tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27511214872695352692024-03-05T03:46:29.363-05:00J Star and the Blog of DoomThe blog of a writer, gun enthusiast, video game nut, and freedom lover.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comBlogger643125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-37813332925936478902014-02-18T19:42:00.003-05:002014-02-18T19:43:56.938-05:00Thinking of upgrading from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to the Note 3?Here are some things that I have noticed after a few days with the Note 3, coming from the Note 2:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Samsung Account - Makes it easy to share S-Notes from your phone to your Note tablet and vice-versa.</li>
<li>S-Note - redesigned. Note taking space now takes up more of the available screen space, while the interface takes up less. </li>
<li>S-Note - The Pen is WAY more accurate thanks to the redesigned pen interface. </li>
<li>S-Note - Erasing things is so much easier now. The eraser just wipes out the letters you run it over, so there's no more hitting the lines above and below it, or making the eraser head so small that you have to scrub the line multiple times. </li>
<li>Touch keypad - WAY more accurate. (Just like the pen!) I cannot tell you how frustrating it was to try to type texts and emails on the Note 2, there are no words. The Note 3 is much easier. </li>
<li>The Note 3 is slightly longer due to the increased screen size, but it weighs less and it's noticeable. (5.7 inch screen vs 5.3 on the Note 2)</li>
<li>The screen resolution is much better. (1080p) </li>
<li>The flip cover for the Note 3 has a front window that allows you to answer calls and use some basic functions without opening the cover. </li>
<li>I feel better about myself because I now have the latest technology. </li>
</ul>
I'm kidding about the last one, but the differences are not subtle. I was hesitant, and I only upgraded due to a special they were running, but once I was using the Note 3 I was happy I did upgrade. I use this phone to run my business, so I have to be comfortable using it for everything. <br />
<br />
Edited for excessive comma overuse. Parents are advised to monitor their children. <br />
<br />Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-19271858113488362052014-02-13T19:40:00.002-05:002014-02-13T19:40:59.099-05:00Little Sister OK, this is something I have been thinking about a lot recently due to the crazy amount of government abuse our freedoms have taken. We all know - if you don't please leave now, thank you very much - about George Orwell's 1984. We're all pretty aware that a good many of the elements from that story actually exist now in our modern life. Big Brother really is watching you, or at least your cell phone, email, You Tube, Facebook, and other electronic communications.<br />
<br />
The classic question is "Who watches the watchmen?"<br />
<br />
The answer should be a very simple "We do."<br />
<br />
We pay - and I mean PAY - for ALL of these government programs that infringe upon our freedoms. The police officers that raid the wrong house, shoot your dog, and frighten your family half to death in the middle of the night? You paid for that. The state trooper that drive 110 miles per hour down the highway and then tickets you 15 minutes later for doing 75 in a 65? You paid for that. The DHS guy harassing you at a roadblock two hours from the border? You paid for that.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that there aren't law enforcement officials out there doing a good job, but I am saying the potential for abuse is so high that it is more common for law enforcement to abuse their position than it is for them not to abuse it. Think I am wrong? Visit any LEO forum on the internet and see what their definition is. How many officers think speeding is a perk and not abuse? How many states have laws that allow LEOs to do one thing while forbidding citizens from that same thing? Governor Cuomo in New York recently stated that because he gave verbal permission for DHS brass to carry pistols in violation of NYS law, that it was OK.<br />
<br />
What is the solution? I think that we should turn the tables. We need to find local, state, and federal politicians willing to sponsor legislation requiring ANY law enforcement officer to wear a head-mounted camera when on duty. That camera should stream live video to a public website that allows the public to monitor the actions of law enforcement. The video footage should be archived just like the NSA archives all of our data.<br />
<br />
Big Brother may be watching, but Little Sister should be watching right back, preventing Big Brother from abusing the citizens of our country.<br />
<br />
