Naginata

Jobs

So, I now reach that point so common in the blogworld where you're afraid of posting something that might offend someone who (1) reads the blog and (2) you know and interact with in real life. Something... incriminating.

So be it.

Here at corporation, I do the heavyweight desktop windows programming. C#. Oracle. Xml. These are the tools on my bench, and I'm very happy doing that.

Additionally, I'm trying to convince some people that I'd be useful as a sort of cultural/language advisor in our dealings with Japanese companies. That road's uphill, but it's a job that no one really wants or is equipped to do, but I'm the closest thing we've got. So I'm going to start re-learning as much japanese as I can, as quickly as I can.

Additionally, the engineering department, bless their little hearts, needs some programming done, and since I'm the only windows/db programmer here, I get tapped for that, at least until they hire someone. If they ever hire someone.

Additionally, the guy next to me is "no longer with the department". Out of respect for him, I'm not going to elaborate. Suffice it to say that I've now got a job updating/creating php scripts and doing some caretaking of various access and mysql databases that I know nothing about.

That's like... 3 and a half jobs man. When do I see that reflected in my paycheck? Probably better not to ask, or Red Brandon will be topping the 5 job mark.

Oh, and I almost forgot... わたしはパイをこのむ。

Correct that if it's wrong.　　Now is the time for humble!

Delphic Subjugation

I have finally accomplished what I wanted to with Delphi. For now.

It has been a long, uphill battle, especially the last part. Let me explain, as much as I can, how and why things don't work the way I want them to.

See, you've got a "Query" object and an "Update" object. The query object, ideally, returns a whole mess of records. The Update objects sits over off to the side and whenever the Query object wants to insert a new record, update an existing record, or delete a record, it say "psst, Update object, a little help", and the Update object supplies free mojos and totems to aid the Query.

Here's the thing, I have to create the Query, then create the Update, and program the SQL seperately into both of them. Most of the time, I don't bother putting any SQL into the Update, I just leave a big honkin blank one, so that if somehow a Query tries to update something, it can't, unless I'm really, really sure that I want it to. This seems to work ok, except when Delphi forgets that Query X and Update Y are meant to go together... but that's a different matter.

Anyway, I have one Query that has no need to return a whole honkin load of records. It just needs to return the number of records - a simple task, I just set the SQL to "Select count(*) from Table where Create_Date < sysdate-X" where X is however far back I want to search - easy.

The problem is that the Update<->Query system is designed to work with record SETS, not "real" SQL. So putting a statement into the Update object like "delete from Table where Create_Date < sysdate-X" didn't work so much. I could very easily pull down the whole dataset and delete records from it that way - the "right way", as far as Delphi is concerned... but that's a LOT (~70000) of records to pull down when all I really need is 2 numbers.

Solution: when I want to clear out old records, I change the query string in the Query object to my delete string, then close the Query object. While it is still closed, I run the dark and mysterious "ExecSQL" method, which I don't think you're ever supposed to call, ever. The Update method has one of those too, but it never seems to work right. After that's done, I change the SQL back to the "real" query string, and then reopen the query, and everyone goes home happy.

It works, it's quick, and it's pretty conservative when it comes to transmitting data across the wire. So, I think I can excuse the fact that I had to completely destroy the "ideal" design to make it work. Especially since it's delphi... which I hate. A lot. I think I actually ENJOYED making it do things it didn't want to do.

The Freshmaker 2

"Ey, Miguel, una tormenta grande está viniendo, you should hurry home!"

Miguel looked at his brother Ricardo across small, 2-bay garage that the two of them owned, then glanced outside through the open door.

"Yeah, looks like it's going to be a big one", he replied. "I'll get home as soon as I finish closing up, you go ahead."

Ricardo hopped in his truck and drove off toward their apartment on the other side of town. It wasn't a big place, but their garage brought them enough money to pay for it, if only just barely. Still, theirs was a new business, and their reputation two of the best mechanics in Paragon was still growing. Recent immigrants from the Yucatan, they saw themselves grabbing for the American dream, and finally felt as if they were on their way.

If, that is, the storm didn't blow the place over.

Miguel went around the shop quickly, putting tools away, locking doors, checking windows, when he heard someone pull up outside the garage door - and not quickly. He ran out to the open garage door and was suprised to sure enough, there was a plain white van there, engine knocking like crazy. The skies outside were overcast, debris blowing in the street behind the van.

