title of record.


	Friday, December 31, 2004 post://110451145684076309/ So I want to build a new system:: the greatest gaming system ever! However:: I can not do this as I can not afford it, in many senses of the word. I wanted to possibly sell shares in this machine, possibly a time-share of sorts. I'm looking at: 3-4ghz AMD 64 w/ 1600mhz System Bus 1-2GB Dual Channel DDR @ 400-800mhz 2 PCI-Express Video Cards, yes, 2 -- working together in Dual-Mode 2 x 80gig SATA Hard Drives running RAID 0: Striping This will result in the fastest gaming machine ever! $200-300 for the chip $150 for the motherboard $200-400 for the memory $100-200ea for the video cards (I prefer nVidia, but I'm willing to try ATI at someone else's request) $100 for the hard drives $100 for the case (which I already have) So we're looking at: $800-1000 for the best gaming machine ever. I want to build this, need to build this... but can't afford it. Can you help me? If you can a) donate play whenever you want b) invest play whenever you want participate in a time-share of the machine have bragging rights, can refer to as "my machine" ;) c) buy for yourself play whenever you want will have the machine all the time, hell: OWN IT will let me come play it occationally will actually be "your machine" will only pay cost for this delectible machine I will build it for free, I need this as a project. Please splurge on yourself and help me scratch the itch! Donate: -or- Purchase 1/10th share: posted @ 11:23 (0) comments post://110450011362487342/ keep your eye out for back-entries from the Holiday! They're on the laptop, just waiting to be pasted in all their rambling glory! posted @ 08:34 (0) comments post://110450005018211660/ I couldn't believe the decorations of this person's home. I like it a lot. It was apparently a very simple home with relatively thin walls. That's something we can't have here with the weather being as it is... though it's the kind of house I'd like to have if I was somewhere a bit more... tropical, like my secret island. The big thing, however, was that I could connect a lot more to these people seeing this picture then any time previous. I said to myself when I heard it again mentioned on the radio last night "why are we helping anyone, we had our own disaster... do all the time -- who helps us?" Even our disaster did not have the widespread devastation of this disaster. I still don't think we have 25 million dollars to spare for this -- but I can only hope it means that if something similar happened to us it would mean the same kind of help from the rest of the world. I just don't see it happening, however. Boston's been where it is for hundreds of years, no Tsunami's, maybe some hurricanes, but no waves through the streets. I also don't see it happening that we'd be receiving any aid from anyone. I wonder (conspiracy theory mode enabled) if possibly the government pledges these amounts to people to hide their own ridiculous spending on items of war. They were really quick to turn around and provide an estimate, especially when there's humanitarian groups for that sort of thing. .:sigh:. I know I sound harsh, there were American's effected, and it was a horrible unfortunate occurrence for everyone in that part of the world as well as some effected here... "but would it be so bad to simply turn around"? ~ Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors ...whatcha gonna do, when you get in another one of these here RockNRoll songs... posted @ 08:21 -x- (0) comments Tuesday, December 28, 2004 post://110468429620464737/ The English hate the Euro. They don't like Europe, and will have nothing to do with it. "Germany hates us, France hates us... and we want nothing to do with them." ~ English guy visiting Smuggler's Notch 12/27/04 I was hanging out with my brother after going snowboarding the Monday after Xmas in VT. We were at his local bar and an English family was hanging out upstairs. Apparently they come here every year to ski and visit with family who lives in NY. The uncle and grandfather were actually from England, the others had come to the US about 3 years prior. My brother got them talking of the war, the Euro, where they were from, and general differences and similarities. It was very interesting that there could be so much cultural exploration in such a remote area of VT. I must say the residents of Jeffersonville VT have quite the open minds. Some more choice quotes from the English: "We hate the war, we never wanted to go to war, that bugger Blair though...." "Mummy, can I play the football game?" ~foosball, soccer, the real football posted @ 11:21 -x- (0) comments Sunday, December 26, 2004 post://110462522799173160/ .:Synth3t1c-X::XM4S 3D1T10N::::::::::::::::::::::::::. :: "We've taken the 'Christ' out of Christmas." :: '::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Well it's the day after Xmas, I'm at my Mom's * just hanging out with my cat. I was a bit worn * by the time I got up here, and even more after * very little sleep and a long day yesterday, but * after