My big ol' head.

The Indiana Jones School of Management

Tue 31 Oct 2006

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 13:52

Transistor Radio Hi. My name is Geof, and I’m addicted to M. Ward’s Transistor Radio. Thanks, Fred.

links for 2006-10-31

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 03:22

Mon 30 Oct 2006

WP v2.0.5

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 23:01

This is your standard “I’ve upgraded, please report bugs” post.

And yes, I know about the ob_gzhandler issue, folks. It’s intermittent, and I haven’t even begun to have the time to debug.

links for 2006-10-30

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 03:24

Sun 29 Oct 2006

Some Email Access Restored

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 23:01

Well, I have some access back to my email, which has been down since Friday morning, although it’s limited to logging in via Webmail, which … isn’t the happiest thing in the world for me. [The really frustrating thing is that these reports have gone quite some time between updates ... frankly, for a service that I'm paying for, I want status every four-to-six hours, even if it's "We're 50% done on the fsck of the salvaged drives." But anyway.]

As it is, I’m far more frustrated with the fact that some asshole parked his Accord in such a manner that my entire driveway is blocked. Granted, the neighborhood is pretty full tonight—someone must be throwing a Halloween party—but … don’t be a %*&#!(*&!%## and block someone’s driveway, y’know? I found a very nice parking spot just around the bend, toward the mailbox, a short enough walk that I still wasn’t cooled off and almost put something heavy and blunt through, oh, the windshield. Thankfully, I not only opted for a note but had the good fortune of someone directly across the street from him [and right behind my roommate's truck] moving out of their spot, so at least I’m not parked in Limestone County. [I exaggerate, but ... I've had the car less than 72 hours, so I have this preternatural desire to look out the window at it every half-hour just to make sure that it's still there, y'know?] The note invited my friend in the Accord to not park there again, lest he be towed at his expense. Asshole.

Oh, well. I need to start some laundry, maybe do some reading, and definitely do some thinking. The gears you’re hearing me grind aren’t all in the car [although frustratingly that only started today ... maybe today's just not my day?], as some are between the ol’ ears. I know the way out of where I am, but … haven’t been able to get it into first. :)

Update, 1201 CDT 30-Oct-2006: I had IMAP access at home this morning, but the proxies don’t want to sync up for me today, so the only access I have at work is Webmail. Not that I have the time to respond to much right now, but … anyway.

Geof’s New Music: 29 Oct-4 Nov 2006

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 15:32

I’m only going to add one new release to the pile this week, and that’s mainly because I expect that I won’t have much time for listening to music:

Last week, I gloated a bit:

  • One Zero (acoustic) One Zero (acoustic). I really love the sound on this one, and my copy is un-mastered. Understanding that it’s a quasi-best-of release designed to hold fans over until the next studio album comes out, it’s still quite good; I knock off a whole star because it’s a re-tread, and it gets three-and-a-half out of five. The real, mastered thing will probably get four stars from me.
  • One Zero (remix) One Zero (remix). I … sort of get it, but I feel like this isn’t really Derek, that it’s Derek through someone else’s filter. Now, while I See Things Upside Down saw Derek do a lot of experimentation with his musical sound—he was accused by many (including me, at times) of ripping of Wilco, but you’ve also got to admit that there are influences from Beck, too—this is far above and beyond. As a novelty, it’s worth having if, like me, you do have a little bit of a taste for electronic music but don’t live in that world. If electronic music does nothing for you, and if it also does a lot for you, you’ll actually probably want to stay away from this—I have the feeling that anything more than casual familiarity with the form will have you form strong opinions on this one. I’m giving it two-and-a-half stars, although the finished product could have me revising that score.

links for 2006-10-29

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 03:21

Sat 28 Oct 2006

Goodbye, Red

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 21:22

You’ll be missed, Coach.

So, Uh …

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 15:19

… my next-door neighbor’s house is on fire. I don’t have anywhere to be right now, but if I did, I wouldn’t get anywhere, as I’m blocked in by two huge fire trucks. More later.

Update: Well, what I gathered from cross-talk amongst the firefighters and folks milling around outside is that there was something in the oven that was smoking very, very badly … so much so that the whole house was full of smoke. With the oven off, the burnt item dispensed, and the house blown out, the trucks were gone before I could fully get out of my Saturday afternoon-nap fog.

Fri 27 Oct 2006

Almost As Excited As I Am

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 21:14

As I drove into my neighborhood tonight, the neighbor kids who’re usually out throwing footballs, dribbling basketballs, and just otherwise being kids didn’t recognize the new car. I pulled into my driveway, and before I could get out, the youngest of them—age five, maybe six at the oldest—breathlessly ran up and asked, “How’d you get that new car?!” I laughed and told him, “I just bought it today!” They all agreed that it’s a really sweet ride. [One of my other neighbors either drives or has someone over regularly who also drives a WRX, but that one's a sedan.] “We saw the tag on the back and maybe thought that you’d won it.” “Sadly, no. I’ve gotta pay for this one.”

Photos to follow when it’s not dark and/or rainy and/or me stuck at work and/or chancel choir practice. :)

I’m Not Ignoring You, I Promise

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 11:58

I’m one of the unlucky Fastmail users caught in their present server downtime. As such, I have no access to email at all. [That means that Kari and I can't keep talking about Veronica Mars as we were this morning before I left the office.]

