A commercial from my youth…

I grew up in a military family (father was in the Army).  We were stationed in Germany, and the only Engrish speaking TV station was run by the Army.  The one good thing about it (and possibly the only good thing) was no commercials.  Then we came stateside, and were able to watch regular TV with commercials.  There was one commercial that stood out in particular, and our friends at The Consumerist have pointed out that it’s on YouTube.

Submitted for your approval.

And surprisingly, Faith No More, does a pretty live cover of it (maybe if they went with this, it would still be available….):

And no, I don’t dig white chocolate.  Hershey’s Special Dark, please.  Thank you.

Technorati Tags: '80s commercials...

A good combination

Zero Wing.  A Sega Genesis game that never sold well in America.  In fact, I don’t think it sold at all.  It was well known for it’s atrocious treatment of the English language.  Don't believe me, see the Wikipedia write-up here.  Anyway, it also goes well with a Brian May guitar solo.  See here:

Isn’t there anything Queen can’t make better?

Technorati Tags: All your base are belong to us,Queen,Sega Genesis

Gee, that was quick….

Lately I’ve been having problems with my phone syncing to my computer.  Yes, my phone runs Windows Mobile (so I guess I should that The Anti-Christ for that one), so there’s my problem right there…

Anyway, I decided to clear the phone out tonight, and reinstall everything (this included uninstalling/reinstalling ActiveSync).  On my computer, this would imply at least 2-3 days before I could safely surf the internet, and almost a month before all my software would be reinstalled and I would ‘moved in’ to the computer.  On my phone, I had everything reinstalled in 20 minutes.  It took slightly longer to set my email up, and I still need to tweak the theme.  But what’s going to take the longest time is I have to reload all my music…  And that was what was causing me the problems originally.

Technorati Tags: My Computer,The Anti-Christ,Windows Mobile

It was another day off today….

And I did absolutely nothing.  Nada. Zilch.  Jack Shit.  Well I did go to Puyallup today, thinking I would spend the day with one of my brothers, but he had to tend to other business.  Well, it wasn’t a complete waste of a day.  I did get some more software installed in my WinME virtual machine.  I’m beginning to realize that the virtual machine on this computer will get better performance than when I had it installed on my old computer.

Technorati Tags: My Computer,The Anti-Christ,Virtual Machines,Going Old Skool

Sheep and Goats

Taxonomically they’re related.  But in religious terms, there’s a difference:

• Sheep always go to heaven.
• Goats always go to hell.

Now, let’s have some Cake:

Yes, I know it’s just yet another half-assed excuse to post another music video.  To be honest, I really can’t stand Cake, but this song is an exception.

Technorati Tags: Music,Cake

RIP Khan

Ricardo Montalban has passed away. Yes, he was Mr. Rourke from Fantasy Island, but I will remember him for his role as Khan in Star Trek 2. He was the best villain ever.  It wasn’t until many years later after first seeing him that I found out he was Mexican.  Even though I only knew him through the villains’ roles he plated, he was still one of my heroes.

He will be missed.

Technorati Tags: Star Trek,Khan

My Early Experience With Windows 7

Ok, so I downloaded the beta of Windows 7 from The Anti-Christ earlier today.  Burned it to DVD.  And realizing that I have two physical hard drives in my computer, I gave it a try.  From the time I put the DVD in the drive to desktop was between 30 minutes and an hour (to be honest I wasn’t really keeping time).  From previous experiences (with WinME and WinXP) here are the major differences:

• Everything is now done from a gui.  Even when you boot off the DVD, you’re greeted by a GUI, which should be a Godsend to the computer-illiterate masses who don’t know how to do anything from a command line.  The Anti-Christ must be borrowing a page from all the major Linux distributions, most (if not all) of whom have had gui based installers for years (Mandriva and SuSE immediately come to mind).
• Compared to WinXP installation, if you choose install from within windows, all of the major decisions (like which drive/partition to install it to) are made from within windows.  Whereas in previous versions it would just copy the files over, then it would reboot, and you have to navigate through the DOS-like interface, which could be a little bit intimidating if you don’t know what you’re doing…  A little more work on this, and my very much computer illiterate mother would be able to do it.
• Once you get through the installation, it’s very much like Windows Vista.  The hardware requirements are pretty much the same, so if you’re current box can run Vista, you can run windows 7 with little or no problem.

And the drawbacks:

• It is still beta software (and that means that it’s not stable).  Of course, the obvious warning not to use this on mission critical computers.
• Since it’s a beta, not all manufacturers have released hardware drivers yet.  Like my TV card.  And IIRC, there were several components on my computer that they didn’t have drivers for.
• I’m not all that thrilled with the Aero interface yet.  I may upgrade to Windows 7 when it’s finally released, and learn to love it then.  But then again, I just found the port for the Royal Noir theme (the one that XP Media Center has), and that’s enough eye candy for me.

And my one tidbit of wisdom if you’re dual-booting with 7 and XP, and you just want to go back to XP:

1. log into XP.
2. Go to ‘my computer’ and format the drive/partition that 7 was installed on.
3. If you followed my advice here, then reboot your computer and choose the ‘recovery console’ option.
4. If, for example, your XP installation is on your C: drive, then at the command prompt, type ‘fixboot C:’.
5. Reboot again, and you should be back at XP again.

Your mileage my vary…

Technorati Tags: My computer,The Anti-Christ,Windows XP,Windows 7

I’m watching the Tonight Show right now

And John Melendez is going to get a tonsure.  Not the traditional roman tonsure, but he’s going to get it all shaved off.  It would be far more entertaining for him to get his scalp waxed.  A very slow waxing.  This is why I don’t gamble on national TV…..

