Assignments completed: 217



NEUROCAM TRAINING EXERCISE – NTE – 9002/01 – Covert Surveillance – Eavesdropping.

11:43 PM Café: “de cavid”

As I entered the café I noticed that there weren’t allot of people there, probably because of the late hour in the middle of the week. There were however 3 older men, sitting at the bar on the stools. I Decided to give those a try, I went and took a seat on a table right behind the three old men. From what I could tell they were regulars because they held up the waiter for quite some time before he came to serve me. When he came to me, I ordered an Ice Tea. I brought a newspaper so I’d have something to do, and of course a note pad and two pens, as I was instructed. I opened my newspaper on the crossword puzzles and pretended I was trying to solve them. But I just wrote down some random words and turned my notepad to a fresh page. They were talking pretty fast and in a Kortenberg dialect, so it was kind off hard. I wrote down keywords every now and then and memorized the rest.

Guy one: I didn’t see you at the football game Saturday afternoon?
Guy two: yeah, you know my wife, there’s always something wrong. She had made arrangements with a friend of her and of course I had bring her over. So how did the game go?
Guy one: Well, you didn’t really miss that much, Everberg (name of “their” team) didn’t do anything! Their defence was nowhere to be found! I mean, even I could do better
Guy one: They haven’t been doing really well for the entire season…
Guy two: yeah,…
Guy three: well, I never was that much of a Everberg fan, but you know I’m more of a Kortenberg fan myself
Guy two: WHAT?!?!? Kortenberg, I’ve told you so many times, don’t get me started about them. Of course they’re get good points, but they lack that something special…
Guy three: You always say that! You know what, never mind.

There was a long silence and in between a few beers were ordered, it was still pretty early in the morning and they already had quite a few down.

Guy one: So, how’s your wife doing anyway?
Guy two: Not half as good as I would want her to be, if you know what I mean (old horny geezer talk, you know it) But eum, I guess she’s doing pretty good. Why do you ask?
Guy one: Last time I asked she was sick, remember?
Guy two: maaaan, that was like 2 weeks ago! She was fine a day later.
Guy one: Was it that long ago? I was pretty sure…
Guy two: Maybe, you need to ease up on the drinking (with a smirk on his face, while taking a sip of own beer)
Guy one: look who’s talking…

After this, they were talking quite quiet, I couldn’t really make it out, it went on for quite some time. Apparently they were discussing about, who is the biggest drinker, I could see them making gestures with their glasses.

 

In the mean while, some people came in and went to sit down a couple of tables further. I kept an eye on them from the time they came in until they sat down and where served. They also started talking, I thought I should make sure they were busy, so they wouldn’t take notice to me.
As I was about to continue my eavesdropping on the old men, I noticed one of the old guys was checking me out for a second, but he quickly turned away and took another drink from his glass.
At this time it was 00:08 AM, two of the three guys were getting ready to take off, one of the guys didn’t live too far way from me and was going in the same direction as me, so I decided to also pay my drink and so I took off. They were a couple of 20 meters ahead of me and they weren’t really walking in a straight line…I could hear them chanting something, but it wasn’t really clear…



REPORT: NEUROCAM TRAINING EXERCISE – NTE – 9002/01 – Covert Surveillance –
Eavesdropping.

Date: Saturday, February 19, 2005, 7:00 - 7:30 PM.
Location: Café Pi, 4127 St.Laurent, Montreal.

I sat in a well-placed corner table, adjacent to a group of four people, three women and one man, dressed as if for a business convention. All seemed to be in their early 20's, probably students, and their conversation is notable only for it's almost total lack of focused subject and meaningful content. I managed to glean the names of three of the four - Jonathan (J1), Julie (J2) and Andrea (A). The nameless one will be (W). Subjects all seemed somewhat fatigued, and the conversation was somewhat sporadic and thus easy to follow.

The conversation was already underway when I began - a waitress was just finishing the taking of their order.

(Waitress) Anything else?
(All, mixed) No... Thanks....
(Waitress walks away).

