outsdr | Weekly Update

First off, Happy birthday to

slomosexual!

It's bitterly cold here, and has been all week. It's 0 degrees F outside right now; we had about 8 inches of snow yesterday, and the hot water in our house froze yesterday.

Wat.

Through various investigative techniques, I think I finally determined that the water line coming from the tank that then goes into the house froze up, because it's hot at the tank and gets really cold before it enters the house (our water heater is accessible from the outside of the house.) I insulated the tank earlier this week, and I think I must have blocked some of the airflow that comes from inside the house (warm air from under the bathroom cabinets) which allowed that pipe to freeze. I put a heat tape on it and hopefully that thaws it out. If not, I'm going to put some pipe insulation over the tape and hope THAT heats it up enough to thaw, and stay thawed.

But if that doesn't work, we'll probably have to remove the water heater to get to the pipes behind it to thaw them by hand. Which will suck, verily.

Um, otherwise ... I want to study for my A+ certifications tonight, but I can't, because I have a computer to repair and another one to build. Figures.

Received a letter to the editor in support of my writing, which was nice. You can read it here.

Or here:

If you don’t like it, don’t read it

Editor:

This is in response to a letter published in the December 26th edition and submitted by Catheron and Bill Oviatt concerning Tim Kepple’s editorial pieces. I was amused, confused and offended by the content of your letter, Mr. and Mrs. Oviatt, and I would like to take the opportunity to tell you why.

You said that you were not disputing the fact that Mr. Kepple has the right to pen anything he wishes but seemed outraged that the LJ would publish it. In one fell swoop, you supported his right to free speech under the First Amendment and then blasted the editorial staff for their right of freedom of the press guaranteed under the same umbrella. This is also the amendment that affords you the opportunity to voice your opinion and covers me in my rebuttal. Think about that.

You also referred to his pieces in a plural sense, which I took to mean that you have read more than one of them. I have to wonder why you continued if you found them so offensive! And the fact that you know what is in the “Adults Only” literature section...?

Yes, you have the right to express your opinion and you even have the right to cancel your subscription if you wish...although that seems a little like throwing the baby out with the bath water to me. What you do NOT have the right to do is attempt to strong arm the editorial staff at the LJ into printing only what you feel is appropriate, nor do you have the right to dictate what I or any other reader of this paper sees in the content.

I find Mr. Kepple’s work very refreshing, funny at times and poignant at others. I’m sure that will give you cause to address my sense of humor now too, but at least I can say that I have a sense of humor. Not so sure about you.

The bottom line here, folks, is simple: If you don’t like it, don’t read it! Whether you cancel your subscription or merely slide past any future pieces by Mr. Kepple and move onto something you are interested in reading is up to you. But leave my freedom to read what I want to alone!!!!

Sincerely,

The original writers submitted a terse response after this letter was published that I will share next weekend.

So, I guess that's it, really.