Now you can have a bankruptcy in the diamond business…

When I was growing up, I listened to a lot of radio (hey, no internet, no cable TV, my choices were severely limited).  My best Holiday present ever was a stereo that had a digital tuner (not even a cd player).  Anyway, one of the ads that I still remember from the 20-some odd years of listening were the spots for the Shane Company.  Everything must come to an end.  The Shane Company has filed for bankruptcy.  Maybe they can pull out of it.  Maybe this is the end……

Technorati Tags: The Shane Company

Mental Note (once again)

When burning DVDs make sure to shutdown the andlinux processes, unless you really want to spend over 40 minutes on one DVD.  The Anti-Christ has released a public beta of Windows 7.  After several tries over the weekend, I finally managed to download it, and burn it to disc.  I’ve finally got the hardware to run it, but I hesitate to install it because my TV card doesn’t have windows vista/7 drivers for it yet, and I do use my computer as my main tv.  And for the first time since knoppix 4.02 was released, I can finally access the internet from knoppix again (funny thing, after 4.02, knoppix stopped recognizing the network card on my old computer).

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer,Windows 7,Knoppix

What's this?

With all the rain & flooding we've had here in the Great Pacific NorthWet, it was a total shock to see this strange, blue cloud in the sky today. I don't know what this signifies, but I can say this: EVERYBODY PANIC!

Almost forgot…..

While trying to get Windows ME to install in VirtualBox (gave up after 8 hours.  And I had really high hopes for it too, but that will be another post), it occurred to me what yesterday was.  I almost missed my father’s birthday.  I did call him and wish him a happy birthday, but I thought I’d use my virtual soapbox to say:

Happy Birthday, Dad.

MySpace, Facebook, Blogger or ???

I’ve had this blog since 2006.  Last September (or August, I can’t remember), I finally got a MySpace page.  Then my boss mentioned facebook, and I got a facebook page.  Some of my friends & relatives like MySpace, but most prefer facebook.  For the most part, I like facebook too, but there are some of my friends who prefer myspace.  The two are good for keeping in touch, but I actually prefer blogger.  I know MySpace has a blogging feature, but I’ve already had my virtual soapbox here set up for almost three years.  And I really don’t like all the pimped & blinged out myspace pages, either.  And don’t get me started on R&B music, either…..

Technorati Tags: MySpace,Facebook,Blogger

Going Old Skool. Again….

As I think I’ve said before, my (old) computer came with Windows ME installed on it.  I highly recommend it to clueless newbies.  Then again, it is kind of like learning to swim by jumping straight into the ocean….  Anyhow, after a year of dealing with the Blue Screen Of Death, and various and sundry other problems, I went to Windows XP (you’d think that The Anti-Christ would realize that not doing a Half-Assed Job would be a Good Thing).  For the most part.  I kept trying to dual-boot with ME and XP, or just going with either one of them (even if I was going with one OS, I’d still make sure that I had the hardware drivers and software compatible with the other OS as well).

Well fast forward to my new computer which just has Windows XP Professional.  Installing WinME is not an option.  Then I realized, that: 1. I have XP Pro and 2.  I have a really fast processor and plenty of ram.  I’ve never had any really good experiences with virtual OSes and emulators (mainly because my old computer was slower than the Postal Service).  And when I last tried Virtual PC 2007, it shut down saying I needed XP Professional (I had XP Home at the time).  So I downloaded Virtual PC 2007 and VirtualBox, pulled out my old windows discs, and set to work.  First off, I learned that even though I’m in a virtual environment, I still need to fdisk and format.  Installation was a long time (even longer than my old PIII).  Virtual PC was slightly faster than VirtualBox in installation, but VirtualBox is more configurable.  But, I can now still play around with my old games (mainly MechWarrior 2) that won’t even install in XP.  I could probably even install my favorite Linux Distro (OpenSuSE) if I wanted to, but that would be another blog entry…

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,Windows ME,Widows XP,Virtual Computing,My Computer

Happy New Year

OK, I’m watching the New Years at the Needle.  I remember the fiasco that happened last year when the fireworks didn’t go off properly. They said it was a computer malfunction.  There is a reason why mission critical computers don’t run windows.  The Anti-Christ is known for doing a half-assed job.  Already I’ve seen the traditional marriage proposal live on TV (last year, they had three or four).  I’ve already celebrated the traditional way: with nachos and beer.

Now comes the New Years’ Resolution.  I don’t really make resolutions, and when I do, I usually end up breaking them my January 2, so these are more lifelong goals than resolutions. Anyhow, I resolve to:

• Take better care of myself.  I am a diabetic, and I am starting to see some the complications of the condition.
• To get out of debt.
• To live within my means.  The economy’s been in the toilet for awhile, partly because of people using credit, not realizing that eventually the bills come due, and the piper will always get paid.
• To be more productive at work.  It is far easier to retain employment than it is to find new employment.

Anyway, Happy New Year.  I must now retire.  I don’t have tomorrow off, and I have to get up pretty bright and early.  At least, the fireworks went off properly.

Technorati Tags: Godless Pagan Holiday,New Years Day

What a year it’s been….

