I apologize for the lack of posts. While MB and Eric are quite properly engaged in the campaign, I should be posting regularly and I have not done so secently.
There are three reasons for that failure. First, there have been medical issues in my family. They appear to have now resolved. I may write about those experiences later, or not, but for now I would just like to note that both the Emory University Hospital and the Children’s Hospital (also at Emory) are superb institutions staffed by highly skilled, caring people. I just hope that my forthcoming dealings with the insurance company are equally successful.
Secondly, I have been distracted by what might be termed career related program activities.
Finally, I have had computer nightmares over the last several months. I had been getting a huge volume of spam as well as infections and decided to install a popular software product to block spam, create a firewall, and protect my computer from viruses. It blocked the spam but had the side effect of also blocking almost all non-spam. In addition, it failed to block infection. I was unable to send email as the program kept locating viruses in the outgoing mail.
A virus prevented me from scanning to clean up the system and prevented me from installing other virus protection software.
I am sure that there was a simple solution to the problem but am equally sure that the solution was beyond my competence. Finally, with some outside expertise, I ripped out the entire software package, was able to load different virus software and to partially run a scan. The new software would crash part way through the scan but by repeating the process many times, I think that I have finally removed all of the infections. Over 1000 files were infected.
Once I cleaned up the system, I received more than 40,000 emails that had been waiting. If you sent me something and I did not respond, I apologize. I probably now have your email buried among thousands of offers to buy Viagra or to make a fortune on EBay.
At any rate, I think that those problems have now resolved. Once I have an opportunity to catch up on the news, I will begin regular postings.
It should be obvious that you're absolutely right to prioritize blogging well below family and career. It just should be said that you've been missed.
Posted by: Ted Barlow at May 26, 2004 01:07 PMLonely and slightly confused Right Winger seeks intelligent but gentle Left Winger for meaningful discussion of today’s issues. Show me the error of my ways, PLEASE.
http://pep.typepad.com/
Welcome back, Dwight. I hope your dealings with the insurance company are mercifully brief and positive.
Posted by: emily at May 26, 2004 06:07 PMThanks Emily. They may turn out positive but I doubt they will be brief.
Posted by: dwight meredith at May 26, 2004 06:26 PMDwight: Mailwasher. Works like a charm.
Good luck w/the insurance. I just found out that I now owe $900 out-of-pocket for *my* TMJ stuff after my insurance company paid their predictable pittance. Unfortunately, I had on the wrong pair of pants and didn't have the wad of thousand dollar bills on me so I'm having to setup monthly payments as if I were some sort of working stiff instead of a multi-billionaire. ;)
Posted by: Ricky at May 30, 2004 10:25 AM