Yesterday I am called over to a friend's house as she is having a difficult time connecting to the internet on her new laptop. I figure this will be a simple job and then we could just hang out. Boy, was I wrong.
I get to the laptop and as soon as it starts up both cores at the same time skyrocket to 100% in use. Naturally I go look at the processes thinking there is something here doing it, sure enough there wasn't anything. After messing with it some more I decide that it has to be some sort of defect.
They had a "Geek Squad" card, so for poops and giggles I figured I'd call just to see what they would say. Not long after I mentioned the problem he said to take it back to the store to trade in, just as I thought.
We arrive at the store and go to trade it in, then behind the counter there are about 10 other laptops that have been traded in of the exact same model. By the way, this is the ASUS K50.
I couldn't believe it, but more what I couldn't believe was that they tried to sell us another one. I wouldn't keep that model on the floor if there were that many issues. You only end up with pissed off customers and lose business. According to my friends the guy who sold them the laptop had sold 5 others the same day they bought theirs. Horrible.
The ASUS K50 has a Pentium Dual Core processor. I highly suggest to my friends to get an i3, so it was only a matter of time to decide which i3 and they bought it and are happy.
But the main thing here is, they have an obviously broken product and yet still sell it. Guess you can add Best Buy to the list of "Shady" stores. I'm sure generally things are okay, but cheating people out of a good experience and money? Not cool.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Censorship
Anyone who follows South Park will know that there was extreme censorship in the episode "201" due to Muslim extremists threatening Matt and Trey.
Wait a minute, was that threat okayed but simply saying "Muhammad" banned? That is right, a threat is just fine apparently, involving life and death even. However, don't you dare mention anything about Muhammad. I am an avid Christian and I am cool with how South Park generally portrays Jesus. I find it comical and even a little touching. If any of you make Catholic priest jokes then I must ask "really?"
I prefer a world that is free. I prefer a world that lets people express ideas and opinions without restraint. I prefer a world where people put aside differences. I prefer a world where there is no separation based on color. I prefer a world where your religious views don't throw people away from each other. I prefer a world with free information. I prefer a world that serves healthy food in a fast food fashion. I prefer the impossible.
Note, I am not against Muslims here, I have Muslim friends, however I am against extremists. In fact, I am against extremists for just about anything.
Wait a minute, was that threat okayed but simply saying "Muhammad" banned? That is right, a threat is just fine apparently, involving life and death even. However, don't you dare mention anything about Muhammad. I am an avid Christian and I am cool with how South Park generally portrays Jesus. I find it comical and even a little touching. If any of you make Catholic priest jokes then I must ask "really?"
I prefer a world that is free. I prefer a world that lets people express ideas and opinions without restraint. I prefer a world where people put aside differences. I prefer a world where there is no separation based on color. I prefer a world where your religious views don't throw people away from each other. I prefer a world with free information. I prefer a world that serves healthy food in a fast food fashion. I prefer the impossible.
Note, I am not against Muslims here, I have Muslim friends, however I am against extremists. In fact, I am against extremists for just about anything.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day of Silence
First off don't get me wrong, I am not against homosexuals and I do feel they should be able to marry and have the same rights and be able to express themselves. However, the "Day of Silence" has lost its initial purpose and become a way to simply not conform and basically get a free pass for one day.
The "Day of Silence" is to have everyone who supports homosexuals stay quiet the entire day symbolizing the fact that homosexuals can not openly express themselves. Awareness is good surely? Yes it is, but what I see this day used for loses the value of the day.
Select groups will use this day to try and "separate" themselves from others and show how they are different. Being different isn't bad, however don't go and jump on everything like this for your own personal "needs" to feel different. Show that you are different in the kind of work you do, or simply be a kind individual as everyone knows we need more of them.
The other issue with how the Day of Silence has progressed is kids will use it as a "get out of class-speaking/participation free card." If you show a simple paper to a teacher then they somehow automatically exempt you from everything verbally. That is like using homosexuals as a scapegoat so you don't have to do work. You should be ashamed.