2008 is about to be no more.  In no particular order, here’s some of what happened:

• I moved in with my brother.  Again.
• The Mariners sucked.  Even shit-canning the manager in the middle of the season didn’t do much to bring in wins.  Then again, when you’re in The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), you’re main purpose is not to play baseball.  Shiny Side Out!
• The Seahawks sucked even worse.  But unlike the Lions, they at least won 3 games.
• My computer died.  And I got a new one to replace it.
• I cancelled my AT&T WorldNet account.  Soon after I cancelled, AT&T shut down their internal newsgroups, and fired Gage & Nick.
• I found out the hard way that there are some pharmacy techs who can’t read, but I eventually got that straightened out.  And some tech probably got ripped a new one as a result.
• Firefox 3 came out.
• Google Chrome was released.
• Obama got elected.  For the first time ever, the leader of the free world will not be a white male draft dodger….
• Micheal Phelps got so much gold in Beijing that Fort Knox got jealous.
• I finally got all the ManBearPig references on Fark.  And I’m being super cereal about it….
• When it comes to my cell phone, I started the year with a Samsung T619.  Then my boss sold me his Motorola Z3.  Then he sold me his T-Mobile Shadow.  I sold the Z3, and the Samsung T619 is now being used by my sister.
• The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City.  And they still sucked…

I could go on and on, but I’m just too lazy….

Technorati Tags: Seahawks,The New World Order (Mind-Control Division),Firefox 3,Google Chrome,AT&T WorldNet,ManBearPig,and what-not

Missing

It’s been over 17 years since Freddie Mercury passed on.  I didn’t have cable (let alone MTV) until well after the network Jumped The Shark and stopped airing videos.  Thank the Maker for youtube:

Brian May (who’s now a PhD, btw) is still the guitar player to compare to.  I’d hate to see his stuff show in the Guitar Hero games.  Nobody would be able to beat the level…

Technorati Tags: Queen,Music

Yet another catch-up post……

Yes, I know it’s been awhile but sometimes, the Real Life intervenes, and I’m unable to post as often as I want to.  So let’s get started (in no particular order):

• Christmas has come & gone.  There were two family events.  My extended family (aunts & uncles, cousins, Grandma Bryant, etc…. on Christmas Eve), and my siblings and parents were scheduled to have the gathering on the Sunday before Christmas. I made it to the former, but once again I missed the latter because of $day-job, I know it’s not all about the presents, but much plunder was achieved.  This year, I scored:
1. 2 Target gift cards.  I also shop at Wally World but Target’s closer.  I gave a Target gift card as well (I figure if your gift recipient can’t find what they want at Target, then they don’t deserve it…)
2. Some sugar-free life savers.
3. A Subway gift card. 
4. And a hooded sweatshirt from my boss.
5. Batteries (I have all the gadgets I need already).
• My roommate (aka my brother) collectively scored:
1. A toaster (haven’t had toast in over a year…)
2. A screwdriver set.
3. But the Big Gift we got this year was a coffee maker.  Now I can OD on caffeine and have hallucinations of The Underpants Gnomes trying to take my shorts in the comfort of my own home.
• I discovered quite accidentally that my new computer has a headphone jack.  Currently the sound output is split, one going to my computer speakers, and the other going to my stereo, which usually has my headphones plugged in.  BTW, my stereo is still louder than my sound card.  Go figure….
• My new computer has a very recently manufactured motherboard.  And it still has a slot for a floppy drive.  Too bad the floppy drive from my old computer doesn’t want to fit with the drive screws.
• The Detroit Lions are still that bad.  You actually have to deliberately try to go 0-17.  At least they’ll have a good draft choice next year.  Although I’d have to give my condolences to the poor college star who’s going to lose a very promising NFL career….
• We’ve had some really bad weather this year.  First came some snow.  It stuck around.  Then came more snow.  And more snow.  My apartment is two blocks away from a major arterial which is the first to get plowed and sanded.  But, it’s kinda sorta a wee bit difficult to get there when there’s at least two inches of ice in the apartment parking lot.
• After the snow and the cold came the rain.  Cold running water melts ice surprisingly fast…..
• No matter how short handed you are & no matter how soon you need to hire somebody, never skip the job interview.  You’ll regret it.
• When it comes to conversations in the workplace, there are a few subjects too avoid:
• Politics. 
• Religion (that whole separation of church and state thing also works great in the workplace).
• How your co-workers can enhance their anatomy (you know you’re in for a rough ride when the new girl you hired tells you she wants to get implants.  On her first day on the job). 

Well, that’s it for now. 

Technorati Tags: My Computer,Seahawks,Football,Weather,Target,Wally World,Office Antics

Ten years in the making (and how’d they do that…..)

The International Space Station is 10 years old today.  To make things interesting, here’s how they’re building it.

Spin the Dreidel! Light the Menorah!

OK, so Hanukah started yesterday.  I was going to blog it, but my cell phone decided not to cooperate with me.  Anyway, it was also my boss’s birthday (I actually work for a married couple).  And It was my cousin’s birthday (Happy belated Birthday, Tomara), too. 

Technorati Tags: Various and Sundry Birthdays I couln't post about yesterday...

It time to gather ‘round the pole

Today is Festivus.  Now is the time to gather around the pole and air the grievances & engage in the feat of strength.  The way I figure it, you can celebrate Festivus and Christmas.  With all the crass and commercialism of Christmas, it’s a good balance.  Then again, one could just hope that Christians would just celebrate it as the Christian holiday, rather than the pagan winter solstice that it’s usurped (in fact, most of the supposed Christmas customs actually have pagan origins).  I have nothing wrong with that all.  In fact, I always that the best to celebrate Christmas in to sacrifice a Christian….

Technorati Tags: Festivus,Holiday

It's winter solstice!

Have a Happy Godless Pagan Holiday today. Just make sure you remember to sacrifice a Christian…

Just another quick note/reminder

When troubleshooting sound issues in your computer, it does occasionally help to check that you actually plugged the speakers in…..

Yet another bunch of random stuff….

