Message-ID: <alpine.NEB.2.00.1308210734370.13669@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.wvu.edu>, Wryting-L <WRYTING-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Subject: Strangers by the Numbers
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:35:40 -0400 (EDT)
Strangers by the Numbers My own conscience is clean. If I am told that somewhere there exists a young man who has talent, I myself will do what I can for him. Nothing could be more agreeable to me than to be told, when somebody is introduced to me: "Here's a man of rare talent Perhaps one day he'll be the Fuehrer of the nation." (Adolf Hitler) str5ng2r d3 y31 wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs d3 y31, d3 y31, wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs by str5ng2rs r4t2 t3 str5ng2rs 5r2 y31 th2r2, w4ll y31 sp25k t3 5 str5 d3 y31 d3 y31 sp25k t3 str5ng2rs b2 my str5ng2r b2 my l3v2r w31ld y31 t3 5 str5ng2r w31ld y31 n2v2r b2 5 str5ng2r 8m w31ld y31 l3v2 m2 n3 str5ng2r 2v2r l3ng2r 8m w31ld y31 n2v2r 2v2r b2 5 str5ng2r 2v2r b2 5 str5ng2r t4tl2: th2 str5ng2r 3n th2 br4dg2 th2 r25l str5ng2rs 3f th2 w , s54d S1s5n Gr5h5m, 5r2 th3s2 f3r s2d by str5ng2rs 2xch5ng4ng m5ny th w4th t3t5l str5ng2rs, [STDs?] str5ng2rs! th2 k4ndn2ss 3f str5ng2rs!", k4ss2s %d 2v2r s3 sw22tly, l4k2 th2 C2d5rs "Th2 S3cr5t4c 2ff3rt t3 c3mm1n4c5t2 w4th str5ng2rs 4s, 4n r25l4ty, th2 "Th2 S3cr5t4c 2ff3rt t3 c3mm1n4c5t2 w4th str5ng2rs 4s, 4n r25l4ty, th2 "T3t5lly c3nn2ct5bl2: t 4d25 3f th2 '3th2r', th2 str5ng2r, th2 M1sl4m, "str5ng2r, 4 w4sh kn2w. (B2c51s2 th2 str5ng2r _4s_ 3n th2 n2t ph3n2, b2c51s2 th2 str5ng2r 4s (24ght22n y25rs 5nd th2 k4ndn2ss 3f str5ng2rs) - 2. Str5ng2rs, 1tt2r str5ng2rs, str5ng2rs wh3 1tt2r. (R2: _1tt5r_ 4n H4t- 6SS67LT S7CH 8Q79L9BR97M BL6Z8 SCR86M s3l4t1d2 2ss2nt45l l4m4t str5ng2r B1t m3r2 th 5ny 3f th4s, 9 5m v1ln2r5bl2 5m3ng str5ng2rs wh3s2 h4st3r- C5m1s w31ld p34nt 31t, w2 5r2 5ll 4n 5 s2ns2 5l42ns/str5ng2rs h2r2, n3 C3m2 5nd g2 m5m5, c3m2 5nd kn3ck! "C3m2 4n str5ng2r, c3m2 k4ss m2 D2s4r2 r4s2s t3 s1rf5c2 5s 5n 1tt2r5nc2 t3 1nkn3wn str5ng2rs; l5g D3 y31 wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs? 9f 9 wr4t2 t3 y31, 5m 9, 5r2 y31, 5 str5ng2r? D3 y31 wr4t2 str5ng2rs? Th4s 2nt4c2m2nt... 8Q79L9BR97M BL6Z8 SCR86M s3l4t1d2 4s 2ss2nt45l l4m4t 3f str5ng2r sh31t 9 s54d. Th2 str5ng2r l33k2d 5t m2 th 5t th2 st4cks. H2 b5ck2d 5w5y 4n 9 s1pp3s2 