WAG - Smiling and Shrugging
On a Short Stop in Sullivan

Thus I start my second week of Christmas vacation and only now have I spent more than 48-hours in Sullivan. The 72-hour mark will have to wait until 2004, however, with my impending departure for the Independence Bowl.

We got back in the afternoon and I spent most of my evening trying to reorientate myself. I unpacked my Christmas trip bags. I did my best to rearrange my room, but a couple of six-foot high bookshelves have been moved into the middle of my room and extra mattresses crammed onto the top bunk of my bed. Who knew I’d be coming back to less room than the dorm cell I left behind?

Of course, it has oft been noted, that if I came home more often than my sister did, her room would be designated the storage room and not mine. Right now, I am trying to see if I can schedule a few more trips home over the next semester. Granted, since the previous record was one, it shouldn’t be too hard, so we’ll see.

Other than making piles of clothes to take and things to drop off in Columbia (where the start of a long bus ride awaits me), I spent a bit of time putting my computer together. After wrestling wires and connections, I found my mouse didn’t work. I spent over an hour trying to figure out what was wrong (and discovered how dependent I was on it [and how fuzzy I was with the keyboard HOT keys]) before it spontaneously started working again. I didn’t do anything new other than bump it and see the cursor move for the first time all day.

My hatred of modern technology, already sparked, ignited into a mini-inferno when I tried looking into my Tiger Mail MU account. I was quite chagrinned to see our system was being updated again. Gritting my teeth with a reluctance to begin, I typed in my name and password.

Then I repeated the process about 20 more times.

I hate to invoke cliches, even if they fit, because it can be indicative of a lack of imagination or the use of repetition in place of creation. Why use a tired phrase that has been over used (and over abused) when an extra moment of thought or at least the consultation of a thesaurus can come up with something better?

That being stated, I find myself making the same old Dibertian observation that the more the system is improved, the more inefficient it becomes. Somewhere around the 8th attempted log-in I noticed the disclaimer that read, “Users shouldn't experience any service interruption.” As in things shouldn’t go wrong, but if they do, you can’t say we didn’t warn you.

As both an English major and a human being, cop-out excuses like that really annoy me. The weasel-like nature of the wording, and the attitude behind that, bugged me about as much as the fact that the system was down.

Of course, when I gave up on the page, and started to type in another address, but accidentally hit Refresh, and the page finally loaded… that was when I felt both vindicated and that the wind had been taken out of my sails.

“YES! Oh…”

Technology. Without it, they’re be no prank phone calls, traffic jams, spam emails, or 24-hour Michael Jackson coverage. Imagine where you’d be.

Sorry. That last bit of venom came from reading the transcript of the interview Mr. Jackson gave to 60 Minutes. I will neither quote nor link to it, but for those of you interested in it, let me warn you are likely to experience one or more of the following symptoms: a) shaking your head in disbelief, b) indignant anger, c) sympathy for a man who is obviously disconnected, d)crawling of skin, e) flashbacks of his music prior to the first allegations, and/or f) the conclusion that even if this round of accusations aren’t true, this is one messed-up man.

One must be careful if they are going to do a late night news crunch after a long day of being tucked in a car, cramped in a room, and oppressed by the sadness in the world that sometimes feels innate.

I don’t know how much of this is post-holiday blues, the sentiment that Sullivan feels less like a “home” than it ever has before and that is unsettling, or that these are simply the tired rantings of a person not having much time to unwind before coiling back up again.

I don’t know for sure, but I’d wager the remnants of my Christmas money (that which wasn’t spent on books or DVDs) that it’s probably a twisted combination of the three.

What are the proportions? Well… I’ll have to get back to you about that.

And that follow-up may or may not be coming quickly. I’m not sure if I’ll be totally incommunicado during the Shreveport trip. I don’t want to get into details beforehand, for that might unnecessarily complicate things if they don’t come through, but I will do my best to squeeze some extra posts in (even if I must write them on paper and later transcribe them).

Regardless of what of what happens in the short run, rest assured I have many more things to write about. Tales of Christmas pageants and early arrivals and cringing cousins and the Zen of returns and the evils of “Historic Riverfronts” and other rants that I have mentally composed will all be told in due time. Whether they are recounted in posts, stories verbally swapped, or just secretly cherished, who knows?