This is in part, a make-up post from my old computer being on the fritz, and I wasn’t posting as often as I would.  But here we go:

1. The Detroit Lions are so bad that they can’t even maul Christians…
2. Corona Beer tastes like Piss.
3. Judging from the Magic Blue Smoke I saw coming off of my old computer tonight, I don’t think it will ever work again.  I think I’ll strip it for parts, and see what I can get selling them.
4. It’s cold outside.  I think it’s because Hell froze over from The Seahawks winning on Sunday.
5. It’s never a good thing when you go to the pharmacy to get you prescriptions refilled, and you get the wrong persons’ prescription.  Correct me if I’m being delusional, but I do think that all pharmacy technicians should know how to read….
6. This is the first time in two months I can play Flight Simulator, and MechWarrior, and SimCity, and all manner of my various and sundry games that I couldn’t play due to not having a functional computer (see my previous post).
7. I wouldn’t say my family is dysfunctional, but this was the happiest Thanksgiving we celebrated.  The only difference was that Mom wasn’t there.
8. Screw the Christmas Tree.  I want a Festivus Pole.

Technorati Tags: Football,Seahawks,Lions

Whew! (or how I got my new computer)

My old computer started going on the fritz a month and a half ago.  Random failures, and the occasional reboot loop when I tried to start up. At first I thought it was a Windows bug, and I tried to format and reinstall everything, and the same problems resumed.  I finally figured out it was either a bad power supply, video card, or motherboard.  Either way, it would be cheaper to replace the entire computer than it would to fix it.  My boss was looking for an upgrade to his computer, and he offered it to me for $300.00.  So I gave him the cash, and then he said let’s go to EBay and find him a new one.  We found a computer for him, but the only catch was that he forgot his EBay password, so I had to buy it for him.  So, his money got put back into my account, and I hit the ‘buy-it-now’ button, and placed the order.  After 4 days, I contacted the seller, and asked why it hadn’t shipped.  The seller responded by giving me my money back (along with a message of something about a defective motherboard).  So. my boss and I went back to EBay again, and we didn’t find anything for him.  But I found something I wanted.  So I ordered it.  It took 10 days to ship it (a look at the system log indicates that Windows wasn’t even installed until a week after I won the auction).  But long story short it arrived and I’m now all moved in (all my software and games).  Here are some features/differences:

• First, a P4 (3.0 gigahertz processor) vs, a P3 (866 megahertz).  Stuff is a lot faster now.
• 2 gigabytes of memory (my old one had only 512 megabytes).
• The front side bus is fast (my other one was only 133 megahertz).  I don’t how fast it is, but I’m willing to speculate that it’s close to my old computer’s processor.
• A PCI-e slot.  My old computer had an AGP port, that I was running a Radeon 9250.  A crappy and Piss Poor card, but it had one advantage: I could run two monitors.  I don’t have a PCI-e card, yet.  So I guess I have to make do with the 512 mb onboard graphics, which isn’t bad.  But, it only drives one monitor….
• Windows XP Pro.  My last computer came with WinME installed on my computer, and I very rapidly became acquianted with all of Gateway Tech Support staff.  I also learned the hard way how to fix most computer problems.  Which does come in handy.  When you call most Tech Support departments, your call is routed to India.  My boss is from India.  He now comes to me for all his IT needs.  But this is still kind of like learning to swim by diving straight into the ocean…..  I did eventually upgrade to XP home after a year with ME, but still I like to have XP Pro.
• I could also go on about the 250 gig hard drive, but the only caveat is that the new drive is SATA, whereas all my other hard drives where IDE.  I see an empty slot that looks like it’s for a ribbon cable, but I just bought this computer, and I don’t want to break it at least until I pay it off (although it is ironic that my old computer broke right as I paid it off….).

And some issues I see with it already:

• Only two PCI slots.  Granted the sound, graphics, and network are onboard the motherboard and are integrated, that still leaves very little room for adding future components.  Then again, I don’t think there’s very much more to add.  I’ve already put my old TV tuner in, and my add my old WI-FI card, too.
• It was advertised with MS Office.  This is a non-issue for me, since I had Office XP Standard.  But when I got my computer, I noticed that Office 2007 had been installed.  I suspect that it may be pirated, but I’ve also taken it through Microsoft Update, and The Anti-Christ hasn’t given me any rude warnings about it.  I’ll just continue using it, and keep my previous version of Office (which was legally purchased from a reputable retailer), in case it becomes an issue.  Anyway, it didn’t come with a reinstall disc, so it’ll be gone at the next system wipe.  In fact, the only back-up I got was the windows disc, and a driver disc for the motherboard).

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer,EBay

I know why it's snowing so bad outside.

Hell has frozen over. The Seahawks won today.

Mental Note

Remind brother-in-law to stop blowing up boxes of Frosted Flakes…

Do Not Panic, Nothing to see here

Never mind me.  And never mind this post, either.  Boss at $day-job brought her WI-FI enabled laptop to work, and since I have a few minutes to kill (and I have internet access), I can screw around on the internet.  The only problem is that it's a wimpy, girlie-man Mac.  But then again, I have genuine web access at work (which almost never happens.  And my phone doesn't count, either)....

They’re back…

The latest rumor to be hears on the internets:  The Smiths are reforming.  Normally I would put this in the jumping the shark category, and suggest that Ted McGinley or cousin Oliver be added to the line-up.  But then I think to myself: The Smiths were actually one of the few good bands to come out of the ‘80s.  Johnny Marr is up there with Brian May (from Queen) and Kirk Hammond (from Metallica) when it comes to guitar skills.

Anyway see for yourself:

Yes, I know.  This is just a half-arsed excuse to post another music video…

Technorati Tags: The Smiths

A new way to get to work

Some people take their cars.  Some take the train.  Some take the bus (like I do).  Or, you could take a Formula 1 car…..