Yes, I am aware of the "issues" law enforcement thinks this may cause. They're not really issue, because anything you think you shouldn't be doing on camera is something that you shouldn't be doing, period.<br />
<br />
Yes, this means an end to the "No knock" warrants and middle of the night raids. Those should end anyway, considering they endanger people on both ends of the raid. <br />
Yes, this means your war on non-violent drug offenders will be effectively over. We cannot afford your war anyway.<br />
Yes, the treatment of law enforcement as a better class of citizen will end. There is only one class of citizen, and there never should have been special treatment to begin with.<br />
<br />
Share the word, bother your local, state, and national representatives. Make law enforcement accountable!<br />
<br />
Little Sister is watching!Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-68979688614928950332014-01-25T17:25:00.000-05:002014-01-25T17:26:16.288-05:00The word: Retard<span style="color: white;">Overly sensitive people, leave now. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">One of the things that kills me about political correctness is the inability of people to deal with the fact that other people use words to insult each other. Half of the time they are complaining about people using one word while they use other words to insult those same people. A bit hypocritical, but that's humanity. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Our word today is: Retard.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Retard comes from the term "mentally retarded' which is a term for significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors. Before the term mentally retarded - or just retarded - came into fashion, terms such as "idiot", "moron", "imbecile", and "cretin" were used to describe mentally handicapped people. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Of course, using those words to describe someone whom they do not actually describe is a form of insult. And as we use a word more and more to insult people, the term shifts to try to move the insult away from people afflicted with disabilities. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">This is what we call a "euphemism treadmill," which basically means that as you come up with new terms to describe something to get away from the negative connotations of the old terms, the new terms will be gradually used as insults and you will keep coming up with new terms ad nauseam. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Look, what it boils down to is that you can start calling mentally handicapped people "rainbow unicorns" and people will start calling each other rainbow unicorns as a form of insult. So just stop already. Instead of vainly trying to stay ahead of the name-calling game, how about you choose to ignore the insult and teach others to do the same? </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Do you get mad at every Disney movie out there? I can't count the number of times some cartoon character in my daughter's movies has called another character a moron, an imbecile, or an idiot. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Being insulted is something you <i>choose</i> to do. If someone calls someone else a retard and you are insulted, it's because you <i>choose</i> to be insulted. Isn't life too short to be wasting so much of it being angry over being insulted by things that weren't even aimed at you? </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Now excuse me, I have to go slap some damn rainbow unicorn that is messing up my inventory. </span>Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-16934095218882212902013-12-17T16:07:00.001-05:002013-12-17T16:07:07.254-05:00Reset parental code on an Xbox 360 Elite console with the newest dashboard:Reset parental code on an Xbox 360 Elite console with the newest dashboard:<br />
<br />
Go to Settings<br />
Console Settings<br />
System Information<br />
<br />
Scroll all the way down<br />
<br />
using the controller, press:<br />
<br />
Left trigger, Right trigger, X, Y, Left Bumper, Right Bumper, Y, A, R(on D-Pad), Y<br />
<br />
This will bring up a prompt to reset the console to default.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-60870902214240560112013-12-06T14:11:00.002-05:002013-12-08T23:29:04.659-05:00Dell u3014 30" LCD monitor<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQGl1PIINcCAuLP9UT7urWj_g-by6hZjZesRKIIxnwpV6l_B5EnYiVTq_LJRtM9WiFRWT2v6tnCRqrIsrglG3r9hjQxGAaDtxwb3jwzpOEkWxdCm2GlVBPArGDLApc2zFqOSF0cSYlLQ/s1600/20131205_140232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQGl1PIINcCAuLP9UT7urWj_g-by6hZjZesRKIIxnwpV6l_B5EnYiVTq_LJRtM9WiFRWT2v6tnCRqrIsrglG3r9hjQxGAaDtxwb3jwzpOEkWxdCm2GlVBPArGDLApc2zFqOSF0cSYlLQ/s320/20131205_140232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, my new, new monitor arrived yesterday. I happily set it up and began experimenting. <br />