"Lo siento, el garage es cerrado, we're closed early today, the storm and all", yelled Miguel over the growing wind, "I can park your van here and take a look at it tommorow maybe if you want?"

As he spoke, two men got out of the side door of the van, one of them holding his arm in a makeshift sling, both of them clad in dark grey, military-style clothing. They spoke to each other quickly in a language Miguel did not understand... Arabic maybe? Or Farsi? As he was about to tell them to leave again, one of them raised a pistol and pointed it at Miguel's head. He spoke with a slight english accent, "No, I'm afraid the garage is open now. You see, our van is having some problems. Now you will fix it."

As he spoke, the van began pulling into the open bay, and Miguel could do nothing but raise his hands and step out of the way. Through the passenger side window he could see at least 3 more men in the van, including the driver, but the side door had been shut, hiding whatever number could have been in the back. Too many.

Ricardo. Ricardo will come and see that something is wrong with the garage, and call the police, after I don't show up.

"Hey, get to work on the engine", yelled the one with the Pistol, "My friend needs to use your bathroom". He gestured toward the one with the damaged arm, and in response Miguel pointed at the small restroom in the back of the shop.

The driver had already popped the hood, and Miguel got to work. The engine was a mess, he was amazed that it could have made it this far. "This will not be easy or fast, señor, el motor, she's in bad shape".

"By Allah, you better find a way to make it fast, 'señor'", said Pistol, gesturing with the gun.

Miguel began picking his way through the engine, trying to figure out what parts absolutely needed to be fixed, when he touched a metal surface that was ice cold - so cold that it hurt his finger. Then a loud crash sounded on the roof. Pistol wasted no time, and began firing up at the noise, through the roof.

"Ay, my garage, pare el tirar!" shouted Miguel, looking up at the ceiling. As he watched, ice crystals formed along the metal roof of the garage, and then the the whole mess shattered, chunks of frozen steel raining down in the garage.

"You followed us this far, Freshmaker, but no further!" Yelled the one with the pistol, as he reloaded. Two of the others were jumping out of the van, brandishing imitation uzis, while the driver desperately tried to get the van started again.

"Freeze, terrorist scum!" shouted the Freshmaker, jumping down from the hole in the roof. He wasted no time in freezing the pistol with his breath, and then coldcocking the wielder with one mighty blow from his fist. "I'm putting this little bomb plot of yours on ice!" He jumped over the van, and pulled Miguel behind it with him, just as a storm of bullets tore the workbench to shreds.

"My garage! Stop shooting my garage!" yelled Miguel. The Freshmaker motioned Miguel to run toward the back end of the van, and then, lying down on his stomach, blew a mighty breath under the van, freezing both of the terrorists to the ground. A distinct minty aroma filled the garage as he bound to the top of the van, and stunned the two terrorists with precision-thrown mentos from his utility belt before leaping down to disarm them. Miguel, emboldened by the presence of the hero, or maybe just by the depressing thought that all he had worked for was gone, stood up, grabbing a wrench from where the bullets had thrown it to the floor, and smashed in the drivers side window.

"¡Déme las llaves! Ahora, you terrorist scum!" Lightning flashed outside and thunder shook the garage as Miguel noticed rain falling through the hole in the ceiling. The terrorist drew a gun in that moment, and fired at the distracted Miguel. Miguel felt like he'd been punched high on the forehead, felt fire move across his scalp as he realized that he was falling, and then, blackness.

The next minutes were a slideshow to Miguel. A pool of his own blood, running to the drain under the van. The Freshmaker disarming the terrorist who ran out of the bathroom, yelling "All terrorists must wash hands before returning to a life of villany, scum!" Lightning flashing just outside, hitting a building across the street. Something... something glowing leaking out of a bullethole in the side of the van. Ricardo running into the garage, soaked from the rain, and crying. Why does he cry over me? Oh... because I'm dead. Am I dead? I don't... feel dead.

As his brother bent down to check Miguel's neck for a pulse, lightning flashed through the hole in the roof, striking the open engine of the van, arcs of electricity moving through the pool of blood and radioactive goo on the floor and into Miguel's body. Miguel saw Ricardo thrown across the room and land in a heap on the floor, unconcious or worse, before the world went black.

