My new toy...

Very happy I am.

Its the first SLR camera I have owned, and the step up from the Canon Power Shot I have been sporting for that last little while is mind boggling!! I didn't buy any fancy lenses with it (yet) because they are freaking expensive...and I figure I need to work up to that level first anyhow. Until then, however, I am going to have my hands full just trying to figure out the In's and out's to this thing.



Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!

Its back!!!

Linky...

This is good. I am happy. Nuff said.

Easy as Pie...

I'm back - and happier then a fat kid with candy! I have to say I'm impressed, what I thought would be a big long drawn out ordeal turned out to be only a few days.

You have no idea how happy I am to have my music back. Poor apartment was so sad these past few weeks.

If I had known the servicing was going to be so speedy I would not have procrastinated for so long.

Ah well - live and learn.

Anyways, blogging will now continue normally here on out.

Laters.

Remeber this blog entry? Well, I still haven't sent my computer away. Lazy, and didn't want to send the poor lap top away...I mean really, what do you do if you have no internet access? I don't think I'm wanting to find out.

Regardless, with no speaker volume it means I haven't been able to listen to the majority of my music, or download TV shows and movies and watch them...let alone game on my PC.

Enough is enough. I need those things back, so tonight I am packing it up and shipping off tomorrow.

Means I wont be around for two weeks or so.

If its longer then that I might die.

Or almost die...or...or...something thats very much like dying.

So bye.

The Jack and Wiggle.

Ive had some audio issues with my laptop over the last few weeks. Nothing major, but enough to piss a guy off. The problem originated with my headphone jack - which is where I run my cable out of to connect to my home theater system to give me glorious 5.1 surround sound, the jack is loose so I have to wiggle the damn cord for a good 2-3 minutes before I get a solid connection. A piss off...but at least I could get it to work. Now last night the laptop itself stopped playing audio...which is really upsetting cuz if I didn't feel like wiggling a damn cord and jack I would just settle for using the laptop speakers. I cant do that now. Anyways, I spent the better part of last night trying to figure out the problem. Obviously if I have to wiggle my cord in the jack its hardware related - but I was hoping that the issue with the laptop speakers was software problem. After much deliberation I decided to call tech at Dell...big mistake. I explained to them the problem, and all the steps I had taken to troubleshoot it - but yet they still insisted that I go through all those same exact steps with them. Two hours...TWO FUCKING hours I was on the phone with them...the whole time I was telling them this was a waste of time, that they should send me a box so I could ship it back and that they could give me a new sound card.

What do I get after two hours of redundant troubleshooting...?

"Yes sir, it appears the problem is hardware related so we will be sending you a box for you to ship us your computer in ."

GAAAH!

I hate tech support.

So anyways...I probably wont be around here much for a week or so (it better not be any longer) as my computer is going to the doctor.

I guess there is a silver lining as when I get the laptop back I wont have to do the jack and wiggle to listen to some music or watch my movies.

Still...a week (minimum) without internet...geesh.

Let my geek out...the wandering mind of a gnome...

Its not that my life would be over if I don't one day own an Apple iPhone, its just that I don't think I could ever be happy knowing its out there and not having one myself.

Apple has a way of making toys and gadgets that are so slick in nature that not even a Voodoo Priest could tame the inner demonic fires of lust that burn within my belly as a result of them. The iPhone comes out this June and already (4 1/2 months early) I am plotting the demise of my current land line. Who knew that in the year 2007 I would become a telecommunications junkie scratching at my eyeballs and scabby arms as yellow spittle leaks out of the corner of my mouth and my bladder slowly relieves itself soiling my pants and the furniture I sit on.

If you haven't yet seen the iPhone in use there is a fairly informative youtube video of it in action here.

Also in Apple news but no less sinister in its playing at my lusty nature is the Apple TV. Thankfully this is apparently being released sooner then the iPhone, but of course it too depends upon my dedication in saving up all the gold I steal from those dirty little leprechauns at the end of their damned rainbows. Apple TV is a piece of hardware that nests amongst your entertainment center hooked up through the glorious HDMI ports of your TV. It then makes use of your wireless network connection and syncs in with iTunes on your computer and allows the streaming (or syncing) of all your music and video from one to the other without the mess of cords or anything in the way. Being a laptop user this is great news as whenever I want to listen to music through the good speakers in my home I have to run a cable from the computer to the entertainment system. With Apple TV that is all a thing of the past. No more will I worry about the cat or ferret tearing my precious cords apart as they drape from the couch to the TV unit. Little bastards that they are.

I picked up the first issue of Marvels Dark Tower comic, The Gunslinger Born the other day. I haven't read it yet...but like those cute little Mogwai's, it sits on my shelf and sings to me as I lay there on my bed neglecting it. As long as I keep it out of water and don't feed it after midnight all should be well. Simple, right? I've been eager to get my mitts on this little treasure of a comic for some time now, as a big, huge, obsessed fan of the Darktower books I have been in 7th heaven since I heard of the release of these. Finally they are slowly becoming mine. I think I might actually wait until the whole series is released and just gather them up as they come out and read them all at one go once they are complete.