a good sleep last night, I'm refreshed and * content. * I headed up here on Xmas eve about 1 or so. I * got home from Nicole's about 11, and realized I * had a whole bunch more to do then I had previously * realized (nothing out of the oridinary there). * Fitzi was so glad to see me, I decided I couldn't * leave her for 3 days with no one else in the * house. She's always so mad at me when I go off for * a couple of days. There's the whole basement at * my Mom's for her to run around in, so it wouldn't be * too much of a bother to bring her. * She didn't really like the car at first, she mewed * and meowed for at least the first half hour before * she finally settled down at went to sleep on my lap. * She'd get up after a while, walk around the car then * come back. I only stopped once on the way and to make * sure she didn't get out, I put her back in the cage, * then let her out again once we were off again. She * got used to it quickly, wasn't exactly happy, but * curious at the blur of trees and cars with people * that we'd pass by. * Traffic was moving. I made the 206 mile journey in * about 2 & 1/2 hours. * Once I got to my Mom's and unpacked, I attempted to * find a hardware store that had silver paint to finish * off the drive covers for the new computer I had built * for the Nieces and Nephews (PII 350mhz, 225mb/RAM, * running Fedora Linux, C3). * No open stores were to be found after driving all * over the local area, however my mom had a silver * Sharpie that I was able to improvise with. It * worked quite well, the drives matched the silver of * the case perfectly. It was the X-Dream (CGSystems.biz) * case exactly, only silver. * I then had to go to my yearly church to see the pagent, * only because a few of the nieces and nephews were in it * and the oldest niece Elizabeth (16) was coordinating * the whole thing. They sang "Away in a Manger" wrong. * They sang the piano, not the vocal and it really bothered me. * Other then that it was short enough where it wasn't too bad. * We then went to my sister's for dinner, hung out for a bit, * and went over to my Mom's condo neighbor who was having a * few people over. I had a few beers and we came back to Mom's. * She wrapped presents and I worked on the Linux machine. I * had added another hard drive and I attempted to mount the * 2nd hard drive to the /home directory so they'd have enough * room to store some files as the main HD was filled (3.5 * out of 4 gig) with the OS. I then wrapped presents and * went to bed. * We woke early Xmas morning to snow on the ground. It had * snowed a few inches overnight. It was all grass the day * before, so it was great to have a white Xmas. We then * proceeded (sleepily) to head over to my sister's where * all the kids had already started opening. I brought in * the computer and attempted to set it all up. Wouldn't you * know it? It wouldn't turn on. I got in my fix it mode * and attempted to get it to boot up. It turned out I had * changed the BIOS to boot on password, which means it should * have started when someone typed "wake" on the keyboard. * It sure wasn't starting by the button on the front. I * ended up clearing the CMOS & reset the BIOS settings. I left * it off for a few minutes and after that it started right up. * Yay! It was almost a complete dubachle. The kids loved the lights and my sister's husband was all for the open-source. He uses Linux at work, but I let them borrow my Linux cert book in case he wanted to look up how to do anything. I got a few things, nothing earth-shaking, but my Mom gave me money for my pea-coat so that was a good (and big) present. We headed back to Mom's to get ready for the 14-deep dinner that was going on later that afternoon. This was the first Xmas my Mom was having at her own place in VT, so she was a bit flustered trying to get everything perfect, but once everyone got here they helped out and it went smoothly. I spent a lot of time chilling in the basement, trying to keep the cat calm with all the noise and hullabaloo -- my uncle bringing his little shi-tzu down to "play with the cat" didn't help much... she was flustered for much of the night and didn't really come out of the back room until everyone left. I set up the laptop with NFSUnderground2 & the USB gamepad I picked up at the computer show for like $10 & the kids took turns driving all around the city waging war against "the evil taxis" trying to take them out ;p I drank wine and relaxed, was beaten at chess twice in a row by my 11 year old nephew, mingled, and eventually we opened the 2nd round of presents as my brother didn't go to my sister's. As it turns out I got a tool set exactly like the set that I didn't want to give back to Scott. It had a tape measure, level, hammer, and all sorts of random household tool goodies. When he came to pick it up, I reluctantly recanted and wondered where I could pick up one like it. Then I get my own for Xmas! So I'm just chillin out today, going to help my mom with her pictures on the computer a bit later, and maybe go snowboarding tomorrow. I just have to find a way to keep the bindings from popping up until I can get a new pair. I should have some sort of gift certificate waiting for me from my dad when I get home and I can get a pair that actually fits my feet. It's nice to have the kitty with me. I know she's happy, I like having her here, and I don't have to rush back quite so quickly. I plan on going home early on Tuesday. I'll probably meet up with Dad some time before new years, and hopefully go bring them to see "The Polar Express 3D". So that's it for this year, hope everyone had a pleasant holiday! .:::::::::::::::::Merry Xmas everyone!:::::::::::::::. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ posted @ 19:19 -x- (0) comments Wednesday, December 22, 2004 post://110370645281715459/ I will be soon integrating iTunes into my music referral page, so please keep an eye out if you don't have itunes already. I have some referral programs already in progress. If you visit the sponsors page the Overstock.com links still work, and it turns out they still sell that stuff. I have much to do in the way of updating the particular items I recommend, but they at least still sell the solar powered garden lights =] I just ordered a memory-foam mattress pad, and can recommend it highly! If you get a chance, and feel like helping out a struggling IT pro... please... think of the c h i l d r en !!! er.... I don't have children, but may someday.,.. and hope to be in a relatively stable financial position, so combined with a steady job... your purchase at Overstock.com would help me a great deal. Thank you =] PS:: don't just go there! Take the link via the sponsors page, once you get onto their site my ID ought to be hard coded in there, so anything you buy after browsing around will give a small percentage to the P H E N Y L A L A N I N E cause. I apolgize if this sounds whiny and needy. Thank You. ^-^ ~j~ posted @ 04:02 (0) comments post://110370599916763824/ So to in true Synth-Style I'm posting the good after the bad. That's usually how I work. I had a job interview today. Do I dare say who with? Am I giving the secret away? There's no secret, there's a long drawn-out interview and application review process, so I don't see how I'd be giving anyone else an advantage by providing this information... So here goes! I had an interview with (St Paul)Travellers today. I was left waiting for about a half an hour, but he eventually came and apologized for keeping me waiting. I did the interview process, and they invited me to listen in to some calls and then said the next contact I would be recieving would be staffing... so I'm hopeful. The position would entail providing technical support to internal customers (agents, people who work for Travellers) who are having trouble with email, or company network connections, that sort of thing. It was much more technical then I originally thought it to be. I didn't think I'd be challenged all that much, and apparently it pays pretty well too. It's a smidge more then I was earning at RCN, so that goal would be met... I could live with that. It's a shorter work week, longer hours, but reasonable... before morning traffic, after evening traffic... all a plus. It's relatively close -- Hartford, CT but do-able. I wasn't excited about it at first, didn't want to get stuck in another rut like RCN. I was way too occupied with the money i was earning to care where else I'd be able to go. I think this would give me opportunity for growth, and it's very multi-facited. There's a lot of issues that come up, general complaints, and some very in-depth issues. I was always one to take an issue to completion... and would love to be able to have the power to help the people just trying to do their job. I'm optimistic, but wary, I have to take a test thingy... can certainly do it, did it for RCN, but worry that something might go wrong. So I'll stick to my conviction, ride it out, and hopefully get a job that will take me somewhere. I can't see how an insurance company could ever go under, so there's a much smaller risk factor, and I may even get some bonuses like cheap insurance and the like. So it has some pluses, I just don't want to get myself all excited over something and then not have it pan out, or fail... It's 4am right now. I have a test in the afternoon, and have to drive in the morning to go get my laptop (and digital camera) that I forgot. How the fuck can I forget $2000 worth of equipment? .:sigh:. How can I ever suceed at life if I keep making stupid mistakes like this? I am hoping for the best, it's a bank afteral. =] posted @ 03:47 (0) comments post://110370525344221183/ So I left my laptop at the bank. I need my digital camera to send my Work Order in to get paid for the day. I use it as a scanner, 5.1 megapixels + a steady hand equals a surprisingly high quality digitital copy of a piece of paper. I don't know if someone may have grabbed it for me, or if it's still there. I don't have the lead tech's number, nor the guy that I worked with this evening's number. update