
druth Vlodovic: hi ari
Arisia Vita: laughter brings us back to life :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Long time no see Ari. How are you?
Arisia Vita: great, and hope all of you are too
Bruce Mowbray: Sorry, Fc, I don't think that cushion allows one to die laughing. I will try mine.
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers, it works.
druth Vlodovic: Arisia, we started talking about pavilions, but since it is voting season in both Canada amd US we decided to talk about Donald Trump instead
Aphrodite Macbain: Can you explain to me why he is so popular?
Bleu Oleander: entertaining
druth Vlodovic: TV personality and says what he thinks
Bruce Mowbray: His appeal is to the lower angels of human nature.
Qt Core: i'm reading a few blog post by Scot Adams (Dilbert creator) about how technically he is a communication and "mind manipulator" genius
Bleu Oleander: we love our celebs
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles at the term "lower angels"
Aphrodite Macbain: Lucifers?
druth Vlodovic: we elected Mike Harris on the same platform in Ontario, and were shocked when he did what he said he would
Aphrodite Macbain: Apparently many people in Ontario are very conservative and wish they could vote for Trump because he is a successful business man.
Bruce Mowbray: He is a narcissistic psychopath -- Everything is "I AM GREAT and you are not."
Bleu Oleander: I'm not sure why we feel we need to be entertained by our politicians
Arisia Vita: what else can they do?
Aphrodite Macbain: because people get bored with politics
Aphrodite Macbain: short attention spans
Bleu Oleander: well people get bored with prime time TV too
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bleu Oleander: people ought to snap out of it lol
druth Vlodovic: more frustrated, we don't believe any of them believe in anything but their own profit anyway
Bleu Oleander: well that's true
Aphrodite Macbain: What is missing are eloquent speakers who have a vision for the country
Bleu Oleander: does anybody?
Aphrodite Macbain: nope
Arisia Vita: who was the last eloquent one Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: Trudeau used to be (Pierre )
druth Vlodovic: ech, don't give me that ayn rand stuff, people believe in helping others when the consequences aren't insurmountable
Aphrodite Macbain: and Steven Lewis is amazing
Bruce Mowbray: "Anyone who is not white, rich, male, and English-speaking is a 'light-weight loser,,,," -- Trump's attitude
Aphrodite Macbain feels herself getting depressed
Qt Core: we just have the second or third party founded and leaded by a former comedy actor/ standup comedian...
Aphrodite Macbain: Berlusconi is a clown
druth Vlodovic: good choice, was he any good on stage?
Qt Core: and many hope that following him they'll become like him (just like with our Berlusconi)
Bruce Mowbray: We have a stand-up comedian in the Senate -- Al Franken -- and he's a liberal too.
Qt Core: yes, i liked him as a comedian
Bruce Mowbray: (my kind of guy).
Aphrodite Macbain: You had an actor for a president in the 80s
Bruce Mowbray: sad to say, yes.
Aphrodite Macbain: He could deliver his lines well
druth Vlodovic: comedians typically have to see through and present bullshit
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: that's why we like them. We all need fools to remind us of our weaknesses and fears
Aphrodite Macbain: but I don't think Reagan was all that smart...
Aphrodite Macbain: so we need smart fools....
Aphrodite Macbain: QED
Bleu Oleander: Colbert
druth Vlodovic: maybe just draft good comedians into politics
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Arisia Vita: Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge". - Isaac Asimov
Bleu Oleander: Colbert has Trump on the late show I think tomorrow night
Qt Core: :-) Ari
Aphrodite Macbain: we are as disenchanted as our youth  are, I think. Nice quote Ari.
druth Vlodovic: it is funny in American entertainment it is always jock hero vs scientist villain
Bruce Mowbray: Colbert had Jeb Bush on his show its very first night.
Aphrodite Macbain: and?
Bleu Oleander: didn't think Bush did that well
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: I think Colbert is trying to give every candidate a chance... maybe to show his/her true colors.
Bleu Oleander: they're colorful alright!!
Bleu Oleander: Walker just quit
Aphrodite Macbain: I've never watched it. What channel?
Bruce Mowbray: Really!?
Bruce Mowbray: I had not heard that.
Bruce Mowbray: GOOOOOOD!
Bleu Oleander: CBS
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: what time?
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for the news.
Bleu Oleander: yw!
Bleu Oleander: http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-sh...ephen-colbert/
Bruce Mowbray: So, both Perry and Walker have dropped out, so far.
Qt Core: Walker ?
