The idiot proclaims that the news media is only focusing on the negative. We've really accomplished a lot of our goals in Iraq, he says. Lessee... Have we found any WMD's? No. Have we killed or captured Saddam? No. Have we brought peace and stability to the country and region? Uhm, no. Have we decreased the possibility of terrorist attacks against US interests either in Iraq or world-wide? Not really. But hey, we've got most of the lights on in Baghdad. Gimme' a break. Even Condi's going over to Iraq to get in on some of that easy money. She now heads the department of spin-control. Why? Because she was about the only cabinet member left that had even a morsel of public respect remaining. Was.

Some of my Xmas orders arrived. Well, yeah - I did buy a couple of things for myself, or more precisely for the store. That's where I spend most of my hours. Can't get by with such a mediocre sound system. So I'm putting together something better, and all of it is non-cartel. Don't expect to come by today and see it though. It'll take some time to get all the wiring in. Then I'll have to figure out how to get these speaker cabinets onto overhead platforms without a forklift or crane...

Nevermind... The bastards. The catalog says the speakers are 45 1/2 inches tall. I've got exactly 46 3/4 inches of space. I measured precisely before I ordered them. Glad I didn't try to lift them up without checking... they turned out to be exactly 48 inches tall. Have to put them somewhere else... So much for doing everything right the first time.

But that's OK - I've got another place they can go. You don't think I trusted the catalog completely, do you? That's why I measured them...

Eventually I'll get somewhere close to what I used to have at the house. A live room. If you pick up an electric guitar to try, it'll be through the house PA. Jam along with Metallica if you so desire. Subtly placed microphones so that you'll have the feel of being on a live stage. But it will take time. Sigh...