I luckily had the number of the guy I worked with tonight, and just got off the phone with him. I didn't wake him up (so he said) ;) and he was able to give me the lead tech's cell number. I figure I'll give the bank a call about 8, when they'll be going over training. Once confirmed that it's there I'll head down there to pick it up, get home and still have some more time to study. Why must I do everything now I can't let it sit. I know that no one there would have yoinked it, probably everyone overlooked it, but I just have such a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's instinctive. posted @ 03:36 -x- (0) comments Friday, December 17, 2004 post://110332746989640133/ So to counter the last entry... here's a bit o the positive: I went with Nicole to go see Polar Express in 3D @ the IMAX in Natick the other day -- it was the first 3D movie I'd ever seen, and the first IMAX. It was incredible. I don't know as I'd be able to see the movie in 2D. There was snow coming down right in front of my eyes, steam from the radiators in the kid's house... and the front of the train went right through my head. We sat a little close for my liking, try the front row... but it was still amazing. There were a few times when the center of the screen was offset, not quite 3D, a little askew. It was worth every penny though. See it if you have a chance. I know exactly what would make me feel better... a new video game. I'm horrible, but NFS Underground 2 would make me very very happy. I like Grand Theft Auto Vice City... but I can only get so far, the same missions give me trouble every time -- The Fastest Boat, the one with the helicopter and planting the bombs. The rest of the game is fun, just fuckin around and shootin people -- it's cool and all, but I want something new. I shouldn't buy anything for myself considering I haven't even gotten any XMass presents for anyone. Maybe I'll pick up a few things while I'm at the mall. It's still early yet. I really have no idea what to get people, though one never does, unless you're uber-xmas-shopper. I don't think I know any uber-xmas-shoppers. I've been making pizzas lately -- buy the dough from BigY, all ready to go, about $1.70 a pizza, a 3 pack of boboli sauce, some cheese, and you've got a better then store-bought pizza for only a few bucks. I'm out of food otherwise... waiting for that check to come. Sidenote:: Napoleon Dynomite - most stupid movie ever. I haven't seen it. It's painful none-the-less. posted @ 18:18 (0) comments post://110332282320249199/ Well I'm all flumpy... Deleted everything on the hard drive partition that included my "My Documents" folder accidently while installing Windows 2003 Server... and all because the wrong hard drive was set to boot first in the BIOS. I should have changed it, but that's what happens when you drink and compute. Also in said "My Documents" folder were most of the iTunes songs I've purchased which I had not yet backed up, and my saved games from GTA: Vice City & NFS Underground. I'm very sad. I got up early today, got a lot done but still felt really down and out most of the day. I did bills, that'll depress anyone without a steady income... and even got my haircut to look all spiffy for Nicole's father this weekend. We're going to NY to set up a computer he had me build, as well as set up the house on a wireless network. I also recieved a call from Traveller's... I think they do insurance? They're looking for an internal tech support agent, it's shitty hours, but fairly good pay. I've got an interview on Monday, but I'm not feeling it. I had really hoped that the Fleet conversion would turn into a real job, instead it's been a lot of false hopes and late checks. Half the people I worked with on Wednesday were from my training class -- it was nice being the senior temporary employee, but it was still lacking. Here's a full time job, 10 hours, 4 days a week... and I'm just not excited. .:sigh:. Christmas is coming, the computer I built for my nieces and nephews isn't all that fast it turns out. It's using Linux, and cost me almost nothing to build... but kind of feel like a dope giving it to them. I guess it'll have to do. No one else is getting any presents so far. There's just no way -- I mean, there is a way, but it's not practical to put myself further into debt with credit cards when I can probably find something to do for free. Maybe I'll do some banking. So money being what it is, I'm all sad and stuff -- then a check will come tomorrow and all will be well, I hope. I kinda want to check out this new place on Liberty St in Springfield, beer and XBox tournament nightly and all that. We'll see what happens. posted @ 17:20 -x- (1) comments Monday, December 06, 2004 post://110236419373387556/ Check out "The S0PHiSTiC4T3" - P4 2.4GHZ w/ 400mhz bus - 512mb Dual Channel DDR @ 333mhz - 8X AGP - 80Gig HD - DVD Combo Drive (w/ CDRW) ...in the "new systems" section! posted @ 15:05 (0) comments post://110235766993082677/ Sharing the love: Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop - Keyboard & Mouse - $29.00 after rebate. posted @ 13:27 (0) comments post://110235756983514709/ Sharing the love: Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop - Keyboard & Mouse - $29.00 after rebate. posted @ 13:24 -x- (0) comments Saturday, December 04, 2004 post://110219295122471211/ I just listed my Microsoft Phone System on eBay! Know anyone who's still running Win98? Voicemail and remote features make it all worthwhile: check your voicemail from afar, even get your email read to you over the phone, additional features like call-back and the ability to create a complete voicemail tree suitable for a home or small business. posted @ 15:39 (0) comments post://110218821373780719/ I went to Stratton today, hooked up with my buddy Al (Garfunkle) and vaulted to Lower VT. We made record time in his '05 Audi S4. It was nice not having to drive, or worry about what speed we were going. The new V8 hauls ass, AWD and around 350hp but doesn't look like it. From the outside it doesn't attract much attention. He's got a Passport 8500 radar dectector, and it's damn good -- it detected K band from over a mile and a half away. Laser is another thing, but only got to see it in action at the MA/VT border when we were coming home. A VT Trooper was waiting at the state line. I don't think MA still uses K-Band. At least, every time I got hit on the highway it said laser on the ticket. =]~ So right, snowboarding -- most of the moutain was open, few ice chunks and rocks here and there -- certainly pre-season condition, but they were making snow up the wazoo... almost too much in places where it was 12-20" deep, ice in others. I like how their lifts are set up, they have covered ones that go all the way to the top, you can get off half-way... a real class-act, but it's running about $46/day. Smugglers has more snow, is quite a bit colder, is cheaper (but not by much), but it's lower tech, not by much... so I suppose that adds up :] I liked the enclosed lifts, that was a big plus -- just like on SSX Tricky ;) I was doing well, but could have done much better if my bindings were actually the right size. The toe clips kept popping up -- so I'd lose my stability at speed. Size 8 bindings holding in a size 12 boot -- go fig. I fell down a lot because of the wobbling, but still managed to shoosh and do OK, considering, and made for wonderful practice for the few times when my boot actually stayed clipped. Oh yeah -- need to bring more then ankle socks next time. It was OK for 2 hours, but any more and I think I'd have damaged my calves' sweat glands =] So Stratton is much better for it's distance (2nd exit off 91 in VT, then rt 30N -- about an hour and a half away). I'm partial to Smuggler's because it's where the family is, and with my pass it's a $20 ticket, whenever. posted @ 14:05 (0) comments post://110218549987701149/ Memory Foam Mattresses - Starting @ $80! -- I just bought one, wanted to share the secret. Heather turned me onto the sale, and it's still on, 70% off or something like that. You may want to kick in a little extra dough for the 3" -- I have the 2", it's good, but could be 3". Almost only counts in mattresses, and penises. posted @ 13:25 -x- (0) comments Thursday, December 02, 2004 post://110201547023395776/ I wish I had more money... I would do more fun things. Part of having more money is taking on as many jobs as I can. I turned down a job yesterday, but only because yesterday was my re-calibration day. I hadn't yet gone shopping, had only cleaned a little, and had already somewhat planned my day. He called me about 11 or 12 wanting me to work in Danburry. I need more notice. Next time he calls I'll offer to do it, but with a $100 "last minute" fee. I need to know ahead of time. I have no problem working, but I need to be able to get my life done in-between, and when I don't get an email Sunday night telling me one way or another regarding work... I plan accordingly. I have at least 1 day a week that I'll be doing Hannafords for the next couple weeks, so that's a little extra. I earn about 20-30 an hour depending, that's after paying for gas since I don't get paid mileage like I do with Fleet. I want, I want, I need, I need. Whine whine whine. =]~ At least I'm working. Snowboarding Boston Art Museum Exhibit Sarah McLachlan Verizon Wireless Arena Manchester, NH Sat, 05/21/05 On Sale Sat, 12/04/04 ...and everyone keeps asking me what I want for xmas. Damned if I know. posted @ 14:15 (0) comments post://110196927171209802/ I did something weird: -- I broke out the Zip100 Drive. -- I put it in the USB Hard drive thingy... I now have a section of Josh's life in pictures... some really old pictures. We're talking 1998-2000. Point, laugh, enjoy! posted @ 01:32 -x- (0) comments Wednesday, December 01, 2004 post://110195706724329838/ 5N33K\|P33K Comment!!! Love it, hate it, in sheer wonderment at my magical fancy? Got dual lavalamp action on either side of the iMac, and pictures for you, yes -- you. Large pictures available upon request. posted @ 22:07 -x- (0) comments