by Matt | Sep 22, 2003 | Imported Entry
At least that’s what everyone would have you believe. If you’re a Perry that is. Apparently, the disorganization of my family (extended, not immediate) is finally getting to them in the form of travel arrangements for my wedding. There are some very simple facts that nearly all of them have over looked and/or forgotten to even ask me about. First, there are 2, count’em, 2 hotels in League City TX. One is a “suites” style hotel that is expensive. The other is a Super 8. No one wants to pay for the suites and alternatively, no one wants to stay at a Super 8. This has cause quite a panic. They wanted to get some group rate at a Hilton or Marriott when there simply isn’t one. This is a very small city, Milford sized. They should be happy there’s a Super 8. So, I’ve looked up several alternatives for them in hopes that one of them might be acceptable. The problem with those is that they’re too far away and they’ll require a map just to figure out where they are and where they’re going. One aunt wants to get a group rate somewhere. One uncle wants to stay IN Houston, which I’ve advised against already. The rest of’em are just plain disorganized and have no idea whats going on.
At least my parents are back on the path to organization. They’ve found a piece of land they like and are trying to figure out the logistics of putting a house on it. My mom also promises to be shipping all my belongings this week. That in itself is a huge joy and relief because on the 30th, I’m moving into my new apartment. I’ll actually have “stuff” to move. That also means I’ll have all the modern conveniences I’ve long needed. An alarm clock for instance. Chairs will be nice. As will my computer and the toaster. This also means I’ll be able to update regularly and start back in on personal projects I had going. A new website redesign for this journal, logos for Chip for the “Save the Hindenburg” café press store, etc. It also means I’ll have me blessed music collection back. Something I’ve missed dearly for far too long.
This should be a very stressful week though. Moving in, plus invitation shenanigans, wedding plans, hotel reservations, money (and lack there of), work. It’s going to be rough. This week we have to:
-finish addressing invitations and mail them
-have 3rd meeting with Steve, the preacher
-transfer electric for new apartment
-set up cable, water, etc
-get personal belongings moved from shipping receiving center to somewhere
-move in to the apartment
-finalize plans with DJ
-make hotel reservations for wedding night
-work all day, every day
and a whole host of things I’m sure I’m forgetting.
So. That’s my life. How’s yours?
by Matt | Sep 20, 2003 | Imported Entry
Wow. How messed up is that? It’s taken me a year or two but I’ve reached the 1000 entry mark. Damn. That’s a lot of mindless rambling on my part. I had planned on a “greatest hits” entry but I really don’t have the time to search through the entire journal for entries I remember enjoying writing. Well, there was that Harry Potter one…
What I will do however, since Chris specifically asked me to, is to repost the list of places where Lauren and I have registered. We did that way back in March/April and people have probably forgotten… or maybe it’s just Chris, who knows. 🙂
Alrighty. First, let me just say that we registered at multiple places because the stores here in TX are different than the stores in NH and Canada. For example, we don’t have many Dillards Dept Stores up north. Here, they’ve all but taken over for JCPenny. That’s just an example. So, with that in mind we registered at places we thought would be in both regions and if worst came to worst, online as well. All these places can probably be found nearby and if not you can always order things online, which I figured all my techy friends would want to do anyway.
In no particular order:
Bed Bath and Beyond – Wedding Registry Page
Instructions: put my full name into the search box. we should be near the bottom, registry # 1033055.
Target – Registries Page
Instructions: same thing. Click “groom”, put in my name. Look for Lauren and I.
Dillards – “Find a Couple” Registry
Instructions: same as above
JCPennys – JCPenny Gift Registry
Instructions: Click “wedding on the left. Select “View/Purchase from existing registry and click next. At the top, in “Search by Registry number” put in “00140297” and click GO. Double check to make sure its ours.
That’s all I can remember off the top of my head. I’ll ask Lauren when she gets back on Sunday if we’ve registered any place else. She’s out of town at the wedding of our friends Liisa and Josh. Which, I should congradulate since they probably going to be married in about an hour or so. I’m sure they will be infinately happy together. They were made for each other.
Let’s see. Other than that everything is pretty much normal. Workin’, day in and day out. The new computer is working out well. Very slick system. I’ve had some random video issues but I’m pretty sure its just ATI sucking. They were fixed with a patch. I also picked up Star Wars: Jedi Academy the other day. Fun game. Same complete lack of compelling story just like the frist game but multiplayer is fun. I think it was a little short changed on features though. They added a few multiplayer game types but they’re nothing special. They also boast about how you can make “your own custom character and light saber”. Well, there’s about 5 different combonations you can make and most of them look pretty similar anyways. About the only cool thing in the addition of duel light sabers and double-bladed light sabers. I just wish they would have taken a little more time on the small things, like death animations. They’re pretty much limited to a) guy falls over backwards b) guy falls over forwards c) guy loses arm and falls either forward of backwards. Thats it. Now, lemme get this strait. I’m weilding a friggin light saber. A device that can cut through solid rock like butter. You’re telling me you couldn’t have come up with an animation for slicing through storm troopers more elaborate than “oops, his arm fell off”? Come on guys.
Oh well. Still fun multiplayer.
That’s pretty much it. Later.
by Matt | Sep 16, 2003 | Imported Entry
I’m sitting here typing into a quick-notes pane on my new Dell XPS Gaming System. Ok, so technically it isn’t “mine”, but it’s damn nice anyway. There are a few downsides I won’t get into but it’s more than adequate for inter-office gaming and getting some occasional work done. Actually, in all seriousness, it kicks some serious butt in Photoshop. A gig of RAM will tend to do that. Or, at least it’ll tide us over until we put 2 Gigs into it next week. Did I mention is has an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro? Umm, yeah… a lot of work is going to get done on this puppy.
