The desktop is becoming a might unstable these days. For s system that I put together over five years ago, it's done pretty well. Until yesterday: It wouldn't boot up, saying there was no boot device. Turns out the primary IDE controller somehow 'mis-fired' for lack of a better term. Reset button didn't help, but power-cycling the thing was just the kick in the pants it needed. I'd hoped (as ever) that it would last a couple more years as I pick up new pieces parts to build the next monster, alas that's probably not going to be the case.
By "monster" I don't mean viciously fast hardware, so hot off the assembly die that even Tom's Hardware hasn't seen it yet. No, just something that will boot up, play nice, and give BSOD's a little less frequently than I've been getting with the current iteration. How many and often is that? Two, actually. One of those was from the first OS install. There was certainly another, but can't remember when. Probably happened as I attempted to overclock the 900MHz Duron processor that used to be there... Yeah, raw POWER baby!
Heck, the only hardware changes I've had to make to this box was one hard drive, and the oh so nice Altec Lansing speakers (lasted six years and change). I don't count the modem or CPU swap, nor the video card updates because the initial pieces weren't actually broken. Just slow.
Atomica, Worry
18 September 2006
16 September 2006
Is there a full moon out?
One of the forums I frequent has been in a sad state lately. Everybody bitching about so little. Is this maybe some kind of test to make sure one is able to go absolutely ape-shit insane before the holidays begin? Because, if it is, I'm boarding up the windows and putting another dead-bolt on every door. What the fuck is wrong with you people?
Taking offence at someone else's opinion who believe one peoples or another make fantastic lovers (not a racist statement), feeling it's an affront to all those who differ?
Lashing out because you think this style of driving is heinous and the lashee gives another perspective?
Slamming one person because they chose to protect and insulate themselves while you allow YOUR SPOUSE to wallow un-aided because it should be the other that deals with their issues instead of you?
Fuck!
...wait for it...
Can't we all just get along?!?
Whitesnake, Still of the Night
Taking offence at someone else's opinion who believe one peoples or another make fantastic lovers (not a racist statement), feeling it's an affront to all those who differ?
Lashing out because you think this style of driving is heinous and the lashee gives another perspective?
Slamming one person because they chose to protect and insulate themselves while you allow YOUR SPOUSE to wallow un-aided because it should be the other that deals with their issues instead of you?
Fuck!
...wait for it...
Can't we all just get along?!?
Whitesnake, Still of the Night
13 September 2006
What day is it again?
House is clean-ish. The way I see it, if there's nothing crawling up outta the drains and the color of the carpet is a) identifiable and b) same as when I moved in, it's a win. A couple more people have viewed it, but still no offers. Even with the fucking curb appeal that was imposed.
Ice Cream Social; Work is putting on a fundraiser for United Way, so tomorrow ice cream will be scooped, toppings will be dribbled and sprinkled, and people will be like pigs to the mud pit. They might even fork over some donations, which would be nice. I've got scooping duty for a half hour, so we'll see how it goes.
ponder
S.U.N. Project, Fatal Error courtesy DNA Lounge Radio
Ice Cream Social; Work is putting on a fundraiser for United Way, so tomorrow ice cream will be scooped, toppings will be dribbled and sprinkled, and people will be like pigs to the mud pit. They might even fork over some donations, which would be nice. I've got scooping duty for a half hour, so we'll see how it goes.
ponder
S.U.N. Project, Fatal Error courtesy DNA Lounge Radio
06 September 2006
Wednesday? Already?
I love it. Short weeks are always a winner in my book. For the three day weekend, I washed the car. Such excitement, huh? Also pulled together the DVD's lying around & compiled them into Movie Organizer. Though not without flaws (print formatting is a challenge for DVD's with a long title), it's a very nice setup that will pull the data from its own MOODb and IMDb for the movie using the UPC code and/or title. This is less than useful if your DVD was a box set whose UPC was on the outer wrapping that you threw away long ago. Oops. For the price, it cannot be beat. Take a peek, if that's just the thing you've been looking for. Pay what you want to via PayPal. And it's 
so there's that.
Of course, I still have that half gig of photos to post somewhere (after resizing). Work work work...
Nocturn, Flirt (Part I) via DNA Lounge Radio
so there's that.Of course, I still have that half gig of photos to post somewhere (after resizing). Work work work...
