Magere Hein

I'm tempted to ask: Could it be magic? regards, Hein

I've just finished rereading The Island of the Colourblind, by neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks. He'll turn 80 soon and had a malignant tumor in his right eye a few years ago. One to keep an eye on. regards, Hein

Aha! A dead dictator, that's always good news. I did think about him for my DDP 2013 team, but I couldn't find any reports on his health, so I dropped him. regards, Hein

DL Duty nice guy reporting! Hey, everyone, take a few deep breaths and calm down. I'm not thrilled that 218 recipients can now know my email address. Still: what damage is done, exactly? My email address may or may not contain information about my Real Identity. If it does, the fault is mine, I should have created a dummy email just for DDP purposes. Mistakes happen. It's not as if my email address was posted on the web, and so released into the spamosphere. As the Dutch joke goes: Q: Why don´t Belgians make mistakes? A: Because to err is human. regards, Hein

The deed is done. regards, Hein

Here. regards, Hein

Germany arrests 'former Auschwitz guard' Hans Lipschis. regards, Hein

My fourth DDP hit. Mille grazie! regards, Hein

Curacao politician Helmin Wiels shot dead. regards, Hein

Dead. He died 27 April, aged 95. regards, Hein

Ehrm, I don't quite get what you mean? Would you want to post a sheet? It's possible as an attachment, but that's a part of the forum software where I rarely come and where monsters live. regards, Hein I have entered the data to produce a chart and I have tried copying the chart into word but that doesn't work. I suppose it would be the same as posting an image but I don't know how to do that either Aha, like this: What I do is: - go to http://imageshack.us/ - upload the picture there - do some magic to bypass the Please Register pain - grab the url of the uploaded picture - post it. I suppose better anonymous picture sites exist. regards, Hein

Lawyers appointed for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. regards, Hein

Ehrm, I don't quite get what you mean? Would you want to post a sheet? It's possible as an attachment, but that's a part of the forum software where I rarely come and where monsters live. regards, Hein

Dear Abby, or whoever today's Duty Agony Aunt is, I have just applied for a job at a smallish company that develops and sells nautical technical systems. I'm rather keen on landing that job, as it is both technically challenging and precisely the kind of work I love to do. I wouldn't be writing this if there wasn't this problem: the company does most of its business with navies. Shooting ships, so to say. When I applied for the job, I made it clear that I won't do development for offensive weapons, like small arms, cannon or rockets or guidance systems for those weapons. In the morning of Labour Day my agent called, telling that the company didn´t quite like my reservations. I explained to him that I would be willing to discuss them with the company and that perhaps we could come to some kind of accomodation. Apparently they rather fancy me, for later today I was asked for an interview, in which we will discuss, beside my technical expertise, possible solutions. I'm not a pacifist. I'm well aware that violence works and that defense against other people's violence often entails violence itself, unfortunately but unavoidably. I have, however, serious anti-militaristic tendencies. I believe that the only reason we have the military, is because they do. The same is, of course, also true for them. Seen from the outside the solution is simple. Take the toys from the boys[1]. But damn, I want that job. But I don't want a job in which after several months (or years perhaps) I must refuse an assignment for moral reasons, without some arrangement to fall back on. That would be no less unethical. So Dear Abby, here's my question: I have no idea to what length this employer is able and willing to give room to my ethical qualms. I'll soon learn, of course, but I'm contemplating my possible approaches: ask for much and give some change play open and see where it gets me fuck principles and get the job, silly. Whaddayathink? yours in doubt, Hein [1] and liberate yourselves, repressed of all nations.

French former cyclist Philippe Gaumont (40) in a coma after a heart attack. Completely innocent pills, the doctor said... regards, Hein

First man in history to celebrate his 116th birthday ! (verified that is). Many happy returns! (however unrealistic that may be) I saw that film with some amazement and guilty grinning. Poor man. The footage in which he wears a red sweater is not recent, it was taken, IIRC, when he became the world oldest, or perhaps when he became the world's oldest man. The difference is striking. I still think he´s a safe bet for 2013. regards, Hein

17. Not exctly the answer I had in mind, but full marks for a clever answer. Well spotted. Bugger. Perhaps I was being too clever, in which case its 8 - as its the only one that looks the same along all planes of symmetry. Again a clever one, but again: not what I had in mind. I'll put the answer in spolier tags: regards, Hein

17. Not exctly the answer I had in mind, but full marks for a clever answer. Well spotted. regards, Hein

Oops, looks like someone's uploaded the wrong file from the obit server... Yup. regards, Hein

Let me put a difficult one: 8, 17, 21, 34. Which is the odd one out, and why? regards, Hein

Whoops sorry shoulda said new email! You should be able to change your e-mail address if you go into your user CP Unfortunately, one needs to log for access to a user CP, which may prove a tad difficult with a lost password. If everything else fails, I'll think of a solution, Jr976evil. regards, Hein

Animals on National flags. All of them endangered species. regards, Hein

Retired bishop of Breda Tiny Muskens died today, aged 77. regards, Hein

I don't want to encourage any kind of post count competition, mind, but that's quite a feat, compared to the competition: maryportfuncity 10,013 Windsor 6,217 Paul Bearer 5,569 Banshees Scream 5,330 themaninblack 5,056 Magere Hein 4,192 Canadian Paul 4,130 DevonDeathTrip 3,942 Godot 3,835 Tempus Fugit 3,752 I'm not sure it's worth any congratulations. regards, Hein

I suppose this is the clumpiness associated with random (i.e. patternless) data, previously discussed here. For the same reason we see constellations in the stars, rather than patterns. Knowing to be on the list, while flattering, must be worrying for any candidate. The only one who's let us know his feelings takes it in great stride: regards, Hein