I just want to wish all a continued Happy Holidays and just remind everyone that when facing unanswerable questions concerning your future, sometimes it is better to smile and shrug and say that “time will tell…”

'As_it_always_does'

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WAG - An Extra Special Christmas

"Special" Meaning Packed, That Is

Filed Somewhere East of Kansas City:

Work hard, play harder has long been an unofficial mantra in our house. Of course, when you tackle as many things as my family seems to, it can be hard to tell which one is which.

Thus we hit everything hard and fast.

And then we repeat the process as necessary until it's time to move on.

For that reason, the Smith family holidays are alway conducted at a quick tempo and booked schedule.

With MU playing in the Independence Bowl, however, it should prove to be even more "interesting."

Also, the fact that only today are band members getting a real itinerary adds to the "specialness" of the situation.

For those interested, here is the rundown I just received:

2003 Independence Bowl
University of Missouri
Department of Athletics
Spirit Squad & Band Itinerary (as of Dec. 21, 2003)
December 29, 2003 – January 1, 2004


Monday, December 29th
9pm Meet & load buses on East Side of Hearnes Center
(Snacks & drinks available on each bus)

9:30pm Depart Hearnes Center for Shreveport, LA – 2003 Independence Bowl


Tuesday, December 30th
11am (approximate) Arrive in Shreveport, LA


11-11:30am Check-in to hotel

Shoney’s Inn Shreveport-Bossier
1836 Old Minden Road
Bossier City, LA 71111
P: 318-747-7700; F: 318-742-2779

2:30pm Band loads buses & depart for practice session – Bossier HS

3-4:30pm Practice at Bossier HS

4:45pm Depart for Shoney’s Inn

5pm Arrive at Shoney’s Inn

6pm Load buses for Pep Rally at Shreveport Exhibition Hall

6:30-7:30pm Official Bowl Pep Rally at Shreveport Exhibition Hall

7:30pm Return to buses to store instruments

7:45-10:30pm Official Bowl Spirit Squad/Band Party at Shreveport Exhibition Hall

10:30pm Return to Shoney’s Inn


Wednesday, December 31st
10:30am Band loads buses & depart for practice session – Bossier HS

10:30-12pm Practice at Bossier HS

12pm Depart for Shoney’s Inn

12:15pm Arrive at Shoney’s Inn

12:15-3pm Lunch & free time on your own

3:30pm Depart for Independence Stadium
(Converge w/ Arkansas band bus convoy & proceed to stadium)

3:55pm Arrive at Independence Stadium

4:05pm Mizzou Pep Band #1 to Hirsch Coliseum Tailgate Party

Mizzou Pep Band #2 to MUAA Rally

4:20-4:55pm Mizzou Pep Band #1 performs at Hirsch Coliseum Tailgate Party

5-5:15pm Mizzou Pep Band #2 performs at MUAA Rally

5:35pm Return to & meet at bus parking area

5:35-5:50pm Full band departs for Independence Stadium
Section 111 – Enter stadium through Gate 4 in Northeast corner

Seating Assignments
Spirit Squad (when not on field) – Rows D-J (60 seats)
Band Staff – Rows K-L
Marching Mizzou – Rows M-U (268 seats)

6:30pm 2003 Independence Bowl Kick-Off! Beat the Razorbacks!

10:15pm Depart Independence Bowl area & return to Shoney’s Inn
(approximate)

11pm Arrive at Shoney’s Inn

11:15 Proceed to Posado’s restaurant for New Year’s Eve post-Game Meal & Celebration – walking distance from Shoney’s Inn

12:00am Happy New Year!


Thursday, January 1st
9:15am Load buses for departure

10am Depart Shreveport, LA for Columbia, MO

11pm Arrive at East side of Hearnes Center – Columbia, MO



Thank you for all your hard work as a member of the
Mizzou Spirit Squads & Marching Mizzou!

We hope you had a great time & look forward to traveling to the Tiger’s Next Bowl Game!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, that ought to be "interesting" alright. The departure and arrival times alone are enough to make one's head spin. Not that they're much different than what I'm used to.

Hope your holidays are just as "special," if not as packed.

'Off_the_clock_but_still_running'

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WAG - Moving Onward and Elsewhere

I'm Sullivan bound... soon.

I have to work check out for an hour, plus finish packing, and wait to get picked up before I'll hit the mall and maybe a restaurant before heading south.

But I'm unplugging the computer now, and if that doesn't indicate I'm almost ready to go, I don't know what else could.

Take care everyone.

'Another_semester_done'

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WAG - Quick Update While On the Run

Written in 5 minutes or less, or your money back

Lots done, a bit more to do, but the end is is sight.

