BillSaysThis

Another Storage blog

Not much news out of Liverpool since Gerard Houllier was deposed, just a few players departing and rumors of new signings or at least player interest. With Jose Mourinho all set to take over at Chelsea, even though Ranieri is still on the payroll, the main rumor I hear is for Valencia’s Benitez to be the new manager; the Spanish and UEFA Cup champions, however, are not keen on losing him and appear to be negotiating a new deal so he’ll stay.

Other possibilities spoken of are Charlton’s Alan Curbishley and Celtic’s Martin O’Neill; the latter particularly has long been the subject of speculation and Curbishly would be making an interesting move considering his current club only finished three places and seven points back of the Reds.

Player Changes:

Emile Heskey, a starter for both LFC and England, apparently couldn’t quite meet the standards with his slower, more physical style, especially with Cisse coming to Anfield this Summer, so he was sold to Middlesboro 10 days ago for £3.5M (which could rise to £6.25M if conditions are met). One of my fellow SpoFites/Liverpool supporters, a rough character himself who goes by StarFucker, was more than a litle happy at this subtraction.

Djimi Traore, a defender who never really broke though to a starting spot on the squad in five seasons, is moving to West Brom for a £1M fee. He showed some speed and opportunism when given some playing time this past year (the time came due to Carragher’s and Finnan’s injuries, mostly) but I guess not enough. His new team needs to bulk up as they earned promotion from the First Dvision into the Premiership and I have to think Traore is a good buy for the Baggies.

Markus Babbel, a defender who lost his starting spot a couple of seasons ago when he was injured and then couldn’t play his way back in, has returned after a season’s loan at Blackburn Rovers. Whether there is space for Babbel is an open question and he may head home to a German side.

One tranfer that didn’t happen is goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to PSV Eindhoven. The Polish National Team player knows he is likely second choice to Chris Kirkland and has had the bulk of playing time over the last two seasons only due to injuries, but apparently wants to wait and see who will take over before making a decision on a change of scenery.

Meanwhile, England and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has come out and essentially asked the Reds to buy his contract. Hargreaves is only 23 but has spent his career with the German giants and would probably figure better into the national squad if he made a move to the EPL. I think he would certainly be an improvement over Diouf and Cheyrou on the right side if a deal can be arranged.

Djibril Cisse will sign, for a £14M fee, on the first of July to move over from Auxerre and presumably battle Milan Baros to partner with Michael Owen. Cisse, by the way, lead the French league in scoring with 26 goals, ten more than Owen managed. One might wonder where this leaves the player who showed some flash last season, the not yet 20 year old Florent Sinama-Pongolle, but seasons are very long and injuries put shoes on the turf all the time.

All this will be settled soon, I suppose, since the Reds will regroup for training in mid-July after the European nations settle the trophy in Portugal. The team will head to America for two matches (July 28 and August 3) as part of the Champions World event but sadly both will be held on the East Coast and I will miss the first opportunity since I became an ‘active’ fan to see them play live.

After the original release in the year of my birth, Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land was a key element in the blast that threw science fiction from the dregs of the Golden Age storytelling into the literature of the New Wave. One might, if one were daring enough, connect the book’s popularity among college students and message that freeing one’s attitudes towards sexuality from the mores of the post-War period as the key to personal redemption as a seminal factor in the sexual revolution that began only a few years later.

In 1990, two years after Heinlein’s death, his wife authorized the release of the “original uncut” version of the novel. Her forward to this edition justified it with a claim that he was never happy with the massive cuts (from over 200,000 words down to 150,000) imposed by his ublishing house, that the deleted material contained much of value. For historical reasons major fans of the author’s probably ought to read this version but for anyone else I recommend the classic version.

What is gained in all these extra pages? Little in the way of additional plot or character development and much in the way of Heinlein opinion and attitude. In ways that came to flower fully in Time Enough For Love, he explicates in annoying depths on religion, politics, relationships and sexuality. Even editing that was done to strengthen the language and impact has been removed and that is also a bad thing.

Sadly: not recommended

The third collaboration between Joel and Ethan Coen, 1990’s Miller’s Crossing is perhaps the most realist, the least fantastic, of any film they’ve made. Gabriel Byrne stars as the “bright young boy”/right hand to political/crime boss Albert Finney (who sports an odd reddish blonde ‘do for his part). Getting in between them are Marcia Gay Harden as a grifter with her eye on the prize and Jon Polito (Homicide: Life on the Streets) as a rival fed up with the situation.