That’s fine, because I’ve been in meetings all morning and have a pile of crap to get out this afternoon…

links for 2006-10-27

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:25

Thu 26 Oct 2006

Some Things Never Change

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 13:35

15 years after my family moved from the area, Beavercreek, Ohio is still struggling to keep city schools funded with emergency property-tax levies. [I'm posting this mostly for my family's sake, admittedly.] It never ceases to fail me how many reasons people will come up with to not pay taxes when the tax revenue is demonstrably going toward something that clearly adds value to the community. Certainly, not all taxation is equal, and some taxes are regressive and/or wholly unnecessary, but … having grown up in that school district, I can say that those folks really need it.

When we moved there more than 20 years ago, Beavercreek was an odd duck—a town mostly home to older folks whose kids had moved away, mixed in with military folks who wouldn’t be around more than four or eight years at the most. The oldtimers didn’t really want to pay taxes to educate kids who weren’t going to stay in the community, and … at some level, I guess that I can understand that. But the thing that never failed to amaze me was understanding how short-sighted this was: the military families often chose Beavercreek for its good schools. [I'm fairly sure that's why my folks moved there over, say, Fairborn, which would have been closer to where Dad worked on base for sure.] If you have good schools in a town, you typically have a good quality of life … and those military kids typically were of good stock: studious, responsible, and hard-working. Having us around reinforced the locals’ value systems, which were often the same as our own.

Now, I don’t know what the demographics of the area are anymore—I’ve really only been back once, and that was for a very quick trip. I can tell that the area has exploded in terms of growth, but if you want to be a bedroom community to Dayton [and maybe Cincinnati if you like the commuting thing], you’ve gotta have good schools. But … doesn’t seem like the voters there get that.

Heard on NPR This Morning

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 08:03

“If you own a Subaru or a Volvo, you’re more likely to be a Democrat.” — Ken Mehlman.

What are you saying, Ken? ;)

links for 2006-10-26

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:22

Wed 25 Oct 2006

I’ve Been Saying YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! a Lot This Week

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 20:56

And here’s the latest reason why. :mrgreen: Congratulations, John and Peggy.

Coming Soon to a Driveway Near Me

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 17:39

2007 Subaru WRX Sport Wagon. Just dropped off the earnest money. Should be here Friday, maybe Saturday. Lots and lots of pictures and glee to follow.

Geof’s New Music: 22-28 Oct 2006

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 13:54

Last week was a bad week. Let us not speak of it again. Okay? Okay.

This week’s new stuff is gloat-worthy: Derek Webb is putting out two releases late this year [or early next one]: ten tracks each, they’re the same songs done in two totally different styles. It’s a holdover release until his next album comes out sometime in the middle of next year.

  • One Zero (acoustic) One Zero (acoustic)
  • One Zero (remix) One Zero (remix)

The week before last was pretty thin, too:

links for 2006-10-25

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:24

Tue 24 Oct 2006

Things That Have Made Me Happy in the Last 24 Hours

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 17:10
  1. Rick Plant guitar solos, specifically on “When I Go” for Over the Rhine shows in 2005 and 2006. Yeah, let’s queue that up a fourth time and see if it gets any better.
  2. News that the local Subaru dealership has a car lined up for me, and I should have it within the week.
  3. Talking to Stephen and Misty for a few hours last night, including discussing their wonderfully awesome news.
  4. Getting to talk to Sean for a while after going home from the Granades’, telling him about the car stuff, and other things.
  5. The realization that, when I’m tired, my responses to international customers sometimes sound like, well, the stilted English coming from the customer [until I laugh at it and rewrite the response].
  6. Confirmation of Jonathan and Ashley’s wonderful news. [Creekmores, you're warned, I may tackle hug you in excitement this evening.]
  7. That Plant guitar solo again, because my boss interrupted me while I was writing this after-hours response.
  8. The feeling that the words are coming again …

So, what’s made you happy today, dear reader?

Proof That People Just Don’t Read

Filed under: — Geof F. Morris @ 16:17

About once a week, I get an email in some conversation or other that asks, “Hey, what’s your [number | mailing address]?” What always kills me is that, oh, it’s just in every single personal email that I ever send to you.” Yes, I’m one of those people that’s dumb enough to give my personal particulars out to everyone. [Stalkers and mischievous folks note: I'm better armed than you are.]

On other fronts, I keep meaning to post, and Life keeps intervening. Perhaps tonight, although I will be meeting up with my people tonight, so who knows? Tonight’s movie is The 40 Year Old Virgin, which Stephen introduced thusly:

Tonight at 7:30, come see Steve Carell not be embarassed in any shape or form, as I am certain that The 40 Year Old Virgin will be respectful of those who choose to save themselves for death or something.

I asked him if he was referring to me with that crack. He said that he was joking, but … I’m just not sure. ;) [I still love you, Dr. Evil.]

links for 2006-10-24

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:24

Mon 23 Oct 2006

links for 2006-10-23

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:22

Sun 22 Oct 2006

links for 2006-10-22

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:20

Sat 21 Oct 2006

links for 2006-10-21

Filed under: — del.icio.us Linkdumper @ 04:21

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