Teacup Café XXXVII

[Earniel]

*tucks Mari back in and hands her some ear plugs*

Sigh, there goes another Sunday, just got a rather pretentious letter detailing I have been 'honoured' to spend my time as back-up to man the voting station for the election next month.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by The last sane person

*stuffs a sock in his mouth*

Hiya!

It had to be a filthy sock?

[Earniel]

What do you expect on laundry day?

[Pip]

I haven't been busy with finals, just other stuff. Come to think of it I didn't really have any finals. I got some good news today. Even though bill 1010 didn't get the incentive part past (it would have given film incentives to filmmakers in Colorado) the film coalition now may have more influence with the government which will help the industry and as a result the state. Excuse me while I speak film student.

[Blackheart]

*rolls over fitfully*

[Aikanáro]

*pops in for a quick cup of tea*

I started teaching properly this week. I love my class so much, they're all very sweet and they try so hard to learn. Most of the time. Four year olds don't have the best attention span - but I can see progress already!

[Mari]

*wakes up and unplugs her ears* Thanks Earn. I could use a good long sleep.
Manning the voting boot? How come you have to do that? Is it random choosing?

Aika, hehe, no, indeed they don't.
I'm glad you are enjoying it! What sort of things are you doing with the kids?

[Aikanáro]

Well, they know letters and numbers, so I'm trying to build up to some simple addition and spelling short words - that's the main focus of learning, but we have plenty of games, singing and storytelling as well! I think it's important at their age for 'schoolwork' to be blended in with varied activities - they're less bored and more eager to learn that way!

The school doesn't have much in the way of resources, so I'm quite limited in what i can actually do - I'm trying to find ways to be inventive, though! As long as the kids are learning, and enjoying doing so, then all is good.

See you all next week!

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Mari

Manning the voting boot? How come you have to do that? Is it random choosing?

People get randomly picked from the community records to man the boots. Old folk and self-employed people among others get automatically exempted. I'm a replacement so with a bit of luck, they won't even need me. Although, most people really dislike having to do this, and many don't show up. There's always a long hassle afterwards all over the news because people can get called to court and fined (theoretically even jailed if I recall correctly) if they refuse the summons and don't turn up 'to do their duty'.

Don't people get drafted for this in the Netherlands?

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

...There's always a long hassle afterwards all over the news because people can get called to court and fined (theoretically even jailed if I recall correctly) if they refuse the summons and don't turn up 'to do their duty'.

Can't wait to see what happens when you are the one who has to be summoned to court and put in jail .

[Mari]

Eärniel, no, not that I know off. Most of those people are volunteers, often (retired) people who used to be active for their political parties. The people I've seen were usually over 50 in any case.

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Can't wait to see what happens when you are the one who has to be summoned to court and put in jail .

Will they give her Internet access in her cell, so she can go on Entmoot as usual - perhaps have even more time for it than she has now?

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

Will they give her Internet access in her cell, so she can go on Entmoot as usual - perhaps have even more time for it than she has now?

Oh I'm sure, in addition to overfeeding her on pizza and cake . I heard they still execute political prisoners on Belgium. Death by Frogs? Something along those lines...

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Can't wait to see what happens when you are the one who has to be summoned to court and put in jail .

Your sympathy is truly heartwarming. I'll think I'll provide Sane with some more dirty socks in the likely events you have to be shut up again.

But don't count on me going to jail anytime soon. Jails are ful anyway, that's why they're trying to 'rent' cell space in Dutch prisons. I'll probably be fined, then get told I don't have to pay because the politicians and courts can't agree what to do with absentees, then likely get told I have to pay MOAR or something and then have the thing start all over again. Good solid Belgian practises and all. (Me, bitter? Naaaah! Whatever gave you that idea?)

Originally Posted by Mari

Eärniel, no, not that I know off. Most of those people are volunteers, often (retired) people who used to be active for their political parties. The people I've seen were usually over 50 in any case.

Amazing. People actually volunteer for it? I suppose volunteering is off limits with us so nobody can use it to influence voters in a last ditch effort.

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

Will they give her Internet access in her cell, so she can go on Entmoot as usual - perhaps have even more time for it than she has now?

Hm, I don't think that's a good thing. My moot-time is excessive enough as it is. What I would be free of, though, (and would love being so) is that lousy head office to whom we keep sending error reports that they'll just disregard anyway while still singing their own praise. That last loooong list of errors has seriously killed my RPG-writing time. >.<

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

But don't count on me going to jail anytime soon. Jails are ful anyway, that's why they're trying to 'rent' cell space in Dutch prisons.

