Friday, June 30, 2006
post://115166754162431478/
I've woken up sick almost every day this week. I think I got a cold from air conditioning, going from hot to cold to hot again shocks the system. In addition I wake up with a sore throat in the morning, and it never quite wears off. It gets lesser as the day wears on, but the next morning it's back.
I haven't taken a day off this week due to my own sense of responsibility. There's multiple projects, meetings, and happenings that just can't happen without me being here, and delaying them isn't something we can do.
It's friday now, though. The last thing on my plate is a meeting uptown from 9 to 1. There would be plenty to do here, but if I can leave when that's up... I'd be a happy clam bake.
I've got tickets to go see the PGA tour this weekend. Any day I want, now hopefully there will be one day that's sunny. that'll be the day the rest of the world shows up too. I went 2 years ago, and it was a gorgeous day out in the sun, Scott and I walked around the grounds, I watched Tiger Woods hit, nothing super spectacular but it was a pleasant afternoon.
posted @ 07:39
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Thursday, June 29, 2006
post://115161780418399763/
My Mac died! Just as I'm preaching to people about having a Mac "because it just works -- when I want to do something, I can always count on my Mac to just work". Hard drives don't always "just work" however. This particular HD was an 80 gig, and apparently has got some nice chunks all accross it.
I blame the power. When we had the A/C in the bedroom it was going out all the time. It would be sleeping and the power would go out. Where I'm sure it could recover from such a thing 25, even 50 times, I bet it happened over 100 times over the life of this thing between the last place and here. The last 2 years of my UPS' life weren't worth much. It didn't hold much but got 4 good years of life prior to that and I'm just now going to throw it away, it's a glorified extension cord at this point.
Regardless I had to take apart the Mac to find this out. I was able to boot into Unix and do a fsck on the HardDrive to find it couldn't be repaired. So I popped it into my USB HD thingy and am currently running a data retrieval program on it. I'll be lucky if I get everything back, I had a lot of pictures, but mainly music that I'd really like to save. I had over $700 worth of iTunes that I only partially backed up. Everything I got in the last year is not included in those backups, and anything before then I probably have elsewhere.
The VISTA reinstall went well, and am currently setting it up again, with setting a restore point as one of the first items on my list.
posted @ 17:43
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post://115159903184500174/
I got the Kyle XY Pilot from iTunes. I watched it on TV, but grab it from iTunes cause it's free. The first episode is essentially the pilot cut down to half an hour w/ commercials. It was a good show, reminded me of the old days when there was entertainment for the whole family. Fitting that it's on ABC Family then... check it out, it's not too corny ;)
-*-*-*-*-*-*
I have a large box of old computer parts I rescued from my Dad's. I threw out the 10bT networking cards, cords, and pieces that had no matching part, and now I'm looking for a good home for them.
It's all com;puter related, motherboards, chips, memory, ribbon cables, and drives of various types and sizes.
I'm thinking of giving away anything that people might want, and then eBay the rest for $1 with "buyer pays for shipping". I just know someone is looking for a floppy drive power connector Y cable or a 486DX4 processor, I just can't throw it out. 8 bit IDE controller anyone? 16bit? ISA VGA, ISA 16bit SVGA, or 32bit Enhanced ISA? (pre PCI)
The thought went through my mind to put together lessons. This is the box of stuff I worked with when I was young, building PCs from the parts, and how I learned everything I know today. If they still worked (which I'm not sure of) it would be a great teaching tool. I don't have the opportunity nor the space to keep them around, so I'd be fine with getting them to a good home.
Put any requests in the comments to reserve, I'll just give the stuff away.
posted @ 12:37
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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
post://115154132660061375/
It's OK! VISTA was not the culprit. I use a 3.5" floppy 1 time in like 6 months, and I drop my brain. The NTLDR was there, but I forgot to eject the floppy! It wasn't a normal disk error. It was far more cryptic then usual.
So all is well and VISTA is reinstalling. I may have an extra entry on the boot menu, but I'll figure out how to edit this new one just like the old boot.ini that was so mysterious when it first came about.
I was going to indicate why I needed to reinstall VISTA, and again... it is me not reading directions. I blame the beer. I can use the computer just fine, but get me into a fixing mode and beer scrambles me all up. =)
I had attempted to update a driver to get super sound. nVidia does my Northbridge, the pipeline between the components of the motherboard - CPU, memory, video, and sound (built in), and they had a new driver for VISTA. There's no blanket setup.exe yet, so you have to update each component manually. I didn't read the directions and thus installed the wrong driver for the wrong device. I didn't make a system restore point so wasn't able to recover from it.