From what I see on TV and hear online, many people are "coming out of the closet" and openly expressing themselves. This is progress, and this day may even be outdated as well pretty much anyone can be gay and it is becoming accepted. Granted, someone will always hate someone else, but that is how it is with any demographic group.
Just please think about why you do what you do. You might just realize the real reason behind something too.
The "Day of Silence" is to have everyone who supports homosexuals stay quiet the entire day symbolizing the fact that homosexuals can not openly express themselves. Awareness is good surely? Yes it is, but what I see this day used for loses the value of the day.
Select groups will use this day to try and "separate" themselves from others and show how they are different. Being different isn't bad, however don't go and jump on everything like this for your own personal "needs" to feel different. Show that you are different in the kind of work you do, or simply be a kind individual as everyone knows we need more of them.
The other issue with how the Day of Silence has progressed is kids will use it as a "get out of class-speaking/participation free card." If you show a simple paper to a teacher then they somehow automatically exempt you from everything verbally. That is like using homosexuals as a scapegoat so you don't have to do work. You should be ashamed.
From what I see on TV and hear online, many people are "coming out of the closet" and openly expressing themselves. This is progress, and this day may even be outdated as well pretty much anyone can be gay and it is becoming accepted. Granted, someone will always hate someone else, but that is how it is with any demographic group.
Just please think about why you do what you do. You might just realize the real reason behind something too.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
My Electric Security Blanket
After talking with a friend, yeah I have those, today it helped me realize just why I, and I am sure many others may dislike the general society but enjoy IRC or Social networking.
Basically, the computer is a place where you have total control. You get to choose who sees you, what people can post about you on your pages, and in my case, you know a bit more than lots of the common folk on there. Essentially, you are "king." This power is what draws me to the electric world.
Behind my desk if I don't like a person, I can ban them and never have to talk to them again. Or, if they end up annoying me with lots of status updates, simply 'Remove Friend'. They don't realize this for a while and you can just sit back and read about the people you actually care to listen to.
Not to mention, you are in a comfortable environment, and even if you are on the road you still have your flash drive, a few key apps, and the gateway to your kingdom.
"It is sometimes preferred when people are no more than an avatar and some text."
Basically, the computer is a place where you have total control. You get to choose who sees you, what people can post about you on your pages, and in my case, you know a bit more than lots of the common folk on there. Essentially, you are "king." This power is what draws me to the electric world.
Behind my desk if I don't like a person, I can ban them and never have to talk to them again. Or, if they end up annoying me with lots of status updates, simply 'Remove Friend'. They don't realize this for a while and you can just sit back and read about the people you actually care to listen to.
Not to mention, you are in a comfortable environment, and even if you are on the road you still have your flash drive, a few key apps, and the gateway to your kingdom.
"It is sometimes preferred when people are no more than an avatar and some text."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Getting Lucky
No, it isn't that. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Today just went really, really well for me. First off I arrive home and my new t-shirt is at my door. Then once I get inside and get on the computer I see an email come back to me. Originally I had sent some critisizms about the new church website back as feedback, simple things, and I didn't nitpick anymore than just a little, in my eyes anyways.
So I get an email back from the designer saying how he liked what I had to say and really liked the changes I said should be made. Since I had mentioned I was a web designer, he asked if I was employed and if I was interested in freelance as he would be interested in my résumé. I couldn't believe it, I have needed a job for the longest time and hopefully, knock on wood, I get one!
Did I mention it was early dismissal as well? Yeah, that rocked. And no homework. Today was a good day.
Today just went really, really well for me. First off I arrive home and my new t-shirt is at my door. Then once I get inside and get on the computer I see an email come back to me. Originally I had sent some critisizms about the new church website back as feedback, simple things, and I didn't nitpick anymore than just a little, in my eyes anyways.
So I get an email back from the designer saying how he liked what I had to say and really liked the changes I said should be made. Since I had mentioned I was a web designer, he asked if I was employed and if I was interested in freelance as he would be interested in my résumé. I couldn't believe it, I have needed a job for the longest time and hopefully, knock on wood, I get one!
