Reading the news today that US forces are bombing Tripoli brought on a quirky memory, almost completely unrelated to today’s events.
Last time the US bombed Tripoli, in 1986, I was on a study abroad year in Benares, India. I had chosen to live in Vijayanagaram Bhavan, the headquarters of the College Year in India program, so knew about all the students’ comings and goings. I also kept an eye on what was going in the world (a habit picked up from my dad the newshound). I owned a shortwave radio, and used it to listen to the Voice of America, BBC World Service, and Radio Moscow (whose announcers all sounded as if they had been raised in Nebraska).
I wrote up daily news summaries and posted them on the center’s bulletin board for my fellow students, a service they seemed to appreciate. So it was I who informed them about the US attack, which was not well received by the world community, nor by many Americans. There were fears of retaliatory attacks on American citizens worldwide. I heaved a sigh and got on with my life – been there, been threatened with death by the Islamic Jihad. We also imagined, I don’t know how realistically, the possibility of full-scale war, complete with Vietnam-style conscription of US youth.
A few days later, an American showed up at the Bhavan with a list of student names he wanted to check. His wife was a consular officer with the US Embassy in Delhi, so it was her duty to keep track of US citizens in the region in case there should be a need to whisk us all to safety. I was pleased that, having put my life in danger, my government was at least proposing to get me out of it again, and was happy to give the man the information he needed. Meanwhile, my classmates were at the other end of the verandah, muttering among themselves about the stranger and what his business might be.
As the man and I were finishing, one of the students – J, a painfully politically correct young man – came bustling up.
“Sir,” he said officiously, “I would like to lodge a complaint about the actions of the US government in Libya – ” He didn’t get to finish.
The man looked him straight in the eye and barked: “I am here to inform you that all US males over the age of 18 are being drafted into the army, and you have two days to report to the nearest recruiting center!”
J’s jaw dropped, he turned white as a sheet, and for once had nothing to say.
“Just kidding.”
The man smiled sweetly, and went about his business.
~this date in 2003: Teenagers and Cellphones Standard Equipment for Italian Adolescents#
~this date in 2003: Largo al Factotum Why People Think I Know Opera#
2007: Guys, women don’t come to tech confs [because] were tired of trying to have conversations w your bald spots  g #
.@davewiner: an old article of mine that predates (maybe forecasts) the current debate about women at tech events, in this case in Italy #
~this date in 2008: More Things to Buy in India The Growth of a Consumer Society#
.@davewiner Did you read the whole piece? That phrase was meant to be ironic, & was written under dire provocation at the time. # http://bit.ly/gFW1OR Religion, however, tends to venerate ancient wisdom even if later knowledge raises doubts. # @davewiner I’m sorry you found it insulting. #
.@davewiner As the owner of an ageing female body, I have probaly heard it all (& had it grabbed, groped & commented upon) most of my life. #
.@davewiner Oh, I do see it. And made a conscious choice to use it. A dumb choice for some, evidently, but a choice. #
I haven’t flown since the latest TSA escalation. How early do I need to arrive at SFO for a flight to Vancouver? #
.@davewiner Ironically, at that event the bald men were relatively young. Italian men often shave their heads completely – and look good. # @milouness Thanks, this will be an 8:20 am flight, dunno whether that’s peak time on a Monday # @saraford Thanks. How are Monday mornings? United at 8:20 # @jlb13 It’s much more fun to have arguments in public #streamfullofconversations # The Twitter Diaries, Dec 30, 2010 Jan 23, 2011 – an emotionally-charged few weeks, with photos and video # @saraford Ugh. thanks for the warning # @dogcow BAs as in bachelors’ degrees? # @ben@dogcow Oh. I never did understand what that term means. #
Tomorrow will be relatively easy: up at 5:30, fly to Vancouver, go to office, film @mmayo , dinner, hotel, sleep… #
…It’s the rest of the week keeping up with @bcantrill that worries me. # @pborenstein I recommend drugs to sleep on any flight > 4 hrs # @jlb13 I just hide people if they get annoying. They’ll never know. #
Way too early for my flight, but this may be one of those cases where any later would be too late. # @jlb13 Maybe they’ve hidden us as well. 😉 #err #