Today, for the first time in college, I asked for an extension on a paper.

DON'T fret Mom. A few hours later, also for the first time in college, I retracted my request for an extension on paper.

A last minute burst of inspiration helped me fill the cracks. I also was over the minimum word count by 300. It also didn't hurt that I believe I aced my Advertising exam. Typically I pause on a question every 10 questions, but this time the average was every 20.

I think that's a good sign.

Throw in a handful of powernaps (I'm still recovering a bit from getting up so early) and I'm almost back on trap.

In retrospect it was a good thing I didn't see the Return of the King early this morning. I definately needed those extra 3 hours. Those of you who read this, please be kind and refrain from telling me how cool it is.

The Boone County Foster Family Christmas Party was a good use of my time (and the extra hour my ride was late gave me time to study more for my finals). I wasn't told until yesterday that my services as balloon-animal maker would be used by around 150 kids (of about 300 present).

It was a blast, even though my eardrums were sore (it was a smaller balloon size than I was used to). I did make a lot of kids smile, though. I also got kudos from lots of my girlfriend's family (did I mention Jessie's mom was the one running this event? I should have).

The best compliment I got was a second hand reference from Jessie.

She told me she heard people say, "The Balloon Man was cool."

Oh yeah. Props for the Balloon Man.

Pardon me, but the Balloon man needs to run to church. And work on a final project, and keep studying, and a staff party...but one thing at a time.

Keep on truckin' everyone.

'Balloon_Man_I_like_the_sound_of_that'

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WAG - In related news:
Guess who went looking for Santa?

Gotta love those faithful reindeer .

'Youll_go_down_in_history'

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WAG - Season's Greetings...and giggles

My next 48 hours will be packed, nuts, and may not include the LOTR:ROTK (since I am facing a massive writer's block on my previously mentioned paper).

Today I've already put into a motion a project to make a "Book of Memories" for the Staff Member leaving Cramer - where all the residents are encouraged to add a page. I conducted a last minute furniture survey of the floor's public areas. I also got Christmas cards out to everyone on the floor.

More studying and writing to do, but I'm on track for today's test and feel comfortable enough to share a news story.

I could try to make a clever comment before going into the story, but I'm just going to give a straightforward recitation of the facts, because they're funny by themselves.

A man... in Pennsylvania... robbed a bank... while disguised as Santa Claus.

I'll pause as you re-read that sentence.

The security pictures of this holiday heist are quite a sight to see.

This link from a local TV station includes a Real Player clip of their "on the scene" news report. The reporter's had a lot of fun with this one. I don't know if I'd have the chutzpah to refer to the getaway driver as "one of Santa's helpers" when interviewing a state trooper.

Of course, I'm further cracked up by the two witnesses to the escape (in a tan, reindeer colored car) who were asked if they saw anything “suspicious looking.”

“…and my daughter remembered she saw Santa Claus coming down the alley.”

Priceless.

Happy holidays everybody.

'Somebody_must_love_Billy_Bob_Thorton'

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WAG - What a nice hand...

I apologize for being out this weekend. In the prep for finals week, I am rushing to get everything required done.

I have three finals, one 8-page (minimum) paper, and one project with a (2-page paper).

I also have closing responsibilities, study sessions, the Return of the King to see, a foster kid Christmas party (where I am to do animal balloons), and packing to do for the break.

I did take the time to pause the juggling for a bit to work on my "In the New" bulletin board. I had a "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" Edition featuring MU's bowl game, the Ricky Clemon's Greatest Hits tape recordings, and Saddam Hussein's nappy beard.

I also took the time to update my deck of "Most Wanted Iraqi Cards." I bought it at a gas station over the summer and have periodically referring to them as time has gone on.

As of early this morning, only 14 of the original 55 "jokers" are still at large. Most are in custody, one is "captured," and 3 are dead (including Saddam's two sons).

In drawing Saddam out into the open, the U.S. now has a Royal Flush.

Starting with the 10 of Spades and going up we have #17 of 55, Hamid Raja Shalah – Air Force Commander.

The Jack, #13, Ibrahim Ahmad Abd – Iraqi Armed Forces Chief of Staff

The Queen, #9, Muhammad Hamza Zubaydi – Retired RCC Member

The King, #5, Ali Hasan Al-Majid – Presidential Advisor/RCC Member

And the Ace, #1, Saddam Hussein – President.

Quite a nice hand indeed.

