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.
-- 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.