(A) So... where were we?
(J1) No fucking idea... I'm sooooo tired.
(General murmurs of assent around the table re: fatigue).
(J1) Gotta go wash my hands.
(excuses himself, gets up and walks away)

(long pause)
(A) So what's up with Jonathan anyway?
(W) I think he's just wiped out from today. He'll get over it.
(J2) He'd better. (laughs)
(laughter all around)
(A) Got plans later, Julie? (lighting cigarette)
(J2) Not really, just gonna go home and chill probably. Unless you've got a better idea...
(W) We were thinking of maybe going for a drink after.
(J2) Might be up for that, but I'll have to ask Jon when he gets back.
(A) & (W) Awwwww... that's soooooo cuuuute... (laughter)
(J2) Oh come on guys... (giggles)

(J1 returns to table)
(J1) So what's so funny?
(A) Nothing, just trying to figure out what we're gonna do after.
(W) Andrea (tilting head toward A) thought we could go for drinks after.
(J1 turns to J2) What do you think?
(J2, to J1) I don't know - we didn't have anything special on for tonight, did we?
(J1) Yeah, we could do that. But...
some huddling and whispering between J1 & J2. A & W exchange knowing looks and sidelong glances.
(J1) Alright, we're in.
(W) OK.
(A) Yay! (laughs) After today I need it.
(W) Oh come on, it wasn't that bad.
(A) I've got, like, a hundred better things to do in my weekend than that.
(J2) I know what you mean...
(J1) Well I got stuff out of it.
(A) Like what?
(J1) Didn't you pay any attention? There was all kinds of stuff that was, like, totally useful.
(A) Like...
(J1) Well all that META tag stuff. I could never figure that shit out, but I sort of get it now.
(A) Boooorrriiiiinnggg...
(Laughter all around)
(J1) Laugh all you want. At least I'm learning stuff.
(More laughter...)
(J1) OK OK, change of subject, where are we gonna go for drinks?
(A) I was thinking Jello Bar.
(W) Yeah!
(J2) Never been there. What's it like?
(A) It's a cool loungy sorta retro place. You'll love it.
(J1) Sounds OK.

(the waitress arrives with salads for W and J, and sandwiches for the others).

(A) Julie, you've got to give up all that diet stuff.
(J2, exasperated) I just want to lose a few more pounds, that's all.
(A, with hands up) OK, OK, I won't go there...

(some silent eating and lower, mouth-ful talk which was at much lower level and almost incomprehensible)

(J1 flags down waitress) - Excuse me, could we get a pitcher of water here?
(J1)I'm totally dehydrated.
(W) Hey, have you guys had any news from Mark?
(J1) Not for awhile... it's like he's dropped off the fucking planet...
(J2) We don't see a lot of the old gang around these days.
(J1) Course we don't, we never go out.
(A) Well we can do something about that! (laughs)
(A) But, like, seriously, you guys should come out more often. You're getting all domestic on us.
(J1) We don't have a lot of spare time.
(J2) Yeah, it's hard sometimes...

(waitress comes back to ask if everything is OK)

(J1) Yeah, fine.

(waitress leaves)

(more silent eating)

(J2) Man, the food here sucks.
(J1, sotto voce) Shhhhh.... not so loud.

(pause)

(A) So where do we go after?
(W) Somewhere close would be cool.
(J1) I thought we were going to Jello Bar.
(A) Shit, I forgot already. Yeah, that's it.
(J2) I'll have to stop by a bank machine on the way.
(J1) No problem, there's one across the street. But it's OK, I've got cash.
(A) Jonathan, you're such a gentleman, providing for your lady and all. (laughs)
(J1 rolls eyes, turns and waves at waitress, who arrives immediately) Can we get our checks please?
(waitress goes to counter to add up the checks).
(A, putting on coat) I hope it's not getting too cold out.
(J1) It's supposed to be about the same tonight.
(A) I hate the winter here, I can't get used to it.
(J1) It's not so bad... hey, not this year anyway.
(much getting up and arranging of coats and scarves)
(waitress arrives with checks, passing back and forth of money commences and finishes quickly).

