YUP!
I really don't have anything to say. I re-PS3'd myself yesterday (now with backwards compatibility and an extra 40gigs!) and I started playing Metal Gear Solid 4 last night, with an all-weekend session to follow. I'm also going to a local park where they show a movie on a huge inflatable screen every Friday- this week it's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Very cool. I am sad it is going to cut into MGS4 time, but I think this is a good example of my effort to be more sociable instead of locking myself in my house all the time. It is a great sacrifice. But I'll probably be playing it once I get home until the sun comes up anyway.
Oh yeah: So far, it's freaking awesome, btw.
A Better Find for TextMate
I just found the rather excellent Ack in Project TM bundle. I like the output format better, and it searches unbelievably fast compared to the standard TM “Find in Project”. Happy day!
Oh yay, I’m a total geek again.
It’s been years since I’ve done any kind of legitimate coding/web design. Dro didn’t stop, and now he’s like some kind uber-nerd superhero ninja guy. I have no problem with that. But I have spent the past week doing a lot of reading and tutorials on PHP, and more specifically, creating custom Wordpress themes from scratch. After spending a few days on a custom theme, it’s starting to actually look pretty nice (screenshots or something soon). I’m still struggling with a few things; my footer is being a pain in the ass, and some of the formatting (it’s using two loops in columns for the two different types of posts) is finicky. I also need to figure out a better top menu system, even though the current one works fine. But I’m only a few days into the theme itself and understanding PHP in general, so I’m feeling pretty good about the progress that I’m making. I’m hoping to have the main page mostly working by the end of the week so I can start on the single page view and few of the other custom pages. I’d also really enjoy knowing how to add a search bar to the header without it automatically creating a new line for itself, but I have not found a fix for this either. All in due time, I suppose.
Luckily, it would appear that Dro is back. He had to move, which I guess I was aware of months in advance, but he still disappeared for a week or two, right when I was in need of his sagely advice in the areas of PHP and other things. But he’s back now so I can spend my days hounding him through IM for stuff he probably thinks are insanely simple while he curses at me for bugging him during work or whatever. Just like old times.
Don’t think that means he’s going to be posting a lot again or anything. He’s too busy being a superhero ninja guy. I, however, have very little life and a lot of free time. Right now I’m spending a lot of that time reading a book called The Terror by one of my favorite authors, Dan Simmons. The book is starting a little slow, but the concept is strong enough on its own to make me finish it even if it’s garbage, and nothing he’s ever written has wound up being garbage, so I’m pretty sure he is going to pull it off. <3, Mr. Simmons. Keep it up.
Oh! Also, I pounded out two chapters and another 4000 or so words in my book last night. I managed this because I realized it might be better for the story to pick up at a more interesting point than just progressing in chronological order (got the notion from The Terror, as it really helps to draw me into that book’s story). This allowed me to set up one of the main characters much faster, as well as go back to the first big-ish event through a flashback. This event also allowed me to write about the supposed antagonist characters, something I had not yet done as I figured them out in my head in the years between the first draft and what I am working on now. It was great finally putting them down in words and describing their more complex actions, which work out perfectly in my head, but are a (fun) challenge to describe on paper. This version of the story is already turning out approximately a million times better than what I had written years ago (and thank god for that); I’m very excited to keep working on it. Perhaps I might even get the nerve up to post bits of it on here. We’ll see. I’d like some confirmation that it’s actually halfway decent before I start really throwing it out there for all to see.
And that’s the post.
Zoon.
So it’s like this: I really like the Zune. Dro doesn’t, but he’s become one of those Mac fanboy clones that hates everything that Apple doesn’t do and can’t come to grips with the fact that Microsoft actually topped the iPod in features and usability. So his opinion doesn’t really count for jack anymore in this department.
I dig the big screen, I dig the interface, I REALLY dig the features (FM tuner for NPR, wireless sync, etc). I don’t like the PC software so much. The fancy little touchpad thing the newer Zunes have is very nice to use, but the fact of the matter is some kid in my area is selling his old 30gb for $100 (new 4gb Zunes are $150). I am having a difficult time resisting such a deal. It’s a brown one, the model that got all kinds of crap from people because it’s brown. Well, guess what, internet? I like the brown one. I think it looks fine. I might even think it looks kind of good. Frak off (oh god, I’m adopting Battlestar Galactica lingo and I’ve only watched one season). Read more
Anteaturday?
