Conference hydra::dejavu

                             
    Great idea!
    
    What does that GMT hour translate into in the respective continental
    US timezones for that day?  (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Western)
    
    I know I should know this.....but I can never seem to remember it.
    
    Cindy

    Subject to correction (Steve K ?):
    7 AM EST
    thanks
    dwp

    
    
    re: .2
    
    You are correct.
    
    Carole
    

    It's a good thing they're doing it at noon or there would be some
    awfully muddled thoughts in this global conciousness New Years Eve...
    
    If it's noon in Greenwich, it is not *night* of the 31st anywhere
    in the world, correct?  Everything is behind Greenwich, that's why
    we have the international date line, no?
    
    DW

    I believe that it's midnight as you cross the international Date
    line.  It will be the only time (for a split second ;-) ) that the
    whole world will be December 31st.
    
    Dave

.4  DW

Hmmm, Wouldn't it be night in Russia @12:00 noon GMT???
Everything EAST of the meridian at Greenwich would be afternoon to
evening and everything to the west would be morning. The dateline is at
the meridian on the other side of the world from Greenwich.

Jay

    In Sydney we are 2am on the 1st.  Should be an incredible New Years
    Eve.
    
    Have to set the alarm for this one.  I wonder if it will be another
    beach meditation.  This time I think myself and a few friends will
    sit and meditate.
    
    ...dale
    

              
    Get up at 7AM on a holiday!?!  Groan....
    
    Well, if I did it for the convergence, guess I can manage this.
    
    OK, recap:	US Eastern  - 7:00 AM (December 31st)
                   Central  - 6:00 AM      "
    	           Mountain - 5:00 AM      "
                   Western  - 4:00 AM      "
                Sydney, OZ  - 2:00 AM (January 1st)              
                         
    Will be thinking of y'all.
    
    Cindy

    re .8
    
    As has been mentioned, if if is noon the 31st in Greenwich, it is
    December 31 *everywhere* on the planet.
    
    	bruce

    	Since it'll be 5:00 a.m. when I live, can I somehow
    	program my sleeping self to participate???  *|-\
    
    				Carla (who_doesn't_wake_up_until_
    				       at_least_6:00_a.m.)
    

    Re .10 (Carla):
    
    Well, I suppose there are always sleep-teaching tapes....
    
    Steve kallis, Jr.

    Ooooppps!
    
    Doesn't everybody add 10 hours onto 12 and get 2am.  :^)  Sorry, 
    actually .9 was right.  It will be 10pm on the 31st.
    
    Don't you just love it.  I really keep myself on my toes.  Thats
    better news, now I can have a reasonably normal New Years Eve bedtime.
    
    ...dale
    

    
    This is too confusing for my brain today (and yesterday and the
    day before that and....).  TGIF (on the east coast of the US at
    this point in time anyway).
    
    If anyone ever wants to get me a gift, a global clock would be
    nice....(hey Santa - you listening?), or a program that will do
    world time translations for me.  I've already got my C to F temp.
    conversion in DECALC.
                                                   
    Cindy
                               

    Cindy,
    
    Your wish is my command.  When our boss was in Boston for the Industry
    Mtg Managers Meeting following DECworld he brought back for his
    secretary - a global digital clock.  Turn the dial and you have
    it.....
    
    But if you find two, Christmas down under could be good.
    
    ...dale
    

    
    Dale, 
    
    Will do!
    
    If you are coming to the States, I think we should have a get-together
    or something.
    
    Omigosh - a thought just entered my head!  *<(8*)|| <--skier
    
    If any of you DEJAVU readers who live outside New England (USA),
    are here for meetings, training or just vacationing, let us who live 
    here know that you will be around and we can plan a get-together
    or help you out with sightseeing plans, etc.  This could turn out
    to be fun!
    
    Cindy
              

    	But Cindy, we *all* know the best skiing is in Colorado...
    
    		<(8*)|||
    

    Re.16                                             
    
    We DO?!?!?!  You mean you, yourself and y'all?  (;^)
    
    Just about anyplace is better than the icefields of the US Northeast,
    however I'd choose Zermatt, Switzerland over Colorado skiing anyday.
    
    The conditions are great in both places, but dollar for dollar Zermatt
    is much better in terms of lodging, food, and most importantly...
    
    CHOCOLATE!  DARK BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE!  Yum.
         
    We all have our priorities.
    
    Cindy

    	Well, if you really want to know, I've been to Zermatt and
    	wasn't all that impressed.  (Then again, I'm not a daredevil 
    	type -- I get dizzy just looking at the Matterhorn.)
    
    	*But*, I will gladly meet you in Switzerland any day you
    	choose, not only for the chocolate, but because there are 
    	few things more enjoyable than Swiss wine and raclette...
    
    	I am going to Switzerland next fall for a few weeks, but
    	doubt I'll go back to Zermatt.  Still care to join me???  *8-)
    
    					Carla
    

    Don't ski, but white water rafting - gimme gimme gimme and
    
    chocolate...
    
