a small victory

So for about a year or so my computer monitor, a Samsung SyncMaster 204B has had a neat little problem, occasionally it will just flicker off then back on. Quite an annoying problem. For the longest time I figured it was hardware related, some chip getting too hot and flipping it into off mode just long enough to cool down. This comes after much troubleshooting device drivers, monitor settings, and the browsing the internets for any help (yeah, I probably could have called tech support, but I am lazy) but to no avail. So I have just dealt with it being flaky, it was after all not dead, and the flicker was really only a medium annoyance. Yesterday however I stumbled upon a quick fix for this problem. Apparently the monitor is just fine. The real problem lies in the monitor's inability to handle the full 60hz refresh rate that my video card and all NVidia cards throw out the DVI port. I found just some random forum post that explained how to fix this very issue. roll on into the NVidia control panel and set up a custom resolution ala 1600x1200 using a setting called CVT with blank, or some garbage like that. basically that last setting throttles down refresh rate to 59.8HZ, just enough to keep the monitor from overloading. BAD ASS. To make a boring story short, my monitor works great and I am so happy. Now, if I could fix my choppy scrolling problem in firefox I would be set.

My Fair Lady

This is our new cat Marley, we have had her for about 2 months or so. She was the replacement for Vino, but with Vespas passing she is our sole cat.
She is quite the little lady.

RAID

I have been dicking around with my computer trying to get my raid 5 array to work. no such luck yet. I can build it, and it reports healthy, but windows refuses to see it. After reading numerous posts on problems with Nvidia nForce chipsets and raid, I think I have seen enough to not even farking bother with it. Which really sucks ass, I mean, yeah - it's only an onboard raid system, but it should work as advertised, not just suck ass. at this point I have two options: 1) install win2k8 server and set up a software raid, or 2) Buy a dedicated Sata RAID card. Given that I have already spent money getting my disks and crap (see previous post), I doubt that the finance committee would spring for more kit (finance committee = wife :) ). So, option 1 it shall be, until I can find a better solution. At least by the end of this weekend I will be on server 2k8, and have mo' storage for mo' movies and music.

--A

Computer love

Newegg delivered a golden egg this afternoon at my house. new kit!
today I got: 2x 500 gig drives, 1x Nvidia 8800 GT, 1x 4 gig ram kit.

So, now to post my boast.

Mobo: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe (nForce 570 chipset)
Proc: AMD Phenom X4 9850 black edition (AM2+) (Quad Core)
Memory: 4x1 gig sticks, DDR2 800mhz 4-4-4-12 (although, XP BSOD's when I set all of these, I currently have it at 5-5-5-12, maybe 2k8 64bit will solve that)
Disk: 1 250 gig sata300 drive for the os (someday I will mirror), 3 500 gig drives in a raid 5 array. ~ 1 terabyte DVD/music/App storage.
Video Card: Nvidia 8800 GT 512MB DDR3.
OS: as soon as I get my raid finished, i am going full bore with x64 Windows server 2008, I will create Hyper-V instance of XP for using the VPN into work.
Case: Antec brushed aluminum full size.

Not bad for a cobbled together rig. I can now play Bioshock at full everything and nothing is getting worked. at some point I want to get Crysis and see just how good my rig is.

yep, Geekin' out tonight. w00-h@@ g0tz j0r b1+z 1n (h3ckz!

on the lighter side

I just finished up my third day of running. going pretty damn good, I am finally winning out over my annoying side splints (annoying pain in your connective muscles around your diaphragm, caused by jostling of internal organs), I am now able to complete my runs without resorting to jamming my fist underneath my rib cage. Yay running! No pain no gain.

You know what really bugs me about running on the streets is? Well let me tell you. Hecklers. Everyone is a fuckin' comedian when you are running down the street. In the past 2 nights, I have been heckled on both occasions. always such good classics like "Who wears short shorts?", well you know what? I FUCKIN' WEAR SHORT SHORTS ASS-CLOWN!! or better yet, the all too original "Run Forest Run!" GODDAMN IT!! I wanted to chase that fat-fuck down and beat him with his cheeseburger. Not so much for the heckle, hell I can handle that, more for using such an overused and played out line. For shit sake, can't anyone be original?

Anyways, Rant=off. I like where I am headed, I feel better, and now I don't feel too guilty when I take back a tall-boy at the end of the night.

cheers
Forest "short shorts" Gump. ...fuckers...

RIP Vino 2003-2008 (better days? you here yet?)

We had to put our cat Vino down today. He was just not doing well at all, he can't poo, he was peeing orange urine, poor little bastard. I am going to miss the little shit, he was the tenor in my meow concert at feeding time, and my little beer drinkin' buddy (Only cat I have ever known to lick the top of a beer). anyhoo, I am going to pour one on the curb for him tonight.






I hope they have good litter boxes and tasty treats in kitteh heaven. peace homie.

--A

better days ahead

My Grandpa passed away Wednesday night. I feel torn up inside when I start thinking about it, but I cannot show it, that's just me. I know I will probably loose it tomorrow at the viewing or when I see my Grandma, but what can you do. it's called being human, something I am typically not very good at. I do have some very good memories of g-dad, mostly of fishing, hunting, and him calling me Andy-Bear. heh. As a little kid, it's cool to be called anything bear. sounds, manly. I will admit the last 5 or so years have been tough to get close to him, we are truly two worlds apart. he is a staunch straight-ticket republican voting Mormon. I am scotch drinking, beer swilling, liberal democrat. we didn't really see eye-to-eye. I guess that's how it goes when you are really 2-3 generations apart, he has a much wider focal length than I do. ah, crap, I hope I don't catch the right-wing bug when I get older. is that genetic?

I really hope his last weeks here on this mortal coil weren't too bad. I know he was hooked up to the morphine machine and probably didn't feel anything. just kind of crappy to have to be in pain for your last days.

Godspeed Mr. Barrett, I wish I would have visited you one last time. See you on the other side. I am going to miss you greatly.



--A