A Moving Experience
It's under construction still, but please go to http://www.elhide.com/solo/ for future posts, and adjust your links accordingly. Thanks!
Update:
Of all the posts to fail to publish, and have me not realize it until almost three hours later, it had to be this one! Let's see if it goes this time.
Thursday, June 19, 2003
A Long Expected Interview
Maripat has finally gotten around to posting the widely anticipated, almost non-fictional interview with Lori over at Right We Are!
Maripat has finally gotten around to posting the widely anticipated, almost non-fictional interview with Lori over at Right We Are!
10,000 Watch
Well, my 1/3 Blogiversary is the 25th, 6 days from now. I'm approaching 10,000 on the meter, so I should hit 10,000 by or right at the 4 month mark. That's pretty cool. My only concern with possibly falling short is traffic has plunged this week; almost to half its previous levels. On the other hand, moving out to add a boost. If I can get the new site to load reliably.
Well, my 1/3 Blogiversary is the 25th, 6 days from now. I'm approaching 10,000 on the meter, so I should hit 10,000 by or right at the 4 month mark. That's pretty cool. My only concern with possibly falling short is traffic has plunged this week; almost to half its previous levels. On the other hand, moving out to add a boost. If I can get the new site to load reliably.
Elhide Blues
Well, today my new site still is having speed issues. At this point, meaning it won't load at all, even with the direct URL including weblog.php at the end. Except if I hit www.elhide.com, in which case the redirector page that currently brings you to Blogspot comes up instantly, followed by the Blogspot page coming up instantly. Doh!
Something isn't right. I made no changes that should have caused such a thing. Very weird. Guess I'll go do work instead of trying to get the site live.
Well, today my new site still is having speed issues. At this point, meaning it won't load at all, even with the direct URL including weblog.php at the end. Except if I hit www.elhide.com, in which case the redirector page that currently brings you to Blogspot comes up instantly, followed by the Blogspot page coming up instantly. Doh!
Something isn't right. I made no changes that should have caused such a thing. Very weird. Guess I'll go do work instead of trying to get the site live.
X2
I went to see X2 for the second time, so the nephew could see. I used a two year old free pass, which I'd not used because I always go to matinees, and the freebie is best used to avoid paying full price.
It was just as good the second time! The FX that hint about the Phoenix were more obvious this time, knowing about it and already knowing what happened. I can't wait for the next one.
I'll reiterate that Anna Paquin is just sooooo cute. Not that the rest of the women are slouches. Halle Berry was good, having much more opportunity to show what she could do this time, and the interaction with Nightcrawler, who was so cool.
Probably I'll see Hulk this weekend when it comes out. Steve Rhodes gave it only ** and thought it was too long and dull; trying to be too much of a thinking movie and not enough of an action movie. That won't stop me from going.
I went to see X2 for the second time, so the nephew could see. I used a two year old free pass, which I'd not used because I always go to matinees, and the freebie is best used to avoid paying full price.
It was just as good the second time! The FX that hint about the Phoenix were more obvious this time, knowing about it and already knowing what happened. I can't wait for the next one.
I'll reiterate that Anna Paquin is just sooooo cute. Not that the rest of the women are slouches. Halle Berry was good, having much more opportunity to show what she could do this time, and the interaction with Nightcrawler, who was so cool.
Probably I'll see Hulk this weekend when it comes out. Steve Rhodes gave it only ** and thought it was too long and dull; trying to be too much of a thinking movie and not enough of an action movie. That won't stop me from going.
How Rude
I thought I might take a little while tonight to make the changeover, even though I am not really ready. Seeing how I've already been announced, so I could have the honor of the number 100 spot in the official defectors list. Speaking of which, the URL to the defectors list no longer goes right to it, but to the top of the archive page it's on; then there's much scrolling involved. Probably ought to have a page of its own.
So tonight the new site on Hosting Matters is doing the weird slow load thing BlogSplat often does, and BlogSplat is loading fine, except not loading the referrer log and the Enetation comments bring up error pages, neither of which is a Blogger problem per se. How rude, for the good hosting to act up.
Perhaps tomorrow night I can make big changes and e-mail people that it's official enough to run with.
I thought I might take a little while tonight to make the changeover, even though I am not really ready. Seeing how I've already been announced, so I could have the honor of the number 100 spot in the official defectors list. Speaking of which, the URL to the defectors list no longer goes right to it, but to the top of the archive page it's on; then there's much scrolling involved. Probably ought to have a page of its own.
So tonight the new site on Hosting Matters is doing the weird slow load thing BlogSplat often does, and BlogSplat is loading fine, except not loading the referrer log and the Enetation comments bring up error pages, neither of which is a Blogger problem per se. How rude, for the good hosting to act up.
Perhaps tomorrow night I can make big changes and e-mail people that it's official enough to run with.
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Frustration
Not being able to blog much. Not being able to tweak and deploy the new digs.
I have a funeral in the morning. Afterward I have to pick up my nephew, go to the office, and have a very busy afternoon and evening doing work that needs to be done. Then the nephew and I are going to see X-Men 2, so I'll be home late and probably just go to bed or be online minimally at this time tomorrow night. On the other hand, at least I'll be home at this time tomorrow night, and not just leaving the office.
Thursday ought to be a little better. At some point presumably the nephew will need to be returned home, and there's still work to do. I also expect my friend who's moving to California to bring her computer to the office Thursday so I can put in the CD burner I got as a going away present. Her old, slow one only works as a music CD player now. And we can hang out one last time, chowing down amazing barbecue chicken pizza and the world's best fries (really!) from the mom&pop hole in the wall place around the corner. Once in a while she visits me at work and we do that for lunch.
Still, Thursday night I ought to be home and able to work on the new blog. I'll do the most imperative things and then launch it before I am done tweaking every detail. That will get people to stop flattering me by publicly urging me to hurry up off BlogSplat. When I do move, I expect I will send an e-mail notifying all the blogs I can identify that have me linked, so if that's you, be expecting it.
Not being able to blog much. Not being able to tweak and deploy the new digs.
I have a funeral in the morning. Afterward I have to pick up my nephew, go to the office, and have a very busy afternoon and evening doing work that needs to be done. Then the nephew and I are going to see X-Men 2, so I'll be home late and probably just go to bed or be online minimally at this time tomorrow night. On the other hand, at least I'll be home at this time tomorrow night, and not just leaving the office.
Thursday ought to be a little better. At some point presumably the nephew will need to be returned home, and there's still work to do. I also expect my friend who's moving to California to bring her computer to the office Thursday so I can put in the CD burner I got as a going away present. Her old, slow one only works as a music CD player now. And we can hang out one last time, chowing down amazing barbecue chicken pizza and the world's best fries (really!) from the mom&pop hole in the wall place around the corner. Once in a while she visits me at work and we do that for lunch.
Still, Thursday night I ought to be home and able to work on the new blog. I'll do the most imperative things and then launch it before I am done tweaking every detail. That will get people to stop flattering me by publicly urging me to hurry up off BlogSplat. When I do move, I expect I will send an e-mail notifying all the blogs I can identify that have me linked, so if that's you, be expecting it.
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
9000
And the 9000th hit is...
Referred by A Gaggle of Girls (And Some Guys Who Fill In During Vacations).
On Pacific Time, at 4:18:51 PM to be exact.
With ISP of Pacbell.
Using Netscape 5.0 on Windows 98.
Ith, izzat you?
And the 9000th hit is...
Referred by A Gaggle of Girls (And Some Guys Who Fill In During Vacations).
On Pacific Time, at 4:18:51 PM to be exact.
With ISP of Pacbell.
Using Netscape 5.0 on Windows 98.
Ith, izzat you?
A Grin for the Den! (Attention Mapchic et al)
Spread the word!
Check out this hosting option as a Blogspot alternative. It's a wonderful thing, and slightly lower cost even than some of the other non-free options. Plus they'll setup MT or pMachine for you free, which helps give Dean a rest after the fifty MT sites - mostly BlogSplat refugees - he will have setup.
Imagine: geographica.bloghouse.net as new home for one of my favorite blogs.
Spread the word!
Check out this hosting option as a Blogspot alternative. It's a wonderful thing, and slightly lower cost even than some of the other non-free options. Plus they'll setup MT or pMachine for you free, which helps give Dean a rest after the fifty MT sites - mostly BlogSplat refugees - he will have setup.
Imagine: geographica.bloghouse.net as new home for one of my favorite blogs.
Driving
Way to go Jaboobie! I could easily have written this list of driving tips myself. Well done.
Someone did item 10 to me today and I was all ready at that point to get back to the office and blog about it. And about my observation that some people don't drive "wrong" per se, but have a "rhythm" to their driving that's off from that of other people. Or off from mine, anyway. You know what I mean? It's hard to define. It's a matter of going mostly the right speeds and being acceptably safe, yet slowing and resuming speed in an odd pattern, maintaining odd distances, driving with the brake more than the gas, perhaps, but not as eggregiously as some people, slowing or speeding too much or too little or at the wrong distance when approaching a merge or intersection, coming off the highway onto the ramp too fast then driving up the ramp to slowly or vice-versa. Little things enough different to be a noticable pattern that makes you have to watch that driver extra carefully.
Then there's the guy today driving in the left lane on 93 into Boston who to all appearances was drowsing off and periodically drifting over the line into the next lane. Amazing. Anyway, enough on silly drivers.
Way to go Jaboobie! I could easily have written this list of driving tips myself. Well done.
Someone did item 10 to me today and I was all ready at that point to get back to the office and blog about it. And about my observation that some people don't drive "wrong" per se, but have a "rhythm" to their driving that's off from that of other people. Or off from mine, anyway. You know what I mean? It's hard to define. It's a matter of going mostly the right speeds and being acceptably safe, yet slowing and resuming speed in an odd pattern, maintaining odd distances, driving with the brake more than the gas, perhaps, but not as eggregiously as some people, slowing or speeding too much or too little or at the wrong distance when approaching a merge or intersection, coming off the highway onto the ramp too fast then driving up the ramp to slowly or vice-versa. Little things enough different to be a noticable pattern that makes you have to watch that driver extra carefully.
Then there's the guy today driving in the left lane on 93 into Boston who to all appearances was drowsing off and periodically drifting over the line into the next lane. Amazing. Anyway, enough on silly drivers.
Wow!
I've just been linked twice by Joe Katzman over at Winds of Change.
One is the article I linked to about the possibility of a low grade depression that could last many years. I consider it a real if avoidable possibility, and found the analysis interesting.
The other is a nudge to get off Blogspot. Heh. I am working on it. My basic layout is largely finished at a temporary, ridiculous URL. The posts you see are temporary, test posts, so you can comment there but the comments will go away when I delete the posts to start for real. I have a whole laundry list of mostly minor tweaks that add up to a fair amount of work, but much of it will be done after I make the move official. At a shorter URL, I hope. In a couple days, I expect.
Anywho, back to work... I have a panicky lawyer upstairs whose local Juris Timesheet database corrupted beyond repair. Need to show her how to query previously batched time that's on the server, since her old time is no longer visible through a query or diary view locally. Then I have a machine to build and another to finish installing and deploy.
Oh, duh. I meant to mention, in connection with the economic article I linked, my big concern right now is the real estate market crashing ungracefully. I mean, it's bound to slow down, and maybe that's all it will do, but I expect it to be more like at least a modest crash. I could be completely off the wall here, since that's based on nothing concrete that I could cite for you.
I've just been linked twice by Joe Katzman over at Winds of Change.
One is the article I linked to about the possibility of a low grade depression that could last many years. I consider it a real if avoidable possibility, and found the analysis interesting.
The other is a nudge to get off Blogspot. Heh. I am working on it. My basic layout is largely finished at a temporary, ridiculous URL. The posts you see are temporary, test posts, so you can comment there but the comments will go away when I delete the posts to start for real. I have a whole laundry list of mostly minor tweaks that add up to a fair amount of work, but much of it will be done after I make the move official. At a shorter URL, I hope. In a couple days, I expect.
Anywho, back to work... I have a panicky lawyer upstairs whose local Juris Timesheet database corrupted beyond repair. Need to show her how to query previously batched time that's on the server, since her old time is no longer visible through a query or diary view locally. Then I have a machine to build and another to finish installing and deploy.
Oh, duh. I meant to mention, in connection with the economic article I linked, my big concern right now is the real estate market crashing ungracefully. I mean, it's bound to slow down, and maybe that's all it will do, but I expect it to be more like at least a modest crash. I could be completely off the wall here, since that's based on nothing concrete that I could cite for you.
Rand Simberg At His Finest
Brilliant post by Rand Simberg on why it was a mistake for the Founders not to make clearer that the First Amendment was a collective right like the Second. Heh.
Brilliant post by Rand Simberg on why it was a mistake for the Founders not to make clearer that the First Amendment was a collective right like the Second. Heh.
Funny E-Mail
You may well have seen this before. I have, a couple times before, and found it most amusing and, sadly, recognizable...
Subject A.A.A.D.D.
I find comfort in knowing that I'm not alone.... Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:
I decided to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered. I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table! I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, and I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys!
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today... I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired! I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Do me a favor, will you?
Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent...
If this doesn't apply to you, don't laugh your day is coming!
You may well have seen this before. I have, a couple times before, and found it most amusing and, sadly, recognizable...
Subject A.A.A.D.D.
I find comfort in knowing that I'm not alone.... Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:
I decided to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered. I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table! I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, and I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys!
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today... I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired! I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail. Do me a favor, will you?
Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent...
If this doesn't apply to you, don't laugh your day is coming!
Monday, June 16, 2003
Good Night
Well folks, I'm beat. I've been at the office waaaay too long and am leaving a couple hours later than intended. I am going home and probably right to bed without blogging. Or if I can't sleep, I'll work on the new site, moving my FrontPage design mockup to the real thing. Considering I almost ran off the road going less than a mile to Wendy's a few hours ago, as a direct result of needing sleep, I doubt insomnia will be a problem.
