the process of transferring a pretty big file over icq is begun and i notice how long a wait we're looking at...

xerxes7:
well, this'll be a little while

glitch13:
i'm downloading some (stuff) too, so maybe it'll speed up in a minute when it's finished

x7:
i certainly hope so
the power curfew will be in effect in about thirty minutes

g13:
power curfew?

x7:
they shut power down to minimal usage here in great falls at 11:00
residences get enough to power the fridge, heater, and a couple clocks
doesn't lift until six in the morning
something about helping out california or some shit

g13:
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

x7:
they tried doing it volunteer-style at first, but that didn't work too well

x7:
i thought everyone knew about this

g13:
FUCK THAT! LEAVE THAT FUCKING PLACE!

x7:
dude, it's not that fucking bad
besides, we can't just *leave*
i mean, you could... but the cost is kind of prohibitive
is gas still cheap there or something?

g13:
its not cheap but noone's shutting off our fucking power, its called capitalism, you pay your bill, you get your service. 

x7:
it's called doing the right thing
looking out for your own, that kind of stuff

g13:
whatever, you live in the boondocks, you're expected to suffer because S.F. has a population the size of china on the head of a pin?  fuck that, let 'em suffer

x7:
look, the commandante says that if the rest of the country won't help out then we in the northwest need to do what we must

g13:
did you move to a socialist country or something?

g13:
i think its funny how power companies are showing record profit
shortage my ass

x7:
i'm still in montana
so i didn't move
and we're not socialist
cooperative capitalism, same as always

g13:
man, if i was head of the FCC i'd go and fuck them with a spiked condom

x7:
fuck who with a spiked condom?

g13:
the power companies

g13:
price fixing motherfuckers

g13:
we just fought a war 10 years ago, halfway across the planet so this shit wouldn't happen, and they go and fuck us anyway

x7:
huh
well, whatever
we're all doing our part for the collective greatness of our region
sorry if that seems fucked up to you

g13:
DUDE ITS ALL BULLSHIT

x7:
what's so bullshit about it?
if we work together we can get through this little trial and reap the benefits of our frugality in more prosperous times
makes sense to me

g13:
not being able to cook a pot of macoronni and cheese in your own home whenever you want to (when you pay your bills) is a bunch of bull shit

x7:
who wants macaroni and cheese at midnight?
besides, i've got stuff to make a sandwich with
if i want it warm, i just stick it on top of the water heater for awhile

g13:
welcome to the new depression, care of the socialist regime and an FCC that's too pussy to attack anything but napster

g13:
WHAT THE FUCK!?!?! THIS COUNTRY ROCKED A YEAR AGO!

x7:
it's only a problem if you've got something to hide and need to take care of business at night 
anyway, it doesn't look like we'll be finishing this exchange in the next 15 minutes

g13:
sounds like a good philosophy to me, only criminals want freedom to do their crimes, ya right

x7:
this country still rocks, we're just going through some rough times
and i'm not saying that only criminals want freedom, man
it's just that there are some freedoms that lead to difficulty for society as a whole and as such need to be tempered by the wider-seeing eye of the government

g13:
you're fucking with me now

g13:
more government always cures the ails of too much government, right?

x7:
dude, how is helping others in a bad state of affairs fucking with you?

x7:
we don't have more government
this is the same amount of government we've always had

and the whole power thing isn't government
it's an idea the power company had

g13:
ya, an airline has a strike, and government mediators show up to make sure shit runs right, power company starts blacking out cities, and its the power company that holds all the cards? ppffttt

x7:
dude, i don't even get what you're getting at now
sorry it pisses you off that i don't have a problem with how we do things up here

g13:
who's enforcing this 'power curfew'?

x7:
the power company installed controllers on our meters
they're remotely monitored and controlled
so it's the power company

g13:
i am so pissed right now it hurts

x7:
look, it's honestly a good program
and there are fringe benefits that nobody even planned on
so despite the little bit of inconvenience you're caused if you're an early riser, it's actually a really cool program

g13:
I'm at a loss

x7:
okay, did you hear about the dude up here who was hacking people up?

g13:
nope

x7:
okay, i've only got a few minutes, so i'll make this quick

x7:
there were a few bodies found and they had obviously been cut up with power tools
so they started looking to see who was sporadically using large amounts of power
they narrowed it down to twelve possible houses and nailed the guy
now if that's not bad-ass, i don't know what is

g13:
so, you might say in the process, they searched through your power records?

x7:
they caught the guy before he could hurt anyone else
that's the main thing
anyway, the curfew whistles are sounding off, so we'll have to continue this tomorrow

g13:
k, talk to you then

(i wait a couple minutes saying nothing... glitch13 cancels the file transfer)

x7:
holy shit
you really closed connection and everything

good work, comrade!

g13:
=)

x7:
damn, that was fun

g13:
?

x7:
i'm surprised that you only called me on it once

g13:
you suck ass

x7:
your allegiance to true freedom has been noted and should the revolution ever need help in the deep south you'll be contacted
:-)
thucka

g13:
you fucker