    Belgium and Swiss chocolate... Suchard Praline and C'dor Elephants
    and Lindt praline etc etc etc.  MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm
    
    ...dale
    

    	Oooooh, Dale, you said the magic word...  Lindt...
    
    	and *real* espresso... and Kirsch...
    
    	My mouth is watering at such delightful memories...
    
    					<drip>
    

    
    Carla - Zermatt is my choice, but we can at least ride over together 
    and and sample chocolates on the flight.  Dale - there is a small 
    stream that runs through the center of Zermatt, perhaps there is 
    rafting to be had there?
       
    Lindt - especially the Chocoletti - wonderful!
                      
    Hafta leave, having a chocolate attack.
    
    Sayonara.

    	Cindy,
    
    	If we fly Swissair we can get all the Swiss wine and chocolate
    	we could possibly consume.  (That *alone* is worth the fare!)
    	And it would definitely keep us awake on the long flight over!
    	It's a date!  *8-)
    
    					Carla
    

    Hi everyone,
    
    Not to spoil a good rathole when I see one...
    
    Being near Geneva, the French Alps, the Savoie ( home of REAL fondues)
    etc, I'll be happy to supply anything from Swiss chocolate to Snow
    reports to anyone interested.
    
    As it happens it's all on the melt today ( the snow not the chocolate)
    and the sun's out.
    
    Happy Christmas folks, Dave.
    
    
    P.S. First we have a cakes topic and now a chocolate and powder
    snow discussion ! Must be some phenomological explanation...

    Maybe this discussion should be moved to CHOCOLATE_LOVERS.
    
    Elizabeth

    Clearly it belongs here.  Could we have had this discussion before
    the HC?
    
    				:-) Topher
    

    Let's all use the Mantra of Chocolate  for the New Year's Eve
    meditation -
    
             UUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM  GOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    
    (sing i monotone and repeat - repeat - repeat - aaahhh - I'm a
     Wilbur Bud...)

                                                            
    I'm feeling guilty right now.
    
    I went out and purchased a Lindt Chocoletti package and half of
    it disappeared within the first 10 minutes of it being in my presense.
    
    (But it was SOOOOOOOO good! (;^))                                     
    
    Carla - that's a date!  And the champagne is quite inexpensive too.
    Ah - champagne and fine chocolate - adult milk and cookies (though
    I'm not above those either).  Dale - meet you there, OK?                  
         
    Just had to go out and buy the latest issue of Chocolatti (?) Magazine
    last night.
    
    Chocolate, like love, makes the world go around.
    
    Cindy

   << I went out and purchased a Lindt Chocoletti package and 
   << half of it disappeared within the first 10 minutes of it 
   << being in my presense.
    
	Cindy, I need some clarification here.  I interpret this
	statement to mean that some sort of mystic intervention 
	occurred between the manifestation of this chocolate in
	your presence and its subsequent rapid disappearance.

	Do you mean to say that it actually *disappeared*, or
	that you frantically scarfed it down like a madwoman 
    	before getting out of the car???!!!!???  *8-)

					Carla

    Re .27 (Cindy):
    
    >Chocolate, like love, makes the world go around.
    
    No.  Chocolate, unlike love, helps the world _get_ round. ;-)
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.  

    
    Steve - you have managed to capture the reason for guilt feelings!
    
    Carla - these little elves came and forced me to eat the chocolate.
    It was pure heaven.  Hm - guess it could be described as a mystical
    experience at that!
    
    This is getting silly.....
    
    BTW, if anyone wants a wonderful eggnog recipe (to go along with
    the chocolate truffles this holiday season), let me know.  
    
    Cindy 
    
    

    Steve, doesn't too much love also make the world round - poof pregnant
    :^) :^)
    
    Back to the GM.  Well sort of, same time frame.  
    
    We had our kickoff at a beautiful country home
    in July this year.  The theme was an American Christmas, and after
    four egg nogs that were to die for, I forgot to ask for the recipe,
    but they were the best I have ever had.  To keep in with the theme
    we had some wreaths made of chocolates and guess what Dale chose
    to make them up with.  Hundreds of C'dor Elephants, Suchard Praline
    and lots of little lindt chocolates, oh and a few toffies.
                                                   
    Cindy, you mean I have to detour the East Coast and travel to
    Switzerland?  Only if somebody can make me a Kahlua cake.  Sometimes
    at lunchtime when I walk the length of Chatswood (Sydney Regional
    HQ) a little voice in my head says I just have to call into Chocology
    the European Chocolate Shop and buy a couple of elephants.  I do
    try to resist buy talking to myself is very embarrassing in peak
    hour.
    
    Prior to the meditation should be loading on anything in particular
    :^) :^).  I mean is this a marathon, and perhaps instead of carbs
    should we loading on Swiss Choc and Egg Nogs.....
    
    ...dale
    
     

    Ahem,     
    
    Anyone know the customs limitations on Swiss chocolate going from
    Geneva to London ? ( guess what the family's getting for Christmas).
    
    Dave.
    
    P.S. What exactly is eggnog anyway ? Do we know it by a different
    name in U.K. ?
    