I know; classy, amirite? Anteaters Wearing Sweaters has made me temporarily obsessed with the funny-lookin’ creatures. I’m sure it’ll pass in a week. Much to talk/write about. Read more
The Week In Summary
I am very good at avoiding finals. VERY good. This weekend, I have a lot of reading and typing to do, and on Monday I have four quiz/test-ish things to take. Three of them are late, yes.
I’ve also got the end of Battlestar Galactica season 1 to watch. I’m also very good at watching Battlestar Galactica. You might be jealous if you saw it.
Hopefully, somewhere inbetween the one awesome task and the one lame-ass task, I will sneak in some writing. I couldn’t bring myself to do any this week, partially out of guilt since I wasn’t getting any assignments done (not doing homework leads to me not doing ANYTHING out of guilt- it’s weird and I need to get over it; I could be on season 2 of Galactica by now), and partially because I wasn’t sure how to start the next section. But I’ve done much thinking about it this week, so I think I’ll be able to pound out a couple thousand words over the next few days.
Also, I’m currently broke so it’s not like there’s anything else for me to do.
I’m a freaking writer. I write things.
First of all, I finally have my laptop back. Did I discuss this with you yet? My laptop was broken. It was pretty weak, and I was stuck with no real entertainment in the evenings or weekends. No way to listen to my 10gigs of music (I know, it’s pathetic compared to most people’s collections, but it still takes me an hour to decide what I want to listen to so I think I’m pretty set), no way to mess around with images, and no way to write in a manner that wouldn’t require me to do my most-hated thing in all of writing, which is writing it again. I’ve celebrated the return of my laptop in many ways.
Read more
Oh yeah, some people come here sometimes.
I’m wondering how important it is for me to apologize for not posting. On one hand, I am pretty awesome, and would totally understand it if you just kept a tab on your browser open with this site on constant refresh looking for updates, but on the other hand, I’m pretty sure only three people read it and even I get bored with the stuff I write on here sometimes. But I figure if anything at all, you dear people deserve some sort of explanation of what I’m up to.
And you’ll be happy to know it is not much. This semester is kicking my ass, and I am really regretting my choices in electives. It’s basically an uphill battle to slog through them until the end of the semester which is sorta-kinda soon, and hopefully get relatively good marks in them, at which point I will have hopefully learned to make better choices in course selection in general, and listen to my sister when she tells me Bible as Literature is NOT a good/fun/interesting course.
So there’s that, my ridiculously easy job that I still can’t seem to find time to get schoolwork done during (yes, I am writing this at work, and it’s probably more so I don’t have to do homework than for your benefit, reader). My laptop’s power plug died, which I would talk more about, but I’ve been dealing with computer-less living okay so far and I’m afraid if I think about it too much I’ll start to get depressed.
At the end of the day, I feel mentally exhausted and I plop down in front of my TV to listen to my podcasts (addictive little things, those podcasts) and play Oblivion, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Super Stardust, or Portal. I recently moved stuff around in my room and it’s in better shape for actually getting things done with minimal distraction (ie, my desk no longer faces my TV), so I’m looking forward to getting the laptop fixed and getting the internet so it’s actually possible for me to be productive at home. However, once that is done I’ll probably be getting an articulated wall mount for my TV so it can turn and face the desk and be a second (ginormous) monitor. That’ll be neat.
Playstation 3 Junior-Reviews
If you’re not into videogames or guys talking about videogames, move along. With schoolwork and regular work occupying the majority of my days, not too many people I know in town, and still in perma-grin mode with my new TV, I have understandably spent a lot of down-time with it. Gamefly has been kind enough to send me games to play, and play them I have. Much like the post I did with short Wii reviews, I’m going to run through the games I’ve been playing with some thoughts, likely about those games. Read more
Super Stardust HD is Awesome.
It’s like Geometry Wars, only more better. I suck at it, unfortunately. Dro is much better, being on the Leaderboards and whatnot. But I have the ability to suck at a game and still enjoy it. I wish I had something more substantial to say, but work and school monopolize not only my time but my thought functions. Not only do I have nothing in my life to write about besides the games I’m playing in my fleeting hours of off-time, but I can’t even coherently discuss (or maybe even comprehend) half of the news I read everyday online. It all flows into my think-processor-humidor and gets lost in the ether and I continue to be spaced out. It’s possible that my brain is dying.
I also picked up The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion yesterday, because clearly when my brain is fried and I have no real free time, it’s an obvious choice. It was probably a bad move.
