Moving Right Along...
Effective immediately, my main page (index.html) will be done using MovableType. I've been tinkering with MT for several months now, and am reasonably comfortable with it. I won't abandon GM entirely; my heart belongs to GM. No, wait...it belongs to Blogger (you always remember your first). Well, anyway, I'm now officially an MT guy...check it out at http://www.davidmsc.com.

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Dub-TV; MedPundit; Gadgetry
Oliver will be on TV sometime soon. As will several other bloggers. The real question: will C.K., Oliver's trusty Wiener Dog of Infinite, Enduring Justice, be featured...? Stay tuned. In other news, the always interesting MedPundit sheds some light on Election 2002, and draws some clear links between high-blood pressure and Dems losses. Yay--new toy! This arrived Thursday. Next up: a WiFi CF card for my Maestro.
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President Dave!
I hate the personality-test crap-fest that the kids are always so crazy about. What kind of dog am I? What "Trading Spaces" character am I? Who cares? But this one...come on, we're talking Founding Fathers - it doesn't get any cooler than that.

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She Has Hoped
As always, Erica pulls no punches in her pithy analysis of Tuesday's elections. Best line: "Sure, if the Dems had taken control, I would probably be heading to Amazon to pick up a few resources..." You have to visit her page to see exactly WHAT books she would be purchasing... :-)
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Danger, Will Robinson!
Jonathan Harris, aka Dr Zachary Smith of "Lost In Space," has died at the age of 87. One of the most memorable comic "villains" in TV history. His eloquent insults hurled at The Robot never failed to entertain. via MeFi

ADDENDUM: Dr. Zachary Smith's long-suffering cry, "Oh, the pain! The pain!" is now officially the motto of Terry McAuliffe and the DNC. While I'm not necessarily a Republican, it pleases me to no end to see the DNC suffering losses tonight...their lack of any coherent message, their against-Bush-just-because-he's Bush stance, their patronizing "We need U.N. permission to sneeze" attitude...they've set themselves up for this fall. Mind you, it's not a *big* fall, with only a handful of seats changing, but considering the predictions going into this election (Bush/McBride, etc), make no mistake: it's a fall. KUDOS to election-pundits Patrick Ruffini, VodkaPundit, and many others, BTW.
Disclaimer: of course, none of this is official yet...let's just see if any recounts, last-minute surges, or lawyering alter the projected outcomes.

"Finally, never, ever, ever underestimate George W. Bush." True words from David Brooks over at The Weekly Standard. President Bush has always intrigued me, somewhat, and I never once suspected that he was a simpleton, or "uncurious" about the world beyond Crawford. I've always figured him to be honest, intelligent, and direct, but holy cow - the way that he constantly exceeds expectations, leads the debate, moves the public, and engages both allies and opponents is downright masterful. A leader of the first order? The evidence so far says probably.

ALSO: This is so overdue. I smell a theme-restaurant being developed here...
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Political Junkies: Rejoice
So here we are...just hours away from Election Day. Surely nothing as contentious as the Presidential Election in 2000 will happen *this* time, right? I'm not voting this time around...the chaos of moving from TX to MT this summer somehow caused me to forget about the absentee ballot process, but I figure the races in TX will go the way they will without my help (or hindrance). Meanwhile, Dean has some good points about the idiots who claim that voting is a "duty" of sorts, as well as those who maintain that people who don't vote also don't have the right to complain. Meanwhile, tomorrow promises to be the crack-cocaine of political junkies of every stripe - watching the results come in, flipping between dueling "senior political analysts" on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, debating the causes of why any given race went "red" or "blue."

