I suppose the blog is being so neglected lately because the rest of my life isn't. I'm working quite a bit, every day, and there's lots of activity and legal stuff and presentations to VCs and whatnot. Then, every time we present, it's go back and change everything to be that much more tight for the next one. I've got the photos in my possession. Here's the best one, and it's only a 3x2. The 1200x1200 dpi scan renders it better than the actual photo (click the photo to get the full size). From the left, that's my dad Lothar, his younger brother Hans, older sister Brigitte, and the firstborn, Manfred. Circa 1941, I'd say. All but Manfred are still fine and dandy and now live here in or near the Bay Area. Manfred died in about 1978 when most of the family still lived in Reno. He was a Type 1 diabetic and an alcoholic. Not a good combination. I'll probably get to scanning up the rest tomorrow and will probably do a static page that I can fill in with details so and as family members are able to sort out who's who and report back. Can you...

Well. After nearly destroying my whole blog last evening and sending off a number of "stream of consciousness," expletive loaded trouble tickets, I got quick action this morning from an engineer. He immediately began restoring the content and asked me to describe my work flow, which took two or three iterations and the final one was the tiny bit of info they needed to locate and fix the bug. I began searching Google last night and discovered I was not the only one with posts being wiped out and links being broken, so I was glad for the quick fix -- which was done by about 2:30 this afternoon -- and I'm glad to have indirectly helped others already affected or who would have been. It could have been a disaster of important proportions. They completely overlooked my shouting and cursing, were impeccably pro, effective, and even contrite for my inconvenience and -- yes, I'll say it -- stress. Good job, folks. I really hate firing people and am gratified to be sticking around.

That's all this is about. Here's Warren's take. And Billy's. This bears reflection: For years now, it's occurred to me that America would bring its characteristic (almost an instinct for) innovation to tyranny. This government would write new chapters in its annals, sprung from a uniquely American ambition and sincerity but bent so far around historic corners that all sight of home was lost. And so it would sink below its nature to something old and sick, but uniquely descended. Get it? Billy also linked this by Roy Spencer, who, of course, also notes that the polar bear population is likely at or near a record high since keeping track of such things. But what does that matter? There are "positions to stake out," "roles to play," "stances to take," and "poses to strike." ...All, euphemisms for plain old lying. By the way, I picked up Spencer's book last weekend and would definitely recommend it. The sort of tragic-humorous-ironic style in that article is throughout the book. Here's a six-page excerpt (once you get there, click on the "Excerpt" link in the left sidebar).

Delicious. (Beck snagged that from Soja)