Technorati Tags: Formula 1

Finally

I now have a working computer again.  Found a cheap one on Ebay.  I would say by the processor speed that it’s a couple of years old, but still the front side bus is almost as fast as my processor in the old one (which is being stripped down for parts).  I just need to find a new video card (I can’t stand having only one monitor), but that’ll be a few paychecks away, anyway…

And I just called in to work on short notice again….

Technorati Tags: My computer,Work

Everybody Panic!!!

Taken from the I-5/SR 512 park & ride on my way to work tonight. I know these clouds are the result of winds trying to go over Mt. Raineer, but still, this is the most dangerous volcano in America, if it goes, we're all farked…

Good things still happen….

First Ann Coulter has to have her jaw wired shut, and now Rachel Ray is having vocal cord surgery….

I do like to watch 30 minute meals, but Rachel, your set of pipes can really get on one’s nerves. 

I’m still here

I haven’t gone off anywhere.  I’m just not posting until my new computer arrives.  Nothing personal, but there really isn’t the motivation to post when you try to turn the computer on and there’s a 50/50 chance that it may or may not turn on…

Fading…

I bought my computer right before the 2000 election. In the eight years I had it, it has gone through many upgrades and replacements. The only original parts left were the floppy drive, and a DVD-rom drive. Now the power of the eldar is fading from it. It is dying. If I can get it to boot at all, it is only after several reboot cycles. I don't know what the issue is. It could be bad RAM, a power supply going under, or the video card is attempting to snuff it. Anyway, it's going to be cheaper to replace the whole thing than it is to try and figure out what's wrong with it. On the bright side, my boss has decided he deserves an upgrade, which means I can get his computer dirt cheap.

EDIT: I found another computer on EBay for about the same price that my boss wants for his. Nothing personal, but when I see a better item for a lower price, I’m going for it….

One of my favorite things…

Is going to bed with the sound of rain hitting the roof. Just as long as the roof isn't leaking...

Nothing to see here. Move along. Again

Well, wouldn't you know.  Blogger works in Google Chrome.  Who coulda figured it out?

Good Morning People

Saw this on the way to work this morning. With all the rain we've had of late, it should brighten somebody's day. But then again, I am working on a Saturday…

You know it's bad…

You know it's bad when you live in an area that gets a lot of rain (thereby being used to it). And then the weather forecaster says the word firehose. Someone (I think it was Northwest Cable News) was saying 8 inches of rain in some parts of the great Pacific Northwet…

Technorati Tags: Weather

What Video Game Are You?

Take the quiz here.


Which Classic Arcade Game Are You?

Personality Quiz, Video Games

Hail to the chief

I'm watching the election coverage on NBC. Obama has taken it. And yes, I will admit it: I voted for him. Hail to the chief.

It's official

My computer is pretty much dead. I don't know what killed it, be it motherboard, hard drive, video card or memory. Fortunately, before it went belly up on me, I had just backed up all my data to my second hard drive, so it's all intact. I just need a new computer. I might be able to salvage some components out of my old tower, though I doubt much now. At least my cell phone does internet and email…

Edit: Once again, for the third time this week, I wiped the drive, and reinstalled windows. Again. This time, I also literally tore my computer apart (disconnected everything). Then I reseated everything. So far, I’ve had no issues. Yet. I’m beginning to think that it is my power supply that’s going south on me…

Technorati Tags: Which windows update fückered up my computer?

Presidential Prediction

With election day tomorrow, a prediction has been made.  If the Washington Redskins win their last home game before the election, then the incumbent party will remain in the white house.  However if they lose, then there will surely be a regime change at 1600 Pennsylvania ave.

Guess what happened tonight.  The Steelers cut off the Redskins' balls and handed them to them on a silver platter.

The NFL has predicted that Barack Obama will take the white house.

Technorati Tags: Football,Politics,Election Predictions

The Seahawks

The Seahawks suck.  Big time.  Yesterday the punter took more snaps than the quarterback.  The offense can't put points on the board.  And the defense can't stop the big plays.  Much can be said about key players getting injured, but that can only go so far.  You have to play the hand you're dealt.

So, I've been thinking about it, and I've a few ideas to help the Seahawks return to winning:

1. Install a pillory in the parking lot at Qwest Field.  The next time the hawks get their balls handed to them, distribute Various & Sundry rotting vegetation to the Seahawks fans.  Then, put Mike Holmgren in said pillory before the fans are let out of the stadium.
2. If they keep losing, threaten to change the team name to the Cougars.
3. Institute a daily tot of rum to all healthy players.  Except for Koren Robinson.  He's better off sober. This should motivate the injured players to get healthy...
4. Make uderperforming players sit in the aforementioned pillory...
5. Start cutting starters in mid-season.  If they're not performing, shit-can 'em.  The fear of one's own job is a swift and stern motivator to improve performance.
6. Make the punter's salary on a per-kick basis.  Then make the offensive starters pay it.  Personally.  More motivation to stay on the field, and therefore score points.
7. Offer a cash reward for sacks, tackles for loss, and fumbles forced.
8. Base the offense's salaries on net yards gained and points scored.

And finally, if they still don't win:

• Offer the team to Oklahoma City....

Technorati Tags: The Seattle Seahawks,Football,Mike Holmgren in a pillory.

Let's sing

The tin-foil hat song.  Just remember people, Shiny Side Out!  With all the threats out there, you can never be too secure.  I really recommend this, even when you're not at the computer.  At least the Phillies won the World Series, and so we don't have to worry about The New World Order (Mind-Control Division) and their nefarious intentions....

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control Divison),Tin-Foil Hats

<Many Censorings Go Here>...