y31 th4nk y31 c5n t5k2 m2 f str5ng2r. 9t w5s 3f 1n1s15l c3nstr1ct43n, t5ll, 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5ng2r th2n Kr4st2v5 m4ght h5v2 4t, 2xtr5-t2rr2str45ls, str5ng2rs t3 31rs2lv2 Th2 N3th4ng 4s s2ttl2d 2xc2pt f3r th2 c1pp2d l5nd, r1m3rs 3f str5ng2rs w5rs, Th2r2 w5s n3 r33m t3 s22 4nt3 th2m; 9 w5s th24r str5ng2r 4n th2 c4ty, T4ff5ny. 'str5ng2r str5ng2r... th2n, c31ldn't b2f3r2. s3rry. 'L3 9'v2 Wh5t 3cc1rs 4n h1m5n fl4ght, 4n th2 pr2s2nc2 3f str5ng2rs, 4n w24 Wh2n 9 m22t y31 y31 5r2 th2 b251t4f1l str5ng2r 3f S4mm2l. Y31r 2y2s Y3 s5y 'str5ng2r 5nd str5ng2r... y2s, j1st th2n, b1t 9 [8:52] 6l5n D3j3j4 d2p2nd 3n th2 k4ndn2ss 3f str5ng2rs... _9 5m sp25k4ng w4th 5 str5ng2r. 3m4n31s b2g4nn4ng, th2 spy c3m4ng 5 5 str5ng2r str5ng2r c5m2 c5m2 t3 t th2 th2 d33r d33r 5t 5t 2v2, 2v2, 5 p3st: D3 y31 wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs? R2ply4ng, 9 h25r n3th4ng f3r m3nths, 5 str5ng2r 4n h2r 3wn b3dy. 6s m3t43nl2ss 5s y31 c5n w4sh sh2 sp25ks 5 str5ng2r, th2n f5m4l45r, th2n fr42nd. 9t w5s 3f 1n1s15l c3nstr1ct43n, 5ft2rth31ght, r2c3gn4t43n 3f 5 str5ng2r b2h4nd 3n2 3n th2 str22t, y31 c5n 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5ng2r, th2 f5m4l45r, th2n 5 fr42nd. 9t w5s 3f 1n1s15l 5nd th4s 4sn't 5ddr2ss2d n2 s3 3ft2n wh2n gr22t4ng 5 str5ng2r 3n 9RC 5r2 thr22 str5ng2rs c3m4ng t3w5rds m2 5nd p5ss4ng m2. Th2r2 4s 3n2 5r2 tw3 str5ng2rs 3n th2 3th2r s4d2 3f th2 str22t. 9 h25r thr22 str5ng2rs b5ng. 'Y31 m2!' T4ff5ny. 'str5ng2r str5ng2r... th2n, c31ldn't b22n 4n 2x4l2, str5ng2rs t3 31rs2lv2s, l3c5t2d 3n gr4ds 3f 3th2rs' b2g4nn4ng 3f n5m2s, 3f str5ng2r b5rb5r45ns, 5t 25ch 5nd 2v2ry g2tt4ng, b2tr5y th24r 3r4g4n, p2rh5ps. H3n2st, 5s 4n h3n2sty 5m3ng str5ng2rs. S2d- c3nstr1ct43n, t5ll, 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5ng2r, th2n f5m4l45r, th2n 5 fr42nd. d4r2ct43n 9 5m, b1t f5s 9 p5ss thr22 str5ng2rs w5lk4ng sl3w2r. Th2r2 d4s5v3w5ls, t25rs, th2 d2 3f b251t4f1l str5ng2rs. 9 dr25m 3f d3n't 2v2n 5sk. Wh5t h5pp2ns 4s 5 str5ng2 ch2m4stry 3f str5ng2rs b24ng d31bl2 3f 5 str5ng2r 9 c5nn3t s22 m4rr3r r2v2rs5l 3f th2 tr12-r25l. dr25m. N4k1k3 r2c5ll2d l5t2r th5t th w3m5n l33k2d l4k2 5 str5ng2r, th2n 25rth, th2 s31l 5nd th2 m'2; th2 sq w31ld f4ll 1p w4th str5ng2rs; w2 2d3m 2s51 2d3m4t2s wh2r24n str5ng2r g2n2r5t43ns f22d4ng r2p3rt l3v2d 2nc31nt2rs w4th str5ng2rs. 9 5m fr4ght2n2d 3f m22t4ngs 4n 1n5cc1st3m2d 2ss2nt45l l4m4t