Slowly, the blackness turned to white. The white became speckled with little dots, and Miguel realized that it was a ceiling. He was in a hospital. Ricardo, donde esta mi hermano? Somehow, he knew that his brother had not survived, that Ricardo had been killed by the blast.

"But how am I alive?" thought Miguel. "My brother, my brother is dead. I know whose fault this is - it's the Freshmaker's fault. If that silly supermoron hadn't chased those terroristas into my garage, I'd still have a brother and a job today, and wouldn't be in this hospital. He's the one to blame!"

As the anger rose inside Miguel, and his pulse began to climb, he felt his hairs stand on end. As he pounded his fist on the hospital bed, a jolt of electricity shot through the wires connecting him to the heartrate monitor, and it exploded in a shower of sparks.

¿Qué me ha sucedido? What sort of power is this? I can get even. I can find that Freshmaker and make him pay for doing this to me! Him AND the terrorists.

A nurse, alerted by the sound of the monitor exploding, rushed into the room, and seeing Miguel starting to rise, she ran over, yelling "no, no, you need to lie down Mr.... Um..."

She reached for the chart to read his name, and Miguel, still filled with anger, grabbed her arm. Willing the rage inside him into her, he sent a powerful blast of electricity through her nervous system, and then threw the smoking body onto the ground. Suddenly he realized what he had done, and grabbed the nurse.

"No, no, what have I done?!" he said softly "I killed this poor woman... she was only trying to help. I'm worse than the terrorists, worse than the criminals." Miguel began to weep over the body, wishing that the blast had killed him instead of Ricardo. "But... If it wasn't for the Freshmaker, she'd still be alive too! The Freshmaker is to blame! If he hadn't started this... I'll get him!"

Miguel threw a chair through the window, climbed down the drainpipe, and ran off into the humid night.

"I will call myself... El Alternador, The Alternator!"

You knew it was true.

I swore off these quizzes... but this one from Chris Sells is just too good.

You are a GRAMMAR GOD!


If your mission in life is not already to
preserve the English tongue, it should be.
Congratulations and thank you!


How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

The Freshmaker

Brought to you by Cogitation Theatre and City of Heroes: The secret origins of the Freshmaker! (v1.0 subject to change at any time. Tax, title and license not included. No warranty, expressed or implied, your mileage may vary.)

Night comes swiftly in Paragon City. As the shadows lengthen, the scum of society comes out and crime rules the concrete alleyways of our fair metropolis. Of all those heroes who take up arms to defend our fair city, perhaps none is as well known as The Freshmaker. But who is this mysterious warrior for justice and fresh breath, and how did he come by his remarkable powers? This has been the topic of endless debate in the tabloid media and radio, but at last I have uncovered the true story.

Minton Marks was always something of an outcast as he was growing up. Gifted with a mind for chemical engineering, he took on a challenging courseload in his time in high school, and later, at Paragon University, leaving him little time for a social life. Those who did spend time with him in social settings all recall the same thing - he always had minty fresh breath. He was known for offering people mints or gum after meals, and was rarely seen without the distinctive bulge of an Altoids container or a pack of gum in his front pocket. Ultimately, his obsession with fresh breath kept Minton from true happiness.

His junior year at university, Minton fell hopelessly in love with a miss Sheila Smiles, a fellow student at PU. Unfortunately, their love was not to be - a mere two months after they met, she tragically contracted a rare gum disease, forever tainting her breath. Knowing that Minton could never endure spending time with someone with such horrid breath, she dropped out of school, and vanished entirely.

On finding out what had happened to his lady love, Minton set himself single-mindedly to his studies, finishing his degree that summer, and immediately going to work for the Mentos corporation's R&D facility in downtown Paragon City. He soon distinguished himself in the research staff, developing new varieties of Mentos in several minty flavors, and with various strengths. After a year of development, he revealed to his boss his ultimate plan - to develop a super-strong mentos that could freshen breath for days at a time. He soon got approval and a small staff to help him with his research.

The team, lead by Minton's single-minded devotion, developed a formula for a very concentrated mint flavor - far too concentrated for human consumption. Experimenting with this chemical, which the staff called "liquid fresh", was difficult, to say the least. Indeed, liquid fresh was so fresh, when it mixed with human saliva, it would spontaneously freeze and form ice crystals. Soon, the management learned of the dangers of Liquid Fresh, and promised to shut down the project. Minton vowed to resign and continue the work on his own. When his access to the lab was revoked, Minton snuck in late one night, and while trying to take a sample of the Liquid Fresh for his private research, fell into the vat. Liquid Fresh seeped into every pore of his body, transforming him into... The Freshmaker!