Perhaps I'll have something to say in the morning. But wait! This is fun spam that just arrived, trying to play matchmaker with me:
1 - Do the Russian brides look like Nicole Kidman? Now that would be cool. Or if they looked like her, for that matter (scroll down a little and you'll see).
2 - I can't very well be tired of dating American women when I haven't been. Does that mean this offer is not for me? And who says American women are spoiled? Are you women going to tolerate such maligning? I mean really. Sometimes they break, or turn bitter, but American women can be quite well preserved.
3 - Devoted and grateful? For what, bringing them to America so they too can be American women? I know what they're up to!
4 - The ad is free, but the scam will cost ya? Heh!
I think I feel lyrics coming on...
Well folks, I'm beat. I've been at the office waaaay too long and am leaving a couple hours later than intended. I am going home and probably right to bed without blogging. Or if I can't sleep, I'll work on the new site, moving my FrontPage design mockup to the real thing. Considering I almost ran off the road going less than a mile to Wendy's a few hours ago, as a direct result of needing sleep, I doubt insomnia will be a problem.
Perhaps I'll have something to say in the morning. But wait! This is fun spam that just arrived, trying to play matchmaker with me:
Russian Mail Order Brides
Tired of Dating Spoiled American Women?
Russian Women are Unspoiled, Devoted and Grateful!
(Browse the FREE Pictures THEY Sent In!)
We'll Post Your FREE Ad on Our Russian Site.
Let Women Come To You For A Change.
Tired of Dating Spoiled American Women?
Russian Women are Unspoiled, Devoted and Grateful!
(Browse the FREE Pictures THEY Sent In!)
We'll Post Your FREE Ad on Our Russian Site.
Let Women Come To You For A Change.
1 - Do the Russian brides look like Nicole Kidman? Now that would be cool. Or if they looked like her, for that matter (scroll down a little and you'll see).
2 - I can't very well be tired of dating American women when I haven't been. Does that mean this offer is not for me? And who says American women are spoiled? Are you women going to tolerate such maligning? I mean really. Sometimes they break, or turn bitter, but American women can be quite well preserved.
3 - Devoted and grateful? For what, bringing them to America so they too can be American women? I know what they're up to!
4 - The ad is free, but the scam will cost ya? Heh!
I think I feel lyrics coming on...
Woooosh!
Film release time is almost like "Internet Time" these days.
I got a voicemail from my sister. My nephew really really really wanted to see X-Men 2, but they'd not gotten around to going. Now that it's time, they find it's playing in one theater at one time in the area. That time is 9:50 PM. Too late for her.
So the proposal is that I take him to it and then he can stay at my place for the night.
Sadly enough, I kind of wanted to see X2 again myself. As of last week it was still on the marquee of a theater it's no longer in, and there were still at least 4 screenings per day at the one that still has it at all.
They leave the theaters so fast. I miss seeing so many movies that way, especially ones that aren't "big" so they're gone in a week or two.
So I'm trying to figure out the logistics. I have no idea exactly when the funeral and wake will be, but I believe it's going to be tomorrow evening and Wednesday morning. I expect to have work that occupies me all of tomorrow, into the evening. Tonight is absolutely out; I'm barely staying awake now due to my adventure in coming to work in the middle of the night. Apparently I'm not too incoherent, as I neatly resolved a Juris Timesheet error that was caused by corruption of the local database. Which would have been easier had the error given the slightest indication that might be the problem, and had it not been too corrupt for repair and compact to work without crashing and burning. But I digress.
The days feel full enough that I pretty much have to just pick one and go for it, regardless. Chances are on Friday it'll be gone from theaters completely. I might let him tough it out until the video release, but I would like to see it again myself, so what the heck.
Film release time is almost like "Internet Time" these days.
I got a voicemail from my sister. My nephew really really really wanted to see X-Men 2, but they'd not gotten around to going. Now that it's time, they find it's playing in one theater at one time in the area. That time is 9:50 PM. Too late for her.
So the proposal is that I take him to it and then he can stay at my place for the night.
Sadly enough, I kind of wanted to see X2 again myself. As of last week it was still on the marquee of a theater it's no longer in, and there were still at least 4 screenings per day at the one that still has it at all.
They leave the theaters so fast. I miss seeing so many movies that way, especially ones that aren't "big" so they're gone in a week or two.
So I'm trying to figure out the logistics. I have no idea exactly when the funeral and wake will be, but I believe it's going to be tomorrow evening and Wednesday morning. I expect to have work that occupies me all of tomorrow, into the evening. Tonight is absolutely out; I'm barely staying awake now due to my adventure in coming to work in the middle of the night. Apparently I'm not too incoherent, as I neatly resolved a Juris Timesheet error that was caused by corruption of the local database. Which would have been easier had the error given the slightest indication that might be the problem, and had it not been too corrupt for repair and compact to work without crashing and burning. But I digress.
The days feel full enough that I pretty much have to just pick one and go for it, regardless. Chances are on Friday it'll be gone from theaters completely. I might let him tough it out until the video release, but I would like to see it again myself, so what the heck.
Geek Test
My nephew e-mailed me the URL for this Geek Test.
He scored 21.69625% - Geek, which is fairly impressive for 14 years old.
I scored 36.09467% - Major Geek. Heh.
My nephew e-mailed me the URL for this Geek Test.
He scored 21.69625% - Geek, which is fairly impressive for 14 years old.
I scored 36.09467% - Major Geek. Heh.
Hey, Where'd The Gloom Go
What's up with this! I check Weather Underground to see what the upcoming weather will be, since I'd not been paying attention. Five days out of the upcoming seven are supposed to be mostly sunny or only partly cloudy. Whoa! Only one day and one night feature a chance of rain. Each day falls somewhere in the 70-80° range.
What happened? The weather deities finally decided we'd had enough and would go completely insane if things didn't normalize?
Whatever it is, I have one word that sums up my reaction: Woohoo!!
What's up with this! I check Weather Underground to see what the upcoming weather will be, since I'd not been paying attention. Five days out of the upcoming seven are supposed to be mostly sunny or only partly cloudy. Whoa! Only one day and one night feature a chance of rain. Each day falls somewhere in the 70-80° range.
What happened? The weather deities finally decided we'd had enough and would go completely insane if things didn't normalize?
Whatever it is, I have one word that sums up my reaction: Woohoo!!
American Realpolitik
In case you've missed seeing this elsewhere, American Realpolitik needs help. Way more than Andrew Sullivan.
Now I feel bad, because perhaps a week ago I was looking at the cartoons on their site and thought "I wonder if they have permission to use these or if someone might be bothered by it." That happens to me way too often; I imagine something bad and then it happens. Sheesh.
In case you've missed seeing this elsewhere, American Realpolitik needs help. Way more than Andrew Sullivan.
Now I feel bad, because perhaps a week ago I was looking at the cartoons on their site and thought "I wonder if they have permission to use these or if someone might be bothered by it." That happens to me way too often; I imagine something bad and then it happens. Sheesh.
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Defector List
I noticed today that Glenn has a mini-list of BlogSpot defectors going, so I sent him a reminder of the Wizbang running list of defectors, which is more effective if it gets well publicized.
I noticed today that Glenn has a mini-list of BlogSpot defectors going, so I sent him a reminder of the Wizbang running list of defectors, which is more effective if it gets well publicized.
Father's Day Story
Scott Chaffin has a wonderful story about his late father, in honor of Father's Day. We have in common go-getter fathers who had polio and didn't let that stop them.
Scott Chaffin has a wonderful story about his late father, in honor of Father's Day. We have in common go-getter fathers who had polio and didn't let that stop them.
Deflation
This is an excellent article on deflation and the potential for a low grade depression. It's long, so be prepared to spend some real time reading it. It's interesting and informative enough that I consider it worth the time. Link via the aforementioned Mises Blog
This is an excellent article on deflation and the potential for a low grade depression. It's long, so be prepared to spend some real time reading it. It's interesting and informative enough that I consider it worth the time. Link via the aforementioned Mises Blog
View Solo is Broken
Over at the Mises Econonomics Blog, it's cool of them to have a link on every post to "View Solo." They like me, I guess. Except they don't work! None of the View Solo links actually take you to my blog? Sheesh, what's up with that? Very disappointing, I must say.
Well, broken, false advertising, or whatever the reason for their failure to view Solo with the "misleading" link, at least they're worth visiting if their focus on economics is of any interest to you.
Over at the Mises Econonomics Blog, it's cool of them to have a link on every post to "View Solo." They like me, I guess. Except they don't work! None of the View Solo links actually take you to my blog? Sheesh, what's up with that? Very disappointing, I must say.
Well, broken, false advertising, or whatever the reason for their failure to view Solo with the "misleading" link, at least they're worth visiting if their focus on economics is of any interest to you.
And Venus Is Her Name
This is a nice picture of Venus from a gravity assist flyby. Plus, it's spring in Neptune. Via Matt Scofield.
This is a nice picture of Venus from a gravity assist flyby. Plus, it's spring in Neptune. Via Matt Scofield.
Just For The Record...
I hate the fuzzy toilet seat covers that make the seat slam back down by itself!
I hate the fuzzy toilet seat covers that make the seat slam back down by itself!
Great Rat Race - The Droppage
Just an observation that something I predicted has happened in a noticable way. Some of the links from the race were spurious post links, which inevitably would scroll off the main page of the blog on which they appeared. Thus Right We Are! and I could expect, even if we remain mammals, to see a big drop. Sure enough, overnight we both fell. I went from 158 to 140. I peaked at 160 total actual links (not considering the handicap that was a part of the race). RWA went from 165 to 154 overnight. Their peak was 167 (which means we moved up by an almost identical amount, start of race to respective peaks, the same similarity that prompted the idea of the race in the first place). I figure we'll both drop a little more before the post-race readjustment is done.
I think it will be interesting to see what happens when I change to my new home, which really will be soon. Then I'll be starting with nothing. Everything will depend on people switching to point to the new location.
Just an observation that something I predicted has happened in a noticable way. Some of the links from the race were spurious post links, which inevitably would scroll off the main page of the blog on which they appeared. Thus Right We Are! and I could expect, even if we remain mammals, to see a big drop. Sure enough, overnight we both fell. I went from 158 to 140. I peaked at 160 total actual links (not considering the handicap that was a part of the race). RWA went from 165 to 154 overnight. Their peak was 167 (which means we moved up by an almost identical amount, start of race to respective peaks, the same similarity that prompted the idea of the race in the first place). I figure we'll both drop a little more before the post-race readjustment is done.
I think it will be interesting to see what happens when I change to my new home, which really will be soon. Then I'll be starting with nothing. Everything will depend on people switching to point to the new location.
Roman Holiday
What a great movie! Had I been the right age at the time that came out, I would have been totally smitten with Audrey Hepburn.
Of course, she was also good in Breakfast At Tiffany's. Funny thing about that is Holly Golightly made me think of girls I've known.
Until just a few years ago, both of those movies were in the dismayed "you've never seen that!?" category for me. Sad, huh? I'm so uncultured.
Speaking of being uncultured, one of my close friends grew up in a comfortably well off Jewish family in Brookline. It's always funny when she automatically assumes everyone grew up being taken by their parents to ballet, opera, and so forth. We were lucky to be able to afford to go to a movie once in a while. Movies were the drive-in, usually. The first movie I can remember seeing in a theater is The Jungle Book, at some tiny downtown theater of the type that barely exist any more, maybe in Brockton, with my brother and cousin, dropped there while my mother went off to do other things. When it actually became common to go to a theater, the closest good one to speak of was in Braintree, about a 35 mile drive. Yet there were at least five drive-ins closer that, or in the case of the Braintree drive-in, the same distance.
That same friend, who came from semi-money, is a knee-jerk lefty I can't stand being around if any discussion at all political comes up. I can never understand that. One family struggles, barely gets by, produces me. Another family does well, mother and other women with advanced degrees, father working in investments in some manner (stock broker I believe), produces a Bush is stupid, SUVs are eeeeevil (a real visceral, irrational, heartfelt hatred), shame on us for allowing the Iraq museums to be raped, to all appearances borderline socialist.
I think there's also a city versus rural outlook at play. I see it with my brother in law's family, from Dorchester. Different from my friend, being working poor types without the "but everyone's parents takes them to ballet!" line of thinking. Yet still they may as well have been from another planet, except my brother in law, who bridged the gap well. I'm truly comfortable with exactly one of the people in my brother in law's family, and that's his brother in law, who is one of the biggest black guys you've ever seen. Nicest guy you could ever meet. Sort of a geek, and the one in the family who always makes the most money, which everyone takes advantage of.
I grew up, remember, 1/3 of a mile from the nearest house, in one of the more rural areas of southeastern Massachusetts at the time, literally in the middle of the woods. I grew up perceiving the city as evil, dangerous, and - brrr - crowded. I guess while they were doing city things and being cultured, I was picking blueberrues, huckleberries, cranberries and wild strawberries, exploring the woods, wading in the brook, building a tree hut, learning how to raise vegetables, and other hick stuff.
Wow, talk about a digression. I think I just broached the dam a little on some of the childhood stuff I planned eventually to post about.
What a great movie! Had I been the right age at the time that came out, I would have been totally smitten with Audrey Hepburn.
Of course, she was also good in Breakfast At Tiffany's. Funny thing about that is Holly Golightly made me think of girls I've known.
Until just a few years ago, both of those movies were in the dismayed "you've never seen that!?" category for me. Sad, huh? I'm so uncultured.