we can have feelings for people we’ve only seen on screens. I have embarrassed myself meeting actors… Â #
This is why I hate flying United: so many long-time frequent flyers that plebs like me are treated poorly in comparison. #
‘Confidence in institutions down’ in Italy http://bit.ly/h3Iftu#
For once chose a window seat, so there had better be a view! # @thinguy I’ll never qualify for an upgrade anyway, just get tired of seeing most of the plane board before me. # Cantrill & Gregg Cloud Analytics: high-res, downloadable video now available so you can really see the pretty pictures  #
As long as I work for tech startups, my colleagues will mostly be smart, geeky, young(er than I am), and male. Not that this is a problem… #
RT @smaffulli: Il postribolo televisivo: ecco il video della chiamata di B a Lerner – such dignity, Signor Presidente # Brendan’s blog Cloud Analytics: first video#
Sleepy in the gray weather, but enjoying being at the Joyent Vancouver offices, surrounded by engineers (yes, we have them in SF too) #
Webinars | JoyentCloud  You’ve Got Game: Planning for the Successful Scale and Performance of Your Game in the Cloud# @sriramnrn Thanks, but that wasn’t my work – you can thank @jacksonwest for that one. I have a partner in video crimes these days. 😉 # @dexterous good catch, thanks # @jkstark@NomdeB Superstition at work – a dog that chews a shoe is naughty, a dog that chews a bible is the devil # As you are my prime minister, I invite you to moderate your language. Mr Berlusconi, however, would have none of it  # Miss Minetti the 25 yr old ex-dental hygienist makes as a fledgling City Councilwoman in Milan, more than Barack Obama. # @ZackFord Yes, it’s a pity when patriotism makes everything a zero-sum game #SOTU #
@edsai Welcome aboard! #
Not being able to have my usual goffee in bed is seriously disrupting my morning routine. Grumble grumble grumble # @fitzage Also can’t handle Dvorak without coffee # @fitzage just learning, in hopes of reducing RSI. So far mostly reducing typing speed. # @fitzage After 30+ years of touch Qwerty, it’s tough. @brendangregg is Dvorak-macho: he’s been learning 1-handed as well. #
way cool to learn about new colleague @edsai on Twitter this morning, then immediately and unexpectedly meet him at Joyent’s Vancouver offc #
Getting video intros of Joyeurs in Vancouver #
Dear Keynote and PowerPoint: please resolve your differences. I do not have time for conversion to be difficult. ps I hate you both. # @missbhavens Blood orange martini recipe? Sounds like my kinda drink (after all, I was born in NOLA). #
[Because] it is more Christian to impose oneself by refusal#
Seems my daughter has made up her mind – and I’m grinning from ear to ear: Boogie Back To Texas  # @edsai I’m sure they do, but the people at your new work like you, too. We go to new places to keep our minds and lives fresh. # @riccardo_iommi She’s lived in Austin before (as I have). It’s not like anyplace else on earth. # @riccardo_iommi Austin calls itself the live music capital world, probably justifiable. All kinds of music, too. #
.@adamsbaldwin Are you a member of SAG? #
Damn. Worried about friends in Christchurch #
^Â @sh1mmer#
.@kbeninato Las Vegas is where everyone goes to have the illusion of misbehaving. New Orleans is where the actual sinning takes place. # @polotek These aren’t in a logical order yet, but @brendangregg has been the subject of many videos on DTrace: http://bit.ly/hTXB28 # @NomdeB Anna’s in Wellington, Meaghan may be in India right now. #
Happy I’ll get to see my daughter soon. I’ve missed her. #
^ Rainbow over Moscone Center  # @wanderingitaly God has decided not to punish San Francisco 😉 #
.@tweir Thanks – we know they’re awesome, but it’s always nice for them to hear that they’re appreciated! #awesome #custserv #
Pilgrimage planning? You are really following the wrong tweeter. If God wants me to go on a pilgrimage, he can make the travel arrangements. #
Having trouble finding a tweet backup option that actually works – suggestions? #
Bollywood Western – who knew? – Muqqala Muqqala – Humse Hai Muqabla  # @kbeninato He can tie his own turban, video tutorial here #nola #
I’m sure that, somewhere in the world, there is a chocolate cupcake with my name on it. # @NomdeB clear but chilly (by our standards) – 40s-50s. in the city, likely warmer out. Tell him to call if he has time for a meal/drink # @reiger cool, looking forward to seeing you! #solaris #joyent #
4 years ago: A School Year Abroad#
RT @StopBeck: when I encounter a Beck devotee, I just wanna break out into song. Poor unfortunate soul from Little Mermaid – LOL! #
…in other words – we will, we will ROCK YOU! Â #
