what_normal_people_argue_about epitome of incomprehensibility I don't know. I honestly don't know. My father, although he is a librarian, was able to order the music-writing program Sibelius with a teacher's discount. He presented the receipt as my birthday present: I opened the envelope, expecting to see a Chapter's gift card or something, and there it was. I was at the dinner table, my parents and cousin L around me. I kind of protested because I already had free software, MuseScore, that does similar things in a more rudimentary way (I was also worried they were spending money they couldn't afford). Well, so much for tact. My mother called me ungrateful and seemed to give me the cold shoulder all week, which made me annoyed. I blurted out that I wanted a new laptop. I didn't really mean that. Dad took me aside and said that Mom had been planning to give me a laptop to "encourage me" but he'd talked her into getting Sibelius for me instead. I asked what he meant by encouraging me. He didn't answer except to say that 25 was a notable birthday. I felt too old to be having childish arguments, so I tried to be personable and he canceled the order and bought me new headphones instead. 130629 ... e_o_i K: If I do have children, I would rather adopt them. I would rather not take care of anybody genetically related to me. D: Okay. K: I mean, any children... You think I'm just being contrarian, don't you? D: Yes. K: You don't think I'm serious? D: I never said you weren't serious. 130707 ... e_o_i There is a funny ending to the first story. The headphones didn't work well with my computer and had to be returned. Instead I'm using a microphone that my friend J found on the street and subsequently gave to me. It works quite well. But I'll have to wait for a computer with louder/better sound if I want to record any music. For writing music down, MuseScore is pretty good. Like in Finale, you can listen to the music you've written; like Finale, it sounds stiff and (of course) artificial, but the string sounds are pretty nice. I should make a digital copy of my second string quartet, except there are things I don't know how to do with this program yet. Like a glissando over bar lines, for instance. Imaginary Enemy: The title of this page is "what normal people argue about"! Mundane biographical details and petty accomplishments do not an argument make! Me: Go away, you... you convoluted-syntax-speaker. In the real world, I have observed that the following statements can end arguments amicably: 1) I'm not serious and 2) I reject your theology, but I accept your herbal tea. 130826 what's it to you? who go blather from