The Coffee Chronicles

Now, that's uncanny. When it rains, I guess, it really pours. And all this while I'm contemplating a move to a different CMS platform (1,2,3).

I'm not sure how I feel about MT's move to their new pricing structure, but I do think that folks are being a little hard on 6A. Apparently, there's some controversy over the MT3-beta process and the faithful users who supported it unaware of a looming licensing change. For that sort of behavior, I think, Ben and Mena have some explaining to do. And I'm not even an MT user.

I like Blogger, and I currently use Blogger, which is a more significant endorsement. That's good enough for now, but I think I'd like to switch to some new system (or a combination of systems) simply because I can. It's just one of those little habits that keeps me up at night, huddled in front of my monitor. And it's not that MT is out of the question; in fact, it appears that MT 2.661 is still available - there's no pressure to upgrade - and there is a large support base for this product.

I must admit, though, I like the idea of a CMS package published under the GPL, but I find myself wondering about copyright flexibility for the content produced by such a package. I've also been considering the use of CC licensing, as I've been seeing pop up now and then. I'm no zealot, but I can understand the paradox facing disgruntled users of MT: just because it's open code that doesn't mean it's Open Source, and just because it's Open Source it isn't necessarily free*.

Why are good domain names so difficult to create? Oh, I can think up names, don't get me wrong - in fact, I've thought of too many to know what to do with. But none of them are good. They just don't sing, damn it.

"Vomitcluster." Nope. How about "buttweld"? Hmm; maybe. But I definitely don't think anyone'll frequent "raviolisunrise". Perhaps I'm on the wrong track here, but I can't help it. Besides, it's not like anyone's jamming the lines to browse "The Coffee Chronicles," anyway. See what I mean?

Has anyone noticed that Blogger has gotten a facelift? I didn't, myself, until I noticed that my little "Powered By Blogger" button in the link-bar to the left had become an "I Power Blogger" button, instead. How adorably empowering. All this amidst the official roll-out of the Googleblog, too - and some scattered controversy (1,2) already. My, that's two mini-scandals in three blog entries...you'd think you were reading TCC, what with all the furor. You know, if the Googleblog was a baseball star, it'd have a .333 batting average. Still ok, but definitely due for some practice.

Let's Go Mets, while we're on the subject.

Then again, perhaps it's a basketball star, in which case it really wouldn't matter what it said, or how well it was written, as long as it was the subject on everyone's lips.

Which reminds me of something a beloved teacher of history said to me once, early in my high school career, in reference to something particularly obscure I had proposed:


How prophetic, especially in light of what's really at stake here. First the Googleblog, then Blogger Reloaded...who are they kidding? And yes, I'd like to get in on that IPO; after all, who am I kidding?

Well, it's about time - and, although I don't necessarily need to know what The Google had for breakfast, I'm glad to see that they're at least using their own service. I mean, it's kinda like buying stock in Coca-Cola while continuing to drink Pepsi. Or, rather, while not drinking soft drinks at all.

And what has become of the cola wars, anyway?

Anyway, as per the current perspective on /., it's apparently more a result of Evan Williams poking and prodding the Google brain-trust to get their blog on. Thanks, Ev; good job. Of course, you can always keep up with him here, as I personally prefer.

Another day in Southern California, and of course the weather is perfect. Maddening, simply maddening. I've come to realize lately that I'm saying things like, "Wow, it's great weather though, isn't it?" This suggests to me that I'm becoming more and more used to being a denizen of the LA basin, and less and less a transplant. But I'll always be a cynic. On that, my friends, you can bank.

...unlike my stock portfolio, which has definitely seen better days. The problem with the market is, I've discovered, that its behavior is determined by a large number of stupid people. Me? I haven't moved money in or out of it in months. Perhaps that's the problem. Hell, I should've stuck to cleaning toilets - someone's always taking a crap, somewhere, right?

While we're on the subject of crap: what's up with the Republican Party? How long can they honestly keep up their mealy-mouthed defense of Donald Rumsfeld and overlook the atrocities that have occured during his watch? I mean, come on. I'm sure that Bush thinks that Rumsfeld is doing a great job - that is, if making war is a talent to be admired - but he screwed up. Big. This morning, during the Senate hearing, one of the Republican senators in attendance - I had missed his name - issued some rambling apologist diatribe, playing down the seriousness of what happened at Abu Ghraib by saying - and I will paraphrase - "...now these seven bad guys and gals are being punished for what they've done, but may I remind you of all the atrocities committed towards Americans?...I bet these prisoners are thanking Allah every morning that Saddam Hussein isn't running those prisons." Of course they are - overlooking the ethnically narrow statement he uses there - and what a disgrace to take their expectations of fair treatment and crush them by doing exactly what we're there to "liberate" the Iraqi people from. Disgraceful. What, does he think he's Rush Limbaugh?

By the way, I've decided that this blog sucks. Not only that, but I think I'm going to do something about it. I'm not sure what, but I'll think of something. If there is anyone actually reading this tripe, feel free to drop me a comment (or email) and tell me what you think is wrong with my blog. I'm sure that if I quit my job(s) I'd think of something to spice it up, but then I couldn't pay for web access. Oh - if your criticism has anything to do with my "...rampant liberalism," as someone recently put it, you might be out of luck; it's really a hard habit to break.