When I saw this on the program grid I figured the time had finally come to grab the chance and see it; after all, I’ve been hearing great things about for years and usuallyoften enjoy the Coen Brothers’ work. But while Byrne and Gay Harden were pretty good, the visual were very moody and well-suited, the movie as a whole didn’t really strike me as highest level.

Good, mind you, just not great. My biggest issue, as it so often is, concerns the dramatic tension and the lack thereof. There are plot twists and clever transitions but the last act doesn’t ratchet up tight enough to really kick things over the top.

recommended

CNet had an interview with BEA’s Alfred Chuang today and linked back to their story when BEA’s acquisition of WebLogic was announced. That article in turn links to the article about Sun’s acquisition weeks before of NetDynamics.

One of the funny memories of that time was the morning in July I came back from vacation. I asked the guy in the next cube if anything had happened while I was away and he said, casual as could be, that Sun had bought us. Since our CEO Zack Rinat had always told the staff that his goal was to build a billion dollar company, I had expected any acquisition news to feature us as the buyer. My boss wasn’t in that early so I went over to his boss and asked for the details and Russ confirmed it. Quite a bit of news to digest before coffee!

HGTTG scripter interviews himself

No such thing as too much Simpsons!

Avoiding Web Bugs in Microsoft Word: explanation and solution [via FtT]

Early season Aussie Rules action and Geelong is really bringing it on tonight against Essendon in the first period. Geelong rulez!

Keeblers has put out some tasty low carb chocolate chocolate chip cookies and, as LordB predicted, now that the big food companies are getting into the sport, quality’s going up and prices down.

Enterprise just went to the last commercial break on the season finale with Archer seemingly caught up in a massive explosion. But you know when we get back he’ll have been pulled out by a transporter in the nick of time. Sad how writers can’t find more believable ways to bring out suspense in such a rich context.

After the break: Well, smack me in the face–the writers sure did come up with a final few minutes that twisted past anything I expected! WWII fighters and blue-skinned aliens with lots of sharp teeth and no antenna. Now I am interested to see what’ll happen Friday nights this Fall.

FC Porto showed real power and cohesion in winning the Champions League final today. The first few minutes were unsettled but after that Monaco had almost zero offense and barely got off any shots on goal the rest of the way. 19 year old new Brazilian star Carlos Alberto, a surprise starter for Porto, got the first score in the 39th minute and after that the outcome was never in doubt as the Portuguese team’s back line was taller than six Shaqs in midieval armor. But fast.

There was a shot of Porto coach Jose Mourinho after the third goal, he was calmly drinking from his water bottle, but I could just hear the dollarEuro signs rining in his head as he calculated how much extra the result would be worth in his next contract. After taking the three best trophies he could this year–Portuguese League and Cup plus this massive bit of silverware–the possibility of him not moving to a major club is nearly nil.

After the game, the coach confirmed he expects to be named head of a club in the Premiership in the next few days. The hot rumor is Chelsea, which still has not settled with Claudio Ranieri, but also mentioned is topless Liverpool. Don’t think I need to tell you where I’d rather this new genius lands.

1. Why is it Volkswagon Passats only come in silver, white and black?
2. Was not Jack’s tearful breakdown at the end of 24 excellent?

Viv, Bill and Jacob

We just finished watching Love Actually with the commentary track featuring director Richard Curtis and actors Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy and Thomas Sangster (plays the drummer, Liam Neeson’s boy). Chemistry and a good sense of humor really made this enjoyable, probably something I should do with more of the DVDs; also brought out a ton of little factoids. Still, I can’t believe the poor reception this terrific film got when it came out, I think it’s so funny, sweet, smart and romantic.

Security on PCs must be serious, MSFT has released a Threat Modeling Tool.

JRobb points out what he termed the DOD’s corporate site. What I see, though, is an attempt to frame the news and deliver it from a very specific point of view; without the Defense logo, one might think one was reading a news website. Compare it to the US Treasury’s main site, for example (using a more equivalent URL for Defense makes no difference).

Also from JRobb: Herfing

Be careful what you ask for

When you’re dreaming in the night time

Cause you don’t know when you wake up

If your askings will be there

If the colors start to fracture

As you turn to look away

Consider that the colors tell

Each other just what to say

In the landscape in your left eye

Lush greens flower with a whisper

That can be heard above lower branches

On this side of the smaller river

Your right eye flashes black and white

Back and forth, and when light hits

Animals stand, then jump, then twist

Away to the horizon and darkness

BangBangBang–a cracking noise behind

Three times and when you turn firecracker

Paper is floating to the grass and

Clowns smile, or at least their paint does

Up the river comes a huge brown canoe

Pairs of men seated from front to back

Straining muscles to pull along rafts

Strung behind it, covered in gold bars

The paddlers chant in a wild mixture,

French, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi,

Softer and louder, softer and louder

Picking up the pace of the boat

BangBangBang–you whirl around again, don’t you?

