F'ing wind.

Apparently, 30mph wind gusts are enough to knock over a covered Ducati ST2. :(

(Bent brake lever, scraped bar end, cracked mirror housing, scraped lower right fairing, scraped peg, scraped muffler, possible bent exhaust bracket, loosened gas tank. It won't start, either, but that could just be the temperature--it's 19 degrees, and the bike hasn't been ridden in a couple weeks. It does turn over, though.)

I couldn't pick it up, either--it was flat out on its side, resting on the muffler and handlebar and plastic, with the rear wheel off the ground--couldn't get any leverage. Not wanting to knock on neighbors' doors at mignight, it was fortunate that a snowplow guy drove by within half an hour and helped me pick it up.

So now it's upright, cover off, angled in the parking space, and I filed a claim with Progressive, who'll get back to me in the morning.

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Fortunately, the rest of my day was much more pleasant. A plate full of breakfast awaited me at my parents' house around noon, and the rest of the day included hanging out with family, watching King Arthur, tasty dinner, watching Matrix: Revolutions, and IMing Cristy. :)

Girlfriend math, things to make, Modest Needs, "Indecency", and crocheted chaos

A mathematical proof of why this author feels he will never have a girlfriend, from the Annals of Improbable Research. Check out the Related documents, too. :)

Via classytart: Make your own Mr. Men Make your own snowflakes! Check out Commercial Breaks and Beats: The UK TV Advert Music Database!

Via sebatical: "Since May 2002, when Modest Needs became a charitable foundation, the members of this community have helped 1342 families to afford $249,021.96 worth of unexpected expenses ranging from the fee for a GED exam to the cost of burying a stillborn child." That's pretty damn cool.

Via visgoth: A look back at the indecency crackdown of 2004; or, People trying to enforce their opinion about what's acceptable for you to see and hear.

Via scratchyfishie: Mathematicians crochet chaos

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I'm now four days behind on comics, into the 5th.. more than a bit of catch-up to do.

Also, it's very windy outside, whistling past the house and trees. Glad I'm inside!

VeryCold, Progressive update, steak&cheese, &c.

Holy crap it was cold today. 10 degrees and winds of 22, gusting to 39, when I left the house this morning, 19 and calmer now. (Thus, I wore polypro under my clothes, which made the ride in the more-or-less unheated truck comfortable, though walking to and from the site from parking, and to/from Union Station for lunch*, was still painfully cold on exposed skin.) Install, with a Dell guy present, had more than a couple hitches--power wasn't ready at all, electrician couldn't come out today, server room was full of boxes and wire, our onsite POC was often non-contactable.. in the end, I got the library physically installed, but that's it. More to do tomorrow, after Dell guy drives back to Philly and takes the train back here tomorrow.

Got a call from Progressive this morning saying my local agent was unavailable today but would call me tomorrow; I got a call from my agent's representative (or something like that) in the afternoon, which I returned after I got home and made a recorded statement of all the details; I should hear from the agent (adjustor?) within a day or two. No problems yet.

* Had lunch at the Great Steak and Potato Company in Union Station, which my Philly-based companion says just doesn't compare. (He also dislikes both Pat's and Geno's, preferring Jimmy's, I believe.)

Also, caught up on some paperwork. Also, have a briefing at 0830 tomorrow. Woo! (Except for the time. Boo!)