Pauls Rants and Revelations

As if I couldn’t get any more upset, my laptop screen is shorting out on me. Not completely mind you, just in one 2 inch bar down the side. It would be almost preferable if it would randomly quit, as the off color bar is starting to annoy me.

Just for fun, I priced a comparable laptop to this one at about $500. Now if I could only get my friends to pitch in and throw some Newegg gift certificates my way, that would be nifty.

It seems strange though that today would end on a downer like this. It was a relatively good day and I was happy with it, until this screen thing happened. On the bright side, though, it kinda goes with the “broken down” theme that is sorta evolving on it. Some of the keys are pried up, there are deep scratches on it, half the USB ports don’t work, and not the screen is going wonky.

As a note to everyone out there, I learned something that I thought I should share: under no circumstances should you let your 2 year old play with the technology. Just a word to the wise for those with rug rats hanging about your desk.

-Cheers

I was going to be going to an SCA event until late Monday. As it happened, a wind storm crept up on the site and everyone high tailed it out of there before all of our stuff blew away.

It was a really nice site in Stevenson, WA too. Lots of trees and birds and it was by a river and a lake. The only real bummer is that I didnt get much of a chance to shoot as the marshalls for archery and thrown weapons all split too.

Oh well, Champions is in 2 weeks so hopefully that one will actually last the entire planned time.

-Cheers

Im a large fan ofsimple instruments. The ones that take little or no effort to make sound (such as Kazoos and the like) are the ones that I have found to be the most fun.

Example, my friend and I were at the Flash Forward conference last year. They gave out branded Kazoos for fun. For a half hour, my friend and I went around downtown Seattle proudly (and loudly) playing the theme from Rocky.

The hand drum, a simple drum that mostly resembles an upside down mixing bowl, is one such instrument. It takes skill to become good at it, but for anyone, they can start banging on it to make some music. Example video below:

Since I am also involved in the SCA (a medieval reenactment group) this would be a great instrument to tote around an event and just have fun with. Now only if the local music shop carried them, that would be killer.

-Cheers

Google wants to index the worlds information. All of it. In their latest move to accomplish this lofty goal, they plan to archive manuscripts written in obscure languages such as Sanscrit from the University of Mysore in India. More info on it below:

Google to scan 800,000 manuscripts, books from Indian university

I think this is an awesome undertaking for Google and proves why they are as large and prosperous a company as they are. They take on projects like this to accomplish a goal that will benefit the world; not simply to make money. Thats why I use them for all my searches and other web services.

Now, where can I find a 14th century text on common cures to ailments? In Latin?

-Cheers

No, I’m not talking about some new super fan-tabulous company that will solve your problems with this flyout menus and misspelled name. I mean the actual act of starting up your computer.

Some people will be like “Startup? I never turn it off!”. This didn’t use to be the case.

I started wondering about this as I was turning on my system this morning; an act that take about 10 minutes as there are a lot of things that load. As I was sitting here waiting desperately for the login screen to appear, I started longing for the days of Windows 3.1 where I started my computer and in 30 seconds I was off and running.

Nowadays, people don’t turn off there systems; only their monitors. It is “recommended” that folks keep their systems running 24/7. The reason is mostly because your system updates in the middle of the night so as not to bother you during the day. Personally, I find it really annoying as my system draw a lot of power (to the tune of about $40 a month).

It would be great if my system started faster, but I find it quite unlikely that it will be under 30 seconds. I found a somewhat old (from 2005) PC Mag article that had tips for a faster startup, but mostly its about killing services you don’t need and programs you don’t use. Kind of unhelpful really.

So my question is: Does anyone out there have a good way to make a Windows XP box load faster? Some tweak or program that they have tried that works? Leave a comment if you have anything that you tried and found to be useful.

Oh, and if you (and you know who you are) suggest that I get a Mac, save your breath. I already spec’d out my Macbook Pro and I need only the $5k that it will cost. Even so, I don’t want to give up my windows box quite yet.

-Cheers

No, its not a joke. Gofish.com is actually running a contest to win a date with actress Mirelly Taylor (the chick from “Las Vegas” and “Numb3rs”).

At first I was like “Yea right, like that will ever happen” but the more I checked it out the more I became interested. Not that I need to win a date because I am married to the best woman in the world ( ) but it is still an interesting happening. I was curious if they were plugging a new show or sports drink or something but it is pretty legit. Well, as legit as winning a date from an internet site is, anyway. More info in the following vid:

Seriously, this is not a joke. I was a little shocked at why she would be doing something like this as her career seems to be going well. This sort of thing shouldn’t be necessary until she is in her “district attorney” or “driving Miss Daisy” days.

Still, it does make me wonder what type of guy she will eventually pick. I also wonder who will be the next celebrity to jump on this win-a-date bandwagon? Perhaps Paris Hilton (once she’s done serving her time that is)?

More info and Free videos at GoFish.com, as well as some of the submitted videos from people hoping to win the date. Some of them are funny, but most of them are, well… not. Personally, I’m voting for the “smooth operator” character.

- Cheers

Just had to jump on and tell everyone how well Katen did at her well baby checkup. Shes 28 pounds and 34″ tall. She had to get a hepatitis vaccination which shocked her so bad she jumped straight into the air a good foot (ok, it  was more like an inch but it was still quite a jump).

Anyways, just wanted to tell all the family we have out there in internet land about her appointment because my cell battery died. That, and I am too lazy to call all of you , so tough cookies.

-Cheers

Stumped on ideas? Not sure what the best thing to get your father is for this fathers day?

A good rule of thumb when giving gifts, no matter the occasion, is to get the recipient something that you would like to recieve. Sort of like the golden rule, only for presents.

Anyways, I was wondering what (if anything) to get my dad this year. Strange as it may sound, I thought fathers day gifts were a bit overrated; until I started receiving them that is. So in an effort to spread the love, I’m gonna give Gourmet Gift Baskets a go. They have a crap ton of fathers day gifts and baskets that have everything from grilling to meat to drinking. Everything a father needs, right?

Although for those truly special fathers, like mine, I was thinking a special spa product gift basket would be great. You know, with the scents and bath beads and stuff? I know my dad would get a kick out of those.

Anyways, check it out if you need a gift idea or are just too lazy to shop around. Im sure there is a basket available for even your dad (yes, I am talking to you).

-Cheers

I am usually not that surprised when my wife says something. There were only 3 things that she could have said to surprise me and she had already said them all.

As it happened, we were driving home from the toy store (my daughters b-day is this Wednesday and we had to get her a present) and we were talking about nothing in particular. Out of the blue, she says the thing I would never have expected:

“I think you should get a motorcycle.”

Strange, no? My wife is a wonderful, bright woman who likes to have fun, but riding on the back of a motorcycle seems to strange to me.

Stranger still is that she also said that she would have to learn to ride it too as we split days taking the kids to school; so she would need to take it to work. Now if I thought her riding on the back was weird, her actually riding a bike is just downright unsettling. She was to the point of actually arguing for the idea of having a motorcycle be our second vehicle instead of the Tracker. She even had a brand in mind, a Buell (which I would indeed like to have).

I’m all for the idea; really I am. But the idea that she is also, even more keen on it than I am, gives me a tiny bit of concern. I’m still not sure why.

If we do actually go through with it, Im looking to get the XB9R Firebolt. I would seriously not mind having that in my garage.

-Cheers

It was my daughters birthday today. She is officially a 2 year old now! (we’re so happy)

While there are not a whole lot of milestones for turning 2, we were happy at least that she was moved up into the next room in her daycare. Kind of a sign that she is growing up.

Here are a few shots from the party: