the coda on that was that due to a recopying error in the code following, a serial configuration port was being written to. this likely was disabling the port before the character was output.

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this morning I found I had left the flash chip in backward all night while the system was powered.

however, on replacement, it works fine.

I didn't notice it being as hot as it has been, although i've gotten better at protecting my fingers.

i wonder about my busted chips. maybe they could have broken some other way, or maybe they aren't broken somehow.