As Far As You Knowtag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//12008-12-03T06:28:56ZRants and raves from the mind of Ned Gallagher . . .Movable Type 3.31Another Spring Awakeningtag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22292008-12-03T03:25:30Z2008-12-03T06:28:56Z I saw the musical Spring Awakening on Broadway for the second time this evening, but this time had the unusual vantage point of seats on stage. The production is in its final six weeks, and the theater was at...Ned
I saw the musical Spring Awakening on Broadway for the second time this evening, but this time had the unusual vantage point of seats on stage. The production is in its final six weeks, and the theater was at best two-thirds full tonight. Sitting on the side of the stage offered a fascinating perspective on the show. While the sound system and blocking are designed for those sitting out in the audience, I got to see the onstage action at close range and appreciate the acting more than I would have 10 or 12 rows back. It was a fun evening.]]>
Pretty Darn Close To Deadlinetag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22282008-12-02T19:19:44Z2008-12-03T06:31:57ZI just filed my last report at 2:19, just a few minutes past the 2:00 deadline. I don't feel too guilty about this, since I wrote a grand total of 101 reports (for two large sections of 16 students +...Ned
I just filed my last report at 2:19, just a few minutes past the 2:00 deadline. I don't feel too guilty about this, since I wrote a grand total of 101 reports (for two large sections of 16 students + 69 cross country team members), most of them in the past 24 hours. I'll have another 11 comments to write for my advisees in the next few days, once I digest their teachers' remarks, but that will be a walk in the park by comparison.
A Surprisingly Useful Insurance Companytag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22272008-12-01T22:19:57Z2008-12-03T06:21:31ZI just got off the phone with an insurance adjuster and--much to my surprise--it looks like I'll be getting a little more than $1500 as a settlement for my stolen scooter. That's awfully good news!...Ned
I just got off the phone with an insurance adjuster and--much to my surprise--it looks like I'll be getting a little more than $1500 as a settlement for my stolen scooter. That's awfully good news!
The Seagulltag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22252008-11-30T22:50:24Z2008-12-03T06:13:36Z Just caught the critically lauded production of The Seagull on Broadway this afternoon. The show stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mackenzie Crook in the Chekov classic. This play is serious stuff--far from the much lighter farcical fare...Ned
Just caught the critically lauded production of The Seagull on Broadway this afternoon. The show stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mackenzie Crook in the Chekov classic. This play is serious stuff--far from the much lighter farcical fare like Boeing-Boeing I saw here the weekend before. The star-studded cast pulled it off admirably.]]>
Sitting Pretty In The Gardentag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22242008-11-30T19:04:10Z2008-12-03T06:15:37ZI am at Madison Square Garden right now with Christophe Lirola, watching the Rangers play from pretty sweet seats in the second row right behind the goal. Here is the iPhone view from this vantage point:...Ned
]]>
Always Time For A Good Suspense Noveltag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22262008-11-29T06:15:57Z2008-12-03T06:19:36Z It's not exactly challenging literature, but David Baldacci's latest entry in The Camel Club series of thrillers, Divine Justice, is a worthy distraction when I should be finishing my end-of-term reports. This page turner is just the sort of...Ned
It's not exactly challenging literature, but David Baldacci's latest entry in The Camel Club series of thrillers, Divine Justice, is a worthy distraction when I should be finishing my end-of-term reports. This page turner is just the sort of diversion that will leave me some much-needed deadline pressure come the end of the weekend. But the reports themselves aren't due until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, so I really have plenty of time.]]>
My Black Friday Indulgencetag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22232008-11-29T03:28:12Z2008-11-29T04:32:19Z Well, I made my contribution to the recovery of our economy with some Black Friday shopping. Amazon slashed the DVD sets of The Shield to $16, roughly 20 bucks cheaper than the usual discounted price. I couldn't resist that,...Ned
Well, I made my contribution to the recovery of our economy with some Black Friday shopping. Amazon slashed the DVD sets of The Shield to $16, roughly 20 bucks cheaper than the usual discounted price. I couldn't resist that, so I ordered the first six seasons. I've actually never seen an episode of this series--which just wrapped up its final episodes--but I have heard great things about it. Who knows when I'll have the time to watch all of these DVDs, though!]]>
Entourage On Demandtag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22222008-11-28T16:11:45Z2008-11-28T20:13:28Z For some reason, I didn't record this fall's new Entouage episodes to my DVR, so I am taking advantage of Comcast On Demand to finish off this batch. It gives me a way to break up the more mundane...Ned
For some reason, I didn't record this fall's new Entouage episodes to my DVR, so I am taking advantage of Comcast On Demand to finish off this batch. It gives me a way to break up the more mundane tasks on my plate this weekend: the last bit of grading, report writing, and tidying up in the office and at home.]]>
Tennis In 1977tag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22212008-11-28T02:31:59Z2008-11-28T16:36:37Z Tonight I am enjoying a classic match between Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors on Tennis Channel, from the Pepsi Grand Slam Challenge--a special four-player event staged in Florida in the late 1970s. The network is replaying matches from this...Ned
Tonight I am enjoying a classic match between Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors on Tennis Channel, from the Pepsi Grand Slam Challenge--a special four-player event staged in Florida in the late 1970s. The network is replaying matches from this ebent all week; this is the 1977 final. I may well have seen this when it originally aired on CBS; I'd have been in 7th grade at the time. Usually matches played with the older racquet technology look like slow motion nowadays, but this one holds up pretty well; you still get a good sense of Connors' pace and Borg's athleticism. This is fun to watch.]]>
Oh, Those Nutty Aussies!tag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22192008-11-26T21:44:36Z2008-11-26T21:53:00ZThis is just too funny. It's the complete e-mail conversation that Adelaide man David Thorne claims he had with a utility company chasing payment of an overdue bill: From: Jane Gilles Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm To: David Thorne...NedFrom: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account
Dear David,
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account
Dear Jane,
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account
Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account
Dear Jane,
Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account
Dear David,
You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account
Dear Jane,
Yes please.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account
Attached
From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 09.22am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Whose spider is that?