<br />
And then the disappointment set in. The resolution is 2560x1600. Same pixel width as the u2913wm monitor I just returned, and yet it shows LESS because the height is 1600 and the screen is set to a 16:10 ratio. The 29" is set to a 21:9 ratio, and so it shows more to the sides. Granted, 1080 pixel height is less than 1600, but I really noticed the lack of width, and not really the added height. <br />
<br />
I played around in a few games trying to convince myself this is the better monitor for me. Bioshock Infinite can be tweaked to show more width with an FOV edit in the ini files. Battlefield 4 is supposed to have a working FOV slider, but I found that it did nothing for me. Guild Wars 2 looks fantastic, but again, you are stuck at the 16:10 ratio. Diablo III looks amazing at 2560x1600, however, and is probably the only game I tried that worked for me at that resolution.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, the u3014 is a fantastic monitor. The pixel density, resolution, and colors are amazing. I love that the touch sensitive buttons are little nubs that light up so you can feel when you touch one. I love that the power button is actually a button. The monitor itself is lighter than my 2009 27" Dell LCD due to the thinner body. (LED vs CCFL)<br />
<br />
But, the things I didn't love outweigh the things I did love. I really want an ultra-wide resolution for games. I liked the missing bezels on the sides of the u2913wm. The 30" has pretty big bezels. The 30" also has some massive light bleeding at the bottom corners; Much more noticeable than the 29". <br />
<br />
In the end, I ordered another 29" u2913wm from Dell. Hopefully this one won't have the power on issue. The 30" is going back next week.<br />
<br />
I have heard rumors of a 34" ultra-wide Dell lcd in the works though. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
EDIT: This monitor also seems to have issues. The backlight will flicker for 15-30 minutes sometimes. It reminds me of old CRT monitors with low refresh rates. It gives me an almost instant headache. It's kind of ridiculous for a monitor this expensive to have an issue like that, although I have been reading reports of many issues with this model; Scan lines, backlight problems, and now the flickering. Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-52088421696469655122013-12-02T16:30:00.001-05:002013-12-02T16:30:25.335-05:00Dell U2913wm - UpdateSo, I discovered a minor issue with my new monitor; I can't turn it off and then just turn it back on when I want to. If I turn it off, the power button does NOTHING when trying to turn it back on. <br />
<br />
Being that I used to work in IT at a support desk, I went ahead and troubleshot the thing on my own. It turns out the DP (Display Port) connection is bad. If I have a DP cable connected, the monitor will not turn on. I need to unplug the DP and power cables, then just insert the power cable and turn the monitor on, then insert the DP cable.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, this is unacceptable to me, and the monitor is getting returned. It was a great monitor otherwise, but I decided that as long as I was experimenting, I would just get the next size up.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for my review of the Dell U3014 30" LED LCD. 2560x1600 resolution, here I come!Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-76656627542134046222013-11-14T22:23:00.001-05:002013-11-14T22:23:25.641-05:00Dell U2913WM Ultra-widescreen Monitor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9Eqkjv77GXd5n6dotG4Wrar_8zFAI7pMUhnMbbpCQY6x8-lofotrY9Tw-AVBe8s1THCMolEahYUBPcHBJt5tPW-m7Zz3M6GMLCOf7ti4hTR8mwLJXKeF8AOlMpuc7VOrxNE1M5vdPMQ/s1600/20131114_220756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9Eqkjv77GXd5n6dotG4Wrar_8zFAI7pMUhnMbbpCQY6x8-lofotrY9Tw-AVBe8s1THCMolEahYUBPcHBJt5tPW-m7Zz3M6GMLCOf7ti4hTR8mwLJXKeF8AOlMpuc7VOrxNE1M5vdPMQ/s320/20131114_220756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I had a bunch of credit at Dell after buying some PCs and things, so I decided to check out the 29 inch ultra-widescreen monitor. <br />
<br />
For the curious, this is potentially replacing my Dell Ultrasharp 27" LCD.<br />
<br />
The screen size on the 27" model is 23" x 14 1/2" compared to the 29" at 26 1/2" x 11 1/4". So you are pretty much trading off about 3 inches of height for 3 inches of width.<br />
<br />
Other differences:<br />
The bezel size - 3/4" on the 27" and 1/4" on the 29<br />
LED backlighting on the 29 vs the tube lighting on the 27"<br />
Resolution - 1920 x1200 on the 27" vs 2560 x1080 on the 29<br />