No firecracker paper, no gun, no smoke

The light flashes again but what you

See is only two empty suits standing

The canoe comes to shore fifty yards

From where you stand and the rafts crash

In behind them and the bricks spill

Onto the grass and the men scream

The suits race to grab at the bricks,

The paddlers wave their hands wildly in the air

You scream “Stop no Stop no Stop no”

The bricks explode into firecracker paper

Be careful what you ask for

When you’re dreaming in the night time

Cause you don’t know when you wake up

If your askings will be there

“Digital cameras, camcorders and cellphones with cameras have been prohibited in military compounds in Iraq,” said a source inside the Pentagon, adding that a “total ban throughout the US military” is in the works.

Yeah, this is important because the Administration would rather cover up or hide problems than bring them into the light and correct them. Actually, part of the problem is that the Administration doesn’t appear to see the tortureabuses at places like Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan and Guantanamo as problems needing correction. What I perceive the attitude to be is that some excesses are inevitable and as long as the general direction is towards defeating the enemy, it’s all good. Are we actually moving toward a place with greater security? I don’t believe so and even some high profile conservatives (not neoconservatives) like retired Gen. Zinni and Tom Clancy agree.

With both sides playing squads depleted by injury, the Earthquakes showed their season is getting back on track with a convincing 4-2 win over the LA Galaxy tonight at Spartan Stadium. Dwayne Derosario got a chance to start up front alongside Brian Ching and showed this is a very strong partnership. Pat Onstadt was good, but not great, in goal in what looks to be the last game he and Derosario will play for San Jose for the next two weeks and possibly.

This is because next Sunday both players will be on the Canadian national squad in a friendly against Wales and then come to visit us in a club versus country match as our northern patsiesneighbors warm up for their World Cup qualifier series against Belize and that home and home will be held the following two weekends. The experience ought to be good for our boys but then again, they are the only two MLS players on Canada’s squad.

Back to the game. Dwayne really showed some skills and speed tonight, creating and scoring, and easily earned Man of the Match. Landon dropped back into midfield because Ronnie Ekelund was out with a serious viral infection and though he did get off several shots towards goal, most went over the top and none really challenged LA’s Kevin Hartman.

Brian Ching was really solid as well, scoring the first goal of the game a few minutes before the half and the second a few minutes after. When Brian Mullan drilled a third in the 54th minute the ending seemed clear. And so it was, but not before the Quakes fell asleep for about 20 minutes and let the visitors get two goals back. Fortunately Dwayne got the finisher 10 minutes before the end, snuffing any hope of a collapse.

The first home win puts us over .500 for the first time this season (3-2-3) and keeps us within three points of the Galaxy, who have played one more game at this point. But injuries are a big problem, with Waibel, Brown, Walker and Dayak also not really game fit, and national team duty coming up not only for the Canadian pair but also Landon and Mulrooney with the US. Dominic Kinnear is doing well so far for a rookie headman but June and July will be challenging if he doesn’t get players healthy.

For tonight, though, let’s celebrate another fine win, the team’s third in a row, and the fifth game without a loss. Next Saturday, the Earthquakes visit the Columbus Crew, a dangerous team off to a slow start.

We had a fun afternoon with the chatters at someone’s house in San Leandro, where it was quite cool and bereft of real sunshine. Probably 20, 25 people turned out and that’s pretty good when you consider that we’ve been friends for about three years now. Of course it’s not all the same people, some have drifted out or moved away and others have joined, but I am surprised all the same.

Good to see some of the other couples too, like–using their chat nicknames–ForbiddenIllusion and LoveBugg (getting married later this year) and Spazz and AlanaMae (together for a year now, she was our host). I tried AlanaMae’s lumpia, yummy, and we had a couple of grills going with various meats. We were celebrating some birthdays too, the aforementioned LoveBugg and Ellie too. PrettySmilez showed off her totally cute three week old son.

There ought to be a couple of pictures of Vivian and/or me and I’ll post them when they arrive.

Apparently it’s a good idea to review the manuals every once in awhile when programming since the developers make improvements (versus, that is). I had a fun 15 minutes switching over at work, got to do this for this here website soon too.

When does a price become ridiculous? $2.30 or more for a gallon of gas? Guess not. $30 fee for depositing a check that bounces? Closer. $10 for a movie ticket? Bzzt, there you go. AMC, one of the bigger chains nationwide and owners of the nearest theater I go to these days, just raised their admission to double digits. That’s gonna cut down on my visits.