Nocturn, Flirt (Part I) via DNA Lounge Radio
04 September 2006
Good gawd
Al Capone is still alive. Yes, it is true. Want proof? Well I'm sure he's keeping away from the cameras, but it seems he's pulling the strings of extortion through a front company known as [name withheld for the moment... fucking libel laws anyways]. Tenants whose homes are on lands owned by the bastages are being bled dry by a landscaping paragraph. Not that the stipulations there are observed even by the bastages... Much of my yard was ripped up and redone according to this paragraph:
"6b. Landscape Improvements - ...snip... Landlord may require Resident to repair, replace, or plant additional landscaping to meet approved requirements. Resident shall be responsible for repair or replacement of trees, shrubs, lawn, fixtures, and other improvements on the Premises damaged or destroyed due to the negligence or the intentional acts or inaction of Resident, its guests or invitees. Or, upon five (5) days prior notice to Resident(s) that he/she failed to adequately maintain the Premises, Landlord may, but shall not be required to enter upon the Premises and conduct the repairs and/or maintenance, and may charge a reasonable fee for services and/or materials incurred by it to maintain the land and Premises upon which the Manufactured Home is situated, and bill the Resident the costs thereof as additional rent. ..."
It's not so much the price for the work performed that was disturbing (but make no mistake, $2k is not reasonable for what was done). The extent of work done is what chafes my ass right now. The fuckers ripped up healthy lawn to expand the amount of "refurbishment" required, no doubt to bring a smile to their accountants feces. Oops, I meant faces (really though, could you tell the difference in the first place?).
That they failed to provide that five days notice that they self-imposed didn't slow down the greedy bastages one iota, of course. Legal consultation is in process.
Ted Nugent, Cat Scratch Fever
"6b. Landscape Improvements - ...snip... Landlord may require Resident to repair, replace, or plant additional landscaping to meet approved requirements. Resident shall be responsible for repair or replacement of trees, shrubs, lawn, fixtures, and other improvements on the Premises damaged or destroyed due to the negligence or the intentional acts or inaction of Resident, its guests or invitees. Or, upon five (5) days prior notice to Resident(s) that he/she failed to adequately maintain the Premises, Landlord may, but shall not be required to enter upon the Premises and conduct the repairs and/or maintenance, and may charge a reasonable fee for services and/or materials incurred by it to maintain the land and Premises upon which the Manufactured Home is situated, and bill the Resident the costs thereof as additional rent. ..."
It's not so much the price for the work performed that was disturbing (but make no mistake, $2k is not reasonable for what was done). The extent of work done is what chafes my ass right now. The fuckers ripped up healthy lawn to expand the amount of "refurbishment" required, no doubt to bring a smile to their accountants feces. Oops, I meant faces (really though, could you tell the difference in the first place?).
That they failed to provide that five days notice that they self-imposed didn't slow down the greedy bastages one iota, of course. Legal consultation is in process.
Ted Nugent, Cat Scratch Fever
23 August 2006
Crosseyed
Just picked up the first pair of replacement glasses since mine were lost at Laguna Seca last weekend. I figured this way when (not if) I lose the next pair, I'll have a backup set that's not chipped and scuffed as the current backups are. These new ones though, I don't like them. I have clarity & all, but the right lens is much more convex than the left, which is fucking with my depth perception. It makes my left eye feel weak, if that makes any sense.
Now, I'm not talking about a huge correction factor here; I don't need glasses for day to day stuff or to drive (though I wear them when driving at night). I'm going back to this doc tomorrow to see what the poop is on this, because this sure as hell didn't happen with my other glasses. The scuffed backups don't give me the grief that these are, and I see everything clearly with them.
grrr
Buddha Bar, Mambo Craze
Now, I'm not talking about a huge correction factor here; I don't need glasses for day to day stuff or to drive (though I wear them when driving at night). I'm going back to this doc tomorrow to see what the poop is on this, because this sure as hell didn't happen with my other glasses. The scuffed backups don't give me the grief that these are, and I see everything clearly with them.
grrr
Buddha Bar, Mambo Craze
5:10 am
I'm late. I slept right through the infernal alarm clock that was blaring (I'm guessing, based on the weird just-waking-up dreams) Buddy Holly's Peggy Sue among other "oldies". I find it's better to wake to music that there's an off chance I might actually like rather than some shock-jock wanna-be giggling about fart jokes. Yeah, Denver is really grown up in the radio DJ scene, I tell ya.
