Checklist update.

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So, she lied to me about getting her stuff out of the house. She lied to me when she said she’d filed – on a Friday, but they’d told her it would take effect on Monday. None of that actually happened.

She hasn’t filed yet. Checklist says… order copy of marriage license from Washtenaw County. Done and done.

She hasn’t gotten her stuff out of the house, and she hasn’t cleaned out the fridge in the house.
Well, I’ve already been waiting for a reply from the mortgage company. Wait, what’s this? Breaking news, there’s a lock-box on the front door of the house, and the back door is barricaded. I’ve also gotten a confirmation notice that a new insurance policy has been taken out on the house, and they’d received the paperwork. So, either this is my answer – say goodbye to the house – or they just noticed that it was vacant, and are taking the normal steps. In either case, unless she breaks in, *headdesk* her stuff is now inaccessible to her.

So, now, I’m back (still?) in limbo with the house. At least I can make progress on the divorce.

Oh, and the dog? Brandy has him, in a rented house. I have to make time to go over and see him. I’m relieved that poor planning and last-minute flailing didn’t end him up in the pound.

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The Tubes

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I used to work for Comcast, doing support for their cable modem network in the metro Detroit area. I know how their network works, and exactly how underhanded they can be.

After reading this article by Cory Doctorow and this one by Charlie Stross, it’s giving me a flashback. The comments on Mr. Stross’s post note that even BT (British Telecom) is knees deep in screw-the-customer-because-we-can land.

My options, here in Lansing:

Free wireless provided by my apartment complex
Unreliable. Too small a pipe for two apartment buildings. They seem to be blocking content somehow, as Pidgin will drop certain IM networks (like gtalk over jabber), but it’ll work fine from within gmail. Currently, the only option I’m willing to use. The upstream provider? TDS Metrocom.

Comcast
Did I mention that I worked for these corrupt wanks? I want to be able to distribute legal files over P2P software, so this group is out. Not to mention the difficulties with getting Windows-based VPNs to work over their network.

Also, I’m not paying for a tech to come out and fix Comcast’s broken shit ON TOP of their ludicrous monthly rates, and taxes directly passed on to the customer as fees. All I want is a pipe to the internet, at a reasonable cost. Unless I buy their TV and phone services, I can’t get it through them. No matter what, I pay close to or over $100 a month.

Um, no.

DSL Options
As far as I know, AT&T owns all of the local lines. Any other DSL provider has to use AT&T’s equipment at least up until the CO-to-customer hop. This makes me extremely nervous. AT&T was the primary cooperator in our government’s illegal phone-and-internet tapping program. While I’m generally open and free with my information, I do not like to reward idiocy with my money.

AT&T: Your world delivered… to the NSA.

As far as I know, that’s all the options I’ve got. I don’t have the ability for satellite, as my apartment complex has strict rules about putting dishes on the roof, and I don’t have a balcony. I have no idea how far Ethernet over Power has come, though I’m pretty educated about Power over Ethernet. Heh. Arialink has said that I’m out of range of any of their wireless solutions.

Peter’s mesh network idea just keeps coming back to me as a good one. Intrinsically anarchic, but good. Lansing-wide ad-hoc network, anyone? Maybe Google will put up a network here, since San Francisco won’t let them out there.

Battlestar Galactica: Season 1 / Roger & Me

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So, pretty much all of my friends have been tossing around BSG lingo like it was, you know, English, for quite some time. So, of course, I get around to watching Season 1 just as Season 4 is coming out on TV. I’m on top of trends like politicians on truth. Which is to say, not at all. Anyway, the first season was frakking awesome. I could probably rant for a few hours about how much I hated the 70’s version, and now I’m thanking the writery gods for the inspiration that brought this dramatic sci-fi awesomeness into the world. I will be taking up an offer of seasons 2, 2.5, and RAZOR on loan, just so that I don’t have to wait for Netflix. After all of the damage and carnage, though, I have to wonder how they’ve got more than, like, three Vipers any more. Also, the first season’s cliffhanger = OMGWTFBBQ NO YOU DID NOT!! And details like a museum with the 70’s Cylons in them, the newer versions being obvious upgrades, and then the red pulse up and down the spine of the humanoid Cylons? The details added so much depth to the series… just, wow. Please, for the love of the Lords of Kobol, do not comment with spoilers.

5 out of 5 stars.

I’ve been intrigued by Michael Moore’s documentaries for a long time. I mean, with all of the publicity that he gets, how could I not? Especially with the MSU hats he wears around. Anyway, I decided to start with his first (that I know of).

I was born in Flint, MI. My Dad worked the AC Spark Plug line there. I grew up, until I was 8 or 9, in Clio, outside of Flint. I’ve also got a soft spot for Detroit. Hell, like Michael Moore, I moved out to San Francisco, figured out it wasn’t for me very quickly, and then moved back. This movie just… I identified with it throughout the entire thing. I am sad for Michigan, for Flint, for Detroit, and for Lansing. I also have a fierce pride and hope for my home state. I see all of the potential in the ruined factories, the abandoned houses, the foreclosure signs. I know what we could be, if we really, really wanted it. But how many people want it that badly?

Four out of five stars.

Weekly Word Count

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What’s that? Another issue of Steven written? Hell yes.

Not only that, but the trip to Cleveland (Lakewood, really) was a complete success. I am now armed with scans, and can move onto the next step. is just as geeked, though running a restaurant for 10 to 12 hour shifts is tiring. Watching them work was a definite people-watching treat.

I’m focusing on wrapping up the third (and final) story arc for Steven, so I won’t be writing much else, unless I get slapped by my muse and need to write another short-short. I realized that I’ve got two of those now, and I really don’t know what to do with them. Very probably an edit and then turn them into submissions.

After that, we’ve got:
– Sequel
– Robot goodness
– Adam’s Name
– Mayan steampunk
– LARP fiction

Oh, yeah. Full plate. :)