<br />
So far the colors appear superior on the 29", but of course it is a few years newer than the 27" with all the advancements in panel technology built in. I haven't really missed the height in games too much, but I really noticed the added width. There's just a lot more on the sides that you would have to run to see before. It really helps in shooter games.<br />
<br />
I think if you want to try an ultra-widescreen resolution without investing in 3 LCD monitors and the video cards to drive them, this is a less expensive way to go. <br />
<br />Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-13431022378927367682013-07-22T21:50:00.000-04:002013-07-22T21:50:59.863-04:00Alienware - Part...I forget. Just go with it. So, I have been questioning my sanity, er, considering upgrading my desktop. (Alienware Aurora R3, Intel i7 - 2600k, 8GB RAM, GTX 590 video card) I decided it was a bit too expensive to get a new one just now, so I attempted to trick mine out instead. I've already added 3 SSD drives, and I just recently replaced the X-Fi generic Alienware sound card with a new Soundblaster Z card. (Which is awesome.) So, the next logical part to go would be the video card. I've been reading all sorts of reviews of the new GeForce cards, and it seems like a single GTX 780 is a nice upgrade from the dual-chip GTX 590. So, I went ahead an ordered a new GTX 780.<br />
<br />
I really should have looked up issues upgrading Aurora R3s before I did that. It seems that Alienware has pretty much abandoned upgrading the BIOS on the R3s since 2011. It also seems that, because of this, the new 700 series cards will not work in them. It pretty much just locks up on the boot screen, game over man. (Of course, the 780 I got seems to be broken anyway, since it won't work even on another desktop that is supposedly compatible.)<br />
<br />
It's not that I can't play all the latest games that have been released, it's just that I have had this desktop for a little over two years now and would like to upgrade before I get a game that won't run well. I know it's coming, as the next gen consoles have games that will push the PC ports to the limit.<br />
<br />
The sad part is, I can't even buy a new Alienware system to get the part I want. Right now the R4s only go up to GTX 690 cards. Those are nice, but I am a tad bit tired of the jet engine in my case when a game taxes the video card. I guess it's because a corporate giant now owns Alienware, but they are so slow to update technology. All of the other custom gaming system builders already have systems with the latest and greatest. Unfortunately, as much as people like to believe Alienware is super overpriced, anything by Origin, Falcon, or other gaming boutique manufacturers are REALLY overpriced.<br />
<br />
I guess I get to wait. Oh well, the PS4 will be here in a few months. Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-61444987506912528342012-12-23T16:34:00.001-05:002012-12-23T16:34:50.086-05:00To those who think another "Assault Weapon Ban" will make us saferHello, I live in New York state.<br />
<br />
Here in the state of New York, we have a copy of the national "Assault Weapon Ban" from 1994 still on the books. This means we in NY have been subject to this law since 1994 and have never had a reprieve, unlike most of the nation did in 2004.<br />
<br />
We cannot own magazines with more than a 10 round capacity.<br />
We cannot own any rifles deemed "Assault weapons" by the law.<br />
<br />
And yet, we still have mass shootings and murder committed by firearms here in New York. <br />
<br />
Why is it that you think a nation wide ban will be any more effective this time around? CRIMINALS, the people committing these CRIMES, do not abide by laws. They break many laws in committing these crimes, so why would one more law stop them? <br />
<br />
Let's try to be rational as a nation and look for the source of the problems, instead of just looking at the symptoms. Instead of punishing law abiding citizens. Instead of demonizing groups of people that have committed no crime. Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-84326513122478616172012-12-18T18:27:00.001-05:002012-12-18T20:54:40.997-05:00Tragedies and knee-jerk responsesIn 2001, close to 3000 people lost their lives in a terrorist attack on New York City and Washington DC invloving hi-jacked airplanes.<br />
<br />
Did we blame the airplanes and ban them? No, we blamed the people who perpetrated the despicable acts. <br />
<br />
In 2010, automobile accidents caused 32,885 deaths in the US. 10,228 of those deaths were attributed to drunk drivers. <br />
<br />
Did we ban automobiles or alcohol? No, we blamed those responsible (when appropriate).<br />
<br />
