Jul 04

2010s technology, 1990s computer

Posted on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at 4:37 PM by Jeff

Through use of a digital converter, it is possible to watch television through the coax port on a Power Macintosh 6500. Just put the converter between the wall jack and computer, set Apple Video Player to Channel 3/4, and use the converter to change channels. Why? Why not?

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2010s technology, 1990s computer
Jul 02

The division between sunny and hot

Posted on Monday, July 2, 2012, at 2:30 PM by Jeff

Highs of 95 and 96? Just “sunny,” according to the National Weather Service. But 97? That’s hot. Check out those “lows.” Now, how about a nice tall glass of air?

It seems almost unfair for us to get a whole week of 90s and not even have a single 100-degree day to show for it. If it’s going to be hot, make it hot.

UPDATE 7/3: The NWS launched its redesigned website yesterday. The forecast icons are the same, but enlarged. And now, I see a forecast for four straight days with a high of 99.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The division between sunny and hot
Jul 02

Carroll, Creston sorting centers to close

Posted on Monday, July 2, 2012, at 10:31 AM by Jeff

There was one more attempt to save them, but that failed. The sorting centers in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids will remain open, at least.

Posted in Post offices | Comments Off on Carroll, Creston sorting centers to close
Jun 30

So long, mac.com page

Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 3:28 PM by Jeff

It’s a weekend of goodbyes.

After more than a decade, homepage.mac.com/jeffmorrison expires at midnight, as Apple cancels iTools/.Mac/MobileMe in favor of iCloud.

The web-hosting service served me very, very well. I am sad to see it go.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on So long, mac.com page
Jun 29

Goodbye to Missouri and A&M

Posted on Friday, June 29, 2012, at 12:00 PM by Jeff

IOWA STATE/KANSAS: I hope you’re happy! I hope you’re happy now! I hope you’re happy how you hurt your cause forever! I hope you think you’re clever!

MISSOURI/TEXAS A&M: I hope you’re happy! I hope you’re happy too! I hope you’re proud how you would grovel in submission to feed your own ambition!

ALL: So though I can’t imagine how, I hope you’re happy right now…

—The beginning of “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked”*

Thirty-six hours after this post is published, Missouri and Texas A&M will no longer be members of the Big 12 Conference. The University of Missouri will sever its ties to three universities it has been together with for more than half the time Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri have been states. Texas A&M, the biggest Little Brother around, is going to move out of the family home.

I don’t wish them luck in the SEC. I want them to struggle and beg for a bowl game in Shreveport. I want the remainder of the old Big Eight to blackball Missouri and the old Southwest Conference to do the same to A&M. I want the loss of the Border War to stand for the historical consequences of conference realignment. When a roommate stabs you in the back, leaves you for dead, and then says, “But we can still be friends, right?” you don’t have a reconciliation in the next year or the next decade.

The Big 12, fortunately, is moving on. TCU and West Virginia will be coming in. The conference will live. It will be different, again. Parts of the history that makes college sports what it is will be just that, history.

*Yes, I realize I have put MU and A&M in the role of the protagonist. I choose to ignore that inconvenient fact for the sake of this lyrical excerpt. Besides, Elphaba still becomes a Wicked Witch. 😛

This is a timed post.
Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Goodbye to Missouri and A&M
Jun 27

ATTN: It’s hot out

Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at 3:09 PM by Jeff

The view from my computer’s menu bar: 

At least nothing here is on fire, unlike Colorado. Scary pictures coming out of there.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on ATTN: It’s hot out
Jun 27

Iowa and MLB blackouts

Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at 12:44 PM by Jeff

The good thing about Des Moines is that it’s two hours from Omaha, three hours from Kansas City, four hours from the Twin Cities, six hours from St. Louis, and six hours from Chicago. The bad thing about Des Moines is that it’s two hours from Omaha, three hours from Kansas City, four hours from the Twin Cities, six hours from St. Louis, and six hours from Chicago.

In Major League Baseball’s blackout rules, this centralized location is a huge disadvantage. From Yahoo Sports:

The arbitrariness of MLB’s territories – seriously, six teams want to claim Iowa as their own? – lends a sense of unfairness to the system.

The map is pretty interesting. Iowa is one of two regions to be claimed by six teams — the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Royals, Twins, and White Sox. The other is southern Nevada — but what’s up with that piece of the middle of the state with a special four-team overlap? Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds are sharing territory all the way down to northern Mississippi. Even the Royals claim six states.

The writer discusses a lawsuit about the antitrust exemption that baseball has and no other sports does. It’s an interesting read.

Although the blackout rules prevent many Iowans from watching Midwest baseball games (the next Brewers fan I see from Iowa will be the first), it’s kind of nice to be wanted for a change.

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Iowa and MLB blackouts
Jun 26

Video of derecho damage in Traer

Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 11:08 AM by Jeff

The one-year anniversary of the derecho that struck central Iowa is approaching. This video on YouTube shows the immediate aftermath. (Caution for language. But in fairness, if you saw the side of an industrial building ripped apart you’d swear too.) This group also went to Dysart.

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Video of derecho damage in Traer
Jun 24

Ed Thomas, 1950-2009

Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 8:00 AM by Jeff

Three years ago today.

The year before, ESPN had done a piece about Thomas and the tornado recovery in Parkersburg.

2011 followup in Sports Illustrated.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Ed Thomas, 1950-2009
Jun 23

More Sabula bridge construction information

Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 6:17 PM by Jeff

The Illinois DOT is going to have a meeting about the US 52 bridge next week. The project engineer says the goal is to keep the existing bridge open during construction in 2015-17, which would be a very good thing considering that the next bridges up and down the Mississippi are in Dubuque and Clinton.

Illinois will be taking the lead on this project, according to both the article and the official page. No materials are online yet.

(NOTE: The Illinois DOT’s website is dot.state.il.us, not dot.il.gov as stated in the info box.)

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on More Sabula bridge construction information