(J1) Right, so we're off!
(A) Wait a sec, dropped my gloves under the table... (crouches to search for gloves)
(A) OK, got it.
(all file toward exit)
(A) So which way do we... (lost in noise from other tables near the exit)

::

Report compiled by QED 20.02.2005.



Mr. Hastings:
Here was my w experienceith the Training Excercise NTE 9002/01.

I entered Noodles & Company restaurant with backpack at 12:26,
intending to use homework as a cover for Neurocam note-taking. Ordered
a (refill-able) drink and seated myself at a booth by a group of four
people who had ordered but not yet been served. The restuarant was
very busy and noisy, but I chronologged as best I could the general
flow of conversation.

1: Man seated facing away from me- deep voice, brown-gray hair, late 20's
2: Woman seated next to him - black curly hair, also late 20's. Shrill.
3: Man seated across from her - brown hair, mid 30's.
4: Man seated next to him - higher voice, light brown hair.

12:31- the conversation I begin listening to sounds to be about
workplace politics. Names are mentioned, "Carol", "Jack", and
"Kathleen". They don't sound like the names of the people speaking,
but of colleages or co-workers. They talk about a meeting that
happened earlier today.

12:35- topic begins to center about Jack. 2 and 4 seem interested in
debating Jack's sexual orientation (4 is curious as to the homosexual
possibility, 2 is obliging but ambivalent). 1 remains silent and 3
(from what I can see of his face) seems uncomfortable at the whole
issue.

12:38- their food arrives and conversations cease momentarily. I get
up to refill my root beer, and passing them notice that 1, 2, and 3
all ordered plate-meals, while 4 is the only noodles bowl (pesto, it
would appear; I am quite familiar with the Noodles and Company menu,
as it is).

12:39- return to table, reopen notebook and continue taking notes. 1
is now dominating the conversation, talking about his children. He
mentions a young son who is having problems at school. 2 responds
sympathetically, mentioning a daughter who had a similar problem.
Apparently their children are in grade school, and are being unruly
and simply ignoring their homework. 1 even brought up an incident of
his son lying to both him (the father) and the teacher about it. 2
suggests the possibility that there are other problems or reasons why
the child would not do homework. 1: "Or he's just being a lazy kid."
They chuckle.

12:43- 3 says, "I don't know if I ever *really* did homework as a kid.
Hell, [chuckle] I'm still avoiding it now." 4 swallows quickly and
says, "Oh, I heard about that! [turns to 1 and 2] David had a sum rep
[sic?] due Tuesday for Carol, and she Bitched. Him. Out. when he
didn't have it done." 3: "It was a busy night... !" They all laugh. 3
is now known to be David. Last names are never used. 2 comments,
"Well, -some of us- did our homework as kids."

12:48- Topics have returned to more mundane, job-type issues. It
sounds like they're using much more office slang - difficult to tell
about what. Mostly who's been hired, who's been fired, who doesn't do
any work or finish their obligations. I believe I hear 2 referred to
as "June" or "Jun"?

12:50- June excuses herself to go to the restroom, and 1, taking
advantage of her absence, leaves the booth to go refill his drink.
The drink station is fairly nearby, but I watch carefully at notice 4
nudge David, who is busying himself with his meal, without looking at
him. Nothing is said, but David's lips curl up slightly. "James..." he
mutters, warningly. (or "Jane...", but I presume James is the more
plausible explanation). 4 is now known as James.

12:53- June and 1 (still unnamed) have returned, and James and David
continue the group conversation with them. In response to another
work-type question, June responds, slightly sarcastically "Well, I'm
*sorry*, but I had to watch Desperate Housewives. Yeah, yeah, I know.
Shut up guys." David and James are chuckling - no visible response
from 1. David asks, in a tone of mock seriousness, "So June, IS
Charlene the mother of the mysterious alien-baby?" June apparently
kicks him, because he says "ow!", and June tries to continue in
seriousness, "It's NOT a soap opera... well, not really. You should
watch it and see."