They do? But we get told constantly that our prisons are full too! Last thing I've heard is that prisoners now have to share a cell. Which of course gave rise to a lot of debate because it was against the privacy of the prisoners, not safe (you can plot better when together I suppose), etc. etc.

Amazing. People actually volunteer for it? I suppose volunteering is off limits with us so nobody can use it to influence voters in a last ditch effort.

As far as I know, it's illegal to try and do that, so I doubt it happens much. In my experience though, they just check your ID wave you over to the boot where you can vote electronically on a touchscreen and off you go again. Not much chance for a chat.

I bought a computer knee table for my birthday and it's really handy so far. All I need to do now is decide who will give this to me
I'm celebrating my birthday on May 31st, the same day I'm going to do my Confirmation in church (2 birds, 1 stone) and you're all invited

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Mari

They do? But we get told constantly that our prisons are full too! Last thing I've heard is that prisoners now have to share a cell. Which of course gave rise to a lot of debate because it was against the privacy of the prisoners, not safe (you can plot better when together I suppose), etc. etc.

Really? How typical. Of course, we'd have to pay considerably to stuff our prisoners in your cells, but last time I heard they were indeed definitely progressing in that direction. And maybe, considering I heard people here sometimes have to share cells even with two people, I suppose yours are empty by comparison? But I'm intrigued nevertheless, considering the papers said the Dutch jails supposedly have room to spare. I guess somebody didn't do his research properly then.

I bought a computer knee table for my birthday and it's really handy so far. All I need to do now is decide who will give this to me I'm celebrating my birthday on May 31st, the same day I'm going to do my Confirmation in church (2 birds, 1 stone) and you're all invited

We could do a double party in the Teacup, I'm having a birthday party on the 30th.

[Acalewia]

95 bottles of beer on the wall. 95 bottles of beer. Take on down and pass it around. 94 bottles of beer on the wall.


I is very coocoo at the moment. Storms passed through at three this morning. Stayed up until they passed around 5ish. Alarm went off at 6. Didn't actually get out of bed til 7. I had to be at work at 8. And with Mother's Day tomorrow, we got swamped with people buying last minute gifts.

*Conks out in her big fluffy chair*

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

We could do a double party in the Teacup, I'm having a birthday party on the 30th.

*groans* I just got an invitation for a party on the 30th from a good friend of mine... Maybe I can come for an hour or so, but she lives quite far away and I really do need to be home on time... >_<
Don't you love this sort of timing?

Will you be having your own party or is it for someone else?

Originally Posted by Acalewia

I is very coocoo at the moment. Storms passed through at three this morning. Stayed up until they passed around 5ish. Alarm went off at 6. Didn't actually get out of bed til 7. I had to be at work at 8. And with Mother's Day tomorrow, we got swamped with people buying last minute gifts.

Ah, doncha just looove retail? >_<
Though I must confess: we bought our present at the last minute as well.

Happy Mother's Day to all mums here!
(I found out that Mother's Day is a tradition that started in an American Methodist Church by the way. Now it's spread all over the world)

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Mari

*groans* I just got an invitation for a party on the 30th from a good friend of mine... Maybe I can come for an hour or so, but she lives quite far away and I really do need to be home on time... >_<
Don't you love this sort of timing?

It never rains but it pours, I believe the saying goes. Funny how that sort of things tend to coincide. I just had a call from a friend with an invitation to go out, while I had just mailed her with an invitation to do a movie night and we both ended up otherwise engaged on the days that were proposed. Timing, eh.

Will you be having your own party or is it for someone else?

My own this time. Small party though, just me, my parents and my grandparents. Sis and her boyfriend are off abroad.

Ah, doncha just looove retail? >_<
Though I must confess: we bought our present at the last minute as well.

There is another Mother's Day that gets celebrated in this province in autumn. So not only does mom get to have two Mother Days (because we never remember which one we celebrate so we do both) and I tend to stock up gifts in case such a day sneaks up on me unnoticed. Luckily my mother is very easy to get gifts for, the way she devours books.

[Grey_Wolf]

I dont suppose anyone would feel like reviving 100 Words or perhaps you, Earn, could move it back to Gm! Would be most grateful.