It threw VISTA for a loop, and often wouldn't start due to the driver, regardless of safemode or otherwise. It started once, I got in... and discovered there was no auto restore point cause I never did anyhing with it. When this installation is complete guess what the first thing I'm doing is?
I still need some RAM for this thing. I'm currently running some older RAM that's mixed. I'm running Dual Channel DDR 400 and 366, so it's all running at 366mhz.
I have 2 gig... but it's not a good 2 gig.
$200 for Corsair XMS on NewEgg.
Anyone want to buy a Kidney?
posted @ 20:08
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post://115153789304909714/
As I sit and wait for Vista B2 to reinstall I was browsing around.
I actually found this deal the other day:
I think I'm finally
ready for XBox 360. It's like $130 for the Hard Drive, HD cable, another cordless controller, battery charger for the controllers, and 2 games! In addition those "two games" are Burnout and Battlefield 2!
I don't have $530 to spend, nor do I have the $2500 to $3300 it would take to get a TV worth playing it on, but I can drool.
My CD came in on Monday:
Pendulum: Hold Your Colourand it's fantastic.
Oh, lookie there. The stupid boot loader for Vista was still there from last installation, so I thought it would take over... apparently it didn't and my entire system won't boot.
Heh. Gotta go!
posted @ 19:31
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Saturday, June 24, 2006
post://115115774906187778/
I don't think I have made an official announcement as of yet. It started with wanting to wait until I had told everyone in person, or at least called people where that wasn't possible. I never actually put up anything official, however.
I've told everyone already, so it's no big surprise, but now maybe the Brazilian on Orkut will calm down (just KIDDING Nicole!)
*ahem* as I was saying... I am happy to announce that I have found the woman that makes my life easy, a woman that is on my level, whom loves me as I love her: just as we are. It made the decision so easy, it's exactly like all those cheesy lines go... You just know. I might even call it love at first sight.
So I will be
married this time next year, give or a take a few days. I'm sure I'll be really busy the few days prior, so just call it a year. It's quite a trip, and given my family's history I wasn't sure if I'd figure it all out. My sister met her husband at UVM in the 80s but my brother and other sister are still shopping around at 40+. I had nothing to gauge, no previous experience to go on.
I look forward to this new stage in my life, and I'd really like it if some of the people who were around in the previous stages would get back in contact with me.
I'd love to have some more people to add to the guest list, so if I haven't heard from you in ages, now's a good time to give me a call!
(same number, or even leave a comment so I know you're alive)
posted @ 09:48
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Friday, June 23, 2006
post://115109869864718484/
Best song I've ever heard: Pendulum - Hold Your Colour
This isn't it but it was the best I could find. Not on itunes, but there's a free track available @ Download.com
It's an import, so it's hard to find. I guess they're not that big, but I've heard of
DogsOnAcid.com before... I bought their CD from Buy.com for $13. It was going to be $23 if FYE ordered it, and it was $22 at Amazon and everywhere else.
posted @ 17:23
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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
post://115092500830104979/
Am I online, and what am I playing?
For now you'll just have to scroll, but this is essentially what iframes let me do.
posted @ 17:20
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post://115089482327355797/
I know it always gets crazy this time of year. I've got so many projects I can't do well due to the sheer number and importance of all of them. I know I'm going to look really bad this quarter, but can't do anything about it. They give me stuff because they dont' have anyone else who can do it well -- and I can't do much better when I can't even get to it.
It's always busy... it's always busy, it's nothing permanant and stuff will slow down again... but it's driving me fucking nuts right now. I'm clubbing myself when I get home every night cause the day's so stressful. I'm ready to go off on my boss when he keeps piling shit on my plate. I yell at him through the mute button and it makes me feel a bit better but the coworkers who were here this morning are looking at me funny.
Would more money help? I think it might take away some stress, I'm done with buying things but it would be great to have some to put away.
posted @ 09:00
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Tuesday, June 20, 2006
post://115085592162588173/
Check out these happenings in
Boston, MA and surrounding areas.
posted @ 22:10
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post://115082212664761290/
I just got a request for a new distribution list for TDR (ticketing app) Commercial Lines Information Technology Farm Devision. What did he want to call said distribution list?
