Posted on

These Past Few Days…

Sorry for not posting for the past few days. Been busing fixing stuff around the house. First I had to fix my stupid computer. It was pretty obvious either the motherboard or cpu was the one causing all the reboots, so I brought home my old motherboard and cpu from my previous computer (which has been upgraded since) and everything’s been flawless since. No random reboots. I did spend half a day reinstalling Windows XP and random software and doing updates.

The next thing I had brought home was a Slingbox and Buffalo WHR-G54S wireless router. My dad had subscribed to Satellite TV and wanted to watch it on other TVs and computers and since our main TV already had a computer, it seemed like the right thing to do.

First I decided to flash it with DD-WRT, but it turns out I can’t use the default flashing tool provided, and had to do it via a TFTP server (instructions). It wasn’t too bad. The reason for the router was to use it as a client bridge so that it can talk wireless to my existing network. I deemed it too much trouble to drag an ethernet cable all the way to the kitchen. Setting it up was pretty simple. I gave it a static IP and increased the Xmit Power to 100mW since it was going to be further away. I set wireless mode to client bridge and set the WPA password and it worked pretty much flawlessly afterwards.

The SlingBox was also quite easy to setup. Hooking it up to the TV and satellite receiver was simple. Then I just ran the setup program and it immediately started working. There’s some voodoo magic going on since it can automatically find it without me providing an IP address. However, I hit a snatch when trying to control it with the IR emitters. Turns out the plug wasn’t inserted snuggly so it wasn’t really emitting anything while I was trying all the different remote codes.

The classic SlingBox which I got supported BOTH cable TV antenna and composite (RCA) inputs. However, in the newer SlingBoxes, I’ve noticed that they’ve split the cable TV one into its own product and the composite one into its own product. Maybe they have higher quality but it would suck if I had to switch to the other.

Finally it came to my PAP2… actually, I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Posted on

Weekly Top Posts (12/2/2007 to 12/8/2007)

Here’s this week’s top post:

  1. up arrow How to download HD Trailers from Apple.com (Last week: #1)
  2. up arrow 4 Free Xbox Live Arcade Games (Last week: #3)
  3. up arrow Haloid (Last week: #7)
  4. LeekSpin (Last week: #4)
  5. Spinning Dancer (Last week: #5)
  6. down arrow Animal Crossing Tragedy (Last week: #2)
  7. up arrow Free AutoCheck Report (Similar to Carfax) (New)
  8. up arrow Print USPS First Class, Media Mail, Parcel Mail Postage for FREE! (New)
  9. up arrow I Thought Europe Was A Country (New)
  10. down arrow Music from The Inner Life of a Cell (Last week: #6)

Previously…

Posted on

Do I Ever Sleep?

So SueOn asked me this question earlier:

do you ever sleep?
or are you like chuck norris
you just wait

That reminded me of the Zuckerberg testimonies I was reading earlier. Apparently the court files for the case when Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) was sued for stealing the social networking idea from another student group were accidentally released to a journalist/reporter. According to Facebook Founder Finds He Wants Some Privacy:

Social networking Web sites can seem dedicated to the idea that nobody’s personal life is worth keeping private, but when it comes to Mark Zuckerberg — the founder of Facebook, one of the largest networks — Facebook disagrees.

Facebook tried last week to force the magazine 02138 to remove some unflattering documents about Mr. Zuckerberg from its Web site. But a federal judge turned down the company’s request for a court order to take down the material, according to the magazine’s lawyers.

The dispute stemmed from a lawsuit charging that in 2003 and 2004, as a student at Harvard, Mr. Zuckerberg stole the idea and some of the computer source code for Facebook from some fellow students. They were planning a networking site of their own and had hired Mr. Zuckerberg to help with the programming.

You can read the original article on 02138: Poking Facebook:

Harvard dropout Mark Zuckerberg created one of the most trafficked sites on the Web and became a paper billionaire as a result. But ongoing lawsuits suggest that Facebook’s origins are murkier than Zuckerberg would like to admit. Is the man many are calling Harvard’s next Bill Gates telling the truth?

and here are the court documents from the Facebook trial: The Facebook Files.

How does this relate to the the question SueOn had asked me? In one of his testimonies, the transcript goes as below (Q = question/attorney and A = answer/Zuckerberg):

Q: Okay. What time did you wake up in the morning?
A: It probably wasn’t the morning.
Q: Okay. How late did you stay up programming?
A: I don’t know, like it’s quiet at night.
Q: Okay.
A: You can get work done.
Q: Did you work all night sometimes?
A: Yeah. I mean although, I guess that’s relative when you’re shifted hours like that.

You can say I’m pulling all nighters every day, but that’s because I go to sleep in the early morning (4-6am).

The testimony got boring really fast, though I will say that he sounded quite scared and his replies reminded me of someone who wasn’t really a profession, but brand new to the field.

Posted on

Oakley Whisker Sunglasses

So with the year coming to an end, my optometrist sent me a postcard reminding me to get my yearly eye exam. Since I was leaving in a few weeks, I decided I should get that taken care of since I prefer to get things done here over back in LA. It’s just more convenient for me.

