RoverPundit

Learning experience

I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised that when I order some electrical tape and mention that I'm going to use it to "fix the server", my boss comes by a short time later with a worried expression and a lot of pointed questions. He got even more disturbed when I opened the case and reached for the heavy-duty wire-cutters. I think he went to lie down for a while.

The server works now.

Don't mess with IT

Behold, the EtherKiller and its many friends! I'm partial to the classic RJ-45 model, though the powered hub is also very nice. Just a little something to add to my stocking stuffers list, I think.

Congratulations

Could I get a hearty round of applause for Alison, who has finished her last final (final final? Sorry) without administering the beating I'm sure I richly deserved. I appreciate it, sweetheart, honest. I'm sure the cats do, too.

The graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday of this week, wherein she will receive her Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Colorado State University. Sunday is the official party, with friends and family coming from all over the continent to congratulate her. Sunday night, however, shall be reserved for drunken revelry at that den of iniquity, Casa del Dork.

Way to go, Ali! I never doubted for a moment that you'd kick ass. Just think, only 5-6 more years of school to go!

(ducks)

(runs)

Contest time, elsewhere

Andy's throwing a contest over at the World Wide Rant. The topic is "Protest Signs You Won't See From the Far Left Anti-War Crowd". Go thou and photoshop something spiteful!

I know I still haven't judged my previous contest. Life happens. I'll get to it soon.

More geek stuff

The Matrix: Reloaded is coming out on Thursday, and in the proud tradition of geeks everywhere I'm taking half the day off to go see it on opening day. So, for other geeks in the Denver/Boulder area, mark your calendars and join me for an afternoon of shocking nerdicity.

A couple friends and I are going to the 4:15 showing at the AMC Theater located in the Flatiron Crossing shopping center. Anybody's welcome.

Kid + Candy Store = Happy Dork!

Yes, today I am a happy man. Why, you ask? Because the gods of computer gaming goodness have decided to answer my prayers with not one, but two phenomenal games coming out this fall.

Half-Life 2 and Halo for the PC are due out this Sep/Nov according to the articles linked.

Check out the Half-Life article for screenshots and a description of the new physics engine, graphics, and AI. Wow. As far as Halo, I'm just looking forward to a control scheme that isn't predicated on two goofy little sticks set in a controller the size of a shoebox. To those who have given me shit about being incompetent with the xBox controller, when the PC version of Halo comes out I will Kick. Your. Ass. with a mouse and keyboard setup. I grew up on Quake, I've got more hours on FPS games than most pilots have in the air, it will not be pretty.

In the Maybe category is Doom III, with an expected ship date of "2003." That's useful. Looks pretty, but I'll believe it when I see it.

This concludes todays episode of "Dork Needs a Life!"

Happy Day!

Today, our good friend Kelly graduates with her degree in Physics from Colorado School of Mines.

Congratulations, Kelly. You rock!

Let us know when you're having the party.

sigh

So I write this 6 days ago, and sent the VodkaMeister an e-mail. Guess it didn't go through. Oh, well.

Got to see the World Wide Runt on Monday evening. There's even photographic evidence, for all you unbelievers. She's a cute little thing, emphasis on little. It's strange to hold a new person. Not something I'd want to do every day, but what the hey. Gotta try everything once, right? At least, let someone else try it and horn in on the experience. I'd like to take a moment to thank Andy for the opportunity.

Big hair Matt has a series of interviews coming up tomorrow. Why don't you stop by and wish him luck?

I've got something like 30 projects going at the moment, and no energy whatsoever. But I think you've guessed that by now.

New blogrollage

I've been extra lame this last week, and I almost feel bad about it. Momentous events have transpired, interesting opportunities abound, but not here. No, sir. Here, I geek out about old computers and even older cars.

However, in honor of me going away for the weekend, I'd like to direct your attention to Henry Chinaski's fine site, Building a Better Yesterday. Much more entertaining than my poor fare, and he had the courtesy to put my site on the cute one.

Many thanks, Henry, and enjoy the 1 hit you'll receive.

It begins...

It's a girl!

Congratulations

This is for you, Andy. You're a better man than I. I wish you, your wife, and your new child the best life has to offer.

Barenaked Ladies - "When You Dream"

With life just begun, my sleeping new son
has eyes that roll back in his head
They flutter and dart, he slows down his heart
and pictures a world past his bed
It's hard to believe
As I watch you breathe
Your mind drifts and weaves

When you dream,
what do you dream about?
When you dream,
what do you dream about?
Do you dream about
music or mathematics
or planets too far for the eye?
Do you dream about
Jesus or quantum mechanics
or angels who sing lullabies?

His fontanelle pulses with lives that he's lived
With memories he'll learn to ignore
And when it is closed, he already knows
he's forgotten all he knew before
But when sleep sets in
history begins
But the future will win

When you dream,
what do you dream about?
When you dream,
what do you dream about?
Are they colour or black and white,
Yiddish or English
or languages not yet conceived?
Are they silent or boisterous?
Do you hear noises just
loud enough to be perceived?
Do you hear Del Shannon's "Runaway" playing
on transistor radio waves?
With so little experience,
your mind not yet cognizant
Are you wise beyond your few days?
When you dream,
what do you dream about?
When you dream,
what do you dream about?

Milestone

Because I have nothing interesting to say, I'm going to show you a picture I took this morning. Here ya go.

I'd always wanted to have a camera nearby when I rolled the odometer, and today I did. For the curious, this is from my '88 Toyota Corolla SR5, otherwise know as the Great White Hunter (two birds and several lesser critters), or "That shit-box Toyota." It's a good little car.

Oh, and the speedo is right. I was cruising.

This one's for you, Steve

Steely Dan is releasing a single from their upcoming album, Confessions, via the net on May 6. All that's required is that you go here and pre-order it for $1.49. On May 6, you'll be e-mailed the song. No strings, and the best part is in the first paragraph.

PRE-ORDER STEELY DAN'S new digital single right now and we'll deliver it via email on May 6. Once you have the file you can listen to it on your computer, transfer it to a player, or burn it to CD. It's yours to keep.(emphasis mine)

So there ya go. Maybe the RIAA is starting to figure out that this InnerNut thing isn't so much a threat as a market they've singularly failed to cater to.

Hey, I can hope, can't I?