January 30, 2003

Misc. blathering....

Posted by Scott at 09:04 PM

There are a bunch of things to write about, both in family matters and current events. I've been sick and once I recovered I was a bit swamped at work. Now the kids are down and we're enjoying a bit of relaxation at home.

As would be expected at this point, Michelle would be happy to deliver the baby any time now. We would like it if it were convenient, say after my mom flies in, but at this point she just feels big and uncomfortable. For a pregnant woman she does not look like someone on the home stretch. She went to the Y yesterday and today and both times amazed other mommies when she said she's due in a couple more weeks. "No way! You can't be!" Yet these compliments don't make carrying the load seem much easier. To add to her discomfort, we have Abby. 4 year olds are known for their candor. She's made nice comments like "You have a big bum mom" and "Mom, your underwear is bigger than papa's". Thanks Abby. Thanks a lot.

Actually kids Abby's age can be quite funny sometimes. Abby knows that she's to stay in bed until the digital clock in her room says 6-something. The other morning Michelle and I woke up a bit before six and were talking quietly in bed. From down the hall we hear Abby say, "I hear you. It's not 6 o'clock yet. You should be sleeping. It's not time to get up yet."

Because of Daniel's marginal health recovery, Michelle cancelled her appointment for tomorrow. She has them weekly at this point so it's not a major loss.

I came across some interesting tidbits in the news today. First the internet worm that took out a bunch of Microsoft brand database servers last weekend also wreaked havoc at Microsoft HQ. Apparently many of Microsoft's own servers were also behind on the updates needed to avoid being infected. Practice what you preach, eh Microsoft?

The paradox was not lost on computer security experts. "Microsoft has been blaming the users, saying they have to keep their patches up to date," said Bruce Schneier, founder and chief technical officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc., a company that manages security for customers. "On the other hand, their own actions demonstrate how unrealistic that position is."
The Nashua Telegraph joins the fray in a little SUV bashing in a piece entitled Facing up to the ‘Axle of Evil. I loved the closing lines:
The New Republic alleges that internal auto industry marketing research profiles SUV owners as “people who are insecure and vain. They are frequently nervous about their marriages and uncomfortable about parenthood. They often lack confidence in their driving skills. Above all, they are apt to be self-centered and self-absorbed, with little interest in their neighbors.”

I don’t care if those behind the “Axle of Evil” are in unstable marriages, are mediocre parents or don’t eat enough bran. I just pray they stay away from me – especially in the deadly morning solar glare.

In news of the very weird and strange, I came across a tidbit at one of my favorite geeky news sites, Slashdot. The story talks about an Australian ski resort that is working to convert their human waste water into a pure enough form to supply water for their snow machines. I'm not making this up. I love the tagline: "Don't eat the white snow either".

Lastly in a strange commentary on US modernity, Richard Reid (aka the shoe bomber) was sentenced to life in prison. He pled guilty and as he was led out of the courtroom pledged his allegiance to Osama. Don't get me wrong. I'm against capital punishment, but I don't get it. If a man who was this close to taking out an aircraft full of passengers in mid-flight gets a life sentence, what on earth do you do to get the death penalty? Is it just because we stopped him before he was able to follow through with his crime? I predict he'll be dead inside of six months anyway. He'll either kill himself or those inside the prison walls will take care of him. I can't picture a fanatical reactionary sitting quietly inside of prison walls for the rest of his life. It would be too humiliating for him - and in some sense, that would be punishment.

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