by Maitri
on December 18, 2006
‘Tis a joyful day of narrowing down and fixing bugs in seismic and blogging software. Isn’t it frightful how lots of things fall apart around the holidays? Since upgrading to WordPress 2.0.x, my blog hasn’t been sending and receiving trackbacks and pingbacks (These are not the same beast. Hooray for semantics.). Obviously, this blows chunks as you don’t know if I’ve linked to your articles and I have no clue who’s linking to mine, unless I see it on Technorati (when the stars are aligned and their aggregator chooses to work). So much for community blogging.
TestTrack and the WP 2.0.1> trackback/pingback threads on the support forum help only a little; for the most part, they let me know that I’m not the only one with the problem. Gah! Anyone out there with similar issues?
Also: HAVE YOU RUN A BACKUP OF YOUR BLOG LATELY? IF NOT, DO SO NOW.
Update 1: Poldo ran into the same trackback/pingback problems and reportedly got rid of them using Paul Ooi’s script changes. It’s been 20 minutes since I uploaded the fixes to my server and I’m waiting to see if it “takes.” On the work-related bug front, my problem has been escalated to the developers. Ho hum.
Update 2: If it weren’t for the darned security concerns, I would SOOOOO go back to WordPress 1.5.
by Maitri
on December 18, 2006
From the prologue of Simon Winchester’s Krakatoa, The Day The World Exploded: August 27, 1883:
“When Krakatoa exploded it was 1883, and the world was a profoundly different place. Sophisticated human beings were on hand to see this volcano’s convulsions, they were able to investigate the event, and they were able to attempt to understand the processes that had caused such dreadful violence. And yet, as it happens, their observations, painstaking and precise as science demanded, collided head-on with a most discomfiting reaity: that while in 1883 the world was becoming ever more scientifically advanced, it was in part because of these same advances that its people found themselves in a strangely febrile and delicately balanced condition, which an event like Krakatoa did much to unsettle.”
by Maitri
on December 17, 2006
Do I have a sign on me that says “Give Me Responsibility?” Is this why family and friends ask me to play straw boss at their weddings and take care of their kids and pets? I’m good with dogs, cats, plants, and youngsters in that order, but a fish, and a Betta splendens at that? P walked into my office last week and asked, “Will you take care of my fish while I’m gone for the holidays?” I’m only slightly nervous that he may float up … or is it down … to meet his maker, but it’s a new challenge.
Nemo is the closest thing to an office pet, and our team’s little mascot. A little purple, a little blue and all iridescent, he swims in his bowl all day, coming up for pellets during lunch time. He doesn’t sit on your lap or keyboard, need walks, or cry for a diaper change. Piece of cake, right? Right?
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The Big Easy Rollergirls‘ Christmas bout was fun, but with the girls skating slower than usual for some reason. To my red-dressed chagrin, Santa’s Little Sleighers started out well and ended up losing to the evile Tannenbombers by a narrow margin. No worries – all was forgiven at the Old Point Bar afterparty. Ray, Sheik, NOLASlate, Oyster (with Lovely and Clam #2), Editor B, and Xy were there. (Loki & Alexis are forgiven for not attending, as is Schroeder because he’s trying to kill himself … I mean, get into graduate school.)
by Maitri
on December 15, 2006
H ran into me at the coffee shop a couple of days ago and said, “The guy who touched you and asked about your skin color is slightly nervous. He walked into my office today and asked if I had offended you.” *blank stare* No, I wasn’t offended; that’s why I read him the riot act. Some people, I tell you. “I told him that I know you,” H continued, “and that you probably realize that he was being dumb and not racist.” Uh, ok.
“Why did you say anything back to that guy?” came my mother’s rebuke last night. “When you utter even one word to these people, you stoop to their level. You should have just given him a look and walked away.”
“But he took my hand, mom,” I protested, “he overstepped a barrier. No one escapes with an uninvited touch.”
“Yes, naanum kanna pinna nu kathirupen, [translates roughly to: I, too, would have screamed bloody murder], but the best response is to give him the icy stare and leave.” Oh, ok, do as I say, not as I do.
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P.S. Thomas Dolby’s autographed Sole Inhabitant CD showed up in the mail yesterday, with the best performance of Leipzig Is Calling. Merry Christmas to me!
by Maitri
on November 30, 2006
Vince Morelli and Jason Berry have just completed their documentary on the New Orleans Public Schools system. Those close to the project are really thrilled at the job they did and how this project turned out. I expect it to be a great film, and it’s only one hour long. You can learn more at the film’s website.
Left Behind is a 60-minute documentary that tells the story of three African-American high school seniors as they navigate through their final year of high school. Their final year in “the worst public school system in America.” Their final year in one of the poorest cities in the state; in a state ranked as the poorest in America; in the most violent city, state and country in the industrialized world.
The premiere is December 5 at Canal Place at 7 pm. Seating will be limited and I don’t think tickets go on sale until that day at 5 pm. Jason informs me that the movie will be online in the near future, after it is released locally.