Actually, until this morning I forgot how many programs I use on a daily basis, when I had to install all of them on a fresh computer. I usually run StyleXP, a blog tool of some sort, IrfanView, Quick Notes, ieSpell, YzDock, Firebird, Google-Bar, Proxomitron, Win Patrol, Outlook, Icon Packager, Winamp, WinRAR and a whole host of different customizations like icon sets, custom cursors and of course a huge wallpaper collection. I have none of those. Well, that’s not completely true. I did just install Quick Notes and Winamp. I’ll have to pick up the others as I hunt around the web to find them again since, obviously, I don’t have my 600+ bookmarks. That reminds me. I needed a bookmark manager.
If anyone has any recommendations as to different programs to use in lew of one of the above, please let me know. I love trying out new software.
I should also add that we got the Jedi Academy demo running on the puppy this morning… holy crap. At 1600×1200 with every option turned on, it purred. I actually think it purred. Forget gaming from home, I’ll just stay late every once in a while and game here. That is, if it’s ok with Paul…
…who I’ve now gotten addicted to Jedi Academy and who I’ll be picking up a full copy for tomorrow since it was released today.
Joy.
by Matt | Sep 15, 2003 | Imported Entry
Recently, through observation of others, I’ve become increasingly aware of how lucky I’ve been internet security wise. I’ve never had a major virus, I’ve never been shut off by my ISP, I’ve never been traced, hacked, attacked, etc. I will now knock on the nearest wooden object. Watching my employer deal with virus after virus and watching Lauren’s parents computer be completely controled by spyware apps, I’ve become increasing suspiscious of just about everything. Also, off-hand comments made at work lead me to believe that internet logs are being compiled and checked.
That’s why I’ve decided to compile a total package of applications to keep me safe, sound and completely annonymous. These are just a few programs I’ve been trying out on Lauren’s computer to see if they’re worth purchasing and/or using (since some of them are free). First up is McAfee Internet Security. Although I’m behind a hardware firewall already, it never hurts to have a little redundancy. Not so much for incoming traffic but for monitoring outgoing traffic easily. McAfee was feature on the Screen Savers this week and I have to say that I agree with the review. It’s a very very robust firewall with all of the features you could want.
Also, to be completely annoymous at work and at home, there’s always Anonymizer. This thing has gotten better reviews than just about anything I’ve ever seen. I haven’t had a chance to try it out but it’s seems like an interesting idea. It has both an install version and a plugin version that you can activate whenever you need it. So, essentially, you can install it at home and also run it, google-bar style, at work if need be.
There’s also a whole host of things that I already run which I will continue to do so. WinPatrol, AdAware, SpyBot, Windows Washer and Proxomitron. Those should be enough to take care of just about anything you run into.
I’ll link those later.
Anyway, I don’t really know why I’m making this update, I just kind of felt like it. I’m going to go watch some Tech TV and eat some dinner. Probably in that order. Later.
Matt out.
by Matt | Sep 11, 2003 | Culture
I’ve been heavily debating getting one of the new T-mobile Sidekicks, AKA the Danger Hiptop. Reviews are very positive everywhere I look but there are some complaints people have had and some questions I have before I make an investment like that. I should also mention that at the moment I’m getting rid of my Sprint PCS phone because a) I don’t want to pay for two phones and b) the reception sucks here in Houston. That leaves me with the company phone. A nice, usable nokia 3390 with t-mobile service paid for by work. Usable as it may be, it simply isn’t equipped with enough features to get me through any span of time. Heck, the phone is 3+ years old.
The main advantages to the Sidekick would be:
– The company would likely cover the phone plan ($29.99 I think)
– I would only have to pay $20 a month for unlimited internet, email, etc.
– I could update my journal on the go, chat through AIM and text message as much as I wanted.
– It’s color, it has all the PDA features I use and is basically a BlackBerry on crack.
My concerns:
– Since our mail server uses a secure log-in, I probably couldn’t check my email… I’d have to set up a new account some place since I doubt we’d un-secure email just for me.
– The web browser doesn’t have Java support. Not like that a huge deal, it’s just a good thing to have.
– I’ve seen no information on either downloadable ringtones, programmable ringtones, downloadable games and/or content (pictures, icons, etc). If I’m going to pay that much for a new phone, it better have decent ringtones.
– The price tag ($300 from t-mobile on its own, but only $150 @ Amazon with a service contract)
– T-mobile service. I know for a fact that it works well here in metro Houston and surrounding areas. I also know it works well in places like Dallas and Lubbock. What I don’t know is how well it travels. The one advantage to my Sprint phone is that I never lost service traveling anywhere.
– Service plan mumbo-jumbo. I can save $150 on the phone is I sign up for my own service. If I do that then the special deal we have with all the office phones won’t work (we have a free phone-to-phone deal) and I’ll have to figure out a way to get work to cover the cost of the phone portion of the bill.
All the reviews I’ve read seem to suggest it’s the second-coming as far as phones are concerned. The only complaints people have are that the ringer is to soft (people can’t hear it in their pocket) and that its far too big to use without a handsfree set or other headset type setup. I’d have to “test drive” one before I’d be convinced either way. My main concerns are probably email compatibility and the service plan. If I could get those two straitened out then I’d be all for it. Hey, if the guys over at Penny-Arcade like it (or at least it’s little brother), that’s probably a good sign.
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