Did I mention it was early dismissal as well? Yeah, that rocked. And no homework. Today was a good day.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Twitter Test
I've noticed that based on what I say on Twitter and the tags used, people begin to follow you. I find this interesting especially when it tends to be on simply keywords, such as this tweet:
Did I state I was addicted, or did I state I had anyone close to me addicted? No, and I don't. All I said was that I had tried Tramadol to cure a headache and it didn't work.
Here is what I propose in doing:
For the next week, using specialized tags and wording to see just how crazy this type of a thing can get. I won't count the Twitter-whores, you know, the ones who are pictures of women and following like 3,200 people. I will just count anything related to what I Tweeted. This is all simply just to see how quickly someone will follow you for saying the right things, and hey maybe come up with some algorithm for this.
Experiments are fun.
Anyone know of any really good migraine cures? Or how about something that just works a little? NSAIDs, Asprin, and Tramadol have no effect.That night I get no replies, however I wake up to find an email stating that a Twitter profile that specializes in Tramadol addiction is following me.
Did I state I was addicted, or did I state I had anyone close to me addicted? No, and I don't. All I said was that I had tried Tramadol to cure a headache and it didn't work.
Here is what I propose in doing:
For the next week, using specialized tags and wording to see just how crazy this type of a thing can get. I won't count the Twitter-whores, you know, the ones who are pictures of women and following like 3,200 people. I will just count anything related to what I Tweeted. This is all simply just to see how quickly someone will follow you for saying the right things, and hey maybe come up with some algorithm for this.
Experiments are fun.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Internet in MY Real Life?
Everywhere I go now I end up making many connections to the web, or computing, or well really anything. For instance, when I see signs that say "Height 16'9" " I instantly think of the golden ratio, 16:9, and monitors and TVs and such.
Every time we come up from Myrtle Beach in the summer, we pass by Spartanburg. If you take a select part of that out, you get "sparta", which of course we all know of that YouTube video with the Techno Remix of the classic line "This Is Sparta!"
What is more amazing is simply how much of an impact of various seemingly meaningless things can have in our life. I'm sure you have seen something that reminded you of some various tech related doing, and you probably chuckled. In this book I am reading, Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler, which is really great by the way, I make several connections to memes. So far I have found two, and it is pretty amusing. I'm sure they aren't meant to be like that but either way it comes off making me like it even more.
Connections I think are just ways to categorize all of the information you take in, and then forces you to respond to the environment somehow. Amazing how we can do all of that up there, isn't it?
Every time we come up from Myrtle Beach in the summer, we pass by Spartanburg. If you take a select part of that out, you get "sparta", which of course we all know of that YouTube video with the Techno Remix of the classic line "This Is Sparta!"
What is more amazing is simply how much of an impact of various seemingly meaningless things can have in our life. I'm sure you have seen something that reminded you of some various tech related doing, and you probably chuckled. In this book I am reading, Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler, which is really great by the way, I make several connections to memes. So far I have found two, and it is pretty amusing. I'm sure they aren't meant to be like that but either way it comes off making me like it even more.
Connections I think are just ways to categorize all of the information you take in, and then forces you to respond to the environment somehow. Amazing how we can do all of that up there, isn't it?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter
First off, Happy Easter everyone! Christ has risen!
Well so far today after putting that as my Facebook and Twitter status, I get some people saying "ZOMBIE JESUS". This is old, we get it, you don't celebrate Easter, you probably just see it as some way to get candy just like Christmas for you is all presents right?
Jesus wasn't a zombie, zombies go around and eat brains and flesh, Jesus saves lives and shows God's love to every one of his children. The fact that he came back just shows how special of a thing that happened, giving forgiveness to everyone by sacrificing God's only son.
So please people, stop belittling my Savior to a zombie, and trying to take away a great thing that happened.
Well so far today after putting that as my Facebook and Twitter status, I get some people saying "ZOMBIE JESUS". This is old, we get it, you don't celebrate Easter, you probably just see it as some way to get candy just like Christmas for you is all presents right?
