My absence is partially explained by...

1. My wife is out of town, leaving me with those pesky kids to feed and amuse.
   
2. My laptop died--leading to much weeping and gnashing of teeth, mostly as a result of two painful hours with www.dell.customer.abuse.columbus.original.destination. At the conclusion of my help-desk experience, it was determined, after extensive and meaningful tests--such as trying a third ac/dc adaptor (just in case the first two had simultaneously failed) that which was obvious in the first place: that the mother board sleeps with the fishes.

I hope to be up-and-running in something resembling a normal state in the very near future.