How about: TDRCLIT-FARM
???
yep. that led to many a speciulation about how one might actually accomplish such a feat.
Comments?
posted @ 12:48
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post://115080524950752698/
I've got misleading links... see if you can get to where you want by clicking around. They all point to where they're supposed to, as well as another random page. It adds fun and excitement to fun linking!
fun fun fun!
However, I believe I will be adding iFrames. I don't want to, but it's the only way for me to update sections of the page without integrating blogger all the time. I have several items I want included:
my iTunes currently playing updated with links to each item I'm listening to
my links page fully visible in-line on the main page, they're updated often so they should be featured for inbetween real updates. I don't think people find them right now.
I could actually add the links in code but I'd have to change how it looks. I still don't have the hang of combining javascripts. They tend to de-activate one another, even when I'm very careful with my merging.
There's so much I need to take time for with coding. I have finished Teagno, but still have a few loose ends with Finishline. I need to strip out the code and start over again. I modified it to the point of odd function. It works in IE, but there's an object that doesn't register as being there in Mozilla. When you press the next button for the slideshow it jumps up about 100px. However it jumps about as high as the top banner, so it just occured to me what might be the problem. It's probaly only part of the problem as anything script tends to be convoluted.
When I actually sat down with a javascript tutorial, it made sense, but a lot of the stuff I"m combining and modifying is much higher grade then simple tag replacement.
My mind is such a scramble durring the day, items coming up here and there and schedules and times and need to get this done, and this should be done but it's not top priority, and this is more and this is... eh whatever...
I just lay back when I get home, play a little mind numbing war - I don't have the motivation to work.
posted @ 08:07
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Wednesday, June 14, 2006
post://115033880646896805/
I'm coding in .NET!
posted @ 22:32
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Tuesday, June 13, 2006
post://115025409819150376/
All pussy, all the time (live streaming! [SFW])
posted @ 23:00
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Saturday, June 10, 2006
post://114996673550904454/
The catalyst behind all this was Vista. Beta 2 is available, I downloaded it last night, and was hoping to install Vista64 on my AMD64 FX55 computer. I only have one drive, and the AMD is chock full. It's got a 600W power supply now, so it could probably handle it, but since my DVD Drive is primarily for burning movies, a DVD reader in my main game computer is sufficient. That way I can have one burning away while I'm off killing people.
I'm installing Vista now. Since the DVD ISO is an odd file system type I had to mount the ISO on the other computer and install over the network. That worked just fine but took a bit longer due to the 100mb/sec cap on Ethernet. The other computer's motherboard has a Gig/sec as does my AMD, so if it was working it could have been faster. I'm interested in this new file system UT8C? Something along those lines.
It sounds like what Linux uses for it's system partition, and even if it's not I'm happy to hear they're upgrading how data is stored. Minus the whole embedded copyright stuff I'm very keen on a filesystem that audits itself to ensure nothing has been damaged.
I wanted it to dual boot with my other windows, but on this first restart I noticed a different kind of boot menu. It's not the usual one that enables one to run everything from Win98, XP, XP64, or Linux... and it only showed "previous version of windows" and "windows vista" in the choices. I think I may have lost my XP (32) installation. I should be able to edit the boot menu and add it back manually but I'll have to see -- that is, if it even is lost. I bet the "previous version" choice brings me to the usual menu I see where I can choose to boot XP or XP64.
It's not very informative so far, no advertising scrolling by, or plugs for their new way of doing things. It's "copying files", "expanding files", "installing features", "installing updates", and "Finalizing Installation". It just finished installing the updates and now it's restarting:
Please wait while Windows prepares to start...............
posted @ 15:00
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post://114996600885306641/
I can't believe it, I let a computer fall into disrepair. I'm not sure of the seriousness of the situation, but my 3ghz HT P4 would not start. It turned on, but there were no diagnostic beeps of any kind to indicate what might be wrong, or that it was booting.
I opened it and was greeted with one of the sights I chastize for: an entire case coated in grime, dust, and hair. It's not as bad as someone who smokes (I've done a lot of those) but cat hair is right up there. The CPU fan was coated with a blanket, much like lint in a dryer, the front pull fan was coated and mucked up, as was the rear exhaust fan.