Speaking of being uncultured, one of my close friends grew up in a comfortably well off Jewish family in Brookline. It's always funny when she automatically assumes everyone grew up being taken by their parents to ballet, opera, and so forth. We were lucky to be able to afford to go to a movie once in a while. Movies were the drive-in, usually. The first movie I can remember seeing in a theater is The Jungle Book, at some tiny downtown theater of the type that barely exist any more, maybe in Brockton, with my brother and cousin, dropped there while my mother went off to do other things. When it actually became common to go to a theater, the closest good one to speak of was in Braintree, about a 35 mile drive. Yet there were at least five drive-ins closer that, or in the case of the Braintree drive-in, the same distance.
That same friend, who came from semi-money, is a knee-jerk lefty I can't stand being around if any discussion at all political comes up. I can never understand that. One family struggles, barely gets by, produces me. Another family does well, mother and other women with advanced degrees, father working in investments in some manner (stock broker I believe), produces a Bush is stupid, SUVs are eeeeevil (a real visceral, irrational, heartfelt hatred), shame on us for allowing the Iraq museums to be raped, to all appearances borderline socialist.
I think there's also a city versus rural outlook at play. I see it with my brother in law's family, from Dorchester. Different from my friend, being working poor types without the "but everyone's parents takes them to ballet!" line of thinking. Yet still they may as well have been from another planet, except my brother in law, who bridged the gap well. I'm truly comfortable with exactly one of the people in my brother in law's family, and that's his brother in law, who is one of the biggest black guys you've ever seen. Nicest guy you could ever meet. Sort of a geek, and the one in the family who always makes the most money, which everyone takes advantage of.
I grew up, remember, 1/3 of a mile from the nearest house, in one of the more rural areas of southeastern Massachusetts at the time, literally in the middle of the woods. I grew up perceiving the city as evil, dangerous, and - brrr - crowded. I guess while they were doing city things and being cultured, I was picking blueberrues, huckleberries, cranberries and wild strawberries, exploring the woods, wading in the brook, building a tree hut, learning how to raise vegetables, and other hick stuff.
Wow, talk about a digression. I think I just broached the dam a little on some of the childhood stuff I planned eventually to post about.
Iran Happenings
MommaBear is following the Iran news closely, and points out this site as a great source for regular updates. And as she notes, Iranian Girl is a place to watch too.
MommaBear is following the Iran news closely, and points out this site as a great source for regular updates. And as she notes, Iranian Girl is a place to watch too.
EU vs. US Constitutions
Weekend Pundit, always worthy in the first place, is really on a roll this weekend. Appropriately enough. Go there for an excellent summation of our constitution and comparison with what they're attempting tocram down people's throatsadopt in Europe.
Weekend Pundit, always worthy in the first place, is really on a roll this weekend. Appropriately enough. Go there for an excellent summation of our constitution and comparison with what they're attempting to
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Nukes to Pluto
I don't know about nuking the moon, but Stryker has an excellent post about a new nuclear power unit for missions to the outer planets.
I don't know about nuking the moon, but Stryker has an excellent post about a new nuclear power unit for missions to the outer planets.
Music and Memories
Weekend Pundit joins the chorus and chimes in about music and the memory associations it triggers.
Weekend Pundit joins the chorus and chimes in about music and the memory associations it triggers.
Tiger Reviews
This is a cool thing to have done. Tiger reviewed in detail every entry in the Showcase for last week. Ah, and now I see he's done it again! Cool.
This is a cool thing to have done. Tiger reviewed in detail every entry in the Showcase for last week. Ah, and now I see he's done it again! Cool.
Poliblegger
Poliblogger needs our help! It's that 4 month blogiversary/get a certain number of hits/get mammalized thing going on. Sound familiar?
So consider linking to this purty, nifty blog, and visit there early and often in the next day. Only 103 visits to go, to make 10,000. Only something like 14 needed to make mammal, and this only needs to be temporary. You're free to stop linking and reading after the milestone has been achieved. Heh.
You want more convincing? Consider the benefits. You have posts like:
Venemous Kate is expecting. Yay Kate!
Commander of Iraqi Air Force Captured
Link to Frank J.'s tips for blogging and courting Courtney (okay, I made up that last part)
Free trade in the Americas
Amazing composite Earth picture, alone worth the visit
The whacky, confused economy and consumers who dis it
A diet post, on losing and regaining fat
Something else to blame on Ashcroft
A blogging farce
River-swimming rodents
And much more! So click on over. Link away. It's easy, and so good for you. Er, well, good for Poliblogger. You gain nothing except a few shining moments of fellow blogger gratitude.
Poliblogger needs our help! It's that 4 month blogiversary/get a certain number of hits/get mammalized thing going on. Sound familiar?
So consider linking to this purty, nifty blog, and visit there early and often in the next day. Only 103 visits to go, to make 10,000. Only something like 14 needed to make mammal, and this only needs to be temporary. You're free to stop linking and reading after the milestone has been achieved. Heh.
You want more convincing? Consider the benefits. You have posts like:
Venemous Kate is expecting. Yay Kate!
Commander of Iraqi Air Force Captured
Link to Frank J.'s tips for blogging and courting Courtney (okay, I made up that last part)
Free trade in the Americas
Amazing composite Earth picture, alone worth the visit
The whacky, confused economy and consumers who dis it
A diet post, on losing and regaining fat
Something else to blame on Ashcroft
A blogging farce
River-swimming rodents
And much more! So click on over. Link away. It's easy, and so good for you. Er, well, good for Poliblogger. You gain nothing except a few shining moments of fellow blogger gratitude.
Flag Day
Mapchic has an awesome Flag Day post over at Geographica. Chart a path on over there to read it.
Mapchic has an awesome Flag Day post over at Geographica. Chart a path on over there to read it.
Ballad of Paul Krugman
Viking Pundit, on June 13, has a song for Krugman. It's most amusing, quite well done.
Viking Pundit, on June 13, has a song for Krugman. It's most amusing, quite well done.
Ads
I usually don't even look twice at ads on web sites, never mind click through.
However, in an example of how to be appealing, Dogpile had the cutest ad on Site Meter today, in the right column. It was their mascot dog, on top of a pile of assorted other dogs, with, if you looked, some funny looks on their faces. Very funny, appealing ad. Nice job, marketing people!
So I clicked through, did some searches, found the bone, and entered in their "win $13,000" contest. Not that I'll win, but it'd sure help. I could pay off the IRS with room to spare. Actually no; I could pay the IRS plus the taxes on the prize, and probably have nothing left. But I'd be better off.
I always liked Dogpile. Haven't really used it since Google came along though.
I usually don't even look twice at ads on web sites, never mind click through.
However, in an example of how to be appealing, Dogpile had the cutest ad on Site Meter today, in the right column. It was their mascot dog, on top of a pile of assorted other dogs, with, if you looked, some funny looks on their faces. Very funny, appealing ad. Nice job, marketing people!
So I clicked through, did some searches, found the bone, and entered in their "win $13,000" contest. Not that I'll win, but it'd sure help. I could pay off the IRS with room to spare. Actually no; I could pay the IRS plus the taxes on the prize, and probably have nothing left. But I'd be better off.
I always liked Dogpile. Haven't really used it since Google came along though.
Catching Up
Well, it doesn't always happen, but I seem to have caught up on sleep! Nine hours, with one quick break after the first six. I was having some of the most bizarre dreams ever, which if I remembered coherently and they made sense, I would describe. Imagine, though, visiting a union/mob office and taking all their Playboys, then having to get down to the floor and crawl out of the room to avoid gunfire coming in from outside. Imagine being on a yacht, zooming across the ocean in search of something indeterminate (or that I can't remember, but I think it was someone's brother, on an island), and with a couple of other guys on the trip, giving an interview in a large main room on the boat, then finding yourself imagining water spilling in the door and sinking the boat, making you feel kind of panicky. Later the yacht is riding on top of a tidal wave that's blasting down the street of a city, while you watch it from a distance. Basically it was that kind of series of things.
Now I don't really care if I do anything all day. There's a graduation party I'm supposed to attend, running from 1:00 to 5:00, for my biggest client's son. He's the one whose computer died, then I rebuilt it, then it kept refusing to work with video editing software without frame drops. It finally started working at the last minute before the video (for a philosophy class) was due, when he'd gone and finished it on a Mac.
I hate going to this sort of thing. At least, I don't like the anticipation, the nervousness at having to be social at the time and place of someone else's choosing, in large crowds of people I may or may not know. But I'll live. Most of them I actually will know, which is helpful. Plus I really like the people in question. It just makes me feel so pressured and nervous.
Which is strange, because I sometimes revel at being in a big group, or being the center of attention. And when I'm in a group situation, I have an automatic tendency to assume leadership, unless I pointedly avoid doing so. I mean, doing so is like breathing, and not doing so requires effort.
Oh well. If I keep blogging, I'll never make it there, and I also need to go to the office. Maybe I'll get more done than when I wasn't awake.
Well, it doesn't always happen, but I seem to have caught up on sleep! Nine hours, with one quick break after the first six. I was having some of the most bizarre dreams ever, which if I remembered coherently and they made sense, I would describe. Imagine, though, visiting a union/mob office and taking all their Playboys, then having to get down to the floor and crawl out of the room to avoid gunfire coming in from outside. Imagine being on a yacht, zooming across the ocean in search of something indeterminate (or that I can't remember, but I think it was someone's brother, on an island), and with a couple of other guys on the trip, giving an interview in a large main room on the boat, then finding yourself imagining water spilling in the door and sinking the boat, making you feel kind of panicky. Later the yacht is riding on top of a tidal wave that's blasting down the street of a city, while you watch it from a distance. Basically it was that kind of series of things.
Now I don't really care if I do anything all day. There's a graduation party I'm supposed to attend, running from 1:00 to 5:00, for my biggest client's son. He's the one whose computer died, then I rebuilt it, then it kept refusing to work with video editing software without frame drops. It finally started working at the last minute before the video (for a philosophy class) was due, when he'd gone and finished it on a Mac.
I hate going to this sort of thing. At least, I don't like the anticipation, the nervousness at having to be social at the time and place of someone else's choosing, in large crowds of people I may or may not know. But I'll live. Most of them I actually will know, which is helpful. Plus I really like the people in question. It just makes me feel so pressured and nervous.
Which is strange, because I sometimes revel at being in a big group, or being the center of attention. And when I'm in a group situation, I have an automatic tendency to assume leadership, unless I pointedly avoid doing so. I mean, doing so is like breathing, and not doing so requires effort.
Oh well. If I keep blogging, I'll never make it there, and I also need to go to the office. Maybe I'll get more done than when I wasn't awake.
I Must Be Crazy
Those of you following along at home will recall that I woke up at 6:30 AM and spent pretty much the entire day marginally functional and needing sleep.
So here it is, 2:43 AM, and I haven't been to sleep yet. Instead I've been making my new blog look like the previously mentioned test page, only more so. I learn fast enough that from a day ago to now there's a night and day difference in my grasp of what the CSS and PHP files are doing.
The question is going to be whether to unveil and change over when it's all perfect, or while it's still under construction. Probably the latter. Sooner would appear to be better, seeing how Blogger won't speak with w.bloggar again, as happens periodically for no reason.
The main page is most of the way there. I have to decide if I want to try porting from Blogspot, and whether that's possible or practical. The main page needs tweaking; how archives are handled, decisions on what to show, links added, line up the top of the left column and the main column, etc. And the fonts are being stubborn. I thought I changed everywhere that might control the font color, but it is still the basic black pMachine defaults you to.
Comments open in their own window. I need to re-eliminate the location box. I need to make the comments page title show what post the comments are for if I can. I assume so, based on what I know of how things work.
Archive pages can wait for redesign. So perhaps the beginning of the week it'll be up and running. Last but not least, I have to make it respond to the URL of my choice, rather than www.blahblah/blah/pMachineFree2.2.1/wblog.php. Don't want to have some stupidly convoluted URL, especially only to change it later.
I may also decide to put a narrow right column. The thing is, I never used that on BlogSpot, and I don't think I'll need to here either.
Now, time to sleep! Naturally I am still rather coherently awake.
Those of you following along at home will recall that I woke up at 6:30 AM and spent pretty much the entire day marginally functional and needing sleep.
So here it is, 2:43 AM, and I haven't been to sleep yet. Instead I've been making my new blog look like the previously mentioned test page, only more so. I learn fast enough that from a day ago to now there's a night and day difference in my grasp of what the CSS and PHP files are doing.
The question is going to be whether to unveil and change over when it's all perfect, or while it's still under construction. Probably the latter. Sooner would appear to be better, seeing how Blogger won't speak with w.bloggar again, as happens periodically for no reason.
The main page is most of the way there. I have to decide if I want to try porting from Blogspot, and whether that's possible or practical. The main page needs tweaking; how archives are handled, decisions on what to show, links added, line up the top of the left column and the main column, etc. And the fonts are being stubborn. I thought I changed everywhere that might control the font color, but it is still the basic black pMachine defaults you to.
Comments open in their own window. I need to re-eliminate the location box. I need to make the comments page title show what post the comments are for if I can. I assume so, based on what I know of how things work.
Archive pages can wait for redesign. So perhaps the beginning of the week it'll be up and running. Last but not least, I have to make it respond to the URL of my choice, rather than www.blahblah/blah/pMachineFree2.2.1/wblog.php. Don't want to have some stupidly convoluted URL, especially only to change it later.
I may also decide to put a narrow right column. The thing is, I never used that on BlogSpot, and I don't think I'll need to here either.
Now, time to sleep! Naturally I am still rather coherently awake.
Inland Tsunami Anyone?
Conrad posts about the pending demise of the Three Gorges Dam. Yeah, that new one.
Conrad posts about the pending demise of the Three Gorges Dam. Yeah, that new one.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Just Messing Around...