Aphrodite Macbain: That's what we need here. A late night show again
Bruce Mowbray: Governor of Wisconsin.
Aphrodite Macbain: Is he terrible?
Qt Core: in which bed they found him ? ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Bruce Mowbray: I think so -- and some friend in Wisconsin think so, but apparently many folks like him -- but not enough for him to run for President.
Aphrodite Macbain: How many Republican candidates are there now?
Bleu Oleander: 15?
Aphrodite Macbain: yikes
Bruce Mowbray: Hard to count them all... I think maybe 11 or 12.
Arisia Vita: I ran out of fingers....
Bleu Oleander: something like that
Aphrodite Macbain: OMG
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Bleu Oleander: crazy
Bruce Mowbray: Crazy, indeed.
Aphrodite Macbain: what about Democratic candidates?
druth Vlodovic: give them each their own party and fight it out would be best for their country
Bleu Oleander: well maybe 3-4? Biden is still deciding
Bruce Mowbray: Two leading ones: Bernie and Hillary.
druth Vlodovic: I wish Canadian politicians didn't keep sabotaging out attempts at minority gov't
Bruce Mowbray: Biden in the wings.
Aphrodite Macbain: What do you think of Hillary?
Bruce Mowbray: I would support Hillary if Bernie doesn't make it.
Bruce Mowbray: but I have some trust issues, although I have those with all of the candidates.
Bleu Oleander: I like Bernie, not sure the country would elect him
Aphrodite Macbain: I know nothing about Bernie
Bruce Mowbray: Yeah, I doubt that Bernie would be electable.
Bruce Mowbray: unfortunately.
Aphrodite Macbain: they are all human.....
Aphrodite Macbain: no one can be perfect. Pick the best of them
Bruce Mowbray: Bernie calls himself a Democratic Socialist.
Bleu Oleander: the country hates that word
Aphrodite Macbain: that sounds as far left as the US is willing to go!
Bruce Mowbray: The term "socialist" drives Americans nuts.
Bleu Oleander: yep
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Bruce Mowbray: So, we continue to have enormous income disparities.
Aphrodite Macbain: our socialist party is called the National Democratic Party
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: they, too, evade the label
Bleu Oleander: Bernie was on Colbert ... was funny!
Bruce Mowbray: I really like Bernie. He seems authentic to me.
Aphrodite Macbain: and yet what makes Canada special is it socialist policies like national health care
Bruce Mowbray: Right, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: but everyone is shifting to the right
Bleu Oleander: I would pay more taxes if it meant good healthcare and education for everyone!
Aphrodite Macbain: me too
Bruce Mowbray: I would too, Bleu.
druth Vlodovic: too much stupid level interference making a joke of socialism, in Canada, banning sugar etc
Aphrodite Macbain: people here are most concerned about the economy and jobs;  I'm most concerned about the environment
Bruce Mowbray: On this happy note, I must leave. Time to be scraping up supper. May all be safe and well.
Bleu Oleander: bye Bruce
druth Vlodovic: happy munching
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Bruce. Thanks for your contributions
Bleu Oleander: should go too
Aphrodite Macbain: Bon appétit
Bleu Oleander: nice to see you all
Qt Core: Bye Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: Glad you came Bleu
Bleu Oleander: take care
Aphrodite Macbain: ciao bella
Arisia Vita: bye Bleu
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm so glad to see Ari and Fc here- it's been ages
Arisia Vita: and we are glad to see all of you

Perfect Paradise

Aphrodite Macbain: Are you visiting Perfect Paradise Ari?
druth Vlodovic: I like the "thank you for not smoking" vibe (in the pause)
Aphrodite Macbain: what's happening there?
Arisia Vita: yes, I have started playing my piano there
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Arisia Vita: and it is lovely
Aphrodite Macbain: when?
Arisia Vita: Mira has done a good job with it
Arisia Vita: I play often, but not scheduled
Aphrodite Macbain: Maybe we should go and visit it to see what's changed
Arisia Vita: good idea
Aphrodite Macbain: same LM?
Arisia Vita: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: great
Arisia Vita: can we all go?
Qt Core: I'm going to sleep, some sleep debt to pay ;-)
Arisia Vita: ok, see you later Qt
Qt Core: Bye all!
druth Vlodovic: cu qt
druth Vlodovic: let's make an outing of PP
Arisia Vita: ok, do you know the way?
Arisia Vita: I will tp you Fc
druth Vlodovic: tp me?
Arisia Vita: sure
Arisia Vita: stand by