Why I Support Obama
I couldn’t agree more with Andrew Sullivan’s reader. I also am 21 years old, and support Obama. In fact, I donated to the Feburary 12th Obama money bomb. Normally, I would never consider donating to anyone, and never donated to Ron Paul (even though I like RP) because it just didn’t seem right.
Obama is my candidate of choice, because having him as president would make me proud to say “I am an American” again.
This Blog Post Is Awesome
Big things going on in Tez’s life right now:
-Kicking Semester 3’s ass. Mostly. I’m having trouble forcing myself to read the Bible in time to get assignments done. It’s nothing against the Bible, it’s more that I’m not in complete agreement with the instructor’s teaching style. But there’s nothing I can do about that short of dropping the course, and I’m not gonna do that. I think I’ve wasted enough money this year already.
-Season 2 of Jericho starts on Tuesday!
-I won a super-swanky online auction at this place called eBay. The prize? A Playstation 3 at a hugenormus discount. I am told this is called, “shopping victoriously.” Considering it’s my first real eBay-ing, I’m rather proud of myself. The thing is shipping out today (hopefully), and along with a Gamefly and Netflix account, I’m gonna be pretty set. Set in front of the TV, anyway. Speaking of TV…
-Season 2 of Jericho starts on Tuesday!
Seriously. Anybody not pumped for the return of Jericho sucks. If that’s you, reading this right now, I apologize. The truth hurts. Jericho is the bomb (get it?).
It’s like a bloggy blog blog thing.
I have now spent about a week with my new TV. I have a few things to say about it:
1) Westinghouse, what the fuck is the point of four HDMI ports if they are all on the same hub and thus use the same image calibration settings? The answer is there is none. None points. Fix it.
2) I get random weirdness when I try to change channels quickly, go back to the previously viewed channel, or use the “Favorites” setting on the remote. Sometimes it simply won’t go back to a different channel. Doesn’t happen if I input the channel manually. Weirdness.
3) Holy crap, real HD stuff looks good. NBC, PBS, and CBS are all glorious when broadcasting in HD. SD is remarkably bearable.
4) 1:1 Pixel Mapping. I suppose this is technically a good thing, but this creates problems with a few channels. NBCHD shows a yellowish vertical line on the left side of the screen. It’s pretty small, but it’s there. SD broadcasts usually show a garbly line at the top. Now, this would not be a big deal if the TV had an option to overscan a little. The TV has two options (fill and overscan), but the Fill option overscans by maybe 5%. Again, not a huge deal, just a little annoying.
5) The 8ms response time. I’m really not sure if it’s my eyes or the broadcasts, but the blurry/pixalization stuff going on during fast stuff has me worried. Some stuff looks phenomenal: Hockey, golf, and most regular broadcasts look great. But basketball was almost impossible to watch, and a few fast-moving images on some shows get garbled. I’m not sure if the response time isn’t fast enough, or if it is the broadcast itself. I really need to test a true HD source like a 360 or PS3/Blu-ray to see how it handles fast motion.
Anyway, assuming the PS3/Blu-ray tests out okay, I’m very happy with the TV. HD stuff looks great, SD stuff looks fine. Everything else are small problems that do not ruin the TV-watching experience, especially considering the deal I got. I’ve still got a couple of weeks on the return period, so hopefully I will have completeled my tests and will have a verdict on this TV eventually.
Okay, Google…
I know I was searching for a Grand Theft Auto-related item, but c’mon.
I Has Windows.
If I had to describe what it feels like to reinstall Windows, I’d probably say it is a mix between heartburn, what I understand Pelon Pelo Rico candy tastes like, and pure sadness. Reinstalling all my drivers, programs, and bringing everything from my Passport over USB (why no firewire port, Westinghouse? Whhyyyyyy?) is a pain. Sitting watching Windows download and install 87 “security updates” doesn’t help. Rebuilding the bookmarks I neglected to export and throw on the Passport as well (I always forget something) does not entice me. Scavenging the internet for working video drivers (thanks, OmegaDrivers!) and sound drivers (thanks, oddly enough, Linux support forums!) has consumed my entire work day, and I still don’t have the sound working quite right. Granted, there were issues with Ubuntu, no doubt, but at least all my stuff worked initially, right off the bat without having to search and scrounge for drivers. *sigh* As long as I can get sound and divX working so I can watch my masses of media over the weekend, I’ll be happy. Cross your fingers for me.