Okay, so I really hate it when the radio station I wake up to plays anything by Tom Jones. I admit that get's me flying out of bed to cross the room and shut the music off, but if that's all I was looking for, I'd leave it set to the fart-joke channel.
Anyway, I'm late. I'm also congested. Well, half congested & half running actually. It's bad enough when your damn nose doesn't know if it wants to run like Niagra or stop up like Crazy Glue. It's truly a sad state of affairs, however, when one nostril goes the Niagra route and the other nostril attempts... nay, succeeds in its quest to solidify.
Did I mention that I carpool to work? No? Well, I do. I call my ride & tell him to pass me by. Catch: He's already in the driveway. Fuck. Okay, rapid PBA bath & hair/tooth brushing, dressed (matching socks even) & I'm out the door in ten minutes. I'm sure I'll be castigated for mentioning how much I love being a man, but what the hell.
So I'm at work getting my caffeine buzz on when I've finally had enough of the nostrildammitallus & take some Tylenol Cold (non-drowsy). Big. Mistake. My fingers are all tingly. My nose is battling the Tylenol. Serious battling; I feel the cartilage in there ... adjusting with each chemical volley to counter the other. So much for the blood donation today I suppose.
Coworker has been struggling with math. He's taking an Algebra course and was having trouble with a two variable problem. His solution? Just eliminating the letters makes it much easier. :groan: He'll probably be promoted, too.
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rude Mood
Okay, so I really hate it when the radio station I wake up to plays anything by Tom Jones. I admit that get's me flying out of bed to cross the room and shut the music off, but if that's all I was looking for, I'd leave it set to the fart-joke channel.
Anyway, I'm late. I'm also congested. Well, half congested & half running actually. It's bad enough when your damn nose doesn't know if it wants to run like Niagra or stop up like Crazy Glue. It's truly a sad state of affairs, however, when one nostril goes the Niagra route and the other nostril attempts... nay, succeeds in its quest to solidify.
Did I mention that I carpool to work? No? Well, I do. I call my ride & tell him to pass me by. Catch: He's already in the driveway. Fuck. Okay, rapid PBA bath & hair/tooth brushing, dressed (matching socks even) & I'm out the door in ten minutes. I'm sure I'll be castigated for mentioning how much I love being a man, but what the hell.
So I'm at work getting my caffeine buzz on when I've finally had enough of the nostrildammitallus & take some Tylenol Cold (non-drowsy). Big. Mistake. My fingers are all tingly. My nose is battling the Tylenol. Serious battling; I feel the cartilage in there ... adjusting with each chemical volley to counter the other. So much for the blood donation today I suppose.
Coworker has been struggling with math. He's taking an Algebra course and was having trouble with a two variable problem. His solution? Just eliminating the letters makes it much easier. :groan: He'll probably be promoted, too.
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rude Mood
21 August 2006
Explicative-free zone, one day only
The weekend... it was a mixed bag. The races were pretty good. Three Ferrari 250's placed one-two-three in Sunday's group 6B. 6A's big iron roared fantastically on Saturday, and there was only one car-damaging wreck & no driver injuries. In that, it was great.
The post-race conversations where politics and other world issues / crises are solved... well, that just fell through. It seems that while I may be my dad's son, I'm still only a child when debates and discussions are brought to the adult's table. Being interrupted, talked over, and generally ignored made me feel like just going with the thirteen year-old son of dad's business partner to ride bicycles. Only as long as we stayed in sight and out of that dangerous traffic (/sarcasm). In truth, I did get up and walk away, completely unnoticed. I suppose I should be glad someone didn't pipe up with, "Say Larry, could you go to the cooler and get me a beer? Be sure to use both hands now." (okay, NOW /sarcasm... really!)
Photos. Half a gig of photos await downloading & distributing, but I feel more like just deleting the lot of 'em.
And in the bad news department (yeah, it got better upon my arrival home), the property managers did the landscaping for more than half the yard here. Looks like absolute ass, and I am just ever so looking forward to the forthcoming bill for it. It's gonna be hell to try raking up Cottonwood droppings, too.
