Category: default || By jt3y

Computer problems prevent much in the way of blather from these quarters today. My modem decided to go "piff!" which makes it difficult to upload items to the server. ("Piff!" is a technical term meaning that it stopped working without any apparent warning.) I did attempt to fix the modem, but banging it off of the edge of the desk didn't help.

If I can't upload my screedy rantings and inflict them on tens, if not dozens, of people, then what good are they? If a blog falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

(No, but it would be a good start, I can hear you muttering.)

Now, I get to dig out the 14.4 modem --- which will be like draining Lake Erie with a bendy straw. In the meantime, why not check out some of these fine blogs and Web publications?

Other things that regularly catch my eye on the 'net include Rip Rense's The Rip Post and Eric Zorn's Notebook.

And apologies to Bill Watterson for stealing (and re-wording) today's headline. It's not imitation, it's a homage, I swear.

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A few quick hits of news: The very nice family from whom I bought the sleek, gray Mercury one year ago was almost wiped out in the flooding, reports Mike Bradwell in the Observer-Reporter:

At Community Motors in Canonsburg, owner Joe Mastrangioli spent last week talking with an insurance company. But as a new week began, he was uncertain how much money he would recover for the 150 new and used cars that were lost in the Sept. 17 flood.

The flood had the potential of being particularly devastating to car dealers, who carry inventory in the millions of dollars. Mastrangioli, who has one insurance carrier for his new-car stock and another for used vehicles, said Friday that he is disputing the money he was offered for the new cars.

Mastrangioli tells Bradwell that grateful customers have turned out to help the business get back onto his feet. Not everything is sweetness and light, however; how's this for proof that some insurance companies are running a racket?

He said he also learned that some "business interruption insurance" he purchased was canceled because his dealership's damages were caused by a flood. The coverage was to provide money to pay employees if the business was forced to temporarily shut down, he said.

See if you can parse this: You're covered unless the thing that you need the coverage for causes you to need the coverage, and then you're not covered. Basically, you can get the insurance as long as you don't need the insurance.

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John Kerry drinks beer and watches football. Heck, he's got my vote.

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I hope the Johnny Cash biopic now in production is better than it sounds like it's going to be, but Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash just ain't cutting it for me.