I spent some time cleaning things out but it still woulnd't boot. I removed all the cards and tried it again... but with the CPU fan off I couldn't even feel the chip get warm. So something was going on with the BIOS. I had reset it at various points in the diagnostic but to no avail, it just didn't want to boot. I threw the chip into Nicole's computer and bam, it started to get hot to the touch in secconds.
It's not the chip at least, and that's the most expensive part. Granted the motherboard cost me like $200 but that was 3 or 4 years ago. It's an Asus P4P800 Deluxe, the top of the line for when HyperThreading first came out, but now it appears to be the source of my troubles.
I'll eventually pull it out and boot it up outside the case, testing the individual components with the 512mb of RAM and Celeron D chip from Nicole's computer. I put the HT chip and the gig of Kingston in her computer for now, along with my DVD Burner.
posted @ 14:50
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Friday, June 09, 2006
post://114991203175346521/
Funky Punk Asian Guy's Site - it's got poetry and pictures of people who live in another culture having fun. He doesn't seem all that different, and I think it's interesting.
Tell me Mr inapictureblackandwhite how does your normal day go? Do you see me as an intersting figure of what's happening?
Maybe you'll see a link, a referral, and maybe you won't because you're using blogspot as your hosting. BTW, someone grabbed bloggspot.com, whatever you attempt to reach for a virtual host ends up reflected back to you on the main page and it looks like you went to the right place but you're wrong, because they're trying to trick you into clicking things.
UCK SIT!
posted @ 23:56
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post://114991147388702676/
I turned my frown upside down, and chose to deal with the situation in a reasonable way. There is nothing that can be helped, and if the insurance can cover the extra, the rental, everything exceeding my deductible, well that's just fine.
There's a learning experience here and it's this:
The 2006 Subaru Legacy has a weakness; the weakness is an exposed condenser. In short it was the radiator. It sure looked like the radiator, behind the bumper and all, and I know the intercooler and all that is under the scoop.
I had heard of someone doing a little modification to prevent rocks and potentially birds from getting into the intercooler. They purchased some gutter guard from Home Depot, cut out a shape, surrounded it with some plastic molding, and boom, they had a shield for their intercooler. I found the exact guard, purchased it, and set out to protect my investment. My brand new condenser was not going to be dented twice. Given that I commute to CT every day and since rt 91 is some of the grittiest rock slinging fury I've ever witnessed, I had to be prepared.
I pulled off the front grill, and cut the wire mesh with some metal cutters I purchased for the dryer pipe. It worked quite well and a little measuring later, I had two 14in pieces for either side of the hole in the bumper. I fit it in and with a little curving and tension from the scrap pieces I had left, they were a tight little fit. I couldn't resist doing my scoop as well while I was at it.
It adds a little pizazz to an otherwise dark empty space, both in the bumper and in the scoop. I suppose it's functional in the scoop, but very unlikely. However, if you asked me a month ago if I thought a vital part being damaged by a rock was likely I would have scoffed... so might as well.
I figure the scoop won't hold up, but it was scrap, and it seems to be sitting OK, so we'll see what happens. I'll post a template if all this works and stays. So now my condenser is protected, and it looks a little bit cooler, more custom... and I'm not planning on spending another $650 + initial diagnostic + rental car again.
I've also managed to act like a dick protecting my own interest to the two companies I've sought business from. I wasn't wrong in protecting my interests, but believe I've probably made a name for myself and fear future repercussions.
posted @ 23:32
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Thursday, June 08, 2006
post://114991034404249076/
I haven't had A/C in a long time. I don't think I've had it since the car was new.
However I have no way of proving it.
I think the dealer is in cahoots with the car stereo place.
However I have no way of proving it.
I know that someone has lied to me about something.
However I have no way of proving it.
I brought the car in for the dealer to look at thinking it needed to be charged, like it came from the factory without any freon. Ok... well they said it was electrical. That makes sense, I thought, I did get the stereo upgraded and in order to do it they had to take apart the dash and route the wires from the speakers to the CleanSweep box.
There was talk of everything being tied to everything else when they did it, that's why I still have my stock head unit - they couldn't replace it.
So the dealer initially said it was my "controller" and they charged me $100 and told me that Long Radio would need to take a look at it since it was near "where they spliced in with the wires for the stereo". Long Radio took a look at it the next day. I spoke with Aaron there, someone new that I hadn't dealt with yet. He said everything was fine, that all they did was reconnect the hazard lights.