Jesus wasn't a zombie, zombies go around and eat brains and flesh, Jesus saves lives and shows God's love to every one of his children. The fact that he came back just shows how special of a thing that happened, giving forgiveness to everyone by sacrificing God's only son.
So please people, stop belittling my Savior to a zombie, and trying to take away a great thing that happened.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The iPad
Despite all that was said early on when it first was announced out, it actually looks like a pretty nifty little thing. A shame I missed the test drive of it today at a local certified Apple dealer, would have been nice to hold.
In terms of the productivity, it looks good. Which could be considered ironic as in many Mac vs PC commercials they always mentioned how Mac was all fun and creativity, but whaterver, heh. You have a word processor, spreadsheet app, and presentation app. I'd be most interested in the presentation app, letting you have a new way of working with images and such.
This is one area where Apple has done well, giving this new touch feel to an OS and how you use things. If someone applied that to basic computing, and then marketed it, well we certainly could go places. I think the main problem we have today, aside from the iPad which even seems to feel somewhat limited but still is a great step, is that we can't get away from what we are used to. If everything was redone as to allow touch and actually make sense with touching and that sort of interface, then it would launch a new revolution in computing.
For example, look at browsing on the iPad, you "hold" the web in your hands. And anything sans Flash you can do. Now lets take that and apply it to everything computers. Just imagine the possibilities.
I have had an idea such as this, directly from my special text file:
Now taking those ideas there, and obviously working on them I say there is a beginning. Can't wait to see it someday.
In terms of the productivity, it looks good. Which could be considered ironic as in many Mac vs PC commercials they always mentioned how Mac was all fun and creativity, but whaterver, heh. You have a word processor, spreadsheet app, and presentation app. I'd be most interested in the presentation app, letting you have a new way of working with images and such.
This is one area where Apple has done well, giving this new touch feel to an OS and how you use things. If someone applied that to basic computing, and then marketed it, well we certainly could go places. I think the main problem we have today, aside from the iPad which even seems to feel somewhat limited but still is a great step, is that we can't get away from what we are used to. If everything was redone as to allow touch and actually make sense with touching and that sort of interface, then it would launch a new revolution in computing.
For example, look at browsing on the iPad, you "hold" the web in your hands. And anything sans Flash you can do. Now lets take that and apply it to everything computers. Just imagine the possibilities.
I have had an idea such as this, directly from my special text file:
::::::::::::::::::Sensor/Touch Screen:::::::::::::::
Have entire alphabet spelled out using simply finger swipes.
Have little tab/tray on side with info....
Have little area to touch for overlay that included panels which defaulted to a mouse (acts like a trackball) and a keyboard then also other panels can be added and this overlays and slides out over everything else.
Now taking those ideas there, and obviously working on them I say there is a beginning. Can't wait to see it someday.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Blog Now In 3D!
Of course not, this is blogspot and I don't have that power really to change it that much. However I didn't write a random topic in hopes of dragging you to my blog, although it did go well with April Fools.
Everything is going 3D. Here is a quick list of what I have seen, or at least believe I have heard of:
3D tricks your brain into seeing a "3D" image. This causes: Blurry Vision and Headaches. Now you know how you feel after watching a 3D movie, well imagine if all of your TV shows, all of your digital entertainment was 3D. That feeling would linger with you all day long.
I feel like the 3D if it were more refined somehow, especially so you could watch action scenes with ease, then it would be a worthwhile investment and a neat feature. However with our limited technology of today, it is no more than a sales gimmick.
Everything is going 3D. Here is a quick list of what I have seen, or at least believe I have heard of:
- 3D TVs
- 3D Blu Ray/DVD
- 3DS (3D Nintendo DS)
3D tricks your brain into seeing a "3D" image. This causes: Blurry Vision and Headaches. Now you know how you feel after watching a 3D movie, well imagine if all of your TV shows, all of your digital entertainment was 3D. That feeling would linger with you all day long.
I feel like the 3D if it were more refined somehow, especially so you could watch action scenes with ease, then it would be a worthwhile investment and a neat feature. However with our limited technology of today, it is no more than a sales gimmick.
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