Vacationing Update
That’s not me.
I’ve been having a lot of fun playing Wii with the fam. Everyone enjoys Wii Sports, particularly bowling, and my sister and I have been playing a little Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, which while not at all a deep game, is still fun. The dog hanging around the house is just making my desire to own one again worse, while the cat makes me miss mine even more. *sigh* Pets. We also went and saw I Am Legend, yesterday which I really enjoyed. Not the best movie evar or anything, but definitely a good watch. My sis and I are planning on going to Juno later, which I hope will be entertaining.
I’ve got two days before I head back home to Duluth, Minnesota. I am spending this time scavenging media like a fiend so I have plenty of stuff to watch/play/read over this next semester where I will likely continue to not have internet and be left to my own devices at home. Right now I’m holding onto the Simpsons movie, 28 Days/Weeks Later, The Office, Grindhouse, Dr. Who’s Christmas Special, American Gangster, and seasons 1-2 of Rome. Battlestar Galactica is next on the list. Gamewise, I’ve got Mario Strikers Charged and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. It’s possible that I will somehow manage to get the new Harvey Birdman game and/or Geometry Wars Galaxies before heading home. I also have two new books to read by my two favorite authors, Orson Scott Card and Dan Simmons. I will probably blow through those in a week, but luckily paperbacks are cheap- I really should look into joining a book club or something.
Yes, I am this cool. Just not as cool as the guy pictured above.
My friends are kickass.
Whee, vacation. Hanging out in the cities has been a blast.
For my birthday a bunch of my friends (Dro included) and I went to Gameworks, a quaint little two-story bar/arcade/restaurant/bowling alley/place. It was a fun time, and we ended up at the line of skee-ball lanes, swiping $20 game cards furiously and aiming for that tricky 10000 point hole. At the end, we pooled our tickets together and I am now the proud owner of three totally-awesome stuffed Sega characters (see banner pic).
Hope everybody had a good holiday season and New Year’s Eve. Tomorrow I head out for Milwaukee, where I will likely have even less access to the internet. Luckily, I have season 3 of Doctor Who to occupy myself. I should be able to squeeze in a few posts over the next week.
Merry Freaking Christmas.
Bah humbug!
Actually, this holiday season is turning out quite well for me and has me in a pretty jovial mood, despite being stressed out with a lot to do in not much time.
I went through most of this month broke, but now I have more than enough to get me to the beginning of next semester. Good news, since I’m spending most of that time away from home, on the road, and hitting the streets with old friends. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be spending a week in Minneapolis (a place to sleep is pending), where I will hang out with friends I haven’t seen in ages and celebrate my birthday on the 30th, followed by New Year’s Eve - then fly off to Chicago on the 2nd, where I will then begin a trek up to Milwaukee to see my mother and sister (visiting at the same time from L.A.) until the 9th, when I fly back into Minnesota, hop a bus home, and start my first day of work on the 10th, with school starting the Monday after.
ALSO! I got to see my kittie again today (shown above, charging her lazers). It’s always nice to see her again and be reminded of how freaking much she sheds. It’s a tradeoff that I’d like to have the option of again, but as long as I’m in a house with three other cats, she’ll have to stay with her brother. *le sigh*
Oh well. 15 days of vacation and fun await. I doubt I’ll have much opportunity to blog, but I hope all (two) of our readers have a happy holiday and a fun new year. 2008 looms.
Most forced smile ever?
Sarkozy meets the Pope… must have been real awkward.
PS: Why does the pope always look like he might suddenly pull a small animal out of his robe and eat it alive?
Passing The Time Post: Why I Miss My Internet
There are a lot of reasons for me to miss having internet at home: Being able to do schoolwork from my bed; news and forums are a click away; late night chats with friends who sleep during the day; Guitar Hero 3 online battles; torrents of everything; but the thing I miss the most is an MMO I only got a meager taste of: EVE Online.
God, I miss EVE Online so much. Basically Homeworld mixed with business economics, it combines strategic and beautiful space battles with running an interstellar business. Upgrading from a tiny scout to massive battleships, conducting raids with your other company members, all the different stats and item upgrades… building the business up to having it’s own spacestation, defending your resources from pirates… BEING one of those pirates and just cruising the solar systems causing chaos… I MISS IT. And I only played it for two weeks, so I barely had any kind of decent character. If there is one thing that has me chewing my lip, looking for a way for me to get the internet back at my home, it is this game. I want it back. So bad.