Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"So now they want to amend the Constitution to enshrine discrimination against homosexuals as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution would be changed to restrict the rights of Americans, rather than expand them." -- Marie Cocco on Newsday.com, 2003-11-28

The doorbell just rang. And a young woman in a green shirt explained what happened Saturday after she fetched a box out of her truck. The FedEx driver who usually has this route had his truck break down on Saturday. All his packages got re-distributed to other trucks. And "the computer didn't know what to make of it" (which could just as easily mean that there was a data-entry error, but it's more likely that little bar-code scanners were involved and the software simply wasn't designed with this particular motion of packages in mind).

Which means that the initial problem on Saturday (a truck broke down ... okay, this happens) and the glitch that made it all look panic-worthy (the web site said the computer had already been delivered, not delayed) were compounded by incorrect and/or incomplete information from the main FedEx customer support phone center (who told me that Baltimore drivers left packages without ringing the doorbell).

So I now have a faster computer. Once I figure out how to remove the truly impressive quantity of bubble wrap and cellophane tape (or give up and shred the bubble wrap). Now where are those Red Hat 7 CDs that I found Sunday when I was looking for somthing else? (Or can I start an install of a more recent version directly off the web and have it run while I'm off at rehearsal tonight? 56Kbps could take a while...)

When I answered the door earlier, and when I went outside a little later to move the car, it was not only warm out (warmer than the inside of my house has been most of the past few months), but the air had that "freshly scrubbed" post-rain feel to it (which ten or so degrees warmer would come across as oppressively moist, but which feels really good right now).

It looks like the gift of heating oil I received a couple of months ago was just enough, as I thought it would be.

• The story of a photographic invention -- the invention itself is amusingly portrayed on page 2 (it does look useful!), but I thought the buildup on page 1 was amusing enough for y'all to start there. Lots of photos, slow to load.
• Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity In Words of Four Letters or Less -- just what it sounds like, and it works better than you might expect.
• Broadband over power lines -- small scale test deploymen now in Massachussetts, larger deployment planed for 2005. They're using the high-tension lines to reach neighbourhoods, and Wi-Fi for the "last mile" to duck the problem of getting data off of a 3kV - 35kV transmission line and into a house safely.
• The Viagra Prank -- you'll either find most of it funny or you won't; but even if you don't, it's probably worth reading through it to set up the sudden realization explained in the final four paragraphs.
• Do you feel a need to know how to say, "Which ones are the Orcs?" in Aramaic? According to this list of handy Aramaic phrases for when you're watching The Passion of the Christ, it's, "Ayleyn enuun Oorqey?". Click on to learn how to say, "I'm not crying; I've just got a mote in my eye," and, "My heart is on fire, but my bum is asleep."
• "Plight Your Troth; Don't Plead Your Case", dating advice for lawyers. "I decided to research this problem by asking the world's foremost authority on everything wrong with attorneys -- my wife. [...] After several hours of commentary about my own shortcomings, she explained that the problem appears to lie in the fact that 'lawyers think like lawyers.'" Short, with amusing examples.
• The Harry Potter Witchcraft Spellbook, which presents spells from historical medieval spellbooks corresponding to some of the things described in the Harry Potter novels.
• Rude. In poor taste. But funny, dammit: Stone Mirror's List of Thirteen Evil Things to Do at a Showing of The Passion. "After Jesus expires, ask people whether this means that the terrorists (or Sauron, if you prefer) won."
• How to say, "Do you speak English?" in over 200 languages. I am amused that they include translations to Texan and Strine, but I'm still looking for how to say it in Old English. "My goal is to include every language of the world on these pages. There are still several thousand languages out there that I don't have yet, so all additions and corrections will be very welcome!"
• And from CNN with today's date on it: "NASA scientists say the Mars rovers have found what they were looking for: Hard evidence that the red planet was once 'soaking wet.'"

Was tired and crashy. Knew if I lay down I'd miss rehearsal. Barefly remembered screwdriver on way out door so I could put the new tags on the Honda (overdue 'cause I keep forgetting screwdriver). Dropped screw, spent a while looking for it in dark. Got tag on. Went to front of car ... need hex wrench, not screwdriver. Feh.

Drove to rehearsal. Realized my driving was not up to my safety standards; pulled over on shoulder, tilted seat back, and closed my eyes a while. Finally made it to rehearsal. Rehearsal mostly okay. Had what it seems best to describe as a "fingernail blowout" -- during ... "Black Nag", was it? ... I caught a string funny on an upstroke and all of a sudden half the acrylic and 9/10 of the white part of my nail on my middle finger vanished. Only bled a little, but put definite cramp in my style on guitar the rest of the night. Played recorder as often as possible after that. Still did play some guitar. Borrowed wrench to replace front tag.

Hit grocery for milk, toilet paper, chocolate, eggs, and cheese. They were out of the right kind of chocolate. Badness, but not urgent badness; I have a little left. Knees hurting badly all f'ing day; arms and shoulder hurting late...

Got home and there is three fucking fourths of a car length of space in front of my house. NOT the night I wanted to be limping across Lombard back and forth to fetch stuff in. Really wanted to park in front of my house or the vacant one next door. But no, three fourths of a space. Nobody looks when they park? Feh. Came in house all stompy annoyed; think I scared Perrine (but not enough to stop her from rubbing against me, even after I almost slammed the front door on her. Put away groceries, ate bowl of cereal, took pain meds, will probably crash.

'Nuther porn spam comment on 3-Feb entry tonight. Got IP addr. this time. Let's see whether I can get LJ abuse form to work this time.

Tomorrow, nail salon.

Did I mention grumpy?