When he came to his senses, he was in the hospital, his skin and hair strangely changed by the chemicals he had fallen in to. A few disastrous accidents with hospital food and well-meaning nurses revealed that the Liquid Fresh had not just changed his appearance - it had granted him powers beyond his wildest dreams!

Now, convinced that he has the power to wipe out Sheila's gum disease, he prowls the city streets as The Freshmaker, fighting crime with his icy fresh breath and always searching for his lost love.

ベーコンの道

Here's the thing about bacon - it's good. I was trying to think of a way to sum up the goodness of bacon, and I realized that bacon is the opposite of the Spice Melange. Let's look at the facts:

-the spice expands conciousness
--have you ever tried to think deep thoughts after eating about a half pound of bacon?

-the spice extends life
--the bacon, sadly, does the opposite

-the spice is the most precious substance in the universe
--the bacon... look, it's a sin for like half the people on the world to even THINK about bacon

-the spice is vital to space travel
--the bacon probably wouldn't do to well in space-rations

-the spice exists on only one out of all the populated planets
--the bacon exists on every single planet we occupy

rRootage

Joel told me to tell you to download and play this AWESOME game. Seriously. Grab a few rounds while you're waiting on your test database to get populated, it's crazy fun. And the music is awesome.

Edit: Fixed my stupid links.

Attention Porn Spammers

I know that you don't actually READ anything that gets posted, and your little spamdroid is automated, but just to make sure that I've said it at least once, the terms of service are here.

Until now I've just been banning IPs and deleting spam. Now starts the adding you to the list of people to bill.

Invent Me #10

It's time.

This one isn't a new invention, persay, just something that has such a small market that no one has done it yet.

I want a mount for my iPod in my car. it should fit into the lower radio bay (which is a funny shape) of my dashboard. Considering how much space is available, I'd like it to work like this:

1) You hit a button,and the screen on the front of the unit flips/slides up.
2) You slide the iPod, port first, into the slot behind said screen.
3) You close the screen, locking the iPod inside.

While the iPod is in there, it would draw power from the car so that it wouldn't drain your battery, and ideally use the screen on the front to display information.

It would be very nice if it could even use the steering wheel controls to control the iPod, and show the song information on the main display in the center console. I want to completely hide the iPod because the white plastic/chrome would clash horribly with the black plastic/leather interior of my car. Given that I can jog with the iPod, I think that you could easily make this kind of mount shock-resistant enough.

Let me unite my music, that's all I'm saying. I know that I could pretty easily run a line-in to my armrest storage compartment, which already has power there that I could adapt... but dammit, I'm picky.

Music Ratings

I was on the stationary bike at the Y last night, listening to some quality tunes on my iPod, and I got kind of bored. The TV was set on CNN, and I find Dobbs to be just barely tolerable most of the time, so I turned to the iPod, specifically, rating all the songs as they went by. Then the glorious iPod gave me "Man of Constant Sorrow", and it was rated high, then it turned to some Alanis, and it was also rated fairly high...

Then I realized that my music ratings are entirely inadequate. What I want, is a system whereby I can rate my music according to 3 seperate scales, which I have named "Trance", "Angst", and "Skill".

I think that sums it up pretty well, those are 3 axes that are fairly orthogonal to me. Also, it should be noted that a "10 10 10" rating does not mean that a song is "good". There's times when you might want a high trance/skill song with low emotion, to just chill. There's times when you want some angry music with a heavy beat, and you dont' care if the guy's a musician or just hitting stuff with a hammer and recording it. It's a more nuanced scale than just "good" and "bad".

"Trance" is how easy it is to just lose yourself in the music. It's not confined only to "trance" music, but rather, applies also to a lot of good dance music, and even some classical, probably.

"Angst" is pretty clear, I think. Alanis, Sublime, Metallica (to some extent), a lot of rap, hip-hop, are pretty angsty. Other stuff is not so angsty, but still good. I guess, I could call this "emotion" too, but happy music and angry music sound totally different to me most of the time. Except for These Five Down. They're 100% anger, all the time.

