I'm posting this from the public beta of MarsEdit, the new weblog editor app from the fine folks at Ranchero Software. I'm also playing with the public beta of NetNewsWire 2.0. While I liked having the weblog editor integrated in NetNewsWire, I can make room on my dock for an icon as flashy as the excellent MarsEdit image.
How disappointing, ABC isn't showing the Emmys in HDTV tonight, even though E! is doing 10 hours of pre and post-show material in high definition (on INHD2). It's kind of sad that the show celebrating the best of TV can't be shown in the best TV format available.
I did some shopping today, in preparation for my upcoming trip to Russia. I bought a big new suitcase, since nothing I had was big enough for me to live out of for almost three weeks abroad. I picked up some black & white 35mm film. I love shooting b&w, but it's so expensive to get it developed anymore. You're looking at $13/roll or so anymore. I should probably learn how to do it myself.
I also got enough medical supplies to treat anything short of a sucking chest wound, over-the-counter pills for every situation I could think of, motion sickness, insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, sprained ankle, you name it. I know I could get most of things in Russia, should I need it, but since you can't even safely drink the water in St. Petersburg, I'm not about to trust pharmaceuticals of unknown origin.
I have six more Gmail invites to give away. Post your first name, last name, and e-mail address in the comments section, and one will be sent your way.
From the Des Moines Register:
...
According to the report, 28 percent of family incomes are needed to pay for a public four-year university in Iowa, up from 18 percent a decade ago. Meanwhile, the state's poorest students devote 36 percent of their family incomes to attend a community college after financial aid is factored in, the report says.
I work here, and I'm scared by the price of tuition. If I want to take a single three-credit graduate-level class, in-state tuition is over $1,000, plus the cost of books. There's a staff training grant in place, but due to budget cuts, the amount of money shared between all staff taking classes hasn't been increased in at least 6 years, while the price of tuition has more than doubled, making the University's contribution negligible at this point.
I think the state should employ a plan to offer either forgivable, or 0% interest loans to graduates of our state universities that plan to stay in the state of Iowa after graduation. One of the biggest problems facing Iowa is that most of our college graduates flee to Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha, or Chicago upon graduation. Giving them some financial incentive to stay in the state would hopefully slow this flight.
Tom & Dori have an interesting writeup about their search for new individual health insurance, the difficulties, the expense, and the long-term threat to our health care system.
The new patches for Windows are out. Get 'em while they're hot, as there's a critical one in the set. Visit WindowsUpdate and get Service Pack 2 while you're at it.
Just upgraded this site to MovableType version 3.11, I hope this works. :)
UNI is looking to hire an Information Technology Specialist:
I've posted photos from my high-school 10-year Reunion. I was unable to Photoshop us all to appear younger (or sober). I'm blaming all the bad photos on my fellow classmates, as I would have at least managed to get people's heads in the frame.
