Misc

Posted on November 12th, 2006 by dan.
Categories: .
It only took me about 5 years, but I have finally gotten a wireless network installed into my home.

I figured it was about time to do so, since I have a wireless notebook computer, a wireless Mac Powerbook G4, and a wireless iPaq handheld. So I have had wireless ready equipment, but not wireless network until now.
The 2 desktops a still using wires, since I haven t bought the wireless NIC s for them yet, but next week I will get those and finish the complete network.

This should increase the possibilities on where we can put the computers, especially since right now they have to be in the bedroom so that they can connect to the Internet. This is due to the fact that it is the only room in the house with a telephone jack!
But once I get the wireless cards for the 2 desktops, we can move them to the living/dining room of the apartment and give us a little more room in the bedroom (no need to have 2 desks sitting in there anymore!

)
This also means that I can take my notebooks and handheld anywhere in the apartment and work on the Internet!
Here I am, getting all worked up over getting a wireless network set up! And my sister, who will admit knows nothing about computers, already has one!

Oh well, I finally have mine. Took me long enough to get up the nerve to actually do it, but I have it.
Oh, and it only took me 7 hours to get it running properly.

Following the instructions on the install disc was a completely useless waste of time for me, because it turns out the DSL modem I got from Verizon had specially configuring that needed to be done before a wireless network would work. Took me forever to finally get all the steps figured out so that I had a connection after I had to go in and completely reconfigure the modem.
And all of those instructions were online, so I couldn t do it step by step because as soon as I started making changes to the modem, I lost the Internet connection.

So I would have to start all over, get the Internet back up and running directly, and then get all of the steps printed out first. Talk about stupid!
But it s done.

I have the network set up, 4 of the 5 devices have been tested and are working properly, as far as I can tell. The fifth is the other desktop. It s currently busy doing some important work that I can t interrupt to verify whether it can connect or not, but I will get to it.

So, other than that last post about the new XP theme I am using now, it dawned on me that I haven t updated the site in a while. Not that I have a lot of people reading this site.
Well, I had to reschedule the jury duty service that I was supposed to start on the 18th.

I will be doing jury duty in February.
The reason I had to reschedule was that I had to go home to Western New York.
My father had been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, and the prognosis was not good.

I left on Thursday, the 12th.
He passed away in the early morning of the 14th.
I spent the next week helping to arrange the funeral and dealing with all that he left behind.

The week went by so quickly.
I cried at the funeral, but I never really got a chance to mourn. I was too busy trying to take care of things.

Then I came back to NYC and went right back to work.
I still haven t quite gotten used to the idea that he s gone.
A good example is the previous post.

When I saw what the new theme did my computer, I was so excited that I looked over for the phone to call my father and tell him how to do it to his own computer.
Then I remembered.
It s so hard to believe.

He was just here in NYC back in September, and although he had the health problems, he was walking around Times Square and going to the beaches on Fire Island and keeping up with all of us.
The pictures of that trip show that he was having a good time, even though he was here for the funeral of my aunt.
And a month later he s gone.

I am glad that I took the time off of work to go see him when I did. I got a chance to see him one last time before the end came. I m glad that he came to NYC and saw my apartment, and saw that it wasn t quite the dive he was expecting.

I m glad he got to meet my partner, and my partners parents, before the end came.
But most of all, I am glad that he was my father.
I will miss him.

Posted on October 28th, 2006 by dan.
Categories: .
The picture above is a screenshot of my computers desktop, after I downloaded the files for a theme called Royale Noir.

From what I have been able to read about this theme, it was originally developed by Microsoft as the theme for the Windows Media Center version, but for some reason decided not to use it.
As you know, Windows XP has a theme called Royale, which is the blue and green shiny eye sore that seems to be the standard look of XP when first installed.
Royale Noir is the same basic idea, but done in black/purple.

There are a few down sides to this theme, should you decide to use it.
First, it s not a complete theme. It was designed as a recolor of the original Royale theme, so you will get a few glimpses of the original theme when using this new theme.

The most obvious being the Start button. When you mouse over it, it goes to the original green.
Second, while this was developed by Microsoft, it was not officially released by Microsoft.

It is quite possible that files were illegal leaked to the web. I take no responsibility for that, should you decide to click on the picture and download the files. (the filename is royalnoir.

rar on the website that will open up).
The good things about this theme are that when it is used, it also works in other Microsoft programs, such as Office applications and Media Player. Personally, I have not yet found a program that hasn t worked with theme yet.

Install is relatively simple. You need to unzip the .rar file into the C:/Windows/Resources/Themes folder, then double click the luna.

msstyles file. This loads the file into the Display Properties Appearance tab. Simply make sure the Color Scheme says Royale Noir and click on OK.

No 3rd party programs to run, no special registry hacks, just download, unzip, and load.
One thing I noticed right away after installing: It looks a lot like the way the New Windows Vista is supposed to look. Very glassy and dark.

So, if you like the look, click on the picture and you can get the files needed. Follow the super easy instructions I just gave, and you too can have the Windows XP join the Dark Side.
By the way, to get that black background, turn off you picture, and choose black from the color choices.

And running along the right side of the screen is Yahoo! Widgets. Get your copy of that while you re at it by clicking .

Posted on October 9th, 2006 by dan.
Categories: .
Guess what I get to do next Wednesday?

I got jury duty!!
Yep.

Jury Duty.
And of the 2 addresses listed on the summons, I have to report to the criminal court!, not the civil court.

My luck, I am going to end up getting some mob related case. (JUST KIDDING!!

I don t think there are any mob cases going on right now. I could be wrong.)
And are you ready for this?

I will be getting $40 a DAY to be a juror. That s less than 25% of what I make at my job. How stupid is that?

If you want me to have to sit on my ass for upwards of 12 hours and listen to a couple of blow hard lawyers argue some slime ball s prosecution and defense, at least pay me what I would I would normally make in a day!
But hey, in a way I hope I am selected for a juicy trial, something that will make national headlines. I can turn that into something really good, I m sure.

Posted on October 6th, 2006 by dan.
Categories: .
Everyone knows the THX sound, that deep level thrum that turns into a mid-level screech that damn near plasters you to the back of your seat when it s blasting out at you from a 2 story tall movie screen in a darkened theatre.

That sound that vibrates not only the windows, but the floors, the ceiling, and your very soul as it reaches it s crescendo.
It s a sound you never forget. Ever.

At one point, I even had an mp3 version of it one my website that would play when someone entered the site. (Yeah, I admit it. I have a geeky dweeb side!

)
But this video is the coolest version of the THX intro I have seen in a long, Long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
Sorry.
The geeky dweeb took over for a minute. Flashbacks of Star Wars marathons, watching all of them one after the other, gorging myself on Coca-Cola and hot, buttered popcorn as the words for each movie would scroll across the screen and the familiar sounds of the theme screaming out the speakers
Damn!

Did it again!
Anyway, this little THX number was created by Pixar (yes, Pixar of Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo and Steve Jobs refuses to work with Dsiney as long as Michael Eisner is CEO fame) and is one of the most awesome uses of the THX system.
Make sure your speakers are fully turned up, put your face within a foot of the monitor, and almost get the feeling you are in the theatre watching SW all over again!

Don t forget the Coke and popcorn!
(PS: If you DO get close the monitor and turn your speakers all the way up, I am not liable for any damages to you, your monitor, your computer or anything else that might be damaged by the video/audio within a 2500 mile radius of your speaker system. I mean it.

My lawyer will make sure nothing happens to me. If you feel you really need to sue, sue Google. It s their site you are going to see the video on.