"Skill" is a measure of how difficult the song is to perform, and how creative it is. Classical music that requires a lot of people working together, is full of skill. Singers with truly amazing voices (Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday), get high skill values. Really good trance music and dance music, high skill values. The Grey Album, is a fine example of high skill music, in my mind.

So, let's get some practical examples, using a 1-5 scale, and music that I have on my workycomputer here. I'll even kick in a 1-5 good/bad scale too, because It's laid out like that. Winamp randomize playlist function, go!

Fantastic Plastic Machine - Please, Stop!
Trance: 4 -- Skill: 3 -- Angst: 1 -- Overall: 4
Nagi Says: Up-beat, very fun to listen to. Makes me want to dance in my chair.

Jay-Z+DJ Dangermouse - 99 Problems
Trance: 2 -- Skill: 4 -- Angst: 4 -- Overall: 4
Nagi Says: Great mix of Jay-Z and the Beatles. Rap ain't my thing, but there's times when I'd enjoy this.

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy Retentions of Conflict
Trance: 2 -- Skill: 3 -- Angst: 1 -- Overall: 2
Nagi Says: Nobuo, you're still the man, but it's sure not because of songs like this.

Universal Hall Pass - Dragonfly
Trance: 4 -- Skill: 4 -- Angst: 3 -- Overall: 4
Nagi Says: Awesome, completely awesome.

Splashdown - 50%
Trance: 5 -- Skill: 4 -- Angst: 4 -- Overall: 5
Nagi Says: Somehow manages to be angsty without being angry. This song may be one of my all-time favorites.

Splashdown - Mayan Pilot
Trance: 5 -- Skill: 4 -- Angst: 2 -- Overall: 5
Nagi Says: I like this even better than 50%

freezepop-Harebrained Scheme
Trance: 4 -- Skill: 2 -- Angst: 2 -- Overall: 3
Nagi Says: It's... look, I'm amazed with what they can do with that one little music making box as you are. One of freezepop's better songs. Let me amend that - one of freezepop's few enjoyable songs.

Various - DJ Krush feat. Boss the MC / Candle Chant (A Tribute)
Trance: 3 -- Skill: 2 -- Angst: 2 -- Overall: 5
Nagi Says: Proof that you can have "low" numbers and still be an enjoyable song. It's little more than a beat with a guy talking over it, and yet, it's awesome.

Weezer - Susanne
Trance: 3 -- Skill: 3 -- Angst: 3 -- Overall: 4
Nagi Says: Look, it's only rock and roll, but I like it.

Overstock.com: Conclusions

I hope this is the last post in this line, it's getting kind of old, and I'm out of Dune-esque titles.

I just got off the phone with one of their customer service drones. I'll spare you the play-by-play and give you the summary: After he talked to his supervisor at some length, I'm getting a credit, to my credit card, and if it doesn't show up soon I'm supposed to call them back.

That's what I wanted. I made sure it's a credit and not some site coupon like they tried to give me last time. After I thanked him, he, very stutteringly (actually, he was pretty stutter-ish through the whole call, probably because he could tell I was ready to cook and eat his children if I didn't get what I wanted) offered me a pre-prder on LotR:RotK. "All our customers are being offered this special pre-order price on..."

I interrupted him with "That's not going to happen". It was better than "You've got to be kidding me?" or "Yeah, but what are you ACTUALLY going to send me", which were both possiblities.

I feel bad for that one guy, he actually did help, and I understand he had to stick to the script, but I was very pleasant about 4 phone calls and 3 emails ago. Now, no such luck for them.

I'll, of course, post again if they don't actually credit me (this is, after all, the third time they've promised to do so), but as of now, I consider the matter closed, and hopefully this blog can return to its regularly scheduled drivel.

Chapterhouse Overstock.com

First of all, I hope you're enjoying this saga. I know not everyone wants to read an email history, but I know I'M enjoying it, so read on, if you dare.

I had high hopes. I got this in the ol email box.

>>> Overstock Information <info@overstock.com> 04/06/04 12:44PM >>>

Dear (Nagi),

Thank you for shopping with us. We appreciate your business. Thank you
for taking the time to e-mail us about your concerns. I apologize, but
when we received your recent e-mail, it did not include enough
information for me to adequately assist you.