This is a quick, potential look I goofed around and came up with, for when the blog relocates. I set out first playing with colors for the text area. They ought to look familiar. Then I added the elephant. Then I started creating a "Jay Solo" graphic to go on the opposite side of the top of the page from the elephant. I ended up creating a good watermark graphic in the process, and ended up with what you see as a rough scheme.
I may decided tomorrow that I don't like it. Or you might all tell me it looks lousy or loads too slow. We'll see. What do you think?
This is a quick, potential look I goofed around and came up with, for when the blog relocates. I set out first playing with colors for the text area. They ought to look familiar. Then I added the elephant. Then I started creating a "Jay Solo" graphic to go on the opposite side of the top of the page from the elephant. I ended up creating a good watermark graphic in the process, and ended up with what you see as a rough scheme.
I may decided tomorrow that I don't like it. Or you might all tell me it looks lousy or loads too slow. We'll see. What do you think?
Forking Up Big Time
Here is a pictorial at Midwest Pundits on something not to do with forklifts. I have driven forklifts in a couple of different jobs, even became quite good at it. I can't imagine trying this
Here is a pictorial at Midwest Pundits on something not to do with forklifts. I have driven forklifts in a couple of different jobs, even became quite good at it. I can't imagine trying this
Hulk Smash
Tony writes an anticipatory post regarding the big green dude, coming to theaters Real Soon Now.
I've always been a Hulk fan. I've even been known to have a Hulk-like temper, compared to my normally Bruce Banner-like amiability.
Tony writes an anticipatory post regarding the big green dude, coming to theaters Real Soon Now.
I've always been a Hulk fan. I've even been known to have a Hulk-like temper, compared to my normally Bruce Banner-like amiability.
Fridge as Trademark Dilution
Using the word "fridge" in the previous post reminded me of when I used to subscribe to Writer's Digest years ago. The biggest source of ads in the magazine was companies reminding writers about their trademarks. There were some cool ads, strange as that may sound, and I thought it was a useful venue and means of getting the word out. For instance, tissues, unless you mean Kleenex brand, in which case it's Kleenex, not "kleenex." That kind of thing.
I recall Frigidaire having ads that said not to use the word "fridge," because that might confuse people.
My thought went something like "excuse me? It's fridge as in refrigerator. Re-fridge-uh-rator. Fridge." I never could understand how they thought the use of fridge, which has been used as a generic word for refrigerator for at least my entire life, could confuse people with, or dilute, Frigidaire.
All the other such ads made sense to me. That one was nuts. Am I wrong?
Apparently not! I just thought to check dictionary.com to see if it's officially a word, or if it makes any reference to a specific company. It is. It doesn't.
Then again, this was long enough ago that they could have been making a last ditch effort at that time, and since given up. We're talking 13-15 years ago.
Using the word "fridge" in the previous post reminded me of when I used to subscribe to Writer's Digest years ago. The biggest source of ads in the magazine was companies reminding writers about their trademarks. There were some cool ads, strange as that may sound, and I thought it was a useful venue and means of getting the word out. For instance, tissues, unless you mean Kleenex brand, in which case it's Kleenex, not "kleenex." That kind of thing.
I recall Frigidaire having ads that said not to use the word "fridge," because that might confuse people.
My thought went something like "excuse me? It's fridge as in refrigerator. Re-fridge-uh-rator. Fridge." I never could understand how they thought the use of fridge, which has been used as a generic word for refrigerator for at least my entire life, could confuse people with, or dilute, Frigidaire.
All the other such ads made sense to me. That one was nuts. Am I wrong?
Apparently not! I just thought to check dictionary.com to see if it's officially a word, or if it makes any reference to a specific company. It is. It doesn't.
Then again, this was long enough ago that they could have been making a last ditch effort at that time, and since given up. We're talking 13-15 years ago.
Yawn
This lack of sleep thing (see several posts ago when I started a series of short posts first thing in the morning) is not good. I was barely functional to drive; as if I'd been up a whole day and then tried driving home exhausted. I stopped for coffee, but that doesn't seem to be helping. At least not yet, and in my condition one medium doesn't go far.
Well, the fridge is full of soda that contains caffeine. Maybe that'll save me! Code Red, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Twist, Diet Coke... (plus a few flavors like Fresca and orange that lack stimulant).
This lack of sleep thing (see several posts ago when I started a series of short posts first thing in the morning) is not good. I was barely functional to drive; as if I'd been up a whole day and then tried driving home exhausted. I stopped for coffee, but that doesn't seem to be helping. At least not yet, and in my condition one medium doesn't go far.
Well, the fridge is full of soda that contains caffeine. Maybe that'll save me! Code Red, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Twist, Diet Coke... (plus a few flavors like Fresca and orange that lack stimulant).
Talking to Kids About Sex
This is a great read, an excerpt from a book, if for nothing more than the ultrasound part.
While I have no need of this kind of book myself, I am a big proponent of handling these things correctly, rather than some combination of wrong and minimally - almost not at all - as was the case with me.
This is a great read, an excerpt from a book, if for nothing more than the ultrasound part.
While I have no need of this kind of book myself, I am a big proponent of handling these things correctly, rather than some combination of wrong and minimally - almost not at all - as was the case with me.
Sepideh
Sepi has a good post about the Iran protests (and some other stuff).
She also models her new Miss Piggy underwear in a creative way.
Sepi has a good post about the Iran protests (and some other stuff).
She also models her new Miss Piggy underwear in a creative way.
Advance Warning
I just love when they tell me a new person is starting... on that person's first day! But maybe it's just as well. Last time, I knew 3 weeks ahead of time and had network and mail accounts created a week ahead of time. Then the person quit after 2 1/2 days.
Meanwhile, I'm building a computer for someone who'll start Monday (almost a full months notice I got on that), but someone else who also will need one has already started. Heh.
So much for any thought of going back to sleep for a couple hours.
I just love when they tell me a new person is starting... on that person's first day! But maybe it's just as well. Last time, I knew 3 weeks ahead of time and had network and mail accounts created a week ahead of time. Then the person quit after 2 1/2 days.
Meanwhile, I'm building a computer for someone who'll start Monday (almost a full months notice I got on that), but someone else who also will need one has already started. Heh.
So much for any thought of going back to sleep for a couple hours.
Scary Indeed
Jim S. posts about the economy, jobs and international competition. I agree, scary, but what to do but wait and try to work out doing what we do best and settling into a new normal?
Jim S. posts about the economy, jobs and international competition. I agree, scary, but what to do but wait and try to work out doing what we do best and settling into a new normal?
Argh
I hate waking up 3 1/2 hours after going to sleep, wide awake, unable to fall back to sleep, knowing full well that if I stay up now, I will sleepwalk through the day. It's already been over an hour. I finally stopped trying to sleep any more, and the longer I'm out of bed, the sleepier I'm getting. Perhaps in a few minutes...
I hate waking up 3 1/2 hours after going to sleep, wide awake, unable to fall back to sleep, knowing full well that if I stay up now, I will sleepwalk through the day. It's already been over an hour. I finally stopped trying to sleep any more, and the longer I'm out of bed, the sleepier I'm getting. Perhaps in a few minutes...
Musical Memory
A couple posts down I wrote on the association of music and memories. Deb at The Accidental Jedi followed it up with a good post of her own on the same topic. And silly me. It looks like this is a good blog I had not yet linked.
A couple posts down I wrote on the association of music and memories. Deb at The Accidental Jedi followed it up with a good post of her own on the same topic. And silly me. It looks like this is a good blog I had not yet linked.
Unexpected
One thing I did not expect from blogging was the connectedness with fellow bloggers.
I have no less than 18 bloggers on my AIM buddy list. Some I have chatted with, in or out of the periodic chats you see mentioned. Some I haven't, but merely added them in case, if they were available. For instance, I can see that Sepi, Dean and Rob are all on right now. Maripat and Lori must have already gone to bed. Ith and Nin are away, so they haven't been on this week. Others include Melissa, Paul, Andrea, Mickey, Camille, Jaboobie, and others, including one or two I can't place. Oops.
Then there's e-mail. I have received e-mail from a veritable who's who of fine bloggers. That is, I have received at least one e-mail each from close to 60 other bloggers. Few of them were replies to e-mail I sent first. A handful were global, where I was included incidentally as part of a group. Mostly, however, they were directed specifically to me. It always surprises me, but it's cool. I also got e-mail from a guy at MSNBC when I submitted a heads up that The Command Post ought to be listed on a blog page they were doing.
Surprisingly few have been reciprocal link requests. The first was from Andrew, who seems to have disappeared after telling Michael Moore* to bite him. I can only hope that it's finals taking him away, and that he'll be back. Or perhaps he's having a normal teen life outside of blogging; that's okay too.
I was intending to list some of the bloggers from whom I've received e-mail, in the name of gratuitous linkage, but there are too many.
When I started, I figured I'd write, a few people might actually read, maybe when I had comments I'd get some of those. I wasn't expecting to make new friends or feel so much a part of a community. It's cool!
* Now wouldn't it be funny if we all link http://www.revoketheoscar.com whenever we type the words "Michael Moore", until a Google for Michael Moore brings that up as the first hit? Heh.
One thing I did not expect from blogging was the connectedness with fellow bloggers.
I have no less than 18 bloggers on my AIM buddy list. Some I have chatted with, in or out of the periodic chats you see mentioned. Some I haven't, but merely added them in case, if they were available. For instance, I can see that Sepi, Dean and Rob are all on right now. Maripat and Lori must have already gone to bed. Ith and Nin are away, so they haven't been on this week. Others include Melissa, Paul, Andrea, Mickey, Camille, Jaboobie, and others, including one or two I can't place. Oops.
Then there's e-mail. I have received e-mail from a veritable who's who of fine bloggers. That is, I have received at least one e-mail each from close to 60 other bloggers. Few of them were replies to e-mail I sent first. A handful were global, where I was included incidentally as part of a group. Mostly, however, they were directed specifically to me. It always surprises me, but it's cool. I also got e-mail from a guy at MSNBC when I submitted a heads up that The Command Post ought to be listed on a blog page they were doing.
Surprisingly few have been reciprocal link requests. The first was from Andrew, who seems to have disappeared after telling Michael Moore* to bite him. I can only hope that it's finals taking him away, and that he'll be back. Or perhaps he's having a normal teen life outside of blogging; that's okay too.
I was intending to list some of the bloggers from whom I've received e-mail, in the name of gratuitous linkage, but there are too many.
When I started, I figured I'd write, a few people might actually read, maybe when I had comments I'd get some of those. I wasn't expecting to make new friends or feel so much a part of a community. It's cool!
* Now wouldn't it be funny if we all link http://www.revoketheoscar.com whenever we type the words "Michael Moore", until a Google for Michael Moore brings that up as the first hit? Heh.
Memory Songs
Do you find, as I do, that you associate specific memories or people with specific songs?
I can't hear McArthur Park without remembering my 9th grade crush. I liked the song anyway, from the first time I heard it when I was younger, but she was in the color guard of a drum & bugle corps, and that was their theme song.
Or perhaps it's just a memory of the first time you heard the song. I associate the previously mentioned Radar Love with my brother and cousin, who were listening to it at my uncle's house the first time I heard it. I still vividly remember the first time I heard (or noticed) Won't Get Fooled Again. Of all places, it was at my grandmother's house, playing on a radio on the desk in the dining room. My brother was listening to the radio. I heard the words and my young imagination envisioned a rebel army marching by on my grandmother's street. More than imagined; it was like having a dream.
For me music has a profound mental effect. I am far more focused and productive if music is playing, as long is it's music I can at least stand enough not to be distracted rather than focused by it. It must do something to the brain in that regard, at least for some of us, which is probably related to the memory associations in its nature.
Do you find, as I do, that you associate specific memories or people with specific songs?
I can't hear McArthur Park without remembering my 9th grade crush. I liked the song anyway, from the first time I heard it when I was younger, but she was in the color guard of a drum & bugle corps, and that was their theme song.
Or perhaps it's just a memory of the first time you heard the song. I associate the previously mentioned Radar Love with my brother and cousin, who were listening to it at my uncle's house the first time I heard it. I still vividly remember the first time I heard (or noticed) Won't Get Fooled Again. Of all places, it was at my grandmother's house, playing on a radio on the desk in the dining room. My brother was listening to the radio. I heard the words and my young imagination envisioned a rebel army marching by on my grandmother's street. More than imagined; it was like having a dream.
For me music has a profound mental effect. I am far more focused and productive if music is playing, as long is it's music I can at least stand enough not to be distracted rather than focused by it. It must do something to the brain in that regard, at least for some of us, which is probably related to the memory associations in its nature.
Thursday, June 12, 2003
RIP
I just got the news, in e-mail from my father, that my stepmother's mother, Rose, died this evening. This is her, sitting at the kitchen table at my father's old house in Vermont. Off in the distance, hidden by the wreath so you can't see it, is Jay Peak.
Anyway, this isn't unexpected. My father told me yesterday that it would happen in the next couple days almost beyond a doubt. She's been in rough shape for a few years now; rougher than she would have been if the doctors had figured out she had a blood disease before it did so much damage, rather than patting the elderly hypochondriac on the head and sending her home. (Being so convinced of that, they tried less hard than they might have to identify the real issue.)
Rose was a strong, feisty, sometimes bossy, independent, exceedingly Catholic woman. My stepcousin became a priest, ordained last year, in no small part through her influence.
Her husband died young, when my stepmother was I believe maybe 14, and was sickly more than not before that. So she always worked and had to support herself, and wore the pants in the family. That had a big influence on my stepmother. In addition to having to take care of her husband, ultimately she took care of her mother, who only spoke Italian and was kicking well into her nineties.
So it looks like there'll be a funeral next week in Plymouth to go to. Hell of a way to end up seeing everyone.
