Tadd Mencer

That’s right! By the grace of God my new computer is now running nice, smoothly and HOLY SNOT FAST! It’s amazing what a really good (yet girly looking) fan and heatsink will do for an overheating computer. My system is now staying at a 28 degree Celsius even while gaming … so I’m extremely happy about that!

So, here are the specs:

Heck .. yes .. it’s awesome.

They screw over the little guy in hopes no one will notice that they’re stark, raving mad (and possibly mentally retarded - no offense to mentally retarded people). As of August 2008 they’re shutting down their music service which will effectively screw over anyone who bought music via their PlayForSure services .. which obviously isn’t going to play for sure.

Goodness Bill .. what are you thinking in your multi-million dollar breeches?! Obviously it is about how many billions you’re worth to the industry …

Here is a snippet from a good article:

It was the Dark Ages, around 2004 or so. The iTunes Store was new and booming. Microsoft, in its bid to be the center of everything without having to deal with pesky “end users”, decided that the way to fight Apple was to create a developer platform. This developer platform would handle all the technical details of ensuring that people could “purchase” music files from a variety of online vendors, and play these music files on their (Windows) PC or on a variety of handheld music players. This developer platform would also ensure that such “purchased” music files could not be copied. This involves a lot of fancy math (encryption) which Microsoft was happy to license to companies running online music stores and companies making handheld music players, as well as including by default in all modern versions of Windows.

READ IT ALL

Ok, so I bought a new computer. Well, let me clarify - I bought several pieces that when put together will make a computer.

I’m no stranger to building computers. I’ve done it for years and I’ve generally enjoyed it. However, this system is presenting me with continual problems.

Let’s start with the worst. it’s a Quad Core Q6600 processor with an nForce 650i Ultra main board. I installed it all nicely, threw on a new GeForce 9600GT 512mb video card - sounds like it should scream, right? Well, it would if the processor didn’t keep over heating and shutting down the system. Going out and shelling $20 for some heavy duty thermal paste HELPED but the only thing that successfully allowed the system to run was setting the voltage to the processor to 1.05 rather than letting it automatically chose (which was usually about 1.27). No problem, got that fixed. Now I can’t find my copy of Windows XP Pro (I have the product code!) so I downloaded it from a torrent (like I said, I have the product code) and naturally it won’t work.

So I installed Ubuntu 8.04. Got it running no problem - only thing is they don’t make Linux drivers for my main board or video card.

I’m quite disappointed on what should be an awesome computer. Luckily I didn’t thrash the old system totally so I can use this to do some things - but dang it … this should be cake!!!

So, my faithful readers … any ideas?

I have a lot of pet peeves. If you don’t believe me, just as my wife who gets to hear every single one of them nearly on a daily basis. They all seem to revolve around idiot, self-absorbed people. You know the type, they think that either they’re God’s gift to the world or the 21st century reincarnation of Christ.

Now, I know that I’m not the smartest guy in the world. I’m also not the most humble. Yes, I admit that. But at least I have the common courtesy to allow people an opinion - especially if it doesn’t affect others.

Let me give you an example of some things that frustrate me to no end.

Say I’m talking to someone and I say “I like Falling Up” (Christian rock band). Now, realistically some should respond with “Yeah they’re awesome” or “Eh, not my cup of tea”. However, I’ve had so many people do things “Oh geez they suck!” indicated that it doesn’t matter if I like them or not, they just suck. It usually follows with an insult indicating that I have no taste or class.

Now, ok - so there are people who don’t like Falling Up. I personally can’t stand most classic rock (Doors, Beatles, Hendrix, etc). Not my style. But do I think they suck? Well, yes to me .. but I appreciate the fact that people like them. More power to them! But don’t say I’m stupid (or someone else) because I don’t agree with you.

Unless it’s a life issue - get over it. Don’t assume that your choices in music are the end all. Your views are not God’s views (unless they’re based on Scripture, then let’s talk).

So, 8 years ago I was the proud man who got married. Now I am the proud man who is still married!

In 8 years we:
Had a son
Bought two cars
Bought a house
Got a cat
Have had 7 jobs
Moved 6 hours from family

And so many other things that are less than milestones in our life, but things that make us … us.

I’m so proud to be Carolyn’s husband .. and after 8 years she can still stand me! Her patience is astounding.

I love you Carolyn.

www.xanga.com/ophelia_crow - if you have a Xanga account, go and bug her say hello!