Anonymous
Post 05/04/2020 20:52     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed this AMA, thanks!


Me too. Most interesting thread in a very long time. And a relief to get away from the high levels of neuroses flowing through every different forum at the moment. Hopefully over soon-ish.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2020 13:51     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
I enjoyed this AMA, thanks!
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2020 13:21     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
maria wrote:
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!


Yes, she is a great cook. Last week she made some great Ajaruli Khachapuri (the kind with an egg on top).



Here's the recipe I recommend if anyone is interested. It's pretty simple and delicious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ROCm1ZD92Y


Thank you very much! I am going to try that!
maria
Post 05/04/2020 11:01     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!


Yes, she is a great cook. Last week she made some great Ajaruli Khachapuri (the kind with an egg on top).



Here's the recipe I recommend if anyone is interested. It's pretty simple and delicious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ROCm1ZD92Y
jsteele
Post 05/03/2020 18:20     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do you ever post anonymously?


Almost never. I learned very early that some posters have a remarkable ability to recognize people by their writing style. I would be terribly embarrassed to get called out. But, once or twice I've had questions involving my kids and I asked them anonymously to protect their privacy. In one case, the responses were really rude.


Don’t answer this but was it a question about merld?



Hah, no. If I had asked about that, a lot more people would have been banned by now.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 18:17     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do you ever post anonymously?


Almost never. I learned very early that some posters have a remarkable ability to recognize people by their writing style. I would be terribly embarrassed to get called out. But, once or twice I've had questions involving my kids and I asked them anonymously to protect their privacy. In one case, the responses were really rude.


Don’t answer this but was it a question about merld?

jsteele
Post 05/03/2020 18:02     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:If you were in the CIA, would you tell us?


Yes, it would be cool to be an ex-CIA agent. I could claim to have lots of interesting stories that I couldn't tell you.
jsteele
Post 05/03/2020 18:01     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:
Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!


Yes, she is a great cook. Last week she made some great Ajaruli Khachapuri (the kind with an egg on top).

Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 18:00     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?


No, I was never in the CIA though people -- including some family members -- thought I was. I went to Kuwait to attend Kuwait University to study Arabic. I was learning Arabic because I was studying Arab Studies and Arabic was a requirement.

I went to Georgia as part of a USAID-funded project to assist the Parliament of Georgia. I ended up managing a project to create the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Georgia, connect the Parliament to the Internet via that ISP, and train Georgian parliamentary staff to use and administer the hardware and software needed to use the Internet. During this project I met Maria and we were married two years after first meeting.

I know very little Russian and Georgian. Setting up an Internet service in Georgia in the mid-1990s had a lot of challenges. This is reflected in the fact that the first thing I learn to say in Georgian after "hello" and "thank you" was "there is no electricity".



Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!


(Not Jeff, but it’s very easy to make at home: https://www.saveur.com/adjaruli-khachapuri-georgian-cheese-bread-recipe/ )
jsteele
Post 05/03/2020 17:59     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:Do you like the food at Supra?


Yes. I like it a lot. I can't wait for their new restaurant to open because it will be within walking distance for us.
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 17:57     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
If you were in the CIA, would you tell us?
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 17:57     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
jsteele wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?


No, I was never in the CIA though people -- including some family members -- thought I was. I went to Kuwait to attend Kuwait University to study Arabic. I was learning Arabic because I was studying Arab Studies and Arabic was a requirement.

I went to Georgia as part of a USAID-funded project to assist the Parliament of Georgia. I ended up managing a project to create the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Georgia, connect the Parliament to the Internet via that ISP, and train Georgian parliamentary staff to use and administer the hardware and software needed to use the Internet. During this project I met Maria and we were married two years after first meeting.

I know very little Russian and Georgian. Setting up an Internet service in Georgia in the mid-1990s had a lot of challenges. This is reflected in the fact that the first thing I learn to say in Georgian after "hello" and "thank you" was "there is no electricity".



Thanks, sounds like an interesting career. Does your wife make amazing Georgian food? I could really go for some khachapuri about now!
Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 17:56     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Do you like the food at Supra?
jsteele
Post 05/03/2020 17:52     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Anonymous wrote:Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?


No, I was never in the CIA though people -- including some family members -- thought I was. I went to Kuwait to attend Kuwait University to study Arabic. I was learning Arabic because I was studying Arab Studies and Arabic was a requirement.

I went to Georgia as part of a USAID-funded project to assist the Parliament of Georgia. I ended up managing a project to create the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Georgia, connect the Parliament to the Internet via that ISP, and train Georgian parliamentary staff to use and administer the hardware and software needed to use the Internet. During this project I met Maria and we were married two years after first meeting.

I know very little Russian and Georgian. Setting up an Internet service in Georgia in the mid-1990s had a lot of challenges. This is reflected in the fact that the first thing I learn to say in Georgian after "hello" and "thank you" was "there is no electricity".

Anonymous
Post 05/03/2020 17:41     Subject: Jeff, would you consider doing an AMA?
Were you ever in the CIA or intelligence community? Kuwait in the 1980s, Arabic language study, Tbilisi? If not, what we’re you doing in those places? And do you speak any Russian or Georgian?