I just got the news, in e-mail from my father, that my stepmother's mother, Rose, died this evening. This is her, sitting at the kitchen table at my father's old house in Vermont. Off in the distance, hidden by the wreath so you can't see it, is Jay Peak.
Anyway, this isn't unexpected. My father told me yesterday that it would happen in the next couple days almost beyond a doubt. She's been in rough shape for a few years now; rougher than she would have been if the doctors had figured out she had a blood disease before it did so much damage, rather than patting the elderly hypochondriac on the head and sending her home. (Being so convinced of that, they tried less hard than they might have to identify the real issue.)
Rose was a strong, feisty, sometimes bossy, independent, exceedingly Catholic woman. My stepcousin became a priest, ordained last year, in no small part through her influence.
Her husband died young, when my stepmother was I believe maybe 14, and was sickly more than not before that. So she always worked and had to support herself, and wore the pants in the family. That had a big influence on my stepmother. In addition to having to take care of her husband, ultimately she took care of her mother, who only spoke Italian and was kicking well into her nineties.
So it looks like there'll be a funeral next week in Plymouth to go to. Hell of a way to end up seeing everyone.
Meatloaf
I'm being adventurous, making meatloaf out of the second package of hamburger I bought a couple days ago. The first package was hamburgers two nights in a row.
I have attempted meatloaf exactly once before; a lame effort that I knew at the time was a lame effort. This is a more serious effort, but still, flying without a recipe. I've no idea how it will taste, besides mildly spiced.
I have no idea how long or at what heat I ought to bake it! It's in at 350° F right now, until such time as it appears done. Pyrex may be a goos thing in this case.
Anywho, I decided two nights in a row of burgers was enough. If it comes out okay, I'll recount what I did to make it. No measurements though, since everything was by feel. This has always made recipes from my sister tough to obtain, because it's how she cooks too.
I think I'll start water for rice... (I doubt meatloaf can take much longer than that to finish.)
I'm being adventurous, making meatloaf out of the second package of hamburger I bought a couple days ago. The first package was hamburgers two nights in a row.
I have attempted meatloaf exactly once before; a lame effort that I knew at the time was a lame effort. This is a more serious effort, but still, flying without a recipe. I've no idea how it will taste, besides mildly spiced.
I have no idea how long or at what heat I ought to bake it! It's in at 350° F right now, until such time as it appears done. Pyrex may be a goos thing in this case.
Anywho, I decided two nights in a row of burgers was enough. If it comes out okay, I'll recount what I did to make it. No measurements though, since everything was by feel. This has always made recipes from my sister tough to obtain, because it's how she cooks too.
I think I'll start water for rice... (I doubt meatloaf can take much longer than that to finish.)
I Love Saving the Day
A paralegal has a couple floppies with documents from a specific bank that are relevant to real estate closings generically.
That paralegal leaves. The floppies are around somewhere, presumably, but nobody knows where. Suddenly they have a dire need for the documents on them.
So it turns out that once upon a time I zipped the contents of each of the two floppies, because it needed to be e-mailed and people seem to have trouble grasping the concept of using Winzip, even if they grasp the concept of files and directories on disks.
The two zips, and therefore all the documents, were still on my computer. Now the docs are up on their network, unzipped, and I am a hero once again. Woohoo!
I meant to gripe about my parts supplier, but writing about positive things is nicer. And speaking of parts, time to go assemble them into a computer now, so I can be out of here in two hours...
A paralegal has a couple floppies with documents from a specific bank that are relevant to real estate closings generically.
That paralegal leaves. The floppies are around somewhere, presumably, but nobody knows where. Suddenly they have a dire need for the documents on them.
So it turns out that once upon a time I zipped the contents of each of the two floppies, because it needed to be e-mailed and people seem to have trouble grasping the concept of using Winzip, even if they grasp the concept of files and directories on disks.
The two zips, and therefore all the documents, were still on my computer. Now the docs are up on their network, unzipped, and I am a hero once again. Woohoo!
I meant to gripe about my parts supplier, but writing about positive things is nicer. And speaking of parts, time to go assemble them into a computer now, so I can be out of here in two hours...
Duh
I am running out of business checks. This is weird, as I thought I had an entire additional book of them. Oops.
Apparently I blew on past the reorder slip for two reasons. One is that I don't use checks that quickly, so it was several months too soon to order new ones (which is why I only vaguely remember; it was so long ago).
The other is cost and the desire to select a new vendor. Once upon a time, we selected Bank of Boston as our bank. We were quite explicit in not selecting Fleet, due to all the horror stories and bad experiences floating around about them as compared to B of B. But we chose a larger bank for the convenience of many branches, which is good, since had we picked a local bank in the town we originally were located in, as almost happened, I'd have to go way out of the way to get there.
Our first order of 400 checks cost $54, including an imprint of the company slogan. That seemed a little high, but hey, if they can't stick it to businesses, they'd have to screw individuals instead.
Then two things happened. We moved, which meant eventually getting new checks before the old ones ran out, to have the correct address. Fleet of Borg absorbed Bank of Boston, which had absolutely no antitrust implications and didn't leave a lopsided banking environment in this part of the country.
Bearing in mind that we pointedly avoided Fleet, you can imagine how happy we were. And yet, Fleet has been okay for our minimal needs. They didn't even raise the high monthly fee to something even higher until early this year. I laughed like hell, because they announced the increase within a month of the time I suggested it might be time to change banks to see if we could get a lower fee, since theirs was kind of high even though it remained unchanged. What timing!
There was precisely one thing I freaked about under Fleet. When I ordered replacement checks, they did not print the slogan on them, and they were $104; almost double.
I decided on the spot there was no way in hell we would ever order replacement checks through the bank again.
So when I reached the way too premature replacement order form, I naturally ignored it, knowing I needed to look into NEBS or somewhere instead when we actually got low on checks. Then I forgot all about it.
Duh.
At least I have an entire unused 400 checks that have the old address on them as emergency backup.
I am running out of business checks. This is weird, as I thought I had an entire additional book of them. Oops.
Apparently I blew on past the reorder slip for two reasons. One is that I don't use checks that quickly, so it was several months too soon to order new ones (which is why I only vaguely remember; it was so long ago).
The other is cost and the desire to select a new vendor. Once upon a time, we selected Bank of Boston as our bank. We were quite explicit in not selecting Fleet, due to all the horror stories and bad experiences floating around about them as compared to B of B. But we chose a larger bank for the convenience of many branches, which is good, since had we picked a local bank in the town we originally were located in, as almost happened, I'd have to go way out of the way to get there.
Our first order of 400 checks cost $54, including an imprint of the company slogan. That seemed a little high, but hey, if they can't stick it to businesses, they'd have to screw individuals instead.
Then two things happened. We moved, which meant eventually getting new checks before the old ones ran out, to have the correct address. Fleet of Borg absorbed Bank of Boston, which had absolutely no antitrust implications and didn't leave a lopsided banking environment in this part of the country.
Bearing in mind that we pointedly avoided Fleet, you can imagine how happy we were. And yet, Fleet has been okay for our minimal needs. They didn't even raise the high monthly fee to something even higher until early this year. I laughed like hell, because they announced the increase within a month of the time I suggested it might be time to change banks to see if we could get a lower fee, since theirs was kind of high even though it remained unchanged. What timing!
There was precisely one thing I freaked about under Fleet. When I ordered replacement checks, they did not print the slogan on them, and they were $104; almost double.
I decided on the spot there was no way in hell we would ever order replacement checks through the bank again.
So when I reached the way too premature replacement order form, I naturally ignored it, knowing I needed to look into NEBS or somewhere instead when we actually got low on checks. Then I forgot all about it.
Duh.
At least I have an entire unused 400 checks that have the old address on them as emergency backup.
Well, by the time I got into looking at pMachine stuff tonight, I got nothing done beyon finding out the comments I had working great no longer show anything except the text entry box for the new comment itself (and all details of existing comments). I had it so it showed name, e-mail and URL above the main text entry, but not the silly location box. And I have it showing in a new window as I prefer.
Tonight, nothing changed, it shows no personal info entry fields. All I can figure is it's using the "registration required" variant, even though registration is as turned off as I could determine to make it.
I also poked around in the pMachine control panel attempting to figure out if I could edit the heading of the blog to include a graphic. Not obnviously so. And why can't they just call the template that will be the main screen you see something like "main form"? I think I know which one affects that main screen the most, but it's not absolutely certain. I actually entered text into the templates via the control panel and saved changes, but the text displayed nowhere in any aspect of the blog. That's promising.
I should not try this when I am tired. I almost fell asleep waiting at the barber shop today, but a few hours after I woke up, and then at the office I almost pulled out the bed (have a love seat there that pulls out into a narrow but surprisingly comfortable bed) and napped. I managed to stay awake long enough to come home, make and devour a yummy burger and some steamed brocolli, and obviously do a little blogging and bog surfing.
I think it's time to hit the sack.
Everyone read and chime in on the comments to the next post down, on music that exhilarates you when driving. That ought to keep you until tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Driving Songs
Some songs were just made for driving. They can make you lose yourself in the sensation of flying along the highway. They can produce a gravitational anomoly in the vicinity of your right foot; "sorry officer, but that song came on the radio and I couldn't help it."
Of course I speak of Radar Love, by Golden Earing, the inspiration for this post, as the classic one. Any others that do the same thing to you?
Some songs were just made for driving. They can make you lose yourself in the sensation of flying along the highway. They can produce a gravitational anomoly in the vicinity of your right foot; "sorry officer, but that song came on the radio and I couldn't help it."
Of course I speak of Radar Love, by Golden Earing, the inspiration for this post, as the classic one. Any others that do the same thing to you?
Mahwwiage
In comments at the Rottie's site, Frank J. expressed a strong need for a wife. I helpfully promoted Courtney as a fine option.
Meanwhile, over in Courtney's comments, I found her declaring marriage not to be for her. I countered that with the proposed union with Frank J. She has agreed that an arranged marriage with someone she's never met might be a good thing. If he's scum, it wouldn't break her heart. Unless he can win her heart...
That sounds like a challenge, and a potential opportunity for twue wuv.
What do you think?
In comments at the Rottie's site, Frank J. expressed a strong need for a wife. I helpfully promoted Courtney as a fine option.
Meanwhile, over in Courtney's comments, I found her declaring marriage not to be for her. I countered that with the proposed union with Frank J. She has agreed that an arranged marriage with someone she's never met might be a good thing. If he's scum, it wouldn't break her heart. Unless he can win her heart...
That sounds like a challenge, and a potential opportunity for twue wuv.
What do you think?
Readability and Stuff
The Fire Ant Gazette has a superb commentary on things that make a blog more or less readable, though admittedly mileage varies on the details.
I would add that I don't like permalinks that are tied to an image. Why? Because I always right-click the permalink, click properties from the popup menu, highlight the URL, copy, cancel the properties dialog, and paste the URL where I want it. That way I don't have to click and open the post that I already read on the main page. I didn't set out to make this particular point until I noticed that the URL I just pasted was "http://www.ericsiegmund.com/images/fireant/icon_link.gif" rather than the real one, which is "http://www.ericsiegmund.com/fireant/2003_06_01_gazettearchive.html#200414326." But wait! I see by having clicked to open it that the real permalink is kaput. So I guess you just gotta go to the main page and look at "Blog Usability: We can do better, folks..." under June 11th.
Anyway, I pretty much couldn't agree more, axcept I don't mine a well done white on dark. Part of the success of that for Sully is a nice big font. Plus, for those who may not have noticed, there is a nifty link you can click for black on white. Voila, no more problem reading Andrew Sullivan.
Anyway, I hate sites with poor contrast. I can stand light on dark, it's the contrast problems I hate, and those are exacerbated by small fonts.
On an unrelated note except it's over at the same blog, yeah, one of the moons I settled on using is also the king of the fairies, which I decided would be one of my "general blogs" categories. No special meaning to the association.
The Fire Ant Gazette has a superb commentary on things that make a blog more or less readable, though admittedly mileage varies on the details.
I would add that I don't like permalinks that are tied to an image. Why? Because I always right-click the permalink, click properties from the popup menu, highlight the URL, copy, cancel the properties dialog, and paste the URL where I want it. That way I don't have to click and open the post that I already read on the main page. I didn't set out to make this particular point until I noticed that the URL I just pasted was "http://www.ericsiegmund.com/images/fireant/icon_link.gif" rather than the real one, which is "http://www.ericsiegmund.com/fireant/2003_06_01_gazettearchive.html#200414326." But wait! I see by having clicked to open it that the real permalink is kaput. So I guess you just gotta go to the main page and look at "Blog Usability: We can do better, folks..." under June 11th.
Anyway, I pretty much couldn't agree more, axcept I don't mine a well done white on dark. Part of the success of that for Sully is a nice big font. Plus, for those who may not have noticed, there is a nifty link you can click for black on white. Voila, no more problem reading Andrew Sullivan.
Anyway, I hate sites with poor contrast. I can stand light on dark, it's the contrast problems I hate, and those are exacerbated by small fonts.
On an unrelated note except it's over at the same blog, yeah, one of the moons I settled on using is also the king of the fairies, which I decided would be one of my "general blogs" categories. No special meaning to the association.
Humor E-Mail
This is a very old one I've seen a number of times, starting several years ago. It's still amusing, even though I think some things are obsolete or less definitive than they once were.
Bawston
"Getting around Boston"
Pay no attention to the street names.
There's no school on School Street, no court on Court Street, no dock on Dock Square, no water on Water Street.
Back Bay streets are in alphabetical odda: Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth,etc..
So are South Boston streets: A, B, C, D, etc..
If the streets are named after trees (e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar), you're on Beacon Hill.
If they're named after poets, you're in Wellesley.
Southie is South Boston.
The South End is the South End.
Eastie is East Boston.
The North End is east of the West End.