'Time_for_someone_to_fold'

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WAG - Life Is a Glass

“Life's a gas, Life's a gas, Life's a gas, a gas, oh yea
Life's a gas, Life's a gas, Life's a gas, a gas, oh yea

So don't be sad cause I'll be there
Don't be sad at all.” – The Ramones

I have been both blessed and cursed by the fact there are more stories to tell than there is time to repeat them. It means life is busy, but never boring. I think I prefer that to the alternative; though it may be a while before I can test drive the flip side and give a truly balanced account.

Which is a contrived way of mentioning that I went to see "Shattered Glass" at the RagTag Theater.

I should have a post later about it. I've jotted down several comments from the evening (as the lights start to dim: "Bet you a dollar he goes over to the dark side.") and have already started pulling together links.

BUT for now I need sleep. Tomorrow Jessie and I are celebrating our 7-month anniversary and I want to be conscious for some of it.

If you are reading this within 5 hours of it being posted, please go to bed now. Otherwise I wish you a good (PAUSE FOR YOU TO LOOK TOWARD THE NEAREST CLOCK AND CONVERT IT TO MORNING-AFTERNOON-or-EVENING AS NECESSARY).

Take care.

'We_lift_a_you_know_to_you_Stephen_Cheers'

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WAG - I hate...

Clanky pipes, drunks, property damage, and having to enforce 24-hour quiet periods in the dorm.

And that's just been the last 30 minutes.

'more_to_come_Im_sure'

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WAG - Snow boot day! Snow boot day!

Note this was composed just after I woke up this morning, but due to a Blogger error, not posted until this evening.

I woke up this morning and peered out the window to see a final layer of snow had covered the courtyard outside Cramer Hall.

All I know now, other than classes aren’t cancelled, is that it’s time to break out the dusty snow boots.

I’ve worn my boots on earlier occasions. It would often occur when I was too lazy to grab other footwear and/or I just felt like wearing boots. I would even wear them without socks so when I moved the sound of rubber on sweaty skin would announce my coming and going. The major problem is that though I loved randomly wearing the boots, people who saw me wearing them would quickly inform me I was doing so at inappropriate times.

Typical conversation:
“Are those snow boots?”
“Yes.”
“And why are you wearing them?”
“Because I felt like it.”
“In shorts?”
“I felt they matched as well.”
LAUGHTER FROM BOOTLESS RESIDENTS
SCHOOP-SCHOOP SOUND OF ME SADDLY WALKING AWAY

Anyway, it looks pretty out and it should make for a good walk to class.

I’ll be wearing my winter coat for the first time this semester (it’s about 12 degrees Fahrenheit and I know my limits even if I’m called crazy for sticking to them) and it’s time for me to head on out the door.

Here’s hopping that there won’t be much slippage.

Sure “slippage” is a noun. I said it is and that makes it so. It’s not like you’re going to look it up or anything.

Watch your step everyone.

'SCHOOP_SCHOOP_SCHOOP_SCHOOP'

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WAG - Why yes it HAS been a while since I posted

The days leading up to finals have been nuts.

I’ve been working on decorations, birthday parties, banquets, meetings, paperwork, emails, homework, studying, and watching the new Battlestar Galactica miniseries.

Things are nuts.

Fortunately I have a person who keeps calling me, waiting a few seconds, and then hanging up. It’s been loads of fun.

I’ve had a series of phantom rings since partway through the semester, but the last day or two I’ve had about a half dozen. I’ve been lucky that they’ve come during times when I was catching a breather and had the ability to make it interesting for them as well as myself.

Phone Transcripts:

Number 1:

RING! “Hello?” PAUSE “Hello? Okay so I just finished cleaning the knives…” HANGUP.

Number 2:

RING! “Hello?” FAMILIAR PAUSE “You again? How are things?” PAUSE “Things are good here.” HANGUP.

Number 3:

RING! “Hello?” PAUSE “Oh it’s you. Look I’m open for a while so you have plenty of time. I have a meeting in about an hour so I’m otherwise open. Well not quite an hour… it starts at 8, but is that okay by you?” PAUSE “I’ll take your silence as a ‘yes.’” HANGUP

I don’t know if someone is listening for someone else, too afraid to talk, harassing me, or is otherwise simply doing this for kicks. I really don’t care at this point. Part of me is actually looking forward to the next PAUSE and crafting my next response.

