go! even though i won't be there, cake, champagne, and loads of awesome people will be. i expect detailed reports!

according to mr. loop, i live within a block or two of seriously killer margaritas. this is an option i'll be exploring in the next few days. but let's all hope they aren't quite as killer as the 10 or 11 susan and i downed (with disastrous results) on our last forray into the city.

Spurred by the news that it just got bought for $2+ billion, I finally tried out Skype last night. Charles gave me a hand trying it out, and with 10 euros worth of SkypeOut credit loaded up, I called the apartment. And hey, it worked pretty well. Charles' voice was very clear, albeit slightly delayed. My own voice could be understood, but the Axim's lousy integrated microphone made it pretty muddy. On the other hand, our 150 second call cost all of three cents — and if I had been calling another Skype user, it would've been free.

So it was pretty cool. All it would take is a cheap bluetooth headset to make it really cool. The only problem, from my perspective, is justifying this gadget. I've already got a VoIP phone for work. I've already got a cell phone with free long distance (but not many minutes). Neither of them have integrated bluetooth, meaning the headset would only be good for Skype — which, as I mentioned, solves a telephony problem I don't really have.

Well, screw it. I can always get one of these suckers to make my non-BT phones ready to play with the wireless headset. I've never been able to resist a sexy new gadget. Between this and the sidekick, I somehow seem to be extremely susceptible to marketing conducted via rap star product placement. Seems a bit odd given that I barely listen to any rap at all.

Sorry, but I haven't got much to say today. This project is stressful, and that our secretary/customer handler just broke her leg badly enough to preclude work isn't helping anything.

I've got a 9:15 flight to Chicago, though. Assuming I can pack quickly enough after work, make it to the Metro and catch the right bus to Dulles, I'll be staggering from OHare to Catherine's new digs later tonight, then hanging around Chicago until Sunday.

Given the relative lateness of the flight, I'm desperate to avoid checking any bags... but also a little worried. My carry-on will include a wireless router and a big bag of quarters (from Catherine's abandoned change jar, to be put toward laundry) in addition to the piles of technological geegaws that routinely accompany me on any trip further than a block from my house. What is he planning? And does it involve buying a lot of sodas? will think the TSA employees as they try to inconspicuously edge toward the red button on the wall behind them. I just hope Catherine doesn't send me any emails asking if I can bring the giant ceremonial dagger she accidentally left behind.

A portable version of firefox that works on Windows and OS X. Stick it on a thumbdrive and never again waste time synching extensions and bookmarks between work and home.

daily candy today has a list of a few fun wifi spots in chicago. anyone know of where i can find some more?

Something weird's going on with comments. I didn't change anything, and I doubt Catherine did. Nothing looks wrong in the settings. Angry emails have been sent to our webhost. I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: Scratch that. Looks like the word "NMAP" somehow got onto our commentspam blacklist, and the error page that's responsible for letting users know their comment looks spammy is missing, generating a frightening-looking error. If you aren't posting a comment about that particular port scanning tool, you should be fine.