The West End and Scollay Square are no more, a guy named Rappaport got rid of them one night.
Definitions:
Frappes have ice cream, milkshakes don't.
If it is fizzy and flavored, it's tonic.
Soda is CLUB SODA.
Pop is Dad.
When we mean Tonic WATER, we will ask for Tonic WATER.
The smallest beer is a pint.
Scrod is whatever they tell you it is, usually fish.
If you paid more than $6/pound, you got scrod.
It's not a water fountain; it's a bubblah.
It's not a trashcan; it's a barrel.
It's not a shopping cart; it's a carriage.
It's not a purse; it's a pockabook.
They're not franks; they're haht dahgs. Franks are money in France.
Things not to do
Don't pahk your cah in Hahvid Yahd ... they'll tow it to Meffa (Medford) or Slumaville (Somerville).
Don't sleep in the Common.
Don't wear Orange in Southie on St. Patrick's Day
Things you should know:
There are two State Houses, two City Halls, two courthouses, two Hancock buildings (one old, one new).
Route 128 is also I-95. It's also I-93.
The underground train is not a subway. It's the "T" and it doesn't run all
night (fah chrysakes, this ain't Noo Yawk)
Bostonians...
think that it's their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.
think that there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (no R's).
think that three straight days of 90+ temperatures is a heat wave.
refer to six inches of snow as a "dusting."
always "bang a left" as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.
say everything in town is "a five-minute walk."
believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.
think that 63-degree ocean water is warm.
Enjoy BAWSTON !
This is a very old one I've seen a number of times, starting several years ago. It's still amusing, even though I think some things are obsolete or less definitive than they once were.
Bawston
"Getting around Boston"
Pay no attention to the street names.
There's no school on School Street, no court on Court Street, no dock on Dock Square, no water on Water Street.
Back Bay streets are in alphabetical odda: Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth,etc..
So are South Boston streets: A, B, C, D, etc..
If the streets are named after trees (e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar), you're on Beacon Hill.
If they're named after poets, you're in Wellesley.
Southie is South Boston.
The South End is the South End.
Eastie is East Boston.
The North End is east of the West End.
The West End and Scollay Square are no more, a guy named Rappaport got rid of them one night.
Definitions:
Frappes have ice cream, milkshakes don't.
If it is fizzy and flavored, it's tonic.
Soda is CLUB SODA.
Pop is Dad.
When we mean Tonic WATER, we will ask for Tonic WATER.
The smallest beer is a pint.
Scrod is whatever they tell you it is, usually fish.
If you paid more than $6/pound, you got scrod.
It's not a water fountain; it's a bubblah.
It's not a trashcan; it's a barrel.
It's not a shopping cart; it's a carriage.
It's not a purse; it's a pockabook.
They're not franks; they're haht dahgs. Franks are money in France.
Things not to do
Don't pahk your cah in Hahvid Yahd ... they'll tow it to Meffa (Medford) or Slumaville (Somerville).
Don't sleep in the Common.
Don't wear Orange in Southie on St. Patrick's Day
Things you should know:
There are two State Houses, two City Halls, two courthouses, two Hancock buildings (one old, one new).
Route 128 is also I-95. It's also I-93.
The underground train is not a subway. It's the "T" and it doesn't run all
night (fah chrysakes, this ain't Noo Yawk)
Bostonians...
think that it's their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.
think that there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (no R's).
think that three straight days of 90+ temperatures is a heat wave.
refer to six inches of snow as a "dusting."
always "bang a left" as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.
say everything in town is "a five-minute walk."
believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.
think that 63-degree ocean water is warm.
Enjoy BAWSTON !
Yes!
I finally got my hair chopped off! No more unruly mop. He did a good job, too. Second shortest haircut I've had.
Now that it's actually decided to be acceptably warm as many days as not, short hair is a good thing.
Unfortunately, it was a big day for kids getting haircuts. There was a cute year or so old who wanted to play with my cell phone. His mother gave him hers, which was identical to mine, so then he kept deciding the imaginary caller was asking for me, and handing me the phone. Then after the phone was put away, he still kept wanting to lean on me and be friendly.
Sometimes I'm a kid magnet like that. My older brother thinks the wrong one of us had kids. Fortunately I've gotten past the ticking urge to marry and have kids. Which is good, since it'll surely never happen.
I finally got my hair chopped off! No more unruly mop. He did a good job, too. Second shortest haircut I've had.
Now that it's actually decided to be acceptably warm as many days as not, short hair is a good thing.
Unfortunately, it was a big day for kids getting haircuts. There was a cute year or so old who wanted to play with my cell phone. His mother gave him hers, which was identical to mine, so then he kept deciding the imaginary caller was asking for me, and handing me the phone. Then after the phone was put away, he still kept wanting to lean on me and be friendly.
Sometimes I'm a kid magnet like that. My older brother thinks the wrong one of us had kids. Fortunately I've gotten past the ticking urge to marry and have kids. Which is good, since it'll surely never happen.
For What It's Worth...
I posted to my Slutertarian page last night. I thought I might actually start posting education-related items there as I stumble upon them periodically.
Here's the overall Slutertarian page.
Here's my department page.
I posted to my Slutertarian page last night. I thought I might actually start posting education-related items there as I stumble upon them periodically.
Here's the overall Slutertarian page.
Here's my department page.
Dating Advice
Steve is looking for dating advice. Or dating avoidance advice, as the case may be.
I'm no help in that department, being an utterly hopeless non-dater, but maybe you have ideas for him? At least you can read all the amusing comments (and the amusing post), even if you have nothing to add.
Steve is looking for dating advice. Or dating avoidance advice, as the case may be.
I'm no help in that department, being an utterly hopeless non-dater, but maybe you have ideas for him? At least you can read all the amusing comments (and the amusing post), even if you have nothing to add.
I Have Strange Dreams
Out of the blue I was buying, or perhaps inheriting, a big, run down old house in a rural area. The area imaged looked like a combination of Plympton, MA and Holland, VT. The occupant had been one old woman. There were at least 11 rooms, but I knew the place was only about half usable, because it was filled with accumulated old stuff. How I was getting it was unclear, but it was both completely unexpected and welcome.
The house itself is a recurring one I have dreams about, seemingly an archetype based on various places I have seen. For instance, I once had a dream about the same house, different location, being on fire, but burning so slowly nobody was in much hurry to get out of it. I've also dreamed about moving onto a section of the second floor of the same house, and discovering unexpected rooms.
Anyway, I was rather preoccupied with mailing people my new address, especially a selected few people I was apparently irritated with. For some reason, I was going to mail each person a single old glove. I stood next to a stretch of road that had no houses on it, looking at the gloves I had collected to send. They were all my size, but some of them were so worn they had big holes in the palm. Then for some reason I realized I should limit the number of people I notified right away.
During part of this, I was actually talking with someone unidentified who was standing there, telling them about the house. I pictured some other, small, blocky house I lived in, and how much I wanted to move. I commented that it would take me all summer, maybe the whole rest of the year, to go through all the stuff in the house to identify what was good and dispose of what wasn't, then fix the place up. I thought it would make me too busy to blog, then realized I could still do some blogging, telling people about the cool things I found in the house.
We talked about the fact it was so huge, and what I might be able to do with it, like running a business out of the house. The last thing suggested before I woke up was a candy business.
Out of the blue I was buying, or perhaps inheriting, a big, run down old house in a rural area. The area imaged looked like a combination of Plympton, MA and Holland, VT. The occupant had been one old woman. There were at least 11 rooms, but I knew the place was only about half usable, because it was filled with accumulated old stuff. How I was getting it was unclear, but it was both completely unexpected and welcome.
The house itself is a recurring one I have dreams about, seemingly an archetype based on various places I have seen. For instance, I once had a dream about the same house, different location, being on fire, but burning so slowly nobody was in much hurry to get out of it. I've also dreamed about moving onto a section of the second floor of the same house, and discovering unexpected rooms.
Anyway, I was rather preoccupied with mailing people my new address, especially a selected few people I was apparently irritated with. For some reason, I was going to mail each person a single old glove. I stood next to a stretch of road that had no houses on it, looking at the gloves I had collected to send. They were all my size, but some of them were so worn they had big holes in the palm. Then for some reason I realized I should limit the number of people I notified right away.
During part of this, I was actually talking with someone unidentified who was standing there, telling them about the house. I pictured some other, small, blocky house I lived in, and how much I wanted to move. I commented that it would take me all summer, maybe the whole rest of the year, to go through all the stuff in the house to identify what was good and dispose of what wasn't, then fix the place up. I thought it would make me too busy to blog, then realized I could still do some blogging, telling people about the cool things I found in the house.
We talked about the fact it was so huge, and what I might be able to do with it, like running a business out of the house. The last thing suggested before I woke up was a candy business.
Space Commercialization
Yet Another Weird SF Fan posts about space commercialization, which is always a topic dear to my heart, and proves my impulse to put this blog in the "Prometheans" category made sense. That is where it will go when I continue sorting.
Yet Another Weird SF Fan posts about space commercialization, which is always a topic dear to my heart, and proves my impulse to put this blog in the "Prometheans" category made sense. That is where it will go when I continue sorting.
8000
For what it's worth, my 8000th hit was someone on Comcast in the eastern time zone, running XP and IE6, with no referrer. Subsequently I've been mini-bloggerlanched.
That's one thing about Blogger. They display a small number of recently updated Blogger blogs on their main page. It's not actually reliable or continuously update (so the "most recent" might sit there for a few hours before the list changes). Once in a while I get on the list if I make a few back to back posts, and people actually do click and show up as brand new visitors (Welcome!) One of the things that made my traffic increase dramatically was one weekend when I stayed on blogger.com as a recently updated blog link for as much as 12 hours. At least half my (record number of) visitors that weekend came from there. It was as significant as a Gut Rumbles link that stays near the top for a while, or as a link from Blogs of War like the one I got when I was almost brand new.
For what it's worth, my 8000th hit was someone on Comcast in the eastern time zone, running XP and IE6, with no referrer. Subsequently I've been mini-bloggerlanched.
That's one thing about Blogger. They display a small number of recently updated Blogger blogs on their main page. It's not actually reliable or continuously update (so the "most recent" might sit there for a few hours before the list changes). Once in a while I get on the list if I make a few back to back posts, and people actually do click and show up as brand new visitors (Welcome!) One of the things that made my traffic increase dramatically was one weekend when I stayed on blogger.com as a recently updated blog link for as much as 12 hours. At least half my (record number of) visitors that weekend came from there. It was as significant as a Gut Rumbles link that stays near the top for a while, or as a link from Blogs of War like the one I got when I was almost brand new.
And Another...
Viking Pundit says that Between The Coasts has fled Blogspot. I hope I didn't already know this and post it, because I am not scrolling back to see. I need to update 5-6 links at this point, just from the past couple days or so.
Viking Pundit says that Between The Coasts has fled Blogspot. I hope I didn't already know this and post it, because I am not scrolling back to see. I need to update 5-6 links at this point, just from the past couple days or so.
Subversive Monkeywrenching
What made me go read this amusing page was the discussion of grocery store discount cards, which I have been extremely resistant to.
I don't shop at Stop & Shop because of them, except maybe in a pinch to run in and buy something that's not on sale anyway. I always liked Shaw's in part because they weren't Stop & Shop, but it seems their business objective is to become more like Stop & Shop every year until there is no difference. So of course they adopted the discount card scheme, which is why I was boycotting them and going to Victory, until I got sick of Victory selling meat that was either already spoiled or would spoil far more quickly than that from other stores. That left Trucchi's and Market Basket, both a little less convenient than any of the others. Or the Hilltop Steakhouse market, which is relatively convenient but a little limited. And weirdly, the meat there isn't necessarily spectacular, at least for what I'd buy most. I can buy hamburger from Trucchi's or Market Basket, and after sitting in the refrigerator for two days, it is approximately at the freshness level Victory's is the day you buy it.
Anyway, my brother had an extra Shaw's card, so I go there again. I also started going to Victory again if I need things other than meat and it's the convenient option.
That subversive link was via Wendy McElroy.
What made me go read this amusing page was the discussion of grocery store discount cards, which I have been extremely resistant to.
I don't shop at Stop & Shop because of them, except maybe in a pinch to run in and buy something that's not on sale anyway. I always liked Shaw's in part because they weren't Stop & Shop, but it seems their business objective is to become more like Stop & Shop every year until there is no difference. So of course they adopted the discount card scheme, which is why I was boycotting them and going to Victory, until I got sick of Victory selling meat that was either already spoiled or would spoil far more quickly than that from other stores. That left Trucchi's and Market Basket, both a little less convenient than any of the others. Or the Hilltop Steakhouse market, which is relatively convenient but a little limited. And weirdly, the meat there isn't necessarily spectacular, at least for what I'd buy most. I can buy hamburger from Trucchi's or Market Basket, and after sitting in the refrigerator for two days, it is approximately at the freshness level Victory's is the day you buy it.
Anyway, my brother had an extra Shaw's card, so I go there again. I also started going to Victory again if I need things other than meat and it's the convenient option.
That subversive link was via Wendy McElroy.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Silly Dell Tricks
Okay, so you order a computer. After ordering you verify with your computer guy that it ought have been XP Pro, not Home, so within a day of placing the order, you call Dell to see if you can change the OS spec. They have already shipped the computer, being efficient, but they agree to send you XP Pro and you send them back the copy of XP Home.
So you get the copy of XP Pro, computer guy starts the setup, and it asks for the CD key...
As many of you know, an OEM computer builder is supposed to remove the shiny sticker with the CD key from the shrinkwrapped package containing the CD and manual, and stick it to the computer. This proves you are legal, and Microsoft did in fact receive their tithing obeisance on the transaction. If you have to reinstall and need the CD key, that is where it is located, unless you have written it elsewhere for your records. The package with the software has no indication of the CD key anywhere.