Of course theres no chance in hell of me being able to hold off that long in reading them, but it sounds good in my head, and makes me feel like I have a bit of self control, even if it is for only a few brief seconds.

Lastly...for those that want, or even NEED to know...YES it is possible to watch an entire season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force in one sitting.

I don't recommend it...but it is possible.

Now I just need to catch up on season 5.

Don't buy Windows Vista...!!!

The new Windows operating system, Vista, hit retail shelves today and unless you've been living under a rock you are somewhat familiar with the long overdue release of a new OS for all us Intel/ Windows users.

...Don't buy Windows Vista
Don't buy Windows Vista
Don't buy Windows Vista
Don't buy Windows Vista
Don't buy Windows Vista
Don't buy Windows Vista...

That has been my mantra all day today.

I cant help it...I want this thing so fucking bad.

I know, I know...why?

Allow me to explain myself.

Really all in all who cares? XP is pretty solid, and people around the world generally feel safe, confident, and secure whilst in its presence. Why switch to a new OS, especially right at the beginning of its launch when you know it will more then likely be bug ridden and glitchy and basically just one big huge piss off whenever you boot up the PC?

Direct X10 baby. Direct X10.

That sums it up for me. Its all about the games, and the upgrade from DX9 to 10 is pretty much the equivalent as say a normal XBox to a 360. Its a whole new friggen gaming console fro gods sakes!!

Still...it doesn't make any sense to get it as there really ain't a hell of a lot out there right now that can benefit from DX10. Sure, Nvidia is on the go with their new graphic cards...but whoop-dee-fucking-doo.

Don't stop me though. I want this thing so fucking badly I can taste it in the back of my throat. Its like a sweet bile that itches and burns, but at the same time I want to swallow it so badly just so the feeling goes away.

Its bright, its shiny, and its new. I cant help it. I know that if I buy it now every time I turn on the laptop I'll have to jump through hoops and download new patches...I know about it all...I know exactly why I shouldn't be buying so soon, I've been promising myself that the earliest i will get it is this coming summer.

But now that its here, buy able, and on the bloody shelves!...I don't know if I'm strong enough to fight this basic, primal urge.

*sighs*

I need help.

Life is good.

So I had a home theater set up delivered to my apartment yesterday. Got myself an LG 37" LCD HD wide screen T.V. and a 1280 watt Sony sound system to go with it.

Sorta like an early Christmas present to myself, as well as the fact that I didn't wanna be playing my Nintendo Wii tomorrow on a 19 inch screen.

I'll tell ya - The high deff. makes a HUUUUGE difference for the Xbox 360. The games are so much more detailed and spectacular looking! Frankly its unbelievable!

yes, I'm in love!

I gots it, I gots it, I gots it I do!!

I picked up Gears Of War today. I gotta say, it feels like I've been waiting forever for this game - and I'm not ashamed to admit the flush of excitement that came over me when I put the disk in and the game fired up for the first time.

It doesn't disappoint one bit - and all the hype surrounding it is very well deserved. The run and gun days are over, it is now time for stop and pop, I'm absolutely loving the concept of taking cover in this game. The simplicity of just needing to really worry about one button (A button) to take care of all your cover options works very smoothly, and leaves you plenty of time to focus on taking out the enemy rather then trying to remember what does what.

There's a chainsaw on my gun!!

Yup.

And I swear to the gods I let out a holler when I was online and chainsawed my first victim, add to that the ability to curb stomp your opponent when he's down to finish him off, and you discover really that that's what Gears Of War is all about.

No doubt in my mind - this is the game of the year.

...

Also, while I was at the store getting Gears, I picked up the wireless headset/mic that was just released. Its pretty slick, waaaaaay overpriced - but hey, it makes me feel like Jack Bauer while I wear it, and thats worth the price in itself.
Over all though the headset works as good (if not better) as the wired set that comes with the Xbox 360.

EDIT -- Upon further use, I have sadly discovered this mic a shameful rip-off from Microsoft. I payed 70 freaking dollars and the bloody thing screams feedback and distortion into the ears of whoever happens to be at the receiving end. 80% of the time I end up having to switch to my default wired mic/headset.

Retro Encabulator.

I dunno what it is...but hot damn I want one.

Talk about a mouthful.

A little ramble if you please.

He has this little sideways jump that always makes me laugh out loud. He'll look me straight in the eye and with no regard for his safety he will just jump up in the air and land where ever gravity is intent on sending him. the whole while he has this air of pure energy and satisfaction with his existence about him. For just one afternoon I would love to trade lives with my ferret, Oy.

I have discovered that with my new laptop and a wireless Internet connection I can blog and poo at the same time. Don't panic, I took a poo this afternoon so this post is feces free.

