"Murphy was an optimist!"
Afternoon Chaos December 16, 2008 5:47 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Family, Of Being DadI spent most of the morning bringing my dead machine back to life. As it shifted priorities to downloading drivers and installing updates, I switched priorities back to programming (after taking a break for a mild panic attack). Programming went swimmingly well despite some persnickety layout issues. As the afternoon progressed, Cathy began preparing for her meeting. She’s meeting with, coincidentally, my major client (unrelated to my work), and the local paper. Before she leaves, Granddaddy comes over to help with the transportation. He arrives early to have a heart to heart with Tommy about his college education which turned out to be a fantastic discussion but one that Tommy did not necessarily enjoy. I kept programming but against my best efforts had to throw in some of my own commentary. Cathy rushed out to get Amy from Girl Scouts. Bill (Granddaddy) rushed out to get Sarah and friend from school to take them to flag practice at Hardin Valley High School. After they left, a friend of Tommy’s came by unexpectedly. Then Noah arrived home. Then Tommy emerged from the basement where he was hibernating. Then Cathy returned with Amy who I helped into the house. Then Tommy and friend decided they wanted to play board games in the mess downstairs which prompted a little cleaning that Tommy and I quickly tackled. The dogs go crazy so I run upstairs to find out Granddaddy has returned with the girls because Sarah forgot something. They leave again. Amy and Evan fight. Noah wants to go to a friend’s house. Tommy and I finish preparing the downstairs so they can play Axis and Allies without Evan destroying the game. The dogs want out. Evan wants a video on the television. And finally I return to trying to get a deliverable out by 5pm (in 15 minutes).
add a commentBack in business! sorta December 16, 2008 1:47 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily LifeMy new motherboard is working and after a telephone call to Microsoft, Windows is activated and appears to be functioning. I have to confirm that Windows thinks it is the E drive and not the C drive (a peculiarity about my configuration) and may have a few more drivers to install but I am very close to being able to return to my frigid dungeon of programming. That process absorbed much of my morning and sent me into a mild panic attack as I have accomplished little programming today. I’ve calmed, returned to working on the laptop, and plan to knock out a couple of milestones before trying to transition downstairs.
add a commentJasper, You Jiggy? December 16, 2008 9:49 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life
This is for Dean and Jeni‘s cats Jasper and crew. Originally seen at nonewbs.com.
Today’s Technical Challenge – New MB for Existing XP December 16, 2008 9:18 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Hardware, TechnologyMy motherboard died on my computer with all the software required for my consulting efforts. Why did it die? Because the capacitors on the motherboard were manufactured with an incomplete and flawed electrolyte formula that was acquired through some bad industrial espionage. I have since been given a new (old, I mean newly manufactured but we are talking Socket 462) motherboard. After installing it last night, Windows gets to mup.drv in the bootup process and restarts the machine. So today’s challenge (and one necessary to access my invoicing software) is to get Windows repaired so that it, and all the installed software on that hard drive, work with this new motherboard. Of course, I do this in conjunction with pumping out code. Days like this make me wish I had an IT department. I miss Nate.
add a commentError messages you don’t want to see December 16, 2008 12:06 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Hardware, TechnologyWhen booting your computer for the first time after installing a new motherboard, one should not expect to see 1) CMOS battery low nor 2) CMOS memory wrong size
Update: The CMOS simply needed to be reset. The battery was fine. The computer boots without problem now but Windows gets to mup.drv and the computer restarts without ever reaching the Windows splash screen.
add a commentOf Grasshoppers December 15, 2008 11:25 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Grasshoppers, PhilosophyStudent: All I ever wanted was to be good at something.
Master: When the sun rises, I think it is good; but for you, the sun must also set.
From the mouths of babes December 15, 2008 5:30 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Daily Life, Family, From the mouths of babes, Noah, Politics, Touchy SubjectsDad: "Noah, do you know that the school board passed a new rule allowing random searches at the school?"
Noah, 12 years old: "No."
Dad: "It means that teachers can just pull you aside and have you show them everything in your bag and pockets. How do you feel about that?"
Noah: "I’m not doing anything wrong so I guess I’m okay with it."
My heart sank. He gave the scripted answer! The system has him. I think Noah is old enough to read 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451. Time to knock the dust of my copies.
3commentsDo you know where you are? December 15, 2008 4:39 pm
Posted by utterz in : Daily Life, PodcastingMobile post sent by djuggler using Utterli. Replies. mp3
Iraqi Reporter Throws Reddit Alien at Bush December 15, 2008 11:40 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States, World PoliticsBush sober enough to dodge it.
Iraqis rally for Bush shoe attacker.
Update: The shoe thrower has been beaten while in custody.
Update: Shoe thrower faces up to 7 years.
Update: Egyptian offers 20 year old daughter in marriage to shoe thrower.
Update: Shoe-thrower sorry for ‘ugly act’
Update: Thank you for throwing your shoe.
Update: December 31 trial date for shoe-hurling Iraqi reporter aka he had expected to be shot after hurling his first shoe.
Bball December 14, 2008 3:18 pm
Posted by utterz in : Daily Life, Podcasting
From the mouths of babes December 12, 2008 9:32 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan and Amy were told to clean.
Evan. 3.5 years old, stomps up to Mom in a huff: "Amy not letting me have fun! Hrrumph." Stomps away.
add a commentFrom the mouths of babes December 12, 2008 12:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babes, Of Being DadEvan, shouting: "Max Ruby on!"
Evan: "Dad, come watch it!"
In 10 years, TSA will display your thoughts on screen December 12, 2008 10:54 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Science, Security, Technology, Touchy SubjectsIn 10 years, TSA will be scanning your brain. Just saying..
2commentsThis is going to be a good 4/8 years! December 12, 2008 10:52 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States
Update: Appears to be a Dec 2007 picture by Jim Cole of the Associated Press.
add a commentYour next Internet addiction December 12, 2008 10:26 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Games/Puzzles, Of InterestFirst there were Tower Defense games. Then there was Websudoku. Now there is TypeRacer!
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