    P.P.S. Please mail your favorite chocolate truffle recipes to me
    also ( oink, oink )...
    
    
    P.P.P.S For anyone interested in history, we've just celebrated
    the Escalade here in Geneva, when everyone eats little chocolate
    pots and sweeties shaped like carrots ( blame the Swiss ). Apparently
    this celebrates the last exciting thing to happen to Geneva when
    the French attempted to storm the city ( 17th century I think )
    and were beaten back by a hail of praline and torrents of molten
    chocolate.

    Re .31 (Dale):
    
    >Steve, doesn't too much love also make the world round - poof pregnant
    >:^) :^)   
    
    That shows Chocolate's inherent superiority to love.  Chocolate
    makes _everybody_ round, regardless of gender. :-P
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    re: .32 (Dave)
    
    	I don't know about the customs limitations going into 
    	London, but if you discover that you've over-extended
    	yourself on Swiss chocolate you can always AIRMAIL some
    	to me!!!  *8-)  And if they're truffles from Teuscher 
    	I'll meet the plane myself!!!  Double oink!!
    
    				Carla  (who_hasn't_had_a_bite_
    					of_good_chocolate_since_
    					this_whole_thing_started)

RE: .32
    
    I don't know what you Brits call it, if anything.  It is a punch
    frequently served at this time of year here (I guess because it
    contains no fruit, which at this time of year would traditionally
    have been in short supply).  The exact formulation varies widely
    but I would say that the basic ingrediants are milk, egg yolks,
    vanilla, sugar and optionally rum.  (At least that's the way I've
    made it).  A 6-oz glass (or whatever the equivalent metric size
    would be) is rougly equivalent to a rather fattening full meal even
    without the rum.
    
    				Topher

    Need metric conversions for the following recipe.
                               
    Eggnog
    ------
    
    - Beat separately until light in color - 12 egg yolks.
    
    - Beat in gradually - 1 pound (16oz) confectioner's sugar.
    
    - Add very slowly - 1/2 cup brandy (or rum, whiskey, bourbon or
      rye).
    
    - Let stand covered one hour to dispel the 'eggy' taste.
    
    - Add, beating consistantly 2 quarts of whipping creme.
    
    - (Additional step that I skip) Add 2 more cups of whatever 
      type of alcohol that you put in above.  (Too much of an alcohol
      taste for me if I use over 1/2 cup.)
    
    - Beat until stiff but not dry - 12 egg whites.  Fold them lightly
      into other ingredients.
    
    - Serve sprinkled with grated fresh nutmeg.
          
    - Homemade eggnog should be kept for only 24 hours.  Needless to
      say, the eggs should be as fresh as possible.  (Friends of
      ours learned these things the hard way.)
    
    {Recipe above plagarized from "The Joy Of Cooking" book.}
     
    Enjoy!                                         
    
    Cindy
                                                              

    Re : .32
    
    The customs regulations say that you can bring in chokies for an
    amount up to 228 Pound Sterling, if duty paid. I don't know the
    duty free allowance. 
    
    Enjoy them anyway.
    
    Anybody ever been to Belgium or Holland? We call eggnog ADVOKAAT.
    
    Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I love that stuff.
    
    Wivine

    
    Wivine,
    
    What is the recipe for Advokaat?
    
    Yes, I've been to Holland.  My husband and I visited there about
    4 years ago and stayed with friends for a week who took us all over
    the place (including the Keukenhof).  Some of my ancestors sailed
    from Leiden back in the 1600's and settled in central New York State
    here in the US, which is where I grew up.  Some of the town names
    are New Amsterdam, Guilderland and other such names.  I managed to 
    find the name (Vroman) in a church in Leiden when we were there which 
    was fun.
    
    Goede middag!  (That is about the extent of my knowledge of Dutch)
    
    Cindy
    

    I'm terribly sorry but I honestly don't know the recipe for advokaat.
    We are very spoiled over here. It's readily available in shops and
    from different suppliers, so I never made it myself.
    
�    ...................................... Some of my ancestors sailed
�    from Leiden back in the 1600's and settled in central New York State
�    here in the US, which is where I grew up.
    
    So you actually got some Dutch blood.
    
    I myself am not so keen on the Dutch because I am Flemish.
    I'm not trying to start a rathole here, but Dutch and Flemish speaking
    Belgians don't go well together. But then again we are not the only
    ones. Look at the Prussians and the Bovarians.
                                            
    Enough of that.
    
    Guess what? yesterday at the pub, what did I see?
    
    A bottle with yellowish stuff in it. And what did the label say?
    
    
    			WARNINKS
    			ADVOKAAT
    
    I didn't try it.
    
    Ever tried the pralines with advokaat in them? Yummmmmm!!
    
    Wivine
    

    As much as I love chocolate....and egg nog...I would like to know
    more about the global meditation.  Is there any more info out there???
    
    Addie

    
    Think you missed it.  According to the notes early on, it was
    this morning at 7:00AM EST on the US East Coast.
     
    I don't usually wake up until 7:30AM, but this morning I woke up
    at 6:55AM.  I wonder......
    
    Cindy