I would love to help you resolve this issue, but I am having trouble
locating your account information. The e-mail address you are currently
using is not the one you used when you registered with us. Also, we do
not know your name or your invoice number. Would you please provide any
of the following information? We would be happy to assist you further
with getting this order credited back to you. I apologize for the
additional delay.

1. Your first and last name and the zip of the billing address on the
order.

2. Your seven digit order number.

3. The e-mail address you used when you placed the order.

Thank you for the opportunity to help. I will take action as soon as we
receive your response. We appreciate your business, and hope you will
return soon to take advantage of our outstanding savings on name-brand
merchandise.

Sincerely,

Chelsey H.
Overstock.com

Heretics of Overstock.com

Got a letter from Overstock.com today.

>>> "Overstock.com" <info@overstock.com> 04/06/04 11:06AM >>>
Dear (Nagi),

Thanks for your interest in shopping with us.

I am sorry to hear about the DVD. Unfortunately, we cannot issue credit to your credit card because it says right on the website that this is the sci fi miniseries Dune. We already issued a coupon for the amount you paid so you may order something else but we cannot issue credit to your card for a buyer's remorse issue. If you have any questions please call us at 1-800-THE-BIG-O 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Please visit us again soon for great savings on name-brand products. I hope you are telling your friends and family about the great deals you have found on the site.

Thank you,

Brian C.
Overstock.com
Research Team

God-Emperor of Overstock.com

I told you I'd post again if they sent another email... and they didn't.

They did, however, leave me a voicemail. In this voicemail they made it abundantly clear that this was MY fault. The number (and they quoted me the item number) points to the miniseries on their website.

Here's why that doesn't work for me:

1) On the website, there's 2 links to identical versions of the miniseries. Identical descriptions, identical everything. Why 2 copies to the same version, release, run, everything of the miniseries? Very interesting. Editor's note: This may not be true anymore, as their website seems to be... "fluid".

2) I'm not a liar. Why would I say that I ordered what thing when I ordered another? I'm pretty tech-smart, and while I do make mistakes, I'm absolutely certain that I ordered the correct thing. If you dig up the original post on my site, "Overstock.com", you'll see 2 links to dune. One points to the miniseries. The other pointed to the movie. Then to the miniseries. Now I hear it points to some chicken soup thing. I manipulate computers for a living, I don't order the wrong movie, nor do I make a link to chicken soup.

3) When I had them on the phone, the first guy (the only good one at the company, I think) specifically told me that he would send me the Lynch movie. Not "what you ordered", not "another try", but the Lynch movie. We spent several minutes on the phone discussing the merits of the Lynch movie. The guy had a girlfriend, that he told me about, who loved the Lynch movie. They knew what they were doing at some point.

Naginata's conclusion: They're out of stock, and won't be getting any more stock, and having screwed 2+ people out of their Dune, they're not willing to admit and refund, as they should. I'd like them to apologize for calling me a liar, but we all know that that can't happen.

Children of Overstock.com

I haven't heard back from Overstock.com yet.

I called them 48 hours after my last call, as I said I would, and the (very much more helpful) guy on the end of the phone let me know that yes, they had sent a letter saying I wanted my money back to the warehouse, but that they usually don't inform people when they issue refunds... I get the impression that they very rarely issue refunds. I'm glad my creative complaining coach was so good.

Anyway, I'd like to say that he shot off another letter to the warehouse, or even transferred my call over there, but I think that the story is a little more interesting if I give all the details I can recall. Bear with me.

Together, me and the customer no-service representative sat down and composed a letter to the warehouse, stating precisely what I wanted done. I told the service drone just why it was so important that I hear back - that being that this card is the free 500 dollar amex that I got from Mazda as compensation for my car being "underperforming". I have no way to check the balance, or to know when my 500 dollars is up. I think that I have 13ish dollars left, AFTER the overstock.com order.

Having heard nothing back, I've gone ahead and ordered Lynch dune from Amazon.com, which should leave my balance around 9 bucks, IF Overstock.com has credited my account. The item shipped from amazon, so either my tracking of the card has been lax, or overstock has already credited my card, or never charged it in the first place.

Short version: their customer service? Friendly and also bad.

Of course, I hear the Dune super-special edition with tons of extra features has been released in Region 2. So when/if it ever comes to region 0... you know what has to happen.

If I hear back from Overstock, I'll probably put up the letter. 10 points if you guess what the title of THAT post will be.