I've had a few instances of Comment Spam this weekend, so I've installed the MovableType anti-spam plugin. I'd already set the site to throttle the commenting rate to 1/minute, so I only had one instance of each spam to clean up and blacklist the IP. Not a major hassle, but if I can put one more roadblock in place for the comment spammers, I might as well do it.
I'm glad there was nothing breakable in this package, just a cable for my old MP3 player, as apparently UPS decided to back over it a few times en route to my house. I always thought the "Ground" in UPS Ground referred to the method of travel, not the manner in which they mutiliate the package. This is why I ship via Fed Ex.
I saw this article over at Slashdot, mentioning that the U.S. may hold a draft for people with computer skills at some point in the future. I can't see how drafting a bunch of out-of-shape computer nerds who already dislike governmental authority will possibly turn out well. I'm 27 now, hopefully I'll be exempt from any such draft if it's ever implemented, otherwise, I've got the 'ol trick knee... It's not that I'm not patriotic, I am, but as Heinlein said, "A nation which must resort to conscription for it's defense, has no moral right to exist." Another way to look at it, is if your nation has entered into a war which is so unpopular it can't fight solely with volunteers, it shouldn't be in the war, and any nation under attack whose citizens won't rise to defend it also doesn't deserve to survive.
Now if Uncle Sam wants to hire me for my IT skills, that's another story, just show me the money. :)
You're all welcome to come watch Iowa vs. Michigan in the Big Ten tourney this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in glorious high definition from ESPN HD via my Dish. I'm taking time off, and will be watching it at my house on my 53" HDTV in surround sound. :)
Regarding Dave's comments about the West Wing today: I think David Chase's description is correct, but only for the current season. Since they lost Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme, the show has gone seriously downhill. Have you noticed that every episode is hyped to the extreme? They've cranked the drama to 10, and almost everything that was clever about the show's writing is gone. It's been ER-ified in my opinion, and I like ER, but I want my old West Wing back, with the friendly banter between all the characters, and less doom and gloom. I also don't like how the look of the show has changed, it's too dark, like Sorkin and Schlamme took the lamps with them on their way out the door.
And what happened to Toby's kids? They were born at the end of last season, but we haven't seen them mentioned since. Dule Hill has been given an average of 2 lines per episode since Sorkin left, but they've brought in other throwaway characters, like Toby's secretary with the low-cut blouses. There needs to me more of Donna and less of her.
Okay, enough WW bashing. I really am a fan, I even own Season 1 on DVD, signed by both Martin Sheen and John Amos. How many people can say that? :)
