Ellen's long-suffering, oft-abused laptop has finally given up the ghost. With apologies to Cleese et. al.: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This laptop is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'Is electronic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-LAPTOP!!

Which was just an excuse to go get another. One trip to Circuit City later (in the driving snow. The lizard-blink I received when pointing this out was matched only by the long, slow silence that followed. "Oh" was the best I could manage), and Ellen is now the proud owner of some HP thingy that fairly blows your hair back as it whooshes around*.

Of course, now she wants to stick a big skull sticker on the front of it. Normal on the outside, Goth on the inside. Gotta love 'er.

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* No, not quite as fast as the Rusty Beast downstairs, but you can definitely see it from here.