I mean, come on, the site’s header says “Indiana’s first source for inaccurate news and commentary since 2003.” Did you really think they’d be the one to break a story? Apparently the folks at the San Diego Union-Tribune, did, as they ran this story in their sports section. The story goes on about how Purdue University recruited the wrong Jason Smith — instead of recruiting the 6’6″ athlete, they recruited the 5’5″, 128-pound nerd. The story made the national radio circuit (all claiming they knew exclusive information), and the Union-Tribune made the mistake of printing it. Meanwhile, the Hoosier Gazette is laughing at everybody.
MovableType 2.65 released, 3.0 announced
Finally there is some official news of some sort. MovableType 2.65 has been released. It’s mostly a security release, but with it there is also an Atom feed template (with new tags for that particular template). Looks like they read my mind yesterday re: the Atom feed.
They also announced the forthcoming 3.0, which includes some nice features (on top of being free):
- Comment registration. As a response to both comment spam and to the increased usage of Movable Type on large community sites, we’ll be adding the option to restrict comments to registered users.
- Improved comment and TrackBack management features.
- New API hooks for plugin developers. Plugins will now be able to hook into many more pieces of Movable Type, including adding callbacks for saving and removing objects, building application methods with integration into the UI, and hooking into the publishing process. This opens up possibilities for plugins to add even more advanced functionality than they’re able to do now.
- User interface rebuilt using CSS. We’ve seen with TypePad that a CSS-based interface gives users very fast application response times, and gives us a flexible interface for making application-wide changes, and we want to give this same speed and flexibility to Movable Type users.
- Support for the Atom API. We’ve already added Atom syndication feed support in version 2.65 of Movable Type, and we’ll be adding publishing support for the API in 3.0.
They plan to announce more features, but aren’t ready to yet.
Which image gets you the most excited?
I think my putter has already voted here. Thanks to Shasta Bob for the pics.
Arrest Yourself, save the police department trouble
Finally, a police department with a sense of humor.
A proposition has been announced recently to help reduce the deficit and to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.” If you witness a crime, it is your civic duty to report the crime to the police. When a crime is committed, you have the right to make a “Citizen’s Arrest”. Thus, if YOU commit a crime, it would be extremely helpful for you to perform a Citizen’s Self-Arrest. Fill out the form, to complete your Citizen’s Self-Arrest.
The form is very entertaining, providing options to questions that are just hilarious. When it asks for your plea, you can select “Guilty, Not Guilty, No Contest, Too Drunk to Pick.” The also give you a microscopic bible to swear on, too.
The Year in Pictures
MSNBC won several industry awards for last year’s version of this, and I’m sure the 2003 version will garner a few as well. This is one of the best ways to take advantage of the online medium, and this is a wonderful slide show (with audio and text commentary as well).
Some holiday snowball Flash fun
Ever wanted to be that little bastard that ran around at a crowded outdoor shopping mall, pegging present-welding shoppers with snowballs? I know I always have. (Warning: Low Resolution monitors Need Not Apply, as the guy coded the thing for big screens. Why? I have no idea, but I could just see it all at 1024×768.)
A Marine’s Magic Words
Another joke sent via e-mail…
As the crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered by a five-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.
Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, a man in a Marine uniform is seen slowly walking up the aisle. Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the courtly, soft-spoken Marine leans down, motioning toward his chest, and whispers something into the boy’s ear.
Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother’s hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.
As the Marine slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants touches his sleeve and asks quietly, “Excuse me, sir, but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?”
The Marine smiles serenely and gently confides, “I showed him my pilot’s wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight I choose.”
Post Surgery Update
Hey again everybody.
I’m a bit more conscious today than yesterday, and I’ve got myself in a relatively comfortable position here in bed (boy, does that sentence read bad), so here’s the official update on things. Thanks to Barney for posting for me yesterday in my drugged up stupor. I was hoping he would’ve just translated it instead of quoting me verbatim, but oh well 😉
Since this is going to get rather lengthy (or it could be rather short, depending on how long my pain meds last), read on below…
He came through OK, folks
An update, direct from Jake:
“Hey there…surgery went fine, still in pain in back but lrg feels great. have wireless setup in room so I’m sort of funtional, cant type very well, but wanted to lrt u know I was fine…just sleepy.”
Not bad, Mr. Ortman. Not sure what your “lrg” is but glad it feels great;-) I missed his IM of that, so I e-mailed a “drat” to him, and he responded, in part:
“My pain medication is knocking me out pretty good … I’m basically just going to put on a DVD and fall asleep :-)”
Wireless computer and DVD – in a HOSPITAL room? Goodness, I guess St. Charles has gotten pretty fancy (or Jake has some pull around there – heh heh;-) (Update: Whoops, that’s right, this was outpatient stuff, right? So he’s home? Then that makes more sense;-)
Anyway, keep those positive vibes coming his way, cuz I’m sure as the pain medication is turned down… he’ll be feelin’ it big time;-/
–Fill-in UB Blogger Barney
Tomorrow’s Surgery Update
OK, finally after making a pile of phone calls and having everybody blame everybody else, I’ve finally got some answers. I’m still having surgery on my back tomorrow. It’s schedule to happen at 4:15 (though I have to be there at 2:45). Despite what I said before, it will not be just a local pain killer — I’ll be put completely under. It’s going to cost more but I think I’d prefer it more than anything — I don’t think I want to be awake at all during it. I’ve got until midnight tonight to eat up like a horse. After that, it’s clear beverages until 10:15 tomorrow morning. After that, nothing. Basically, it’ll be 24 hours before I eat again, which is going to annoy the crap out of me.
As I mentioned before, I’m still taking donations, despite my gift, as things will still be expensive now that an anesthesiologist is in the picture, and I still have to pay off my MRI. If you don’t want to donate, I also have UtterlyBoring.com-themed t-shirts, bags, stickers, and stuff, you can buy.
This will be my last post until after the surgery unless something comes up. Wish my luck, and I’ve got my wireless access point setup and ready to go in my bedroom during my recovery.