… and maybe 50lbs lighter. I used the SimpsonizeMe site and came up with this. Actually, the original gave me all-white hair and beard, and made me look a bit like Peter Frampton when he was Simpsonized a few years back. I had to tweak the hair, eyebrows, and moustache a bit, but otherwise I look pretty good as a Simpsons character.
Hele On To… Aotearoa?
After quickly regrouping and pulling our Hilo lives back together, we’re starting to look toward the future again. I’ve been corresponding with the faculty of the music department at the University of Otago in Aotearoa (New Zealand) again, and they have been very encouraging about my beginning Ph.d. studies there in February 2008. Some details remain to be worked out, but unless a major obstacle is encountered we will likely be in Dunedin by January. What is exciting about this is that there are no issues in having my family accompany me there. Foreign students seeking a Ph.d. there are…
Mobile Themes Installed
I’ve installed new plugins here on Culture Hack that identify access by mobile devices such as the iPhone and others. If you are accessing from a mobile device and experience any difficulty please let me know and I’ll look into it. My buddy Kenneth Makuak?ne pointed me to Mobi as a possible wireless provider with reasonable fees and no long-term commitments. Their site says they are not available on the neighbor islands yet, but Kenneth was able to get a signal from Hilo town and even our home when he visited last night. Apparently they are working on rolling out…
Wireless-less-ness
Russ, Bernie and others have written eloquent pieces that address the concerns, whines and gripes of non-mobilites, long-time netizens, and mobile newbies. I’ve fit into several of these categories at various times, and had hoped to join the hardcore mobile generation during our now-aborted stay in Cork. Upon return to east Hawai‘i island, I began to investigate our wireless options, and found them limited. Our area has neither DSL nor cable. My son’s Verizon mobile phone is only marginally usable on our lanai (porch) but nowhere in the house. He bought a 3G card that works near the eastern edge…
WordPress 2.3 Ships
WordPress 2.3, code named “Dexter” (for jazz great Dexter Gordon), has shipped. I’m looking forward to taking it for a spin. Look for it to be implemented here on Culture Hack sometime this week. Update: Site upgraded with no issues (knocks on wood). I also implemented the same template that I use on Nahenahe.net with a change in the color scheme. I like clean.
Final Thoughts On Our Dublin Disaster
We stopped in Las Vegas for a few days of R&R before heading back to Hawai’i. Flights were cheap and hotel prices reasonable in mid-week. Doing any gaming was out of the question with the string of bad luck we’ve been on, so we’ve just wandered the town, tried a few rides, saw Blue Man Group last night, and will perhaps catch a movie on this, our last day here. There has been continuing interest in our case back in Ireland. I’ve received calls and emails from various newspapers, some of whom have written about our ordeal and are following…
Heading Home
Aloha kakou. It is with a heavy heart that our family is packing up and will be headed home tomorrow, with a slight detour for R&R and to heal our wounds and souls. I received a fax from the Gardai Superintendent’s office that informed us that our appeal was denied; in his opinion the officer who refused us land was in compliance with immigration law and policy and was justified in his decision. Unfortunately the reason given to the Superintendent by said officer was that he claimed that we did not tell him the truth when he first asked us…
Philadelphia, Monday, 17 Sept.
I decided to cease blogging activities for the past weekend as there was no indication that there would be any news until today, and so far this is little to report now either. The prognosis does not appear to be good for a reversal of our initial refusal, though indications are that a solo attempt to re-enter Ireland would not be impaired by that previous attempt. We’re holding on a bit more for news today, if none comes, I may return on short notice. I probably won’t announce it here for obvious reasons, however, it will be through normal immigration…
Philadelphia, Day 4
I hate to sound like a scratched record, but no postive news from Ireland today, though there is continued discussion on our case. Conn and Deputy Ruairi Quinn continue to champion our cause, not only for our benefit but to shed light on the inadequacy of and lack of clarity in policies related to dependent families of students traveling to Ireland. Conn and TD Quin appeared in a forum on KCLR radio in Kilkenny this morning, I’m sorry that I did not have time to post a link before the show. (Update: Ken McGuire has posted audio of the discussion.…
Philadelphia, Day 3
I awoke this morning after the best night’s sleep I’ve gotten since we returned to the states on Friday evening, albeit with a nasty headache. There does not seem to be much else for us to do but play the waiting game; it’s all in the hands of folks in Ireland at this point. No news from there awaited when we woke up. On the advice of my aunt and Conn we will be getting out of the house seeing the sights of Philadelphia today. It’s my daughter’s first visit here and wife’s second. Unfortunately there is no room in…