In 2010, 70 people died in logging incidents in the US. (Which, statistically, was 21 times higher than the overall fatality rate in the US.)<br />
<br />
Have we banned chainsaws? No. We are looking at ways to make the logging industry safer.<br />
<br />
<br />
And yet, when a tragedy occurs that involve guns, people instantly start calling for gun bans. It's insane. Truly. Consider that the yearly deaths caused by drunk drivers are around the same as the yearly deaths caused by guns. Why is the same outcry not heard for banning alcohol or cars? Now consider that the yearly death toll reported for guns is BULLSHIT, because they include self-defense shootings and police officer shootings in the HOMICIDE category along with people killed in school shootings, robbery shootings, and home invasion shootings. The actual number of deaths caused by criminals shooting innocents is much lower than that of drunks killing innocents with cars.<br />
<br />
Now consider that guns are constitutionally protected, and cars are not. Don't give me all the crap talking points that people on TV spew. Read quotes from the founding fathers themselves, and then you tell me that they meant for us to be limited. No, they meant for us to keep the power in this country, so that the government would not turn into the same kind of government that they just fought for their freedoms.<br />
<br />
You can ban all the guns you like, but it will not stop tragedies like this from occurring. The UK has a very strict gun ban, and yet they still have mass shootings. Let's start thinking rationally and stop responding emotionally. Yes, death is a tragedy. Yes, I feel for those parents. No, I don't think I should be punished for what someone else did. <br />
<br />
<br />Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-58897295729833906922012-09-21T00:28:00.002-04:002012-09-21T00:28:44.222-04:00Borderlands 2 PC texture pop-inLoving Borderlands 2 on your PC but hating the insane texture pop-in?<br />
<br />
Navigate to My Documents > My Games > Borderlands 2 > Willowgame > config<br />
<br />
Open Willowengine.ini in a text editor.<br />
<br />
Find [engine.engine] and scroll down until you see<br />
<br />
MipFadeInSpeed0=0.3<br />MipFadeOutSpeed0=0.1<br />MipFadeInSpeed1=2.0<br />
MipFadeOutSpeed1=1.0<br />
<br />
Change MipFadeInSpeed0=0.3 to MipFadeInSpeed0=0<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
change MipFadeInSpeed1=2.0 to MipFadeInSpeed1=0<br />
<br />
BOOM. No more crazy slow texture pop-in. Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-34438303239682595622012-09-04T17:14:00.002-04:002012-09-04T17:14:33.292-04:00Adventures in Alienware Tech Support - Part...uh...5?So, I demanded a tech be sent, and send a tech they did with a new Motherboard, and power supply.<br />
<br />
He had to come to my store to do the repair, as I work all day and couldn't meet him at my home. He was in the back for a few minutes before there was a loud pop. Apparently something sparked, there was smoke, and the PC was still dead.<br />
<br />
He called it in, and Alienware told him they would contact me in 24 to 48 hours. Ha. Ha. ha.<br />
<br />
I called them right back. They decided, after putting me on hold for a long time, that they would send the tech another motherboard and another power supply, as well as a new video card, liquid cooling system, and some various daughterboards.<br />
<br />
The tech showed up the next day, which I was not expecting. He managed to get the PC up and running by replacing the power supply, motherboard, and video card. (Which was only 2 weeks old anyway, but...whatever.)<br />
<br />
So, I had the long holiday weekend off and managed to play Guild Wars 2 for a long time. It seems like the PC is running well now, but I'm a little afraid something else will die soon. I'm actually contemplating replacing the OS hard drive with a SSD to make it A) Faster and B) a little more stable. (I had to do an Alien-respawn because the drive created bad sectors over some important OS files...) But, we shall see.<br />
<br />
Bottom line so far? If you are going to shell out money for an Alienware, make sure you spring for the extended warranty and coverage. This one would be a paperweight a little after a year since purchase, and that's not good for such an expensive desktop. I'm not knocking Alienware. I used to work in IT and I know what a crapshoot PC hardware can be. I'm just saying that you'd be better off following the safe path. You're dropping over a grand, you might as well go all in, right? Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-69205281093248754852012-08-27T16:17:00.001-04:002012-08-27T16:18:54.824-04:00Adventures in Alienware Tech support - part 3OK, brief recap:<br />
<br />
