Monday, July 31, 2006
post://115436750892306505/
Friday night Jay came out with Heather.
Nicole was at the Dave Matthew's concert in Hartford, so it was just us 3.
We went out to Boston Billiards for a while. I beat Jay quite a few times, which is unusual. I guess he hasn't played in a while, which means we need to play pool more often! We then had 1 last drink then went back to the crib and chilled well into the night. We played some G-Cube, Chess, listened to music, and had some bonding time with Heather, filling her in on the background of our highschool past and all that. It was the first she'd heard of it. Jay's been seeing her for about a month now, maybe more, so there was plenty of stories to tell.
Saturday I went for a ride in S.Hadley. I'll post a Google Earth link with coordinates. It's a really cool spot if you're anywhere near Holyoke/Amherst area and like to mountain bike. I got all the way up to the top of the loop, and right where it starts getting into some fun downhill I hit a rock and popped my tube. It was my own fault since I didn't fill up my tire enough. I had to walk it down, but got to the bike shop just in time to get a tube before they closed. $4.50 isn't bad. I didn't get an extra one though, which as I drove away I thought about. I'll grab one from the local bike shop now that I know what I need. I've got a hand pump too that'll fit in the camelback, so I'll be ready in case it should happen again while I'm up on a trail.
On Sunday I spent some time getting Nicole's brother Chris' site up and going. I didn't want to cash his check until I had something up at his domain - http://tunnelvision.biz
He's into photography, has a somewhat metal persona, so I wanted to reflect that in the site. He called Nicole just as I had finished getting the site up. Perfect timing. He was really impressed, so I was glad he liked it. I can get into a mode where I make a really cool site, and often times I'll just land flat on my face. That's why I finally settled on FinishLine making his own - he was never happy with my designs/ideas. I do well with the dark stuff though ;) It's that dormant goth inside of me.
After that was done I went for a late afternoon ride back in S.Hadley with full tire pressure. Dan was already there when I got there. I saw his truck and gave him a call to possibly meet up somewhere along the way. I spent a lot of time on my feet instead of riding leasurely as I had the day before. The bugs were horrific, and either I didn't have as much food as the day before, or the Rockstar on Saturday really made that much of a difference. I think it was hotter too. I really beat myself on Sunday. I'm sure it wasn't all about the tire pressure but Dan confirmed for me after we were both done and finally met up. He rides about 40psi versus the 30 I was riding when I popped the tube, and the 60 which they filled them up with at the bike shop. So somewhere in the middle will give me a bit more cush, while maintaining the rigidity I need to battle the rocks.
A good weekend. I hung out with friends, layed low, got sleep, and got a lot of exercise. Summer is great, a tad hot, but I do more regardless.
posted @ 13:38
-x-
(3) comments |
Post a Comment
Friday, July 28, 2006
post://115413244797759629/
Anarchy online, a scifi MMORPG is now free until January 07.
Download the client, free.
Sign up, free.
Play, free.
Check out Anarchy Online!You'll need BitTorrent to download it. It's going well over 300k+ right now, 1 hour of download remaining.
You may wonder what the catch is. They want more people on their servers. You don't have to pay for the game, or pay a subscription, but they're hoping people will have fun, and get into it, so they'll buy the expansion packs. Those are all on special right now, like only a subscription fee for the first one, and no subscription for the other, so to get both you'd have to pay $7.95 a month and $29 down. You don't actually have to buy anything though. I'm all for free.
posted @ 20:17
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
post://115395243114990887/
Noooooooooooooo!My initial thoughts:Why would AMD do this? ATI makes some major crap! Their drivers and inefficiencies alone make me shake my head. I marveled at nVidia when they came on the scene. They picked up the slack that 3DFX left. I'm very sad and I hope they'll be able to continue their products. With their purchase of 5 million worth of technology from RAMBUS in June AMD is up to something. They have everything they need to remove all bottlenecks.
Further deliberation / reasoning:AMD makes processors, and can make bus recommendations to optimize performance.
RAMBUS technology is RAM, memory controllers, and the related cpu/memory bus.
ATI creates graphics cars, and whereas I don't agree in their copycat SLi technology, I think working with AMD may allow them to replicate the technology more efficiently if not downright steal SLi. AMD worked with nVidia on it, so they know how it works.
nVidia is starting to get a bit big for their britches, exclusivity contracts and the like. It'll be empowering to AMD, lets hope they know what to do with it all.
posted @ 18:01
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
post://115393964575497039/
Looking to add some retro flair to your PC? How about the (promised) increased sound quality of running your PC audio through a Vacuume Tube?
Check out the Musketeer III from CoolerMaster.
Not anxious about liquid cooling? Considering converting a mini fridge into a PC case? For the cost of said fridge, and the hours of labor involved, you can get a case with built in A/C.
A/C case from SyTrin
posted @ 13:50
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
post://115387749036605083/
Someone went searching for Rachel Friedman-Siddiqi the other day. I hope they'll leave a comment if they do another search. The post they found was from April 2004 but it didn't have a comment. I'm wondering if there is anyone out there who knows where she went, or at least if anyone knew where she was prior to 2004, when she just disappeared one day after saying an unusual goodbye.
posted @ 21:28
(2) comments |
Post a Comment
post://115387692510943566/
I posted a link to a news story in the links above and it stirred thoughts on
Moore's Law.
I ran accross something a year or so ago that said Moore's Law would be disproved soon, that the evolution of chips were slowing down. It was harder and harder to get twice the speed out of chips. Since 1950 it's been the computer industry's goal to prove Moore right. They were getting nervous, then someone came up with the idea of doubling up on chip cores.