Last week at my work (a hospital) we had a mock code black test. Code black is a missing person alarm that they announce over the loudspeaker thingie. To do this they asked one of the residents if she would like to participate. they took 93 year old Mrs. Johnson in her wheel chair down to the basement an locked her in an electrical room for 40 minutes. Am I the only one that is struck a little odd over this? O_o

I have two more episodes left to finish off Battlestar Galactica season 2. with my desktop on the fritz I was unable to finish off the season when it was airing, since I got my laptop I have been playing catch up. This show blows me away. When I start an episode I'm all chill, laid back on my bed comfy and cozy like, but by the time the show ends I oft find myself sitting upright leaning closer and closer to the screen hanging on every word spoken. Intense would be an understatement.

And with that, I think I will go check those last two episodes out. :)

Yo...!

One week gone, where oh where does the time go? Well, I'm back now...so you can all rest easy and dry away your tears.

Had a birthday on the 25th. Birthdays for me aren't a big thing and for the most part I more or less lay low and just kinda fly under the radar. So that's what I did. I managed to hook myself up with a trip out to a work buddy's cottage and spent a few nights there just tooling around, water skiing, drinking mass quantities of alcohol and smoking myself into oblivion.

Sadly my desktop did indeed die. In fact it was a week ago today that it completely bunked out on me. The computer I mentioned earlier that I had on order took longer to get here then I expected, it arrived this past Friday (after much pacing in the living room and cursing of my courier service). They obviously didn't realize that a geek such as myself without a computer is like a crack whore without a pipe.

Anyways, tis my first laptop and I have decided to name him 88AT8 (88 for short).

Yes...it's a 'he'.

This is the first male computer that I have owned...and I am very interested to see how he will perform in relation to my previous female systems. So far he's made me extremely happy. The joy I have found in the freedom of wireless Internet and the choice to sit myself anywhere I want (and still be connected) is overwhelming. Some time next week I plan on tearing down the eye sore that is my current computer desk work area and learn to live my life as one unrestricted by that which has bound me for all these years.

Let me just set one thing straight right off the hop though. Its a Dell.

Yup. I said the 'D' word.

I've always been a pretty vocal naysayer when it comes to Dell products, which really was kind of ignorant of me as I had never had any personal experience with one. I had heard the horror stories, and seen a few systems with mine own eyes...and from that small lack of knowledge, based my judgements on that alone. Well, when I read the headlines sometime ago that Dell had bought out my dream system franchise (Alienware) I decided then and there that my next system was going to be a Dell. Still, its taking a lot to get used to. Its like I'm ashamed or something. :P

I'm still going to get a desktop, but I am waiting until spring of next year to worry about that when Windows Vista and Direct X 10 video cards hit the market. Until then me and 88 here are going to kick it together and learn to love all that life has to offer. Here's what he's packing:

• 17 inch wide screen display.
• Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 (2GHz/667MHz FSB).
• 2GB DDR SDRAM.
• 120GB 7200RPM Hard drive.
• 256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS Video Card.
• CD/DVD Burner
• 2 Firewire and 6 USB2 ports.
• Memory Card smart Card reader.

That's pretty much it. He's running XP Pro...he came with Home edition but I reformatted him right off the hop as he was full of all kinds of nasty Dell advertisement's and add ware type stuff.

What else? They came and took away my loaner air conditioner. They gave me a brand new sucker that runs quiet as quiet can be and is all pretty with a sci-fi digital read out and stuff. I woke up the other day around 4 in the morning shivering it works so good.

Other then that, that was my week away from here. I am now fully functioning and will be updating this blog on a regular basis once again. :)

Gak...

Well...I don't think I'll be here that much this week. My desktop is on the brink of collapse and is acting like a demonic possessed processor from hell. It just makes posting a blog right now a big, big chore - the random crashes and loss of content half way through publishing something just isn't worth it. I knew it was coming, poor baby has been sick for awhile now and I just kept pushing her and pushing her.

Anyways, like I said earlier I got a new system on order, and it should be in my ownership by some time next week. I'll tell ya all about it then...and you're gonna be surprised with what I got.

Or not.

Anyways, I may post a little bit here and there (depending on demon spawn computer) or I may not. Gimme a week at the most.

Until then, dont get lost, and play nice with the evil spirits.

Son of A...

I think I fried my video card. My screen is all wonky and really its no fun being on my computer in the condition its in.

Add to that the fact that I work everyday this week so I have no time to go and get a replacement until this coming weekend.

Pissed off would be an understatement.

Soooo...prolly wont be spewing forth any profound thoughts in here until after this Saturday...At the very least.

Alienware Aurora: Star Wars Edition.

I've always loved Alienware...And have lusted after their high end lap tops for a loooong time now. My goal is to hopefully be able to purchase one sometime in 2006. Anyways I guess with all the Star Wars hoopla they decide to jump on the bandwagon and make some pretty impressive Star Wars designs...Check it out. The dark side one is soooo much cooler then the light side one IMO. But then again the Imperial Forces always seemed to have the cooler toys then the Rebels didn't they?