I think I'll go for a swim over there in that pool... the one with the big letters on the side that says (Lord help me) "Coors". This weekend is just so far beyond explicatives and colorful metaphors that I'm not even gonna bother with 'em
Seefeel, Moodswing ... no shit Dick Tracy. (oops, an explicative... so sue me)
The post-race conversations where politics and other world issues / crises are solved... well, that just fell through. It seems that while I may be my dad's son, I'm still only a child when debates and discussions are brought to the adult's table. Being interrupted, talked over, and generally ignored made me feel like just going with the thirteen year-old son of dad's business partner to ride bicycles. Only as long as we stayed in sight and out of that dangerous traffic (/sarcasm). In truth, I did get up and walk away, completely unnoticed. I suppose I should be glad someone didn't pipe up with, "Say Larry, could you go to the cooler and get me a beer? Be sure to use both hands now." (okay, NOW /sarcasm... really!)
Photos. Half a gig of photos await downloading & distributing, but I feel more like just deleting the lot of 'em.
And in the bad news department (yeah, it got better upon my arrival home), the property managers did the landscaping for more than half the yard here. Looks like absolute ass, and I am just ever so looking forward to the forthcoming bill for it. It's gonna be hell to try raking up Cottonwood droppings, too.
I think I'll go for a swim over there in that pool... the one with the big letters on the side that says (Lord help me) "Coors". This weekend is just so far beyond explicatives and colorful metaphors that I'm not even gonna bother with 'em
Seefeel, Moodswing ... no shit Dick Tracy. (oops, an explicative... so sue me)
16 August 2006
VROOOOM
T minus six hours to end of work, and start of security checkpoints as I head west. I'll be back next week. If any one needs me, I'll be roaming the paddocks here, or sitting near turn 5. Or 8A. Or maybe ... hell, I dunno. This general area:
Regenerator, Blink
06 August 2006
Why don't I have cable? Lemme 'splain...
NASCAR attendance is up
"Everyone from corporate bigwigs to rappers and actors are starting to bring attention to this full throttle sport. With that kind of star power and the money it brings, it's not too hard to imagine that an influx of new blood was sure to follow."
Yeah, or the fact that televised events have 80% commercial and 20% race, FORCING any potential fan to go to the flamin' event to see what the ruckus is about... Good grief Charlie Brown! I tried watching some of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Indy today after washing Bobbie (more on that in a sec)... TV turns on in the middle of a commercial. Back to racing for two laps, and another 15 minutes of commercials. Races again, maybe three laps and another commercial break. C'mon people. Fifty laps of racing took place and I saw a whopping seven laps of it.
This morning I woke up around 7am and thought it would be the perfect time to wash the car (further proof that I'm insane), and if I was really lucky I could manage to get a coat of wax on. It was overcast & 60-ish degrees. There were a couple minutes of drizzle that irritated me, but nothing bad enough to really get in the way. I now remember why I hate waxing cars. I'm in no kind of phisical condition to do this! "Elbow grease" my ass; I sweated a gallon before finishing the job. Did I mention it was only 60 degrees? So now Bobbie's got a nice coat of wax. I even put on some Rain-X on the windshield. Shiny.
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hello Mary Lou
"Everyone from corporate bigwigs to rappers and actors are starting to bring attention to this full throttle sport. With that kind of star power and the money it brings, it's not too hard to imagine that an influx of new blood was sure to follow."
Yeah, or the fact that televised events have 80% commercial and 20% race, FORCING any potential fan to go to the flamin' event to see what the ruckus is about... Good grief Charlie Brown! I tried watching some of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Indy today after washing Bobbie (more on that in a sec)... TV turns on in the middle of a commercial. Back to racing for two laps, and another 15 minutes of commercials. Races again, maybe three laps and another commercial break. C'mon people. Fifty laps of racing took place and I saw a whopping seven laps of it.
This morning I woke up around 7am and thought it would be the perfect time to wash the car (further proof that I'm insane), and if I was really lucky I could manage to get a coat of wax on. It was overcast & 60-ish degrees. There were a couple minutes of drizzle that irritated me, but nothing bad enough to really get in the way. I now remember why I hate waxing cars. I'm in no kind of phisical condition to do this! "Elbow grease" my ass; I sweated a gallon before finishing the job. Did I mention it was only 60 degrees? So now Bobbie's got a nice coat of wax. I even put on some Rain-X on the windshield. Shiny.
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hello Mary Lou
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