Okay, all well and good. Except the replacement software, the copy of XP Pro swapped for XP Home, arrived with no shiny sticker, as if it had been removed and placed on the computer. But obviously it could not have been. But hey, Dell, huge vendor, special arrangements with Microsoft... maybe the CD key on the sticker on the computer was somehow generic and would work.
Nope.
So now they have to call Dell and try to get a CD key that works with the otherwise useless copy of XP Pro. Fortunately, I need to go back there anyway, to replace their hub with a more reliable one.
How foolish is that, sending out a copy of Window that can't be installed? They ought to be better than that. Then again, special circumstance; they function efficiently through rote and routine. We had to go and be different on them.
Okay, so you order a computer. After ordering you verify with your computer guy that it ought have been XP Pro, not Home, so within a day of placing the order, you call Dell to see if you can change the OS spec. They have already shipped the computer, being efficient, but they agree to send you XP Pro and you send them back the copy of XP Home.
So you get the copy of XP Pro, computer guy starts the setup, and it asks for the CD key...
As many of you know, an OEM computer builder is supposed to remove the shiny sticker with the CD key from the shrinkwrapped package containing the CD and manual, and stick it to the computer. This proves you are legal, and Microsoft did in fact receive their tithing obeisance on the transaction. If you have to reinstall and need the CD key, that is where it is located, unless you have written it elsewhere for your records. The package with the software has no indication of the CD key anywhere.
Okay, all well and good. Except the replacement software, the copy of XP Pro swapped for XP Home, arrived with no shiny sticker, as if it had been removed and placed on the computer. But obviously it could not have been. But hey, Dell, huge vendor, special arrangements with Microsoft... maybe the CD key on the sticker on the computer was somehow generic and would work.
Nope.
So now they have to call Dell and try to get a CD key that works with the otherwise useless copy of XP Pro. Fortunately, I need to go back there anyway, to replace their hub with a more reliable one.
How foolish is that, sending out a copy of Window that can't be installed? They ought to be better than that. Then again, special circumstance; they function efficiently through rote and routine. We had to go and be different on them.
Progress
Minor progress, anyway. I have comments almost the way I want them, apart from making them load in a new window. However, there's a default "location" textbox that I have never seen anyone use. I commented all references to it, as far as I could see, but it's still there. Silly thing. Maripat ditched it, so there has to be a way.
I also ditched a lot of the crap that's on the main page by default, and have a good idea how things flow in the various PHP and CSS files.
So now that I'm a couple hours late getting to other things, enough of this for now.
Minor progress, anyway. I have comments almost the way I want them, apart from making them load in a new window. However, there's a default "location" textbox that I have never seen anyone use. I commented all references to it, as far as I could see, but it's still there. Silly thing. Maripat ditched it, so there has to be a way.
I also ditched a lot of the crap that's on the main page by default, and have a good idea how things flow in the various PHP and CSS files.
So now that I'm a couple hours late getting to other things, enough of this for now.
So Far So Good
Well, I have the absolute default pMachine weblog established in a ridiculously convoluted path. Obviously that's going to have to change or be virtualized.
The default example blog is so not remotely how I will want it to be. Getting it established to this point is clearly the least of the work. Now that I know what I'm doing, I'd probably have done some of it a little differently, but oh well. I could also do it again in far less time.
This should be interesting.
Well, I have the absolute default pMachine weblog established in a ridiculously convoluted path. Obviously that's going to have to change or be virtualized.
The default example blog is so not remotely how I will want it to be. Getting it established to this point is clearly the least of the work. Now that I know what I'm doing, I'd probably have done some of it a little differently, but oh well. I could also do it again in far less time.
This should be interesting.
This is Annoying
It's midnight.
I got to the office at 9:30 AM and just got home maybe an hour ago. One of my partners decided he wanted to pop in at "6:30 or 7 o'clock" to show me where his code stood and get some input. I don't think it was too much past 8:00 when he arrived, and I did accomplish some cleaning in the meantime. Also talked with the client in Fall River, with whom I'd arranged to visit "sometime early this week" but not made specific plans. So that's tomorrow.
But first I must get a haircut. So I need to be up at a reasonable time, get out of here, go to the barber and make a retail stop or two. Then stop at the office for a little while, make sure nobody is too frantic, put in an order for the parts and OS to build a new computer, tweak some old code and distribute a replacement EXE, try to remember to e-mail Westlaw support a question I have, and finally go on down to Fall River, where things should not get as out of hand as last time. I believe I neglected to rant about goofy network cabling people.
If you run a cable through the wall and install a female jack for a computer to plug into, and the closet the cables go to has a hub in it, and obviously no patch panel, what do you do? You put a male end on such that the end in the closet can plug into the hub, right? Oh no. You survey the situation, have no idea what's going on, leave the cable raw, and have to be called back in to put the male end on while the computer guy - who could have run the cable at least as competently as you - waits, and is horrified hearing your confusion as to how exactly to connect the male end to the raw cable. Which the computer guy would have done had he known there was the slightest reason to bring the handy toolbag, which includes a handful of male connectors and the crimping tool. But hey, let's leave cabling to the people who pretend to do it for a living! (Actually, that's exactly right... when it's people like my amazingly competent brother.)
I'd love to plow into working with pMachine, but I am going to have to limit myself. After all, sleep is good. The earlier I can get to the barber, the less of a wait there will be. Anyway, let's see how much I can accomplish in, say, the next half hour or so...
It's midnight.
I got to the office at 9:30 AM and just got home maybe an hour ago. One of my partners decided he wanted to pop in at "6:30 or 7 o'clock" to show me where his code stood and get some input. I don't think it was too much past 8:00 when he arrived, and I did accomplish some cleaning in the meantime. Also talked with the client in Fall River, with whom I'd arranged to visit "sometime early this week" but not made specific plans. So that's tomorrow.
But first I must get a haircut. So I need to be up at a reasonable time, get out of here, go to the barber and make a retail stop or two. Then stop at the office for a little while, make sure nobody is too frantic, put in an order for the parts and OS to build a new computer, tweak some old code and distribute a replacement EXE, try to remember to e-mail Westlaw support a question I have, and finally go on down to Fall River, where things should not get as out of hand as last time. I believe I neglected to rant about goofy network cabling people.
If you run a cable through the wall and install a female jack for a computer to plug into, and the closet the cables go to has a hub in it, and obviously no patch panel, what do you do? You put a male end on such that the end in the closet can plug into the hub, right? Oh no. You survey the situation, have no idea what's going on, leave the cable raw, and have to be called back in to put the male end on while the computer guy - who could have run the cable at least as competently as you - waits, and is horrified hearing your confusion as to how exactly to connect the male end to the raw cable. Which the computer guy would have done had he known there was the slightest reason to bring the handy toolbag, which includes a handful of male connectors and the crimping tool. But hey, let's leave cabling to the people who pretend to do it for a living! (Actually, that's exactly right... when it's people like my amazingly competent brother.)
I'd love to plow into working with pMachine, but I am going to have to limit myself. After all, sleep is good. The earlier I can get to the barber, the less of a wait there will be. Anyway, let's see how much I can accomplish in, say, the next half hour or so...
Monday, June 09, 2003
Comments Disabled
Since I would rather have no comments than have to click an error about 50 times as my blog loads (which translates into slooooooow loading if you are set not to see the script errors), and since it didn't simply go away promptly as it usually does, I have disabled comments. I have to assume Enetation is broken for an extended time, and presumably I will have an alternative once I have moved.
Since I would rather have no comments than have to click an error about 50 times as my blog loads (which translates into slooooooow loading if you are set not to see the script errors), and since it didn't simply go away promptly as it usually does, I have disabled comments. I have to assume Enetation is broken for an extended time, and presumably I will have an alternative once I have moved.
Pathetic Earthlings
Another one bites the dust. Pathetic Earthlings has left Blogspot. This should remind me to fix my links.
If you haven't checked out this site in the past, it's worth keeping an eye on. As the subtitle says, "space, politics, and single malt whisky."
Another one bites the dust. Pathetic Earthlings has left Blogspot. This should remind me to fix my links.
If you haven't checked out this site in the past, it's worth keeping an eye on. As the subtitle says, "space, politics, and single malt whisky."
Nigerian Spam: It's Not Just for Nigeria Any more
Kind of like cannibalism being good enough for Congo, so it's good enough for North Korea too.
Here's the latest opportunity for wealth that I'm about to pass up:
I know, I know... how could I pass up such a great opportunity!
Kind of like cannibalism being good enough for Congo, so it's good enough for North Korea too.
Here's the latest opportunity for wealth that I'm about to pass up:
Urgent Business Proposal
It is with respect and confidence that I decided to contact you for a confidential transaction,which requires your assistance for our mutual beneficial relationship.
My name is Mr. Dialo Muktar,a close friend of Late General Guei Robert and the director viga assistant security company in Cote D'Ivoire.There is this sum of $12,000.000.00 that the former military head of state in Cote D'Ivoire General Guei Robert deposited in our custody last two years,which he wanted to use to contest for the next presidential election in Cote D'Ivoire.
But during this crisis in Cote D'Ivoire, he was killed; his wife and children were also killed leaving nobody as next of kin . So I am seeking for your assistance to transfer this money out of the country immediately.The process that I wanted to use to transfer this money is to push the money to our affiliate company in Europe through diplomatic means, and then I will delegate my son to meet with you for the clearance and sharing.
Meanwhile, if you are interested, for your assistance, 30% of the money will be for you and I will forward to you more details of this transaction and every document that regards to this transaction immediately I receive your positive response to my proposal.You can send me your reply at my mail addresse:dialo@infodesi.com or dialo@omaninfo.com
Remember that this business is risk free because I am the only person that is aware of this transaction. Your telephone number will be highly needed for easy communication.
Best Regards,
Mr Dialo Muktar
I know, I know... how could I pass up such a great opportunity!
Moving Report
I've had the domain since 1999. I'll probably explain why on the 2.0 blog, because the domain will make no sense otherwise.
I have the hosting, and the name servers have been changed. I can access my hosting via IP now. (And I haven't even mailed the check to pay for it yet, having just ordered last night.)
At home I have a download of pMachine, and think it appears easy based on the documentation. Jen says it's super easy. Maripat says it's harder than she'd expected. Mileage obviously varies.
I will obviously need to find out how to access MySQL and stuff like that on the new host.
So if I am preoccupied or run into trouble, my move could be a whole week or so away. If I hurry, it could be a few days. Stay tuned...
I've had the domain since 1999. I'll probably explain why on the 2.0 blog, because the domain will make no sense otherwise.
I have the hosting, and the name servers have been changed. I can access my hosting via IP now. (And I haven't even mailed the check to pay for it yet, having just ordered last night.)
At home I have a download of pMachine, and think it appears easy based on the documentation. Jen says it's super easy. Maripat says it's harder than she'd expected. Mileage obviously varies.
I will obviously need to find out how to access MySQL and stuff like that on the new host.
So if I am preoccupied or run into trouble, my move could be a whole week or so away. If I hurry, it could be a few days. Stay tuned...
The State Is Funny
One quarter I file sales taxes a couple days late, compute the penalty, send the whole thing off, and get a refund because I overpaid the penalty.
Another quarter I file almost a month late, compute the penalty and interest carefully, and they send a bill for $6 more. All I can figure is they added an extra month. No biggie, but I figured I was saving them the trouble of sending me a bill. I used the same formula to compute it both times. The one they say to use. Go figure.
At least they don't get too excited when you're late. I was busy and low on cash flow, and the small penalty isn't too much to pay for a little flexibility.
One quarter I file sales taxes a couple days late, compute the penalty, send the whole thing off, and get a refund because I overpaid the penalty.
Another quarter I file almost a month late, compute the penalty and interest carefully, and they send a bill for $6 more. All I can figure is they added an extra month. No biggie, but I figured I was saving them the trouble of sending me a bill. I used the same formula to compute it both times. The one they say to use. Go figure.
At least they don't get too excited when you're late. I was busy and low on cash flow, and the small penalty isn't too much to pay for a little flexibility.
Symposium
RWN has an excellent and entertaining symposium on the 2004 election. Long, but fun reading.
RWN has an excellent and entertaining symposium on the 2004 election. Long, but fun reading.
Note to Self
Return again to this site. I wasn't setting out to do a Dungeon Tour, but the name intrigued me, and it's one I am sure I'd include.
I also noticed this one hosted under Dean's domain. I love the design and colors, yet it remains readable in contrast and text size. Often that gets sacrificed to being pretty.
Return again to this site. I wasn't setting out to do a Dungeon Tour, but the name intrigued me, and it's one I am sure I'd include.
I also noticed this one hosted under Dean's domain. I love the design and colors, yet it remains readable in contrast and text size. Often that gets sacrificed to being pretty.
Another Refugee
Even as I am here changing the DNS for the domain I will use when I move, I get notice of another fine refugee from BlogSplat.*
damnum absque injuria, also known as Xrlq, has moved. Woohoo! Make all the requisite blogroll changes.
Even as I am here changing the DNS for the domain I will use when I move, I get notice of another fine refugee from BlogSplat.*
damnum absque injuria, also known as Xrlq, has moved. Woohoo! Make all the requisite blogroll changes.
Enetation Is Becoming A Reason To Migrate
Mostly Enetation has been great for comments. And after all, it's free. But I have been noticing, with debugging turned on in IE options, that when the comments choose not to appear, I have to click an error message for each post where comments should appear. That's a lot of clicks. It seems to happen to other people as well, and if debugging is off, seems merely to make for extra slow loading.
I see less of this in pMachine and Movable Type sites that have their own comment systems.
Today, for me, Enetation has been especially bad. I refresh my site, eager to see what new comments may have been left, and instead I have to click "no" about 40 times and comments don't exist. Then I refresh a few minutes later and they're back. It's bizarre.