NEW TOY: Check out the HTML Slide Show Creation Tool, part of the MS Power Toys package. Slick, simple, fun. Here's a short one that I slapped together, just random pix taken over the last several weeks. It literally took me less than two minutes to create this with the MS tool.
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Say "Cheese!"
If you've been looking for a digital camera, but are put off by the $200+ prices and somewhat concerned that the 2.2/3.0/4.1 megapixels simply won't be enough for you, do yourself a favor and check out the Creative PC-Cam 300. It's only $59.99, and it takes pix at 640x480, but trust me - they look fine. It stores 128 pictures (!), doubles as a webcam, and can shoot 75 seconds of video (incl. audio). Come on - for the price, it's practically a gimme. And simple to use, to boot. Here's a sample of the (unretouched, unedited) image quality:

ALSO: Found via Virginia Postrel, here is something that looks quite nifty - the game of Capitalism! Sure beats the heck out of the shooter games, I'd wager...
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The Best Medicine?
So I'm at home, recovering from being gutted like a fish my appendectomy, doing the old-man shuffle in my slippers, eating (and I use the term jokingly) little more than soup, oatmeal, and jello, and along comes my arch-nemesis George, courtesy of the Verizon Wireless. His first words, of course, are something along the lines of "Kneel before Zod!" And then...over the course of our 30-minute conversation, the bastard makes me laugh. Loudly, constantly. On purpose. Knowing full well that laughing quickly turns into - well, not pain, per se, but shall we say "mild discomfort," coupled with the lingering fear that any too-severe shaking of my abdominal region will result in my three incisions bursting open and spilling the contents of my gut all over the floor? Oops...too graphic. Sorry. Anyway...after insinuating that his experiments with voodoo-dolls (something about sharp pins in Dave's groin...?) have finally paid off, he wished me a speedy recovery, and furthermore asked me to add Susanna to my LinkList. Don't know how she slipped through my grasp for so long, but now she's added, bucko. Good timing, too - she has a nifty link to a Statue of Liberty "game" that you can play (Flash?). No, I won't link to it - you have to visit Susanna to get to it. Speaking of laughter, George and I agreed (I think) that "Airplane!" is, truly, The Funniest Movie. 'Nuff said. Dangerous to watch when recuperating from surgery, I assure you, as is "Young Frankenstein."
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Boo!
As many of you know, Halloween is my 2nd favorite "holiday" -- surpassed only by Independence Day, without which we may not have the freedom to celebrate *any* holidays. Halloween, as practiced in 21st century America, is nothing more (or less) than a nationwide costume party, wherein people of all ages and creeds can rummage through their imaginations, sample pop culture, and apply their creative skills to come up with costumes, parties, and treats designed solely to entertain. So, although I am temporarily hobbled due my recent appendectomy and won't be able to roam the streets dressed in appropriate garb, I will at least be able to enjoy the sight of young tricksters who flock to the doorstep this evening, reveling in their creativity and costumes, eager & proud to show off their allegiance to Spiderman, Ariel (the mermaid), or some other mythical creation. Such joy! And as my Halloween gift to you, gentle readers, I present an article to use in defense of Halloween against those who proclaim it to be "evil," or otherwise Satan-sponsored.
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Hello, Mudder...Hello, Fodder...
Just wanted to send an appreciative shout-out to my parents. Maybe not the epitome of "cool" in the blogosphere, but seriously, they really helped me get through my traumatic surgery this week. I know, I know...you're thinking, "A freakin' appendectomy is what Dave had...geez, I've had ingrown toenails that were worse!" Well, perhaps. On the other hand, I entered the O.R. on Monday as someone who has never had surgery, or been under the hocus-pocus witchcraft of "general anesthesia." Sure, my mom said that I had surgery back in 1968, age 2, when I had my tonsils out, but she could be bluffing, or confusing me with one of my siblings...the bottom line is, I certainly have no recollection of ever being knocked unconscious and then gutted like a fish. So Monday was, for me, initially, quite nerve-wracking. However...my mother is (and has been, for 30+ years) an operating-room nurse, and appendectomies are her bread-n-butter, and she knew that only by arming me with information about the process, from start to finish, would I be able to handle the anxiety. She explained it all to me -- the lactating ringlets, the initial IV drip, the duration, the location of the incisions, the ice-chips in post-op, etc. And my father, an internal medicine physician, provided his own words of clinical wisdom and commented on the oh-so-routine nature of this type of surgery. Both my parents (divorced since '76, BTW) provided me with enough information, insight, and encouragement to almost - *almost* - make me look forward to it! And, truth be told, when I awoke post-op, everything that they said was correct - the length, the smells, the IVs, the nature of the post-anesthesia grogginess, the type and duration of the pain, etc. So, on the occasion of birthday, I would like to formally thank Mom & Dad for being great parents and giving me the present that I really needed for this particular birthday: peace of mind.