Anyway, I decided that if my eyes didn’t change or change much, I would get prescription sunglasses. I finally got tired of the sun blinding me when I drive.

My eyes turned out fine. There were some small changes, but nothing too big (according to the optometrist):

Last year:

[OD] Sphere: -1.50 / Cylinder: -0.75 / Axis: 156
[OS] Sphere: -1.25 / Cylinder: -1.25 / Axis: 010

This year:

[OD] Sphere: -1.50 / Cylinder: -0.75 / Axis: 165
[OS] Sphere: -1.25 / Cylinder: -1.50 / Axis: 010

The changes have been bolded.

So I decided now would be a good time to get prescription sunglasses. The choice came down to either picking a frames at Costco and getting tinted lens or picking a pair of real sunglasses and getting prescription lens. I decided on the latter as a new toy for myself. I only had a $180 spending limit for my glasses from my health insurance, so I knew I had to pay part of it out of pocket. After comparing the different sunglasses available for 10-15 minutes, I ended up picking the Oakley Whisker. I really like the design, though the $195 price tag sort of scared me.

oakley whisker - black iridium polarized - sunglasses

However, I was even more shocked when I was told the prices for the official Oakley lens. They started at about $150 and those weren’t polarized. The ones I ended up choosing (Black Iridium Polarized) were $255, however the price of the frame dropped to $135. That meant I had to pay $210 out of pocket. I decided, oh well, impulse purchase, go ahead. They said unofficial frames were also available, but I thought what the heck. It’s an impulse purchase, right?

I went to pick it up last Friday and it looks really neat. I’d take some pictures of it, but I’m too lazy to go get the camera.

Posted on

Weekly Top Posts (11/24/2007 to 12/1/2007)

Here’s this week’s top post:

  1. up arrow How to download HD Trailers from Apple.com (Last week: #2)
  2. down arrow Animal Crossing Tragedy (Last week: #1)
  3. 4 Free Xbox Live Arcade Games (Last week: #3)
  4. up arrow LeekSpin (Last week: #6)
  5. down arrow Spinning Dancer (Last week: #4)
  6. up arrow Music from The Inner Life of a Cell (Last week: #8)
  7. down arrow Haloid (Last week: #5)
  8. up arrow Music from The Inner Life of a Cell – Available for Purchase (Last week: #10)
  9. up arrow Hacking the Linksys WRT54GL (New)
  10. up arrow Era – Misere Mani (New)

Previously…

Posted on

Gas Meter Mix-up

So back in October I came home to find a note on my front door telling me that there was a gas leak and my gas was turned off. It was almost 11pm so I thought I would’ve needed to wait till tomorrow before they could send someone over. Anyway, I called the 800 # and it turns out that 800 # is only available for Washington residents. Since my cell phone is still in the 626 area code, it didn’t let me call through. A search on Puget Sound Energy’s website revealed their non toll-free number.

I called and apparently PSE has available technicians till 12am and the customer service rep said she’d be more than happy to send someone over. Meanwhile, I put on a sweater to keep myself warm.

30-45 minutes later, I get a knock on my door. He asks me where my gas meter was and honestly I have no idea. He went around my place and found it on the other side I never go to. He comes back and tells me my gas is actually on and he would just need to re-ignite all my appliances that use gas.

I pointed to him my furnace, water heater, and my fireplace. He knew more about my appliances than I did! With a quick few twists and button pushes, he ignited everything back.

Before he left, he told me there was a mix up between meters and the one I was being charged for was actually my neighbors. He said PSE would probably send me a notice/bill later alerting me of this and that I would either get credited back for extra energy I had paid for or I would billed for extra energy I used.

Anyway, everything was fine and dandy. I had expected a credit since I do live on my own and I don’t think I use that much gas. I got my bill today and there appears to be a credit of $200.93. Woot! Ungsunghero says that I should’ve gotten more for my “inconvenience”. Plus the fact someone probably made interest on that $200+, however that person would be my neighbor.

Posted on

I Thought Europe Was A Country

I saw this video a few days ago from Digg: Is Europe a country?

Funny video about a quiz show, where the question is about an obscure country called Hungary.

It’s a clip from the show, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? and to be honest, I think this was staged, but if it isn’t, it’s yet another example of how the American education system has failed.

SueOn had asked me if the contestant was someone famous and at that time, I didn’t know. Looking at the comments on YouTube, it appears the contestant is Kellie Pickler, apparently someone in American Idol. Then again, I’ve never watched American Idol, so I probably would’ve never figured it out.

Here’s the transcript (I’ve bolded the funny parts):

Jeff: You ready? The 3rd grade world geography question is: “Budapest is the capital of what European Country?” Budapest is the capital of what European Country? Nathan has already locked in.

Kellie: This might be a stupid question.

Jeff: I’m guessing it’s probably going to be.

Kellie: Okay. Like… I thought Europe was a country. Let’s see. Budest… Budapest! I’ve never even heard of that.

