On not finding a topic of conversation

And have you noticed, Rodion Romanovich, that among us -- that is, in our Russia, sir, and most of all in our Petersburg circles -- if two intelligent men get together, not very well acquainted yet, but, so to speak, mutually respecting each other, just like you and me now, sir, it will take them a whole half hour to find a topic of conversation -- they freeze before each other, they sit feeling mutually embarrassed. Everybody has topics for conversation, ladies for instance . . . worldly men, for instance, of a higher tone, always have a topic for discussion, c'est de rigeur! -- but people of the neuter kind, like us, are easily embarrassed and have trouble talking . . . the thinking ones, I mean. Why do you suppose that is, my dear? Do we have no social interests, or is it that we're too honest and don't want to deceive each other, I don't know.

Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky.

'hg update' and subdirectories?

$ hg clone ns-3-dev ns-3-foo
updating working directory
948 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
$ cd ns-3-foo/
$ ls
AUTHORS    CHANGES.html  examples/  ns3/    regression/    RELEASE_NOTES  scratch/  utils/   waf*      wscript
bindings/  doc/          LICENSE    README  regression.py  samples/       src/      VERSION  waf.bat*  wutils.py
$ rm -rf *
$ hg up
11 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
$ ls
AUTHORS  CHANGES.html  LICENSE  README  regression.py  RELEASE_NOTES  VERSION  waf*  waf.bat*  wscript  wutils.py

Where did all the subdirectories go? How can I get them back?

About Horns

"[...]Horns are simply the natural consequence of every legal marriage, its correction, so to speak, a protest, so that in this sense they are not humiliating in the least... And--absurd as it is to think of it--if ever I wind up in a legal marriage, I will even be glad of your thrice-cursed horns; in that case I'll say to my wife: 'My friend, before now I have only loved you, but now I respect you, because you've been able to protest!' You laugh? That's because you're not strong enough to tear yourself free of prejudices! Devil take it, don't I know precisely what makes it so unpleasant when you're deceived in the legal sort? But that is merely the base consequence of a base fact, in which both parties are humiliated. But when the horns are given openly, as in civil marriage, then they no longer exist, they are unthinkable, and lose even the name of horns. On the contrary, your wife will merely be proving how much she respects you, by considering you incapable of opposing her happiness and developed enough not to take revenge on her for her new husband. Devil take it, I sometimes dream that if I were given into marriage--pah!--if I were to marry (civilly or legally, it makes no difference), I think I'd bring my wife a lover myself, if she was too slow in taking one. 'My friend', I'd say, 'I love you, but beyond that I wish you to respect me--here!'. Is it right, is it right what I'm saying?..."

Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment" (the book I am currently reading).

So, remember folks, if your wife gives you horns, she "will merely be proving how much she respects you"! :D

Fam'art Ensemble

If you live in the north region of Portugal and wish to have a classical band playing at a cerimony (like wedding), checkout my sister's cool outfit Fam'art Ensemble!