Mostly Enetation has been great for comments. And after all, it's free. But I have been noticing, with debugging turned on in IE options, that when the comments choose not to appear, I have to click an error message for each post where comments should appear. That's a lot of clicks. It seems to happen to other people as well, and if debugging is off, seems merely to make for extra slow loading.
I see less of this in pMachine and Movable Type sites that have their own comment systems.
Today, for me, Enetation has been especially bad. I refresh my site, eager to see what new comments may have been left, and instead I have to click "no" about 40 times and comments don't exist. Then I refresh a few minutes later and they're back. It's bizarre.
Argh
InterNIC and then Network Solutions used to be so easy. What a pain. It used to be that I'd go fill out the text form and mail it in, using the "send from" method. I have not yet found if that's even an available method any more. They assigned me a user ID for logging in a while back, for which I just had to create a password, but that appears only to be connected to one domain. I am the admin for about 10 domains.
Obviously I don't make changes very often! Last time I dealt with NSI, it was within several weeks of renewal time and I had trouble making any changes because they lock things tight so you can't move to another registrar until you've bribed them. I plan to move for that reason as much as to save money. There were no alternatives originally.
Indeed, I see the street address for the account is invalid, because they never changed it when I corrected it last time, so they have it flagged for me to correct now. Stupid twits.
Okay, I found the ID number I needed, in an e-mail they sent me in November 2001. Sheesh. Of course, I have to reset the password, because their never was a password in the first place.
It's probably too soon to change the name servers anyway, since my hosting won't be setup until at least sometime tomorrow, but hey. Figured while I was thinking about it.
InterNIC and then Network Solutions used to be so easy. What a pain. It used to be that I'd go fill out the text form and mail it in, using the "send from" method. I have not yet found if that's even an available method any more. They assigned me a user ID for logging in a while back, for which I just had to create a password, but that appears only to be connected to one domain. I am the admin for about 10 domains.
Obviously I don't make changes very often! Last time I dealt with NSI, it was within several weeks of renewal time and I had trouble making any changes because they lock things tight so you can't move to another registrar until you've bribed them. I plan to move for that reason as much as to save money. There were no alternatives originally.
Indeed, I see the street address for the account is invalid, because they never changed it when I corrected it last time, so they have it flagged for me to correct now. Stupid twits.
Okay, I found the ID number I needed, in an e-mail they sent me in November 2001. Sheesh. Of course, I have to reset the password, because their never was a password in the first place.
It's probably too soon to change the name servers anyway, since my hosting won't be setup until at least sometime tomorrow, but hey. Figured while I was thinking about it.
Narrowing It Down To Three
Yet Another Weird SF Fan
Random Acts of Kindness
Technically Speaking
Too many good entries! I hate choosing, but I guess I'll go with these three. Good luck guys!
Yet Another Weird SF Fan
Random Acts of Kindness
Technically Speaking
Too many good entries! I hate choosing, but I guess I'll go with these three. Good luck guys!
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Almost Forgot Voting!
I had previously voted for the entries at:
Technically Speaking
RantDude's Ravings
FreeSpeech
BusinessPundit
Tiger
Mudville Gazette
Yet Another Weird SF Fan (at least, I'd meant to)
Sanity's Edge
Random Acts of Kindness
I thought I probably ought to narrow it down and pick, oh, maybe three. So these are my choices, and I'll ponder and vote three in the next post.
I had previously voted for the entries at:
Technically Speaking
RantDude's Ravings
FreeSpeech
BusinessPundit
Tiger
Mudville Gazette
Yet Another Weird SF Fan (at least, I'd meant to)
Sanity's Edge
Random Acts of Kindness
I thought I probably ought to narrow it down and pick, oh, maybe three. So these are my choices, and I'll ponder and vote three in the next post.
SF That's Not Timeless
I'm currently reading The Genesis Machine by James P. Hogan. Copyright date is 1978, meaning it's one of his earlier books.
As sometimes happens, it's clearly a product of its time (and the author's background of course). Thus you see a reference to things being controlled by a PDP64.
They have no Internet, but something called an "Infonet." It's a lot like the Internet, but heavily controlled, and doubling as a videophone system. Computing power is largely centralized and costly, with terminals that tie into central computers.
All that said, it's an excellent read. SF reflecting the life and times is nothing new. Look at the failure way back to predict microcomputers by, well, about everyone, yet as the same time the predictions of robots at a level we have not seen yet... despite the microcomputing power that implies and requires. It's finally coming, in the next 10-20 years, in a big way.
Giant mechanical devices for navigational math. That never happened, and Libby wasn't needed when they failed.
This kind of thing makes SF an intriguing study in its own right.
I'm currently reading The Genesis Machine by James P. Hogan. Copyright date is 1978, meaning it's one of his earlier books.
As sometimes happens, it's clearly a product of its time (and the author's background of course). Thus you see a reference to things being controlled by a PDP64.
They have no Internet, but something called an "Infonet." It's a lot like the Internet, but heavily controlled, and doubling as a videophone system. Computing power is largely centralized and costly, with terminals that tie into central computers.
All that said, it's an excellent read. SF reflecting the life and times is nothing new. Look at the failure way back to predict microcomputers by, well, about everyone, yet as the same time the predictions of robots at a level we have not seen yet... despite the microcomputing power that implies and requires. It's finally coming, in the next 10-20 years, in a big way.
Giant mechanical devices for navigational math. That never happened, and Libby wasn't needed when they failed.
This kind of thing makes SF an intriguing study in its own right.
Mickey's Musings
Not to self to update link, as she's moving from here over to a new home.
Which also applies to Paul, from All Agitprop, All The Time, aka Frozen In Montreal, the resident North Korea watcher.
Those dragon's wing's are getting pretty weighed down.
Not to self to update link, as she's moving from here over to a new home.
Which also applies to Paul, from All Agitprop, All The Time, aka Frozen In Montreal, the resident North Korea watcher.
Those dragon's wing's are getting pretty weighed down.
Well this sucks
I can't even post a quick "not going to blog much today because I have stuff to do"! w.bloggar returns "appkey is invalid or inactive," which apparently as an RPC/API error meaning "I can't seeeeeee you." Blogger.com is plain dead, which would certainly explain the w.bloggar error.
How annoying.
So here's some stuff I am seeing as I look at other sites:
Acidman is truly back in good form. "Cats are terrorists." What a great line! Then there's the mind-blowing company memo. Get on over there are check out the tall dogs and shoulda sent it posts.
We're still moving up. Dunno how. Right We Are! is at 167 links in the Ecosystem, which is 119th on the list, between the gratuitous gun picture dude and Blogs of War. I'm at 160, which is 125th, between Blogs of War and Jay Caruso. Go us!
Dean has a couple good items so far today. One is on Democratic Primary Analyses. The other is on why the whole WMD blame game issue is ridiculous, and is far and away the most cohesive, comprehensive discussion of that I have seen. I'm surprised Glenn Reynolds hadn't linked it in his efforts on the WMD issue today.
If I see more, it'll be another post.
I can't even post a quick "not going to blog much today because I have stuff to do"! w.bloggar returns "appkey is invalid or inactive," which apparently as an RPC/API error meaning "I can't seeeeeee you." Blogger.com is plain dead, which would certainly explain the w.bloggar error.
How annoying.
So here's some stuff I am seeing as I look at other sites:
Acidman is truly back in good form. "Cats are terrorists." What a great line! Then there's the mind-blowing company memo. Get on over there are check out the tall dogs and shoulda sent it posts.
We're still moving up. Dunno how. Right We Are! is at 167 links in the Ecosystem, which is 119th on the list, between the gratuitous gun picture dude and Blogs of War. I'm at 160, which is 125th, between Blogs of War and Jay Caruso. Go us!
Dean has a couple good items so far today. One is on Democratic Primary Analyses. The other is on why the whole WMD blame game issue is ridiculous, and is far and away the most cohesive, comprehensive discussion of that I have seen. I'm surprised Glenn Reynolds hadn't linked it in his efforts on the WMD issue today.
If I see more, it'll be another post.
Updated
Not done yet, but I made some significant updates to the template in the form of linkage reorganization. If you have an idea, or a different idea, on where you belong listed, let me know so I can torment you by ignoring your opinion.
I also watched The Princess Bride tonight, due to the evil influence of Lori.
Not done yet, but I made some significant updates to the template in the form of linkage reorganization. If you have an idea, or a different idea, on where you belong listed, let me know so I can torment you by ignoring your opinion.
I also watched The Princess Bride tonight, due to the evil influence of Lori.
Saturday, June 07, 2003
Dog Snot Dating Service
Geoffrey at Dog Snot Diaries is trying to get his single brother hitched.
Whaddaya say gals? Oh, hi Lori. I heard you were single... Go have a look.
Geoffrey at Dog Snot Diaries is trying to get his single brother hitched.
Whaddaya say gals? Oh, hi Lori. I heard you were single... Go have a look.
Lot of Work
This link management is a lot of work! At least initially. As you'll see, I've made major progress, but I still have to go through the not yet classifieds and stick them somewhere, including in at least one category that doesn't exist yet.
I forget what I'd intended "Ganymeans" to be. May have been generic.
I need a category for business/economics/accounting. If I'm lazy I might put bloggers who are highly focused on libertarian/objectivist matters in that same one.
Thoughts?
This link management is a lot of work! At least initially. As you'll see, I've made major progress, but I still have to go through the not yet classifieds and stick them somewhere, including in at least one category that doesn't exist yet.
I forget what I'd intended "Ganymeans" to be. May have been generic.
I need a category for business/economics/accounting. If I'm lazy I might put bloggers who are highly focused on libertarian/objectivist matters in that same one.
Thoughts?
Hi, I'm black
Glenn left a comment, and I paid a visit through the URL he left. I love the "contractor peon" bit. I thought there was some interesting stuff over there, so thought I'd mention it. Nice fish and monster rat pictures.
As I was saying a few posts ago, leaving comments can get you noticed.
Glenn left a comment, and I paid a visit through the URL he left. I love the "contractor peon" bit. I thought there was some interesting stuff over there, so thought I'd mention it. Nice fish and monster rat pictures.
As I was saying a few posts ago, leaving comments can get you noticed.
Interview Questions
Maripat needs interview questions! She plans to interview Lori, who is single by the way, and is at a loss for clever, Frank-like or Bill-like questions to ask. Any ideas?
Example:
"Lori, is it true you're still single because you smell funny? Or is it merely because you devour your dates alive at the end of the evening?"
You know, useful, meaningful interview questions like that.
Maripat needs interview questions! She plans to interview Lori, who is single by the way, and is at a loss for clever, Frank-like or Bill-like questions to ask. Any ideas?
Example:
"Lori, is it true you're still single because you smell funny? Or is it merely because you devour your dates alive at the end of the evening?"
You know, useful, meaningful interview questions like that.
Is That Legal
Is That Legal has fled Blogsplat. This is to remind me to update my link, as well as to publicize it.
Is That Legal has fled Blogsplat. This is to remind me to update my link, as well as to publicize it.
"Blogroll Me"
Something I forgot to mention in my thing on getting links is the usefulness of the "Blogroll Me" link. I take my own behavior to be anecdotal evidence in favor of having one. I routinely look for such a link (which should not be hidden if you have one, dammit), and will spontaneously blogroll if there is one. If not, I'll try to remember, and usually forget.
Which is why you might sometimes see things like:
Note to self: Remember to blogroll this site.
On another note, I am working on links today. I think the port to unblogrolled categorical links will be completed, but many of them will be under "not yet classified" since decisions on categories are still pending. The blogroll and an uncategorized list of links not on the blogroll will appear on their own page.
Something I forgot to mention in my thing on getting links is the usefulness of the "Blogroll Me" link. I take my own behavior to be anecdotal evidence in favor of having one. I routinely look for such a link (which should not be hidden if you have one, dammit), and will spontaneously blogroll if there is one. If not, I'll try to remember, and usually forget.
Which is why you might sometimes see things like:
Note to self: Remember to blogroll this site.
On another note, I am working on links today. I think the port to unblogrolled categorical links will be completed, but many of them will be under "not yet classified" since decisions on categories are still pending. The blogroll and an uncategorized list of links not on the blogroll will appear on their own page.
Hanker for a Hunka Cheese
Mmmm... the power of cheese. Via BusinessPundit.
Cheese is one of my absolute staples, much the way Acidman once described peanutbutter. I can have almost nothing in the house for food, but if there's cheese, I can probably whip up something I'll like. If I lack cheese, I know it's time to go shopping.
Mmmm... the power of cheese. Via BusinessPundit.
Cheese is one of my absolute staples, much the way Acidman once described peanutbutter. I can have almost nothing in the house for food, but if there's cheese, I can probably whip up something I'll like. If I lack cheese, I know it's time to go shopping.
Don't Forget to Vote!
In the New Weblog Showcase. Link the entered posts for any of the entries that tickle your fancy. The final tally is Sunday night, so do it by then and have it remain on your main page for it to count.
I'm not sure what the reason is, but it appears one (admittedly interesting but not enough for my vote, or that many) entry has multiple times the votes of the next entry down, which shows the importance of voting.
My final votes will appear sometime in the next day. There appears to be a new entry I didn't notice earlier in the week, trying to entice a vote from me.
In the New Weblog Showcase. Link the entered posts for any of the entries that tickle your fancy. The final tally is Sunday night, so do it by then and have it remain on your main page for it to count.
I'm not sure what the reason is, but it appears one (admittedly interesting but not enough for my vote, or that many) entry has multiple times the votes of the next entry down, which shows the importance of voting.
My final votes will appear sometime in the next day. There appears to be a new entry I didn't notice earlier in the week, trying to entice a vote from me.
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