cryptique

Linksys router. I hadn't actually tested Oink before my previous post, and when I did my connection was "clever," so I think I'm fine. I know that in getting the DSL to work I undid some of the stuff I'd done when I set up port forwarding, but so long as I'm getting a good connection, I guess I'll not worry about it, at least until something goes wrong.

So I've dumped Comcast cable and switched to AT&T/Yahoo DSL. Didn't want to, really -- Comcast's speed was fantastic, but the combined internet/television bill jumped up to around $136/month recently when a year-long promotion ended, and I simply refuse to pay that much for that stuff. It took an hour and a half on the phone to get the DSL up and running -- apparently all that port forwarding stuff I did for Oink screwed up everything so my computer couldn't recognize the new modem, and it also corrupted the winsock. Once the first-level, clueless support rep escalated my call to the

It's all that, but more than anything, it's that vein popping out of Steinbrenner's forehead when the Jankees go down in flames -- again -- in October. Of course, that hasn't happened yet this year, and Detroit better not think they've got this one sewn up before it actually is...

He's in my Hall of Fame, dammit. So long to one of the great ones.

Howdy. The name's Glass...

Well, that would be the ultimate way to scare the hiccups out of someone...

I actually spent some cash at a Starbucks this morning. I was at the grocery store anyway, and as it was kind of chilly outside, I thought maybe I'd try their hot chocolate because a few people have told me it's really good. It is not. Also: I ordered it as a "medium."

The Eagles. And Kiss.

Not all such leftovers are useless.

What, no Vegemite?

My parents are now in Xiamen, China, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that they're halfway around the world. In other words, airplanes are cool.

Upon hearing the news that Starbucks planned to triple its number of stores, Melissa asked exactly where the hell they planned to put them all. I said "You know that Starbucks that's in the front corner of the grocery store? Well, now they're also going to be in the two back corners."

Happy Birthday!

According to Wikipedia, he works at Dodger Stadium as a greeter for VIP season ticket holders. ("Welcome to Wal-MartDodger Stadium!") He was also a judge on "Master of Champions." To be fair, he does other stuff too. His official website's biography (which is very poorly written) proclaims him to be a "future Hall of Famer." His high-water mark in the voting was 42.61% of ballots in 1995, his third year on the ballot. He's now in the last year or two of eligibility for election by the BBWAA. Yeah, he might get in via the Veterans' Committee, but I don't regard him as a lock.

Only the lower peninsula of Michigan, evidently...

He pitched on Sunday, I believe. Didn't start, but came in late. He probably wasn't ready for a start yet anyway.

The CEO of scAmway is running for governor in Michigan. FSM help us all if he wins.

I think I will skip 24 this year, after having watched it for however many years it's been going now. Last season just didn't do much for me, and there's only so many times I can hear Kiefer Sutherland scream "DROP THE WEAPON!" I don't watch Lost either. In fact, I'm not sure there's a single show that I'll be watching with any regularity this year. I'm trying to minimize the impact TV has on my life.

I saw that too. Should be funfucked up when it happens. (It was Memphis, not Nashville, that was going to be particularly fucked, but I'm sure Nashville will get theirs too.)

I have it, but I hadn't bought the CDs of the other albums first (except for the "Fully Loaded" edition of Loaded). I mostly had vinyl. It's a great box set, of course ... but I guess it depends on what you already own as to whether it's worth it.

During an earthquake, anyway.

Fixed it. ...or is that already out? I can't keep up.

Are you sure it's not a fucking convention? It's so rare one finds an opening at a convent -- you need to slip in there while you can.

[some smiley indicating laughter]