Don't you wish The Anti-Christ wouldn't do such a farking half-assed job? I'm still having problems with my computer going into a reboot loop when I turn it on (as documented here). At first I thought it was a bad network card, so I took it out, and was just using Wi-Fi to connect. I could get the computer to boot up at first, but then I started having problems again.  Analysis of the error logs led me to believe that a video driver was the culprit.  So I went to uninstall the driver and install another one I knew to work, and of course my computer hung.  So finally I nuked my computer from orbit last night.  This is why I have two hard drives.  It makes backing files up so much easier.  Then again, if The Anti-Christ wouldn't do such a half-assed job to begin with then maybe I wouldn't have this problem....

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer

Totally illogical

Scientists have found a solar system around Epsilon Eridani.  You may also know it the planet Vulcan….

Live long and prosper, people.

Technorati Tags: Vulcan,Star Trek

For my sister…..

My sister has posted in her blog that she’s a product and casualty of the 80's.  She’s only a couple of years older than I am, so I must be a product of the 80’s as well.  If you took a look at my mp3 collection, you’ll notice that the majority of my music comes from the mid-80’s to the mid-90’s.

Anyway, this is for my sister…..

Technorati Tags: My sister,the 80's

A note the Tampa PItching

While this is The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), still it usually not good to pitch batting practice during the game. Weel it, could be worse.  At least the Yankees aren’t in it…..

Yes I am rooting for Philadelphia….

 

EDIT: yes, I know I can’t spell.  Spelling errors are left here by design.  If you don’t like it, then keep a bottle of white-out by your monitor….

Technorati Tags: The World Series,The New World Order (Mind-Control Divison)

All is well

During Football season, I usually end up working Sundays (I usually work on Sundays).  But last week, my boss offered me Sunday off if I covered his shift).  It meant working a 12 hour day, but this cloud has a silver lining: I saw the Seahawks finally win today.  In convincing fashion. 

Technorati Tags: Football,Seahawks

I scare people…

My boss brought her husband and her two kids in today (you can get away with that when you own the business). Maybe it's just the age of the kids, but they're both completely frightened of me. I know I may not have the best looks around, but seriously, am I that bad of an ogre? On the bright side, Halloween is coming up…

Technorati Tags: Scaring your boss' children

Stuck at work again...

A paycheck in my account. A Starbucks quadruple shot latte in my hand. And only 9 more hours to go. At least my job's location is sufficiently close to Starbucks that I can get Wi-Fi here. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a latte to finish, and The Underpants Gnomes to drive away…

Technorati Tags: Starbucks,The Underpants Gnomes

Ugh…

Yesterday was my day off. One of my former employers called and said he bought a used computer at auction and wanted me to look at at it. So I go to his house, and he has a good computer, but it needs to be patched and I tell him what should be done with it, and I should take it home with me to work on (something I've done before with his computers). Then he also sends his other box home with me as well to 'nuke it from orbit.' I get them home, and I turn mine on to check my email, and lo! it doesn't want to turn on. Booting to recovery console and using System Restore don't work, so I boot to safe mode and copy all my documents to my second hard drive so I can nuke it (it's probably a borken driver, but I don't have the patience to troubleshoot it). So that's 3 computers that I have to repair right away. Then I get to work today, and my current boss tells me that their computer is malfunctioning, and her husband's cousin has two that are out of order, as well. Total number of computers that yours truly has to fix: 6. If you're computer literate, then take my advice: DON'T TELL A SOUL! You'll never have a real day off again…  This is some sure quality work from The Anti-Christ.

Edit: It was just a network card that went bad.   I simply removed it (it’s not really necessary since I have Wi-Fi in the apartment, and a Wi-Fi card in the tower as well).   Anyone want a broken Ethernet card?

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer

The Die Is Cast

I vote by absentee ballot (kinda sorta the only way to go for me, since I don't drive). The biggest advantage I see from it, aside from the aforementioned transportation issues, is that I can vote at my leisure, and take my time to think over each candidate and/or issue. I've been a registered voter since 1991 (and duly impressed my government and society teacher in high school that I was already a registered voter), and I've voted in every presidential election since 1992. 2008 will be no exception. My absentee ballot arrived today, and I've already voted and it will go in the mail come Monday. In a future post, I may tell who I voted for, but for now all I will say is to go and vote according to your conscience. Something the past two elections have taught is that every vote counts, and the vote you do not cast may cost the election for your cause or candidate.

Technorati Tags: voting

As you may or may not know…

I take a very dim view on political advertising. Especially over the phone. And I hold the dog shit I step in on the way to work this morning in higher esteem than the robo-calls. So, I was not at all thrilled this morning when I got two. If you're running for office, the only guarantee that robo-calling me will being is that I will vote for your opponent. I don't give a flying lawyer's ass what your opponent has said or done. It's all about the issues. And your stand on them. Anything else is a waste of my time. And that's a commodity that you don't have…

Technorati Tags: robo-calls,politics

The smear campaigns continue…

Ok, I called bullshit on the governor’s race a few weeks ago, and the smearing still continues on both sides, unabated.  When are politicians going to learn the fundamental truth we learned as children: if you can’t say anything nice about someone, then shut your fucking pie-hole!  And another thing: there’s this thing called the truth.  For some reason, it becomes an exceedingly rare commodity.  It seems that politicians will say anything to get your vote, and then immediately and conveniently forget what they’ve promised.

Politicians.  They’re all liars.  Every last on of them.

In Washington state at least, the Presidential campaign commercials have started.  If it’s any consolation, maybe the local politicians will shut the fark up….

