[Note: The dangers of blogging.

I put up a regrettable post last night. The title of it is all that remains (well, also comments), but it takes on a whole new, and appropriate meaning. As I said in it, I was grumpy from lack of sleep, and frustrated from a seeming inability to post all day, but that's not an excuse. I can't even claim that I had overimbibed, but that's not an excuse, either--no one (at least as far as I can remember) has ever strapped me down, cackling, and thrust a one-gallon funnel down my gullet. Short version of it: I was childishly whining because I couldn't log on from the conference.

I'm not deleting it completely because that always seems a little Orwellian, but it was, as Keith correctly notes in the comments that I am leaving up, an epistle that the AIAA neither would or should appreciate, and it should not remain on the web (this note is mainly for those who might still manage to read it if Google was so unfortunately overdiligent as to have cached it last night).

Even if it were true (I understand now that it was not), it was completely unjustified, and simply a symptom of how spoiled we (or at least I) have become in the early twenty-first century, with expectations, if not outright demands, of the instant gratification of ubiquitous abundant bandwidth. I have had my differences with AIAA over the years, but they are a vital institution to this industry. Like NASA, they are staffed and supported by great people operating under the constraints of their institution. This conference in particular is great (of which I'll write more later), and despite that churlish growl, I do appreciate them much.

Mark Twain once wrote, "A dog will not bite the hand that feeds him. This is the principal difference between a man and a dog." Although you can't always tell on the Internet, I am not a dog.]

"There is no wireless in the convention center"

Huh? I used the free WiFi for hours today courtesy of AIAA. So did dozens of people around me. Right outside of the room that Muncy, Wingo and I spoke in - you know, the one you were sitting in. Totally free. Nice strong signal. You can even see the router hanging on the pillar over the tables. Easy as pie to use.

Look a little harder next time - before you dump on the people who let you in for free. I don't think AIAA would appreciate reading your post here.

Apparently, they think that reporters write stuff off line, and then just take a few minutes to zap them up to their editor. If so, that may be the way that reporters work, but it's certainly not the way bloggers do.

Why can't bloggers do this? If you mean you do research on your subject prior to simply reporting whatever you heard from a sole source, then I understand why you need to be on-line for a long time. Otherwise, I don't understand what prevents you from typing up a log file off-line and then posting that log when you get a chance.

You're right, Keith. In fact, I saw the signal, but couldn't connect. Or rather, it said it was connected, but I had no gateway. I'm sure it was something I was doing wrong.

My rule was always to a) never write mad b) if I do write something negative then sleep before posting.

Of course, I would then break those rules, feel bad and vow to do better NEXT time. Whereupon I would break them again.

But hey, it's the Internet. Everyone is a grouchy bonehead at least some of the time. :-) At least you had the guts to apologise.

Well, I found the problem this morning. When I tried yesterday, it was down during the time that I was attempting it. It seems to be working fine now, since I'm posting this from the press area of the convention center.

That's right! Listen to Keith Cowing for lessons on good manners!

Dave, a stopped clock is right twice a day.

AIAA WiFi here at the conference does go down every once in a while.

Otherwise a good conference.

Dennis

Rand,
if nothing else this proves you are human. That will not play well with folks like Brian S. or any of the other liberals who visit your blog.

If anyone who posts / comments here hasn't done the same on a bad day, let him cast the first CPU.

Oh I found out what Rand's WiFi problem was.

He was using a PC.

Get a Mac.

:)

Dennis

Rand,

Thanks for again demonstrating the difference (one of many) between good bloggers and the mainstream media.

I didn't read the original entry, but the apology certainly earned my respect. (for your honesty and integrity, uh, but not your technical ability)

;)

Actual text of that Twain quote:

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."

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