Party announcement

Just a quick note (which I suspect I should have posted a week ago) that our annual household Halloween party is being held on November 2nd this year. (San Jose, CA, for my non-local friends. The locals have already started inquiring.)

Directions, as usual, at theStarport

My object all sublime

Anyone who thinks they can fit a proper user interface into a device the size of a cheap candy bar should be condemned to key in War and Peace with it.


After turning my cell phone on, having it immediately ring to announce that I had voice mail, trying twice to obtain same, consulting the manual to confirm that, yes, I did it right the first time, and finally getting the mail to find only two messages: a hangup and my own cursing; the loathsome thing then wouldn't let me get back to a state where I could lock the keyboard until I had deleted my voice mail password (which it was helpfully offering to save for me) until I deleted the blasted thing digit by digit.

Old men talk to themselves

because they prefer to address their remarks to the wisest person present.

I grew up in a time when only crazy people talked to themselves. This made me wonder, since I've been talking to myself ever since I can remember. I suddenly realized, walking in the park this morning, that the cell phone and earbud have made talking to oneself in public socially acceptable.

Singing, on the other hand, ...