I expect that we’ll be seeing Greek alphabet names within a couple weeks–there are only four names left.

All of the computer models show Rita heading through the Florida Straights, which means just some wind and rain for Palm Beach County, but we’ll keep an eye out and be ready to shutter anyway. I haven’t seen anything to indicate that this thing has much chance of hitting New Orleans, though–all of the tracks show it heading farther south, down near the Mexico/Texas border. It might hit Texas, or even western Louisiana, but eastern Louisiana looks pretty unlikely to me.

I’ll sure be glad when this hurricane season is over.

[Update at noon eastern]

Just got our first heavy shower from the outer bands.

I’m supporting a deliverable to NASA, and will be tied up all day (and much of the evening) on it, after which I’ll be taking a red-eye flight back to Florida tonight. Probably not much posting until late tomorrow, Eastern time. There is a lot to blog about when I get time, though, if you check out the usual suspects over at The Space Review, Space Politics, Space Transport News, and Mars Blog most of which will have links to other interesting stuff.

And dodging a hurricane on the way from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas.

No posting until tonight.

For some reason, whatever was wrong with the server that caused it to act so flaky is fixed now. I may regret this, but comments are reenabled.

For some reason, whatever was wrong with the server that caused it to act so flaky is fixed now. I may regret this, but comments are reenabled.

For some reason, whatever was wrong with the server that caused it to act so flaky is fixed now. I may regret this, but comments are reenabled.

This post is to check to see if my problem is fixed yet.

[Update a couple minutes later]

Nope.

[Trying again late Wednesday morning]

Is there an MT doctor in the house? When I put up a post, it gets stuck on the “Rebuilding Page” page. And I’m no longer receiving emails of comments.

[Update a few minutes later]

I’ve disabled both comments and trackback until further notice by changing script names (otherwise I could be getting bombarded with spam, and I’d never know it). If anyone has any suggestions as to what to do, please email me ASAP. Also, is there some way to globally turn off comments on old posts?

[Update at 2:30 EDT]

OK, I’ve closed comments and trackback on all posts older than five days, and reenabled comments.

[Update at 3:30 EDT]

Well, I’ve reenabled comments, but it seems to be to no avail. It just times out now…

[Another update a couple minutes later]

OK, this is really screwed up now. Comments are working, but it doesn’t return any feedback that it is, so now I can expect a lot of multiple comments. And apparently they aren’t closed on older posts, so I’m going to disable them again.

Back from the Central Coast. I had a delightful dinner with Bill Whittle (and Dana, for those who read EjectEjectEject) and Transterrestrial web designer (among other things) Bill Simon. And I (almost fearlessly) predict a flawless entry and landing for the Shuttle in a couple hours).

[Update at 7:40 AM EDT]

Well, OK, I wasn’t considering the (always-present) possibility of subpar weather.

I’m driving up to Cambria for a reunion with some long-time friends and former roommates. Back tomorrow, unless Motel 6 has wireless, in which case I may check in from there.