They've managed to keep up with it by doing this. Dual core chips have recently entered the market, right after I went and spent all my money on a 64-bit AMD FX they come out with 64-bit FX Dual Core. Go fig.
Now Quad-Core is on the Horizon.
posted @ 21:05
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
post://115387588546694219/
Since when is someone's post on a blog front page news?
Front page on Verizon brings you MSN, but front page.
The guy from Jeopardy who won a gazillion billion dollars
had a few things to say about Jeopardy.
I think it's really funny, thus the linkage.
posted @ 21:00
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Sunday, July 23, 2006
post://115362820507408720/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477457/
posted @ 00:14
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Thursday, July 20, 2006
post://115344328988103960/
The world is abuzz (ha, electric, boogie woogie) from
this new electric car 0 to 60 in about 3 secconds, top speed 130mph, over 6000 lithium-ion cells. Suck it Trebek.
posted @ 20:52
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
post://115343294831596046/
IPA is strong. I'm drinking Red Hook. The other night I had 2 and it was too much. I couldn't focus, and since I tend to keep sipping I experienced drunk-like tendencies even before I finished my 2nd.
I also haven't been drinking every day. Or not as many. I can't seem to win, too weak, too strong, too expensive... too bad (I like it so much).
posted @ 18:00
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
post://115343278756022240/
I wonder if I am into Role Playing again. I think I am, and I was back when Bard's Tale and The Summoning were around, but it was nothing special. Now role playing really involves playing a role, 1st person, with swords. I like the way it's evolved.
I just saw
the trailer for Gothic 3 and it looks pretty good. I'm more enamored of the screenshots. The trailer is somewhat long and very drawn out.
One pic in particular with the rhinos looks especially good. Each rhino is the same model but is lit depending where they are in the scene. It looks really good, but so did/does Oblivion.
I wonder why I can't get back into Oblivion. Oh yeah, it's broken. It has a really bad glitch that I managed to get caught up in and had to abandon my game for. I'm unable to complete the training mission, and that prevents a lot of events from happening.
I started over and cheated to get back to where I should have been, unfortunately I did it a bit too much, so I'm playing level 3 quests with level 9 enemies and it's a real pain. I have a very well equipped character now, same level as before, but I'm having quite the time defeating the foes.
I should start small, and complete as many misssions as I can without actually leveling up. My first game I didn't know how to level, so I got to level 7 quests while still having level 3 enemies. It's a much better way to go.
posted @ 17:53
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
post://115333669205328482/
I arrived home yesterday from a very long vacation, distance wise. We drive over 800 miles driving up to Newport Maine over to St Johnsbury Vt then back home. It was a long drive, but really nice going over the white mountains.
The place in Maine was very cool - basic cabin on a lake. It's amazing some of the places up there... and most of them seasonal. I would never drive 10 hours weekly to go up to my vacation spot. But it's certainly the place to take a couple weeks off.
The original plan was to go up to my brother's mountain after Maine and camp for a few days, but I forgot my sneakers, and he was really busy with work. We were content with spending a night at Mom's. We picked some blueberries in the morning, I did some computer work for her, and we went home.
All in all a nice relaxing vacation. I've even got a few days to do things like play games, clean the house, and work on websites =)
posted @ 15:11
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Sunday, July 09, 2006
post://115267223211218655/
We went hiking today up at "The Notch" in S Hadley, a bit N from Mt Tom.
See it in Google Earth!
I've been working off this post for the week. Adding thumbnails, pictures, and finally the google earth shortcut. It looks pretty tall. I'm definitely up for hiking from Mt Hitchcock onward to Barre Mt. We ended up going to the top and going down and around the right side of the mountain. It was a good hike, and we saw a very unusual item. Apparently it's owned by Amherst College, but it screams "Underground Missle Silo".
I'm guessing it's a radio station, but dang if it doesn't look neat. I'd give anything to get in there and take a look. Would I give a potential trespassing charge? I don't know, possibly =) I'll be sure to take pictures.
posted @ 17:58
-x-
(3) comments |
Post a Comment
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
post://115202536308228351/
Anyone play Battlefield 2? Or at least have a copy lying around? I've got 2 computers here so anyone is welcome to come play here, or if you've got your own copy you should get on
XFire so we can play.
Justin and I have been playing regularly, just popping on, and joining whatever game the other is playing. You can see what server they're on, and if not you can at least ask the IP address since the chat tool works even within the game.
posted @ 10:55
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
Sunday, July 02, 2006
post://115186251392701676/
I found some videos that I had long lost.
Pearl Jam - Evolution
Tori Amos - Raspberry Swirl... and of course Blumchen.
I went through this phase in 1998 where I really liked German techno. At the time Blumchen was the vocal equivalent of Happy Hardcore. It was crazy, thumping, happy, wonderful music. I loved it. I even ordered a CD from germany that came with a free (S) shirt! I still have it to this day.
Here are the videos I dug up. They were in Real Audio and I converted them to 3GP so there's some compression issues, but they're the first 2 minutes cause the 3GP converter I am using is shareware. You get the idea. Since they're 3GP you should be able to view them on your phone, given you've got at least 2mb free to store them. I have the original RA files but after installing Real Audio Player I don't want to put anyone through that just to watch these, so 3GP is good'nuff.
Blumchen Blaeu AugenBlumchen Es Ist VorbeiBlumchen Ich Bi...Blumchen Sesame St Featured (Germany)Blumchen Verruck Te Jungs
posted @ 13:39
-x-
(0) comments |
Post a Comment