12:58- a waitress (er, bus-girl?) of the restaurant comes by my table
and asks me if she can get me anything to eat other than my drink. I
close my notebook when she comes by and continue holding my alibi
novel (Anthony Burgess', "A Clockwork Orange"), and respond no thanks.
She makes a scene out of clearing off my straw wrapper and crumpled up
napkin. They are obviously trying to hurry me along (and not too
surprisingly; I'm taking up an entire booth in a busy restaurant). I
figure it's time to go.

12:59- I pack up my books, leave my empty soda glass on the table, and
head out, leaving the woman and three men to the rest of their lunch
(which appears mostly completed by this point anyways).

Thank you very much for your time - I apologize that the noisiness of
the restaurant prevented me from getting more than the general gist of
much of their conversations. Looking forward to greater success in
later missions...

Agent Zephyrial

PS: Incidentally, my city was mistaken for "Wauwatos" in my assignment
email. It is "Wauwatosa", located in Wisconsin, Midwest United States.
This is not a large issue, but one I was certain the Neurocam records
would want to have correctly. Thanks.



BEGIN REPORT---------------------------------

Date: Sunday, February 11, 2005
Start time: 6:56 p.m. EST
End time: 7:26 p.m. EST
Location: Breaking New Ground coffee shop, Exchange Street, Portland Maine

Subjects observed were three young white women, estimated ages 16–20.

"..." denotes missing portions of conversation that were either
inaudible or that I was unable to transcribe fast enough.

Subject 3 [S3]: Blue Crush was sadly sad, though. It was supposed to
be a really good movie.

Subject 2 [S2]: ... I thoroughly enjoyed it, though.

S3: Blue Crush?

S2: No.

S3: Me neither.

Subject 1 [S1]: ... That makes sense, though – he's going for acting.

...

S3: I felt kind of weird going to South Portland the day after they lost.

S2: That sucked.

S3: ... Yeah, I was sitting on the ground – I had to sleep – and he
was sitting on the ground next to me and he put his head in my lap. It
was so cute. ... But the South Portland guys were all dressed up – it
was so weird. One guy, he had already put some orange in his hair
before – you could tell, it was all sort of faded underneath.

...

S2: We have one day.

s3: I have to start packing.

S1: Do you have all your money collected yet?

s3: No ... and she said she's only giving us money for gas.

...

S3: I have a question, though – can you ask Kit to come down an hour
early? She wanted to leave at 10, I wanted to leave at 9.

S2: I can talk to her.

S1: Why don't we say 9:30.

S2: You can tell Ryan a half an hour earlier than you want to leave.

S3: It doesn't work.

S2: Tell him an hour, then.

S3: It still doesn't work.

S1: I would say 10, because then I'll get up. If you say "whenever"
I'll sleep till noon.

S3: It's up to you. You're driving.

S2: I'll call him.

S3: You don't have to.

S2: I will.

...

S3: The other night Sue was saying "It's like a fricken bar up there,"
and I just clammed up. She was like, "Yeah, all we need to do is add a
freakin mini-fridge and a microwave up there and he'd never come down
to see his beloved family." And I was like "A bar, huh?"

S1: I am ridiculously relaxed right now. I don't even like it.

S3: ... Yeah, and Ryan was like "All you need to do is smoke a quarter
and you'll be all set, you know?"

...

S3: I think it's funny they're all going down to Philly with Sam's
little sister.

S1: Wait, his little sister?

S3: Yeah, she's a sophomore.

S2: ... Yeah, she was so upset – I don't think Katie knows how to be
upset, but she was like, "The girl copied me."

S3: There are a lot of Katies.

...

S3: Well I remember signing the little heart "Love, Val" and I was
like, "I hope people don't get confused."

...

S3: And she's not an important character. When they were all singing
"Be My Guest" I could distinctly here [name inaud]. His French accent
is hysterical.

S3: I'm feeling really emo right now, guys.

S2: Where should we go?

S3: Are you looking for trouble?

S1: Yeah, she was thinking Grant Street.

...

S1: I ate about an hour ago.

S2: I had a slice of bread.

...

S3: Have you seen his sneakers? I don't think he's homeless.

S2: I think he's just a smart businessman.

...

S1: Dude, I told her that last night. I said "I had that watermelon schnapps..."

[subject leave area]

-----------END REPORT----------------