Jeff: Alright, here… here’s your options. I mean you could drop out with $10,000. But…

Kellie: Like I know they speak French there, don’t they? Like I wanna say is France a country. I don’t know what I’m doing.

Jeff: You know what, let’s talk about your options.

Kellie: Can I just like… Okay.

Jeff: Kell, focus.

Kellie: I am… Like I’m listening to what you’re saying, but I only hear what I want to.

Jeff: That’s just called being a woman.

Kellie: Oh… Boooooooo! Well, we could just call this show “Are You Smarter Than A Man?” I’d win that one.

Jeff: Women don’t really want to hear a man’s opinion. They just want to hear their opinion in a deeper voice. That’s what they want when they talk to us. Let’s talk about this. I really want you to get the $25,000 because no matter what happens after that, you’re walking out of here with $25,000.

Kellie: Yes. It’s all about the charity, so I got to think what’s best for them. Let’s see. I am just going to … copy.

Jeff: Copy.

Kellie: Come on Nathan.

Jeff: If you had to guess… if you had to guess… do you have a guess?

Kellie: I don’t think France is a country, but would’ve said that. I dunno… I don’t know. I’m just going to say France. I dunno.

Jeff: France is a country, I will tell you that.

Kellie: It is?

Jeff: If you had said France, you would’ve gone home with nothing.

Kellie: Whew…

Jeff: That’s not the right answer. The right answer is Hungary.

Kellie: Is what?

Jeff: Hungary.

Kellie: Hungry?

Jeff: Like I’m hungry.

Kellie: That’s a country? I’ve heard of Turkey, but… Hungary, never heard of it.

Jeff: But the answer is Hungary. So if Nathan said Hungary, your charity’s got $25,000. If he didn’t, you walk away with nothing.

Kellie: You’re not smiling, Nathan. You’re not smiling. Awwwwww.

Jeff: Kellie, look at the board. For $25,000, your 5th grade classmate Nathan said… Hungary!

Kellie: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Great! You’re the best! Thank you! Yeah! You tried to trick me. He tricked me.

Jeff: He tricked you?

Kellie: I was looking at his face and he looked like uh ummmmmm messed it up. I failed. But you got it right, yay.

Posted on

The Voice of the Undergound Is Fired

Sorry for not posting in awhile. My Black Friday bounty has been coming in and doing all these rebates took a lot more time than I anticipated. Plus the fact I only have a little over 1 week before I go on vacation for the rest of the year, I’ve been trying to wrap up stuff at work.

Anyway, I saw this article a few days ago: London PA voice fired for slamming Tube:

The woman behind the gentle, even voice which warns London’s subway commuters to “Mind the gap” was fired after telling a newspaper she thought the transit network was dreadful.

Emma Clarke has been recording messages for London’s sprawling subway network, popularly known as the Tube, since 1999. In addition to warning passengers to watch their step in walking between subway cars and the platform, she also reads the trains’ stops, tells Londoners how long they have to wait until their next ride, and delivers service updates.

When I first read the article, it reminded me of the Voice of London from V for Vendetta.

Anyway, that’s pretty harsh to fire her just over a honest remark. If I was to be fired for every anti-Microsoft remark I’ve made, I would’ve been fired a long time ago.

I wanted to hear what these spoofs were. The link on the article pointed to her homepage: EmmaClarke.com, but it was down the past few days due to everyone linking to it. It’s back up now, but during that time, I found a mirror of the spoofs here: The Voice of the Underground is silenced.

If you’ve ever ridden the Underground (London subway system), you most definitely will recognize her voice. Here’s a few demos she has up on her page: Voiceover Demos / London Underground.

You can also listen to the Spoof London Underground Announcements:

Somethings to note, I did in fact have a mental image of her and what she looked like and of course she did not turned out exactly the way I’d imagined. I wasn’t exactly disappointed since I’ve gotten used to the face that most Japanese voice over artists aren’t that pretty/handsome, but they’re good at what they do and bring characters to life, I did imagine her to have a skinny face and look sexier. Haha.

Another thing to note is that she pronounced Sudokus like Sudukos, which sort of irked my head.

If those links are down again, mirrors can be found at: The Voice of the Underground is silenced

Posted on

Weekly Top Posts (11/18/2007 to 11/24/2007)

Here’s this week’s top post:

  1. up arrow Animal Crossing Tragedy (New)
  2. down arrow How to download HD Trailers from Apple.com (Last week: #1)
  3. down arrow 4 Free Xbox Live Arcade Games (Last week: #2)
  4. Spinning Dancer (Last week: #4)
  5. down arrow Haloid (Last week: #3)
  6. LeekSpin (Last week: #6)
  7. Missing Codecs in Firefox to Play Video in Gallery2 (Last week: #7)
  8. up arrow Music from The Inner Life of a Cell (New)
  9. Final Fantasy VII – Dirge of Cerberus (Last week: #9)
  10. up arrow Music from The Inner Life of a Cell – Available for Purchase (New)

Previously…