Don't Back Down

I've noticed lately that stop signs seem to be malfunctioning. Something in my brain tells me that they used to work much more efficiently. I know it was a long time ago, but didn't it used to be possible for more than one vehicle to enter the intersection at the same time?

For instance, the North and South cars could both cross simultaneously if neither was turning. The same for the East and West. Yet these days it seems as if only one direction goes at any given time. And what's worse is that drivers now seem to have the mentality that their arrival at the line for the intersection is the most important aspect. Taking turns just doesn't happen.

I appreciate that if I'm in a line waiting my turn that it's difficult to do just that. But the stop sign-governed intersection used to be able to handle the round-robin action. Now people are so interested in making sure they don't lose out to someone, they often take their turn well before their direction should be moving.

The same is true for one-lane traffic, specifically if you're talking about a bridge. Or merging. And if you don't, you lose your place to someone who will do so rather than wait. What goes around comes around and all that is nice, but it would be awfully satisfying if it came around a lot faster.

I tell you, this wish list thing is cool. Just today, I received The Shawshank Redemption (on DVD) delivered to my door (well, to the mailbox), with absolutely no effort on my part. Many thanks go out to Patrick from Nova Scotia, who seems to like MT-Outliner!

Read "I've Got Mail!" »

I've just finished making the final adjustments to the code for MT-SomeDays version 3.6.0.

This version adds exactly one new feature: The limit attribute. The limit attribute works almost exactly like the lastn attribute on the <MTEntries> container. That is to say, it determines the number of entries that are returned by the container.

Read "MT-SomeDays 3.6.0" »

Today, Denise and I were cutting the nails for the dogs, and noticed something laying in the backyard. Looked about like a bird's nest or something, so we let it lie there for a little bit while we finished. After we finished, we're playing catch with the frisbee - that is to say that we are throwing the frisbee and the dogs are catching it - and we decided we needed to take a look.

Read "The Chicken has Landed" »

A new release of MT-Notifier is available. There is little to no functional improvement in this version of the plugin. If you already have the plugin installed, you may want to skip this upgrade. At the same time, there are some cool new features, so you may want to pick it up. It should be painless to upgrade MT-Notifier for those who are already using it.

Read "MT-Notifier 1.4.0" »

An article in today's Observer (free registration may be required) talks about one solution to violations of a school dress code. The school provides an oversized shirt for the person to wear. This frees the parents from having to go get proper clothes, it puts the violator back in class almost immediately and it has the benefit of adding humor to the situation.

The problem? Those bothered by such obviously humiliating tactics feel that such action on the part of the school can psychologically damage a young mind. Are these people for real?

A dress code exists. Your child decides not to adhere to the dress code. Whether you allow this behavior directly, or indirectly by not challenging the child, you support it. The student goes to school, where someone calls them on it. They have to wear a baggy shirt the rest of the day to cover their violations.

What do you think about such a decision? Should the school just let the student wear whatever they want, in direct violation of the school code? Or perhaps let them sit there until you can get off of work, go home, get some new clothes and take them to the school? Perhaps just suspend the student from school instead and give them a day off? Maybe we should bring back spankings in the school, and let the principal break out the paddle?

I want to hear your ideas. But before you write, take a look at the facts: At two other schools, representatives say that the problem of dress code violations is now nonexistent. So the policy seems to work.