Dear Jane, Are you sure this drawing of a spider is the one I sent you? This spider only has seven legs and I do not feel I would have made such an elementary mistake when I drew it.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.03am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Whose spider is that?
Dear David, Yes it is the same drawing. I copied and pasted it from the email you sent me on the 8th. David your account is still overdue by the amount of $233.95. Please make this payment as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.05am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Automated Out of Office Response
Thankyou for contacting me. I am currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.
Regards, David.
From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.08am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
Hello, I am back and have read through your emails and accept that despite missing a leg, that drawing of a spider may indeed be the one I sent you. I realise with hindsight that it is possible you rejected the drawing of a spider due to this obvious limb ommission but did not point it out in an effort to avoid hurting my feelings. As such, I am sending you a revised drawing with the correct number of legs as full payment for any amount outstanding. I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
I understand and will definately make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
Attached
This is the source.]]>
Perhaps It Really IS A Circle Of Helltag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22202008-11-26T21:23:28Z2008-11-26T22:08:29ZI had the pleasure (?) of spending some time in the offices of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles this afternoon. Though the DMV is certainly an easy target, I came away frustrated by the relatively arbitrary and officious nature...Ned
The New Yorker in hand to pass the time--but when I finally got to the desk, I was told I was too late to take the permit test because my application wasn't time-stamped. I asked how and when it would have been stamped, and was told an inspector stamps the papers of everyone waiting in line at 3:30. I explained that I have been waiting in line since just after 3:00 and that no one came around to stamp anyone's papers. But the woman at the desk didn't seem to believe me and told me she couldn't help me and I'd have to come back Friday. At this point I became a bit more insistent--not nasty, but firm: I reiterated that I could not have possibly gotten to the head of a line with 12-15 people in in the last ten minutes and that she could ask anyone else standing in line if someone had come around to stamp papers at 3:30. With a sigh of exasperation, the clerk disappeared around back with my paperwork. A few minutes later she came out prepared to help me--I guess she ran my name through the computer in the interim--but then told me that getting a motorcycle permit now would do me no good, since there were no license testing dates for the rest of the calendar year. She explained one had to take the licensing test within 60 days of the permit being issued, but all permits would expire on December 31. Moreover, no motorcycle testing would be offered until April. Having spent some time on the DMV website, I was astounded to hear this, since there was no indication online that the testing was limited to certain dates. But since I had no apparent recourse, I left with a smile, knowing I'd have to go through this whole process again at the end of the winter.
Arrgghhhh!]]>
A Faustian Bargaintag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22162008-11-26T07:36:37Z2008-11-26T18:37:48Z I've just gotten home from the city, having seen Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at the Met. For some reason it started late (9 p.m.) and I had to take a taxi to Grand Central in order to make...Ned
I've just gotten home from the city, having seen Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at the Met. For some reason it started late (9 p.m.) and I had to take a taxi to Grand Central in order to make the 12:22 back to New Haven. The production itself has been garnering rave reviews for its stunning visuals, and I can understand why, as the wall of video screens and the software that facilitated interactivity between the singers and the projected images made for quite the spectacle.]]>
A Break In The Actiontag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22172008-11-25T17:38:47Z2008-11-25T19:43:31ZThe last exams of the term were given at school this morning, so I am more or less on break for the next week. That doesn't mean there is nothing to do, however; it will be a busy break. All...Ned
Modern Japan survey for the winter trimester. Add to that some family time on Thanksgiving, and three productions in the city--two plays and one opera--all of which should be enjoyable. And there are all sorts of work-related and personal projects that will need some attention in the next seven days, too. But I will have the advantage of mostly unscheduled expanses of time for a little while, which is a pleasant change of pace.]]>
iPhone 2.2tag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22152008-11-24T23:16:44Z2008-11-25T03:20:40Z The latest upgrade to the iPhone software is growing on me. I downloaded it on Friday when it was release and was able to put the enhanced Maps feature (with Google street view) to good use in Manhattan on...Ned
The latest upgrade to the iPhone software is growing on me. I downloaded it on Friday when it was release and was able to put the enhanced Maps feature (with Google street view) to good use in Manhattan on Saturday. I really like the public transportation routing information--a practical alternative to the driving directions. And downloading podcasts without having to sync with the Mac is a great addition, too.
And since I'm on the subject of technological progress, the Google Mobile iPhone app with voice recognition is just awesome!]]>
Digital Deliverytag:www.nedgallagher.com,2008:/journal//1.22182008-11-24T16:25:43Z2008-11-25T20:28:33Z The New Yorker is now publishing a digital edition that arrives on my computer screen each Monday. As a subscriber, I get free access to this service, which presents the pages of the magazine (including ads) in large, easy-to-read...NedThe New Yorker is now publishing a digital edition that arrives on my computer screen each Monday. As a subscriber, I get free access to this service, which presents the pages of the magazine (including ads) in large, easy-to-read format. Since I usually get my copy delivered mid-week, this is a nice way to get a sneak peek at the contents of a week's issue. ]]>
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account
Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account
Dear Jane,
Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account
Dear David,
You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account
Dear Jane,
Yes please.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account
Attached
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
I understand and will definately make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.
Regards, David.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?
Attached