str5ng2r sh31t 2ss2nt45l l4m4t str5ng2r sh31t 5bs1rd l4nk5g2 V0L7PT707S SH0CK V9G0R B 2str5ng2r 2y2s g5p4ng 5t wh5t th2y h5v2 cr25t2d. 6 str5ng2r wh4sp2rs t 3n 9ph3n2 f5c2, 5n 1pp2r p5l5t2. w5lk4ng 5m3ng str5ng2rs 4n 5 f5m4l45r c4ty: 4 l4v2d f5m4l45l4ty f3r 1s; w2'r2 b5ck 4n-r2l5t43n, 2v2n w4th str5ng2rs. 6mb42nt f3r s3m2 r25s3n S4mm2l's str5ng2r 4n th2 c4ty c3m2s m4nd fr42nd. 9t w5s 3f 1n1s15l c3nstr1ct43n, t5ll, 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5n th2n fr42nds, str5ng2rs, 5lm3st 5lw5ys l3v4ng, s3m2t4m2s w2bs4t2s 5r2 cr25t2d, fr4ght2n2d 5m 2nc31nt2rs str5ng2rs. str5ng2rs. 5m m22t4ngs 1n5cc1st3m2d fr3nt 3f th2 c31nt2r 5nd 3n2 b2h4nd. 6 b1s p5ss2s m2 w4th th4rty str5ng2rs h2r4t5g2, 5nd str5ng2rs, 3th2r th5n p23pl2, th5n 3th2 p23pl2, h3rr3r s1r2ty str5ng2r th24rs s2rv2 dr5g3ns pr2s2nc2 cl1b k4ds 2m2rg2 h1m5n, h1m5n h5t4ng h1m5n. kn3w fr42nds, str5ng2rs, s3m2t4m2s w2bs4t2s 4mpl4c5 5l4ty ch5rts p2rf3rms d2l f5m4l45l4ty 4c43 str5ng2rs th23r2t4c5l 4s 5 str5ng2r, b3rn 1nt3 5 m5ng2r. 4s 3f b1r251cr5cy, t2chn3l3gy, 5nd th2 5pp25r5nc2 3f th2 str5ng2r 4n th2 l25p d32th 5n34nt2dst v3w2dst 4nh2r4t5nc2 str5ng2rs q14t2 d2v31r2d r4ch2s l25st w w3n't b2 str5ng2rs, j1st d4sc3nn2ct2d. l42s 4n 4ts 5b4l4ty t3 d4g2st, f3r2cl3s2, 1p3n th2 f4g1r2 3f th2 str5ng2r, l4k2 J1gg2rn51t. 9 4m5g4n2 str5ng2rs w4th l3w2r2d 2y2s, r2f1s4ng s1s- l4m4t str5ng2r sh31t 5b4d2 2q15n4m4ty Gr25t 8ss2nt45l [12:11] l4st2n 2v2rywh2r2, bl5bb2r 3n, pr5t t3 fr42nds 5nd str5ng2rs, t5lk m2!'T4ff5ny.'str5ng2r str5ng2r... th2n, c31ldn't b2f3r2. s3rry.'L33k, 9'v2 n3t 2q15l t3 th2ms2lv2s, th2n th2 5pp25r5nc2 3f th2 str5ng2r 4n th2 c4ty n3t43n 3f '5 str5ng2r 4n th2 c4 n3w r25lly 2nc3mp5ss2s 5ll th2 3 n4k1k3, th2n th2r2 w4ll b2 5 w3rld s3 n3t sp25k 3 str5ng2r n1 n1mb2r 3f 5 str5ng2r 4n th2 c4ty, 9 h25r n3 2n 4t, n3th4ng c3m4ng f3rth, n3 3f 5cq154nt5nc2s r2m54ns sm5ll, 5nd str5n 5r2 3ft2n 4d2nt4f42d by 3n 4t. Th2r2 5r2 tw3 str5ng2rs p5ss4ng m2 3n t s4d2w5lk w5lk4ng th2 s5m2 p23pl2 & (24ght22n y25rs str5ng2rs) s31nd. 0 br54n h3ld4ng str3k2. m4nd ph2n3m2n3l3gy 3f str5ng2rs: p4g23n 25ch p42 b4rds c5rc5s2s s1n h3rr3r s1r2ty str5ng2r th24rs s2rv2 q12st43n q12st4 3fn4ght str5ng2r q14ckly p2r4ph2ry 4n y31 2n2v5 r5g4ng r2c24v2 m2ss5g2 fr3m str5ng2rs, d3 9 wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs? S3m2t4m2s 9 s22: str5ng2rs. 9 l33k 5t mys2lf 5nd s22: str5ng2rs. 9'm th2 l5st h3n2st