NOTE TO THE CALLER IF THEY READ THIS SITE:
This guy is serious. No really, he’s that deranged. He hates phones, but has long used humor to deal with them. He’s the guy for a period of time would randomly answer his phone saying things like “Luigis’ Pizza” or “Mario’s Car garage!” (why they were predominately Italian names I don’t know. Blame Nintendo or something…) But really. This guy is messed up and is the type of stubborn guy who is willing to crank out crazy responses for a lot longer than you’re willing to take them. You’ve been warned.

Anyway. Life is busy, phones are ringing, and I have a floor meeting in a few minutes.

Take care. Be kind to friendly phone strangers, but do be polite and leave your name, just once.

'Hello____Hello'

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WAG Nice Try Mizzou,
Point for The Tribune

Here’s an article having to do with Ricky Clemmons, the athletic department, and ethics.

Wait. It's not what you think.

This time Ricky is the victim, MU athletics is the perpetuator, and ethics are left out of the equation.

For any current or former Missourian reporter, there is often a bit of rivalry aimed at The Columbia Tribune (unless you later get hired by them). They take pleasure at taking potshots at the Missourian or MU when we mess up and we take equal delight at eviscerating them whenever they foul up. The score is long running and about equal, but still many keep close track of every possible point.

The Trib wins today with their article about the altering of a photo in the Men’s Tiger Basketball Media guide. The Tribune has a blanket agreement to let MU use its photos without having to ask permission every time.

MU used a picture depicting the win over Colorado. The photographer who took the photo was surprised when he saw it, because he noticed something different. Ricky, who had been in the background, was missing, the photographer said.

Can we say potential ethics violation boys and girls? This is a serious charge and not one that any journalist may take lightly. Altering photos is like altering facts. It’s something that shouldn’t be done in the name of journalistic integrity… and yet it had been done.

A minor digression before we move on with the lecture. A question that is fair to ask is how did the photographer notice this after a simple glance? After taking thousands of photos over the course of a year, with so many other images clouding the mind, how could he see something fishy right off the bat?

The Trib photo was entered in a contest and ended up winning first place in a regional contest of the National Press Photographers Association. Between the hoopla and the mass reproduction of the image, the photographer was quite acquainted with nuances the photo (that and it’s a great shot).

For those of you keeping score at home, that’s another point for the Tribune and another black eye for Mizzou.

The photos show Clemons softly treading walking off in the distance. Or at least the original did.

The edited version pasted an image of a photographer (one whose image appears just five people over, next to the basketball pole) over Ricky and rounded out the edges. It’s a simple Photoshop job. Even I could do it.

How easily an image is erased…

The Trib columnist notes at the close of his piece that white shadow of Clemmons is still reflected on the floor.

The irony hard not to miss. No matter how hard they may work to get rid of that spectre, the kids going to be with MU for some time.

Wait. One last note: the pages where the altered image appeared were touting MU’s “diversity” and “academic excellence.”

I guess we’ll save the honesty and ethics page for another day.

'Good_job_Trib_I_tip_my_hat_to_you'

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WAG - Christmas List 2003

Many of you have been asking this, and asking other family members to ask me so here it is.

Most of you can disregard this, though you can feel free to mock my choices.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


I make the pledge not to buy anything listed here until December 26, 2003.

So help me Santa.


DVDs

All of Me (If it EVER comes out on DVD)

Arsenic and Old Lace

Blast From the Past

Blues Brothers: Special Edition

Cowboy Bebop: Sessions 3-6

Die Hard with a Vengeance: Special Edition (Though I don’t think you can get just the regular kind)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

History of the World Part I

Mrs. Doubtfire

The Mummy (NOT the Mummy Returns)

Muppet Treasure Island

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

The Tick: The Complete TV Series (Live Action)

Treasure of Sierra Madre

Young Sherlock Holmes

Books

Bill Amend: Fox Trot Collections - Who’s Up for Some Bonding, Am I Mutant or What?

Dave Barry: Big Trouble, Boogers Are My Beat: More Lies, but Some Actual Journalism

Darby Conley: Get Fuzzy Comic Collections

Clive Cussler: The Sea Hunters II

Terry Pratchett Disc World Series (I already have The Color of Magic, Equal Rights, The Light Fantastic, Maskerade, and Hogfather, The Truth) Note for Grandma Pierce: The Bookstore at the Mall had several cheap hardbacks in the back the last time I was there.