…and if you wanna know how that works under the hood: DTrace probes for Node v0.4.x# Look Inside the DTrace book on Amazon – and see if you can figure out which is my favorite part 😉 # Live stream of Node event at Joyent tonight  …as requested. We assume those signed up will still come for beer! #
RT @notmatt: I work with geniuses, and I helped make this. http://no.de # @Fabryz ~6:30 pm Pacific time # What Makes Node Sexy? Joyeur – Guys, you totally blew it. The sexiest thing about node is… Ryan. #
Node.js Community Event on USTREAM: March 1, 2011 – live stream NOW http://bit.ly/hYW8yX # @Fabryz Sorry – it’s hard to get local attendees earlier # @ustram FIX MY STREAM NOW #
RT @DeirdreS: Node.js Community Event on USTREAM: March 1, 2011 – live stream NOW http://bit.ly/hYW8yX – fixed # @brendangregg showing cloud LIVE analytics Node.js Community Event on USTREAM http://bit.ly/hYW8yX # @hnfirehose see it live right now http://bit.ly/hYW8yX #
Ryan Dahl up – Node.js Community Event on USTREAM http://bit.ly/hYW8yX # @reiger fixed aspect raito? #
UStream problems were frustrating as ever, but it’s all captured – video of sexy cloud analytics will be forthcoming! #
It’s been an eventful day, now trying to wind down my brain enough to sleep. #
new comment on Italian Idiom and Sayings asks: does anyone know what scrinfio means? Â scrinfio# Learn Italian in Song: Volare#
planning a homecoming reunion at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India  # @sogrady You’re not the only one. #
.@elliotross@PeterKretzman People have different prefs and learning styles. I’m a reader myself, but I produce video because many want it #
.@PeterKretzman@elliotross I’ve found that people like to download video to watch at the gym, on the plane, listen mhile driving… # @elliotross ps if you’sre just getting started [in video], you might find this helpful: Â #
San Francisco OpenSolaris User Group meeting Weds Mar 9: DTracing File Systems – Brendan Gregg – details# @markovaldo@lucaconti Ma dove si trovano ‘sti ebook italiani? Vorrei aggiornarmi su Montalbano #
Not in the mood for technical irritations today, but then, who ever is? #
Apparently this is a day when nothing is going to work. I should just give up. #
.@avinash Perhaps it’s time to redefine education, knowledge, testing. I never cheated, got good grades, but never felt I was really working #
Why, yes, I am drinking a beer before 5 pm. It seems preferable to screaming and breaking things #
.@avinash Wasn’t convinced of the value of my BA even then. My work has always been about stuff that didn’t even exist when I was undergrad. #
.@NomdeB@avinashCultural differences, both national and generational?# @billjohnston Sounds like my kind of trip – I’ve spent a lot of time in both those places! #
Been a long week, and its only Wednesday. # @markovaldo@pandemia Scomettiamo che non accettano CC da fuori Italia? Provero’, ma… #
node.js Community Event: Rough Cut Videos#
RT @nerdist …insane musical remix of George Carlin’s stand-up – not sure the music was necessary, but it’s fun #
.@jimpick node.js 0.4 and cloud analytics goodness! #
.@stiefkindMore recent look at Cloud Analytics here – we’re moving fast! #cloud #joyent #
Dear Google: the integration between Google Apps sign-on and YouTube appears to be non-existent. You have me in verification loop hell. #
^ Seen at GDC Â #
In Germany, this sort of thing sparked scandal that led to a ministers resig but in Italy it helps people to get by#
I must recant my prejudices about Italian food in the US. Have had two very good meals in two weeks. # @badnima want! #
nighttime streets of San Francisco  #
.@nmarL’Osteria del Forno (cheap!) ~Abruzzese and Perbacco (not cheap) Piemontese #
re-reading Les Mis after many years. Hard to swallow the “sublime mystery of the convent”. A prison for surplus noblewomen, more like. # @billblum The delay has been very painful for us most closely involved. Pre-print copies next week, look for an opp to win one! #Dtrace # @billblum Heh. Come over to the DTrace side… #Dtrace #
gah! Windows! #
Joyent hosted a node.js community event at our San Francisco offices the other evening, in which Ryan Dahl announced a new version of node.js, and Brendan Gregg showed some amazing stuff you can do with Joyent Cloud Analytics on your no.de hosted site to understand what’s going on in your node.js app.
Technical difficulties with UStream meant I didn’t have a stream recorded to their servers that night, technical difficulties with everything else meant I couldn’t get these rough cuts hosted anywhere til now. This is exactly what you would have seen on the stream (and more), including the bad camera angle which was forced by… oh never mind. A better view of cloud analytics will be forthcoming.
(NB: These videos disappeared from Joyent some time ago. Sorry.)