Technorati Tags: Politics

To out a little perspective on it…

The $700 billion package the congress based last week is only about one third of what retirement funds have lost so far… The economy's bad, but it could be a lot worse. Your money is still safe in the bank (unlike the Great Depression and various and sundry other financial crises where if your bank failed, your savings usually went with it…). In fact, that's what did WaMu in, people packing and pulling their money out, which only exacerbated the problem. There needs to be a fundamental change in the economy, in people's lifestyles. We need to start living within our means. Debt is evil. You can live large now, but eventually you're going to have to pay the piper.

Technorati Tags: The economy

Everybody Panic!

An asteroid is coming. OK, so it’s only a few meters in size, will only release 1 kiloton of TNT’s worth of energy, and will be completely vaporized in the Earth’s atmosphere.  But still there’s a very real possibility of the unthinkable: and Aerosmith power ballad….

Technorati Tags: Asteriods,Aerosmith

Another rainy day off

It's my day off.  And it's raining, as usual....

And Monday Night Football is on.  It’s gone down the toilet since ESPN took it over, but it’s the only NFL Game I can watch this week.  Maybe I should stop taunting my boss for being a Raiders fan, and I’ll see more Sundays off, but I can’t help myself.  The Raiders just suck, and my boss is just an idiot….  Cricket season starts in a couple of weeks, and I will have something else to taunt him about (my boss is from India, and is a big cricket fan.  India's national cricket team, like the Raiders, sucks as well).

Anyway, it’s in the first quarter of the game, and it looks like the Vikings are going to get raped and pillaged again.  Then again, they just blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown….

The Seahawks got massacred yesterday.  That’s all I can say about it.  The referee shoulda stopped the match before they got hurt.  I’m just glad nobody got hurt playing BYE last week.  And where’s the defense.  The offense will eventually put points on the board, but it's really the defense that'll win the game...

And in The New World Order (Mind-Control Division): The Yankees shit-canned Joe Torre.  He still made it to the play-offs.  The Yankees didn't.  The Yankees are idiots (sorry, Igwanarob, but that's the truth...).  But, then again, the Mariners pretty got their asses handed to them on silver platters this year (at least they'll have a good draft pick next year....)

Technorati Tags: Igwanarob,The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,Raiders,Seahawks,Mariners,Football

My bus is being towed!

While I'm still in it… And courtesy of the Washington State Patrol, we're now the cause of tonight's traffic back-up.

EDIT: you may not see it, but there was a tow truck outside of the windshield….

Technorati Tags: soundtransit

So I'm on the bus

And the bus just blew an engine. Right now I'm stuck on northbound I-5 waiting for another bus. Did I mention that I hate Mondays?

Technorati Tags: Soundtransit

So, you want to interview Sarah Palin?

Sarah Palin.  Governor of Alaska.  The Republican nominee for Vice President.  Total Airhead.  So, you want to interview her, but from some reason you can’t (logistical issues, that pesky secret service detail, etc.).  Don’t worry, the internet has got you covered: introducing the Sarah Palin interview generator.  If can’t interview her, make something up.  You’ll probably make more sense than her, anyway…

Technorati Tags: Sarah Palin

Do Not Panic

Ok, so the economy’s in the toilet.  WaMu has failed (but, take heart.  The only people to get screwed on it were the shareholders).  It’s not like the great depression.  But there are going to be some changes.  Hopefully it means that people will start living within there means now….

Technorati Tags: The Economy

Once more, unto the breach….

Kenneth Branagh may direct Thor.  If you don’t know who Kenneth Branagh is, then proceed directly to the nearest video store and a copy of Henry V.  That was his directorial debut, and for Shakespeare, is a pretty kick-ass action flick.

Technorati Tags: Henry V,Thor,Shakespeare,Kenneth Branagh

What's that shiny yellow thing?

It's not supposed to be out in fall. True, I'm working today, but even it's supposed to rain during my commute. Maybe I can have hope for my next day off…

Sub-prime crisis explained

In a single page here.  I have to say that a little common sense is needed.  By everyone. Debt is evil. Period.  I charged my P III on a credit card 8 years ago, and just now am I paying it off.  The one lesson you should take from this crisis is to pay your debts now, and use cash…..

Technorati Tags: the Sub-Prime crisis

Congratulations should be in order

The Seattle Mariners have joined the rarified few: 100 losses in season with a $100 million payroll. With that kind of money, one would at least expect a winning season, if not a significant showing in the playoffs. With the exception of Ichiro, methinks the majority of the roster ought to be shit-canned. If you're going to command that kind of money, then you need to deliver the goods. But we also consider Stienbrenner's folly: you just can't buy another World Series ring by pouring money into team payroll. Individually, nearly all of the Yankees are stars in their own right. But the Yankees aren't even making the playoffs this year. Whatever, this is The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), mind you. Shiny Side Out, people!

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,The Mariners

Sure, it's a day early but…

Happy Birthday to my sister, the Little Dutch Girl. Happy Birthday Karen. See, I can remember such things.

Technorati Tags: My sister's birthday

The changing of the seasons

Fall is here. The colors are turning in the leaves, the birds are heading south, and there's a nip in the air. I would say that the rain has returned, but it never left. And I would outside right now, taking in all the beauty that nature has to offer, but I can't. My boss, the moron has called me in on my day off. At the last minute. Again. There more things change, the more they stay the same.

Technorati Tags: Fall,Weather,Getting called in my day off.

So, who saw the game yesterday?

I was at work yesterday, so I missed all of the football action. But it was nice to hear about the Seahawks sacrificing the Rams. And the Patriots got a well deserved beating as well. But most importantly, aside from the 'Hawks winning, was the Raiders losing. The trash talking to my boss, the Raiders fan, will continue for another week…

Technorati Tags: My ID10T Raiders fan boss.

The return of fall

There were a few false starts, but finally fall has returned. This was taken out the bus window on the way to work. And I'm now stick in another traffic slowdown. You'd think that with all the rain we get, Washingtonians would be better drivers when it comes to the wet stuff.

