I just upgraded the blog to the newest version of WordPress. It shouldn’t change much, but if you notice anything weird on the site let me know.

None of what follows (except for the stuff about my obsessive need to finish the video game baseball season) is news. It has all been said, much more eloquently than this, many times. But that’s never stopped me before. So let’s get started.

So, I went to England and Ireland. I did a lot of stuff and took a lot of pictures. Here’s a rough chronological summary of what I did, along with some of the photos I took (whole set available here):

I’ve got to give credit where it’s due. After getting back from my trip last week (more on that later), I discovered that I had some extremely annoying problems with my Comcast Tivo service. The next day I called to complain and, hopefully, get it fixed. Although the tech person I talked to couldn’t fix it, she was very apologetic and friendly and we scheduled a customer service visit. Then I woke up today to find everything working again. So when I called to cancel my upcoming appointment to fix it, I asked if they could credit my account for the time my DVR wasn’t working. And without any complications or questions or anything, the customer service dude credited the full month’s cost of the box and Tivo service. Obviously, I would prefer that everything just work, but any interaction with telecom customer service that goes so smoothly deserves note–it’s only fair, since I was quite prepared to pillory them for what I assumed would happen.

Good customer service fever… catch it!

I created a bracket group at ESPN.com. You are encouraged to join.

I don’t know how big the overlap is between internet dorks and NCAA dorks, but I’m sure there are a few others out there. Also, while I was out of town I may have missed someone else’s post doing the same thing. If so, who cares. Join my bracket, too.

Here is the info you need to play (cut and pasted from the email I didn’t bother to send):

This message is from Jake who is challenging you to play Men’s Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.

This game gives you the chance to win $10,000 by predicting the winner of the most games in the 63 game men’s college basketball tournament. A correct selection in the first round counts as 10 points, and in each succesive [sic, ESPN's fairly dumb error that spell check should have caught] round the point values are doubled. You can create up to ten entries, and best of all, it’s FREE to play.

Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=82612

Game Front:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage

Group: jake’s house of bracket
Password: internet

I’m leaving America for a week. Here’s something to remember me by:

From an online chat with Charlotte Allen (remember her?):

Washington: “They Scream, They Swoon. How Dumb Can Blacks Get?” “They Scream, They Swoon. How Dumb Can Men Get?” “They Scream, They Swoon. How Dumb Can Latinos Get?” Ha ha! Very funny. I’m laughing my head off. Inside. Get a clue.

Charlotte Allen: Is this a compliment or an insult?

…

New York: Do you think women are aware of the hypocrisy with their anger toward this column? Specifically I refer to the whole litany of TV programs, magazines (like Marie Claire) and society and popular culture as a whole that makes humor at the expense of men everyday. Do you feel the angry responses validated your article?

Charlotte Allen: Very much so. I’ve heard from women with Ivy League degrees complaining that they’re oppressed, female graduates of top law schools complaining that they’re oppressed. C’mon!

Is it possible that this woman seriously doesn’t understand the difference between perpetuating harmful stereotypes about a group that has been historically (and is presently) oppressed, and making fun of those in a position of power?

I mean, I guess it is possible, but I find it much more likely that this is a shameless and disingenuous effort to get Ms. Allen a little more notoriety. I mean, these distinctions are fundamental and obvious ones. People who have actually struggled with injustice, rather than leverage it for a book deal, already understand why going after the powerful is very different from going after the politically- and socially-oppressed.

This is one mediocre Brooklyn accent away from pure genius. And it even has a nice little Katharine Hepburn joke at the end.

[fimoculous]