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Appendix-less
Tuesday pm: Well, I did it...I had surgery for the first time (well, since the age of two). My appendix has been removed. I feel pretty loopy. The meds are powerful. Very much appreciate the well-wishes that you all sent. My greatest fear - that the anesthesia simply wouldn't work - turned out to be ridiculous...I remember laying on the "stretcher" in the hallway, meeting the anesthesiologist, Dr. Wu, and then I don't remember *anything* until waking up, groggy, in the post-op recovery room. Amazing. My wife and child got to see my appendix - they said it looked sorta like a shrimp. I've gotta go now - these meds are very strange...see you all in a day or two.
UPDATE - Wednesday mid-day: In the grand tradition of famous authors & journalists who feel compelled to share every excruciating detail of their respective battles with alcohol, illness, and other medical conditions, I present to you some information about appendicitis and the resulting appendectomy.
By the way, we have about 5 inches of snow on the ground - still coming down - and a high temperature today of 10 degrees. Darn. I want to play in it, or drive in it, not be cooped up inside! Also - thanks to everyone (hey Boogie!) who sent me birthday greetings! AND thanks to the great crew at work, who surprised me post-op with a wonderful bovine-themed giant cookie, and a soft, cuddly cow to comfort me. Thanks, gang!
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Ow.
As much as I would have loved to post something witty for you all today, I'm sorry to report that the pain & suffering that I've endured this weekend has effectively shut down my ability to piece together strings of rational thought. The problem? Unknown, except general location. Severe abdominal pain X 24 hours in lower-right quadrant, which leads me to several possible conclusions: food poisoning, kidney stones, bladder infection, appendicitis, Alien burrowing in my gut, etc. Not quite bad enough for a late-night run to the hospital...yet...hoping I can endure until tomorrow, when I can see my regular doctor.
UPDATE - MONDAY MORNING: The docs are 99% sure that it is appendicitis...going to be headed over to the local hospital in a few hours. May not be able to post for a few days - I'll miss you all - thanks for the warm wishes.
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Advantage: Fox News
From the New York Times: "Fox News Channel was watched by 1.7 million people, CNN by 1.3 million people and MSNBC by nearly 700,000 people." This occurred on Wednesday, as developments in the DC-area murder case were developing rapidly. Kudos also to Rita Cosby of FNC, who seems to have an uncanny ability to get details that other reporters just can't seem to access.
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Minnesota Sadness
Damn. Just got the word that Senator Paul Wellstone, along with his wife and children, have died in a plane crash. Certainly didn't agree with his politics, but from what I knew of him, he had the courage of his convictions and didn't appear to be afraid to take an unpopular stance. Of course, after proper expressions of tragedy and sympathy, the media will immediately turn the focus to what happens next in the Senate race...Campaign 2002 has definitely not lacked for dramatic events, whether despicable (Torchie/NJ), ridiculous (Taylor/MT), or simply sad (Wellstone).
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"Kartoo?"
Read about this in Computer Shopper magazine; very interesting interface and search results. Try it yourself: Kartoo. And don't forget Teoma, too; it's pretty slick. Of course, I doubt anything will challenge Google for quite a while...I can't even imagine a day without Google anymore. How did we ever live without Google?
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Only Connect!
First, thanks to everyone who provided advice regarding the purchase of a second computer - and particular thanks to people like Erica (what does "Sperari" mean, anyway?) who even offered to build one for me at cost - most gracious, indeed. Second, with my new computer scheduled to arrive within a day or so, I now face the decision about the best way to network my two computers and share the broadband connection. Forget wires: way beyond my technical ken. That leaves wireless or Homeplug, which seem to be comparably priced. Homeplug appears to be simpler, but of course limits the location of the two computers to actually being plugged in. Wireless may be more difficult to set up, but would afford more freedom when/if we (a) move a computer, or (b) add a laptop or PDA to the network. So - anyone have some wisdom to share? Experience? Right now, I'm leaning towards Homeplug for the sake of simplicity; the reviews I've read indicate that it works well and provides adequate security.
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Campaign 2002: No Second Acts
POLITICAL NOTE: First noticed at Montana Politics, it appears that Mike Taylor is once again a candidate for the U.S. Senate. To my mind, it's too late (even if he had a chance to begin with); once he dropped out of the race, he lost way too much credibility. He could have overcome the negative publicity of the Baucus-backed smear campaign, but instead Taylor chose to simply give up, Torch-like. Sorry, Mike; no second-chances. Hey, you could start planning "Taylor In '08!"