Technorati Tags: Weather,My Commute To Work

Alrght, I have to call Bullshit…

Politicians. They are liars and thieves. All of them. But for this post, let us concern ourselves mainly with the race for Washington state governor. In particular, a certain ad being run for Chris Gregoire. It starts out with a woman who says her child was diagnosed as a diabetic when he/she/it was two years old. She then claims to have to check her child's blood sugar 12 times a day, lest the said child goes into seizures. She also says that because having diabetes, her child will have a shorter life expectancy. Then she breaks down into tears because Dino Rossi opposes stem cell research that would supposedly find a cure.

I call Bullshit on this. I speak from personal knowledge. I have type 1 diabetes myself. The only time I've needed to check my blood sugar more than 6 times a day was when I was hospitalized right after my diagnosis, and that was because I had an IV push of insulin going. Normally, four times a day is sufficient. Checking a child's blood sugar every two hours is bordering on abuse, and this claim, if not an embellishment, is a downright lie. A diabetic's life expectancy is the same as the rest of the population, provided it is kept under control. Again, the commercial's claim is another lie. Stem cell research rules are at the federal level, not the state. Dino Rossi's opposition therefore don't mean shit to me. It is irrelevant.

As a diabetic myself, I am personally offended by this ad. Chris Gregoire is exploiting a child and his health condition for political gain. Unfortunately, this type of assholery is going on by both parties. When are candidates going to learn that if you can't say anything nice about your opponent, then do us all a favor and shut your fucking pie-hole? Every fucking four years, it's the same smear campaign. I don't give a flying rat's ass about what your opponent did, I want to know where you stand on the issues. Not where you stand on your opponent. Both Rossi and Gregoire are liars. Neither of them have my trust. And they both ought to be ashamed of themselves. Maybe I should vote Libertarian this year. At least I'll have a clear conscience…

I'm Roger Bryant I'm a registered voter, and I approved this message.

Technorati Tags: Politics,Election Year Ads

Arrrr, Shiver yer timbers & Buckle yer swash

It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day.  So get yer grog out, splice the main brace and go plunder Freehold, Iowa.  If some other band has already made Pastor Deacon Fred walk the plank, then you can always use Google to find your next treasure horde.  Remember, today, you’d be The Chosen People. You can’t go wrong.

Ramen.

Technorati Tags: Pirates,The Flying Spaghetti Monster

8 x 200…

The local branch of The New World Order (Mind-Control Division) has left a lot to be desired.  But one thing the Seattle Mariners do have going for them is Ichiro. He’s set a record.  8 seasons with at least 200 hits.  Too bad the rest of the team sucks (more like downright swallows…)

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,Mariners,Ichiro

Happy Birthday

It's my Grandma's birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Grandma.

What's For Lunch Today?

So there's a new Indian restaurant open near work. And my boss, being from India, suggested that I try it today. I've never really had Indian food before. In fact, the only time I've even heard of it was the cow vindaloo scene in Red Dwarf. So I went. I'm no restaurant critic, and I know not to judge a whole nation's cuisine by one food court stall, but I was not impressed. I paid $9 for at most $2 worth of food. The rice (which is what 3/4 of my plate consisted of) was way too buttery. The lamb curry was ok, though. Maybe it's because they've just opened, and the quality may catch up in price in the future. But if I'm going to spend $9.00 on lunch, then I'm going to go next door to Subway and get something healthier, or go get a suicide by heart attack (McDonalds).

Technorati Tags: Lamb Curry,Cow Vindaloo

7 Years Ago

Seven years ago, we learned that freedom has a steep price. The world is now a different place than it was back then. Supposedly, steps have been taken, laws have been passed to make is safer, but are we? Before, we weren't safe, but we were free. Now though, it feels as if we're in a neo-fascist state where our fundamental rights are being eroded away, in the name of security. Benjamin Franklin once said that those who would give up liberty for security deserve neither. I would rather die a free man than live under tyranny.

The people who died that day seven years ago died for freedom. They died free. We must remember that. Let is keep our freedom as a fundamental part of the fabric of society, not some archaic concept that is to be censored and brushed aside when the current regime deems it an inconvenience. It is one thing to disagree with someone, as I'm sure there are those who'll disagree with these comments, but to suppress them means that we're no better than the terrorists. And we will then have become the terrorists ourselves…

Technorati Tags: 9-11

So, what’s your job?

I filled out the Ninja Burger survey, and my best occupation is:

Choose a Ninja Burger Career at the Ninja Burger website.

Technorati Tags: Ninja Burger

I want a hamburger

Time to get a ninja burger, I guess.

and

Always good for a laugh….

Technorati Tags: Ninja Burger

Just a note…

To those of you who would think of me as a tech support desk (even though my job is definitely non-IT): before you call me because your laptop isn't working, try turning it on. This usually will get it to work. This reminds me of one time at work when my boss pulled me aside to fix the printer in the back office. I was hailed as a hero, a miracle worker. All I did was plug it in…

Technorati Tags: These Clueless Idiots!

The fair starts today

The Puyallup Fair starts today. It should be great weather to do the fair today. Really. And it should be good weather tomorrow as well. Because once again I'm working the überlong shifts at work this weekend. Enjoy the sunshine. I just hope the AC at work is functioning.

Technorati Tags: The Puyallup Fair

I know this is probably a day late and a dollar short

But Happy Birthday Igwanarob. may you find happiness, prosperity, and some good sci-fi on TV tonight.  Anything beyond that, just put on The Chosen Attire, go out and plunder it yourself...

Technorati Tags: Igwanarob,birthdays,Full Pirate Regalia