It was then to go back to Bertera in order to do further diagnostics for day 3. They took a look at it and when I called they said it was not working due to "massive rock damage" where a rock went through the condenser. The part would be in the next day and it would be $650.
I asked why they didn't find it previously, and why they thought it was an electrical problem. They said they couldn't get a signal from the controller. So it went from being the stereo, to the controller... to the condenser.
The things I was told changed with the situation, always conveniently fitting what they wanted me to believe. They blamed the people who installed the stereo until I told them who it was: Long Radio and that regardless of who hands me a bill I'd make sure someone was responsible - "Oh, they're good guys you don't want to do that."
I know they've known the owner of Long Radio for a long time, tight little club they've got there.
At any rate they made me feel as though they were covering something up, or even that they caused the damage to cover the fact that Long Radio broke something. Long Radio said they didn't do anything but hook the hazards back up which they negelected to hook back up the seccond time I brought my car back to them. Bertera Subaru said that they had repaired some wires, very true if they were talking about the flashers, but misleading in the way he said it.
I suspected them of something, called my insurance, and given that it'd be 3 to 5 days for someone to look at it, I left work early to bring my car to adjusters. She seemed alright with it, I'm still waiting for my determination, and I won't bother if there's going to be surcharge. There's no sense in spending more money in the long run for a cover minus my deductible now.
It's such a hard decision. All my gut is worthless as there's nothing that can be proved, and since I didn't check out the car in Feb/Mar when I first
thought I had a problem with the A/C, I can't say one way or another what did, or did not happen how they say it did.
A rock went through my A/C, and someone other then me is at fault. Even if it's no one, which is most likely the case since I'm just driving along and *wham* there goes a rock... million to one shot doc... million to one.
posted @ 17:57
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post://114978630356905035/
Get XFire and look me up: Z3RiN
You can chat to others via VOIP or chat
while playing whatever game you're playing. Others can see what game you're playing, and even join the same server if you're playing online.
It's very handy if you're always wanting people to team up with.
Justin and I have been using it, and short of XBox live (which will soon be coming to Windows) it's the best way for gamers to get together.
posted @ 12:58
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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
post://114962167157884943/
What do you think this sign means, post your comments below!
posted @ 15:18
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post://114962096275119738/
Im officially comfortable with my phone now. I ve dropped it more in the past 3 days then in all the time since i ve had i
posted @ 15:09
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Monday, June 05, 2006
post://114952857540580925/
The Essence: PodcastIt's a podcast, it's 192khz, it's almost 2 hours long, it's goth, it's industrial, it's punk, it's FREE!
Check it out @ bloosqr.com
Playlist of this weeks:
Switchblade Symphony ? Dissolve
Ghosting ? Bombed the world
Behind the scenes ? free
Killing Miranda ? Discotheque Necronomicon
Alien sex fiend ? now I?m feeling zombified
Zombie Girl - I want it (soman mix)
Angelspit ? vena cava
Bauhaus ? ziggy stardust
Clan of xymox ? this world
La Floa Maldita ? Sorciere (Das Ich Mix)
The Dignity of Labor ? XRV
Invisible Ballet ? Escaping Light
Goldfrapp ? oooh la la
Ladytron ? seventeen
Gary Flanagan ? Metro Boulot Dodo
Nukleon ? Lucky
God Module ? Evolve
Leatherstrip ? back in control (born the 13th version)
Carnival of Dreams ? Schwereios (pearls of Dew Club mix)
David Bowie/ Queen ? Under Pressure
De/vision ? Try to Forget
Queen/Bowie ? Under Pressure
posted @ 13:29
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post://114951457237466170/
Check out this
XBox 360 Controller Mod. For when you want your controller to
sing (figuratively, as there are no sound components).
posted @ 09:34
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Saturday, June 03, 2006
post://114931751215278203/
Pictures from my bike ride last week. I went to Doc Bills, a local hangout for partygoers. It's state land, but everyone finds one of the many ways to enter, driving in if they've got a good enough 4X4. The trails are great, they're most from ATVs, so they're good and wide. It can get quite rocky, but that's where the fun is, darting inbetween the rocks, hopping over the holes.
Here's some pics from the inner sanctum:
posted @ 02:46
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