BTW, if you're keeping track: we received about two inches of snow on Monday night. Temp this morning when I woke up was 18 degrees, wind chill of 9. Brr. Still quite beautiful, however -- remaining snow adorning the pine trees, evergreen shrubs, etc.

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Fluffy!
It's snowing right now (8:09 pm). Forecasters predict anywhere from 1-5 inches of the fluffy white stuff tonight. Clear skies earlier, most of the day, with temps around 52 or so at around 2:00 this afternoon. The next time I emerged from my office, around 5:00 pm, the sky was purply-black, and the temp had dropped about 20 degrees. Did I mention the foliage ("Look at the foilage, Lisa...") around here? Amazing. Never lived somewhere that had such stunning colors. Gold, copper, green, red, orange...and during the last week or so, about 1/2 of the leaves have fallen, leaving huge piles of colorful decor strewn up & down the sidewalks, sort of like crunchy confetti. I love this place.
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You're A Fine Girl...
Couldn't help but notice...watching "A Very Brady Sequel" tonight (by choice), the song "Brandy" by Looking Glass was featured. Later this evening, while the movie "Charlie's Angels" was on (NOT my choice - kidz rule), "Brandy" was featured. Good song, all by itself, and interestingly used to different cinematic effect.
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Soul Men
Let us now consider "Wicked" Wilson Pickett. "Funky, Funky Broadway" never fails to amaze me. I suspect that JonMC appreciates Pickett, too, although Jon's recent post about all things *polka* has me somewhat concerned about his mental state. Along those same lines, it appears that Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave fame) is back with a "new" album of tunes recorded 30 years ago.
And thanks for the computer-buying advice, guys.

Later that day: First of all, please go visit Erica and send some warm thoughts to her & her hubby -- let them know that there are still *good guys & girls* out here, too, despite the streak of bad luck that they've encountered lately, culminating recently in Sam being mugged. I hope the muggers wrap their car (probably stolen) around a utility pole. Second, I took the plunge and ordered a Dell (DUDE!) Dimension 4550 online a few minutes ago...Pentium 4, 256MB RAM, 60GB hdd, etc, etc, etc, for a grand total of $663 - including 2nd day shipping. Special thanks to JonMC for his advice (and MOOO! right back atcha, Jon).
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Decision Time
OK, gang, I need some advice. It's almost time to "grow" our digital family: a second computer. The one I'm using now, purchased over two years ago, is a Celeron, 500mhz, H-P system that has served well, but as the web has become an integral part of the family's life (IM for teen, games for pre-teen, shopping for wife, pix to share, and of course the wonder that is davidmsc.com), it's way past time for us to get a second system...heck, maybe even a third. So, based on your experiences, do you have any recommendations? I'm torn between opting for a standard desktop or a notebook, or perhaps one of each. Networking options: Wi-Fi, HomePlug, or something else? An "all-in-one" system, like the Gateway Profile, or a bare-bones system from a web-only dealer? Do I want a Dell, delivered by Steven himself? Or something from the bovine-themed Gateway? I'm open to all suggestions and recommendations. Thanks.
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