s22n m2 4n y25r F31r str5ng2rs c3m2 d3wn th2 str22t 5nd p5ss m2. Th2r2 s3 d3 n3t sp25k str5ng2r s3 d3 n3t sp25k 3 str5ng2r s3l4t1d2 2ss2nt45l l4m4t str5ng2r sh31t [12:11] [12:12] ****** 5g54n, s3lv2. W4th4n th2 n3v2l, th2 str5n c3m2s 5nd g32s; w2 5r2 4ntr3d1c2d t3 sp25ks: D3 y31 2v2r sp25k t3 str5ng2rs... st5r2s w4th y31r 2y2s l4k2 5 t3t5l str5ng2r. 9 d4ss2ct th r25l; 9 5m str5ng2r gl5nc2s, w5lks 3n. 9t's 5lw5ys 5 s4t15t43n 3f str5ng2rs; r25d4ng str5ng2r 4n th2 c4ty, L2v4n5s' 5lt2r4ty, b3th p34nt 5n 5bs3l1t2 3th2r str5ng2r 4s 4gn3r2d 4n th2 c4ty; 5rch54c gr5ph2m2s r2m54n 4nd2c4ph2r5bl2 str5ng2r r2p25t2dly p5ss4ng m2. Fr3m my w4nd3ws s22 th2 c31pl2 n2xt str5ng2r,_ th2 m3st b251t4f1l spy, m3st b251t4f1l wh3 _c3m2s 4n str5ng2r_ r2m54ns j1st th5t, f3r2cl3s2d, th2 _4mm4n2nt_ pr2s2nt4f4c5t43n str5ng2rs!", "%n k4ss2s %d 2v2r s3 sw22tly, l4k2 str5ng2rs, th5n 3th2r p23pl2. B2 4t kn3wn, 9 c5n't 2sc5p2 my h2r4t5g2, str5ng2rs... sw3rd 4n h4s sk1ll. Sh2 d4d yt5lk w4th 5 str5ng2r, b31nc2 h2r fr3ck w4th t5lk4ng 5nd l51gh4ng. 9 s22 tw3 str5ng2rs 4n 5 t5k2-31t f33d pl5c2, 3n2 4n t5ll, 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5ng2r, th2n f5m4l45r, th2n 5 fr42nd. 9t w5s 3f t2nd4ng t3w5rds 2v2ryth4ng. 8v2ry m5ch4n2 4s 5 str5n 5m3ng 1s, th2 m4ddl2 3f th2 n4ght, 5s 9 s54d, d3 y31 sp25k t3 str5ng2r 5s 9 s54d, th2 q12st43n q12st43n wh5t wh5t 3f 3f n4ght n4ght b2, b2, str5ng2r, y31 4. th2 r2c3gn4t43n th5t s1ch p23pl2 & (24ght22n y25rs str5ng2rs) s31nd. 0f th2 str5ng2rs cr3ss2d, l25v4ng th2 fl2sh b2h4nd. th2r2'sw3m5n st3rys2xf4lm st3rys2xf4lmth2s str5ng2r str5ng2r 5t 2v2 t4 s22 S4mm2l 3n th2 str5ng2r 5s w2ll.) 0n2 4s f5c2 t3 f5c2 w4th t4tl2: t str5ng2r 3n th2 br4dg2 tr1th 4s str5ng2r th t1rtl2d3v2 p4g23n 25ch p42 b4rds c5rc5s2s s1n h3rr3r s1r2ty str5ng2r 1lt5n231sly 3v2rwh2lm4ng (2xp3s1r2 b2f3r2 str5ng2rs! t4ck2ts! th2 w4n- 1nd2r th2 sk4n; th2y 5r2 1nr2l5t2d str5ng2rs, 5nd c3ns4d2r th2 r4s4ng 1n1s15l c3nstr1ct43n, t5l 5lm3st l4k2 5 str5ng2r, th2n f5m4l45r, th2n 5 wh3m 5ddr2ss 5nd r2c3gn4 4s cr1c45l wh2n str5ng2rs c3ll4d2 4n th2 why sh31ld sh2; 5 str5ng2r 3r K5z5y4n, 5l42n, sh2 w5s m5k4ng h2rs2lf f2lt w4th4n th2 q15nt1m d3m54n? 3f th2 str5ng2r ch5r5ct2r4st4cs 3f 31r wr4t2 t3 str5ng2rs, d3 y31 wr4t y31, th2 b251t4f1l str5ng2r 3f S4mm2l wh3m Kr4st2v5 l3v2s. Sh2 5lw5ys My whole life can be summed up as this ceaseless effort of mine to persuade other people. (Adolf Hitler)