David Sedaris: Naked

Art Spiegelman: Maus II And Here My Troubles Begin


CDs

Jeff Foxworthy: Double Wide, Single Minded
Robin Williams: Night at the Met, Live 2002


Misc

Dress Pants

More Okoboji paraphernalia

New Royal Ranger Uniform (From Parents Only)
- N. Missouri Outpost 61

Nice Shirt

---------------------------------------------------------

If I think of any else, I'll let you all know. I apologize for getting this out late, but otherwise, happy shopping.

'go_out_there_and_help_revitalize_the_economy_for_me'

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WAG - It's a bird! It's a plane!

Crap! Get out of the way!

The mental images conjured up by reading this story are really making my day.

And the image included in this one further cracks me up.

"Hey Earl, does the Goodyear Blimp look bigger to you to tonight?"

"Naw... I think it's just a mite closer than what it usually is."

"I see. Hmm... I wonder when it's gonna stop getting closer."

"I don't know."

CRASH!

"Well... That answers THAT question."

And another one bites the dust.

'great_crash_goodyear'

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WAG - It's Practically Official!

Mizzou is going to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana.

If we accept our current birth. Some of the teams ranked higher are still wresting about where they'll end up. This will probably continue until the end of the Big 12 Championship Game to be held this Saturday. Odds are MU won't move, but I don't think they want to take their chances just in case a wild hand is dealt.

Regardless, of where we end up this is the first bowl appearance for MU since the 1998 Insight.com bowl.

We were ranked 6th overall in the Big 12 behind Nebraska (Alamo Bowl), Oklahoma State (Holiday Bowl), Kansas State (Cotton Bowl), Texas (Rose Bowl), and top ranked Oklahoma (the championship Sugar Bowl).

The Tigers will probably be matched up against the Arkansas Razorbacks, if they accept this game as well.

Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 31.

New Years will probably be spent on a bus due to traffic.

That won’t be the first time (see 1999 Cotton Bowl Marching Band trip [and try not to get Prince’s 1999 stuck in your head]), but at least I should be able to see the whole game… as long as funding comes from the athletic department.

'Heres_hoping'

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WAG - A Victory... With a Cost

Those of you who view this site with Microsoft Explorer were fortunately spared the sight of the battle that was waged today.

For those of you who viewed the website this afternoon using a Netscape browser, however, the sight that greeted you must have been unexpected.

Apparently my sight got hacked, or at the least, merely tweaked and twisted into something a bit… obscene.

I don’t know how long this has been going on. At the least it was a few hours; at the most since the start of Thanksgiving break. For whatever the timing was, the flame image that typically precedes the title of a post was converted into a gun-toting individual with an obscene four-letter word printed on his forehead (to clarify for my proofreading friends, I’m using common definition of obscene that refers to copulation). The same aforementioned Second-amendment-loving young man was always making a hand gesture that communicated the same message that he wanted the viewer to “go forth and be fruitful”.

He also had his tongue stuck out, but in reviewing the situation, that was the meant to be the least insulting part of the image.

There are few things as… I’ll use the term “interesting” again, as checking up on your website and seeing an immature Davy-Crocket-wanna-be using his body language to communicate, in his own special way, that he was “Number one.”

A few quick checks showed that the image conversion was only limited to the Netscape browser. After deciding that it was ironic that I was getting the bird for not using a Bill Gates product, or at least receiving it in a less direct manner, I went into damage control.

Working my way through the template of the website, and here I’m resisting the urge to use all kinds of technical jargon, and found the mutated line of code. Wanting to be rid of the image for now, for both personal as well as aesthetic reasons (the bulky image of the rifle-wielding-varmint threw most of the Titles off half a line, thus making most of them asymmetrical), I deleted the misinterpreted image file.

Of course, that meant I loss my dear friend, the faithful flame in the process.

I don’t know if ever be able to revive my flickering friend. Though the main image is repeated at the top of the page, I don’t know if I have the skills to make a distinction between the images of brilliant light and extreme dimness. I don’t know whether this is a one time deal, a hack done on a lark, a personal vendetta, a weird fluke, bad mamma jamma karma, or if the girls down at The World According to Carp were sick of the fact we were using similar plays on words.

Dumb luck, criminal designs, web monkeys playing around, who cares?

Anyway, thanks to the noble sacrifice of the fearsome inferno this site remains free from the rudimentary manipulations of Brady-Bill-defying-bumpkins who wish to have a crude way of telling everyone to go forth and multiply.

We will miss you, and await your future return.

We’ll keep the light on.

'In_Memoriam'

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