Video card died. Video card replaced. System worked fine for a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Now: Aurora had issues with the hard drive. Some bad sectors were created over important Windows system files, so Windows Update would no longer update anything. No problems, I back up everything nightly, so off we go to use Alien Respawn to bring the system back to the factory shipped status.<br />
<br />
So, I spent a couple of days reinstalling important drivers, Windows updates, and Guild Wars 2. Guild Wars 2 ran great for two entire days, and then BAM! Right in the middle of playing the entire system shut off. And it won't turn back on.<br />
<br />
No power. I tried resetting the breaker in the power supply, unplugging it and plugging it back in, I checked all the visible power connections inside. Nothing happens when you press the power button.<br />
<br />
Alienware support? They want me to remove the graphics card and try to turn in on, and then remove all of the RAM and try it one stick at a time. To see if it's a POST issue. MORONS: POST cannot occur without POWER. It has NONE.<br />
<br />
Oh, well, if that doesn't work we can send you a motherboard, power supply, and RAM to install.<br />
<br />
OH. HELL. NO.<br />
<br />
I used to work in IT. I built all my own computers and did all my own work. I bought an Alienware because I didn't have time to do that when I was in school, and now I don't have time because I own my own business. I sure as hell didn't buy an Alienware, extended warranty, and accidental damaged coverage so I could do all the work by myself anyway.<br />
<br />
To be continued...Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-61143955703604292502012-08-17T12:57:00.000-04:002012-08-17T12:57:13.872-04:00TAMMS-Online POSTAMMS-Online POS. It's a piece of shit, all right. Oh, point of sales? No, no really so much.<br />
<br />
First of all, it's a glorified DOS program. Yes, this program has a user interface that most people under 30 have never had to use in their lives. It's ornery, it's archaic, and it's hard to use.<br />
<br />
Secondly, you cannot do ANYTHING in TAMMS unless it can connect to the database server. Internet down due to a storm? Too bad, NO SALES FOR YOU! Their DB down? NO SALES FOR YOU! It's ridiculous.<br />
<br />
And lastly, they just lost all of my sales data for the past 17 days due to a database drive going down. ALL OF MY SALES DATA! My inventory is fucked now. My tax records are going to require rebuilding by hand from thousands of receipts. Half of the time when I try to sell something the system won't let me because that item has no record in the system.<br />
<br />
My advice? Do NOT use TAMMS. It's $200 a month for software that should have been upgraded decades ago, and for a database that will get wiped on you when there is any sort of glitch. It's just not worth it. Find something better. Hell, Quickbooks register is better. Just make sure to use an offsite backup as well as an onsite backup.<br />
<br />
I'm so mad now I can barely type, so excuse my grammar and shit for this one post, mmkay?Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-68347942178542427732012-07-25T22:37:00.002-04:002012-07-25T22:37:46.652-04:00Adventures in Alienware Tech Support - Part 2Alienware overnighted me my new GeForce 590 card, and it arrived today. Points scored for fast shipping.<br />
<br />
I've installed the beast and I am now waiting to see if my black screen issues are resolved (Crossing my fingers) or not.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-31974319662572518032012-07-23T22:13:00.001-04:002012-07-23T22:13:23.635-04:00Adventures in Alienware tech support.Long story, short post.<br />
<br />
My Alienware Aurora R3 has been giving me issues. Specifically, the screen will go black and the PC locks up. Once I shut it down and try to power back on, the PC refuses to boot. It gives the POST boot beep, then beeps 5 short times in a row, over and over again until you shut it back off. Sometimes it will boot again after a few minutes, sometimes it will not boot again for hours.<br />
<br />
Alienware support did a bunch of tests, and the first thing they wanted to do was a clean install of Windows 7. Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full. The issue cannot be Windows, because the PC never gets to the point where Windows is involved. The issues is most clearly hardware or firmware related, since it can't get past POST.<br />
<br />
So they're going to replace my video card.<br />
<br />
OK, let's ignore the POST error code and hope for the best. Hopefully they guessed right. I have a nagging feeling, however, that they did not.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-81265675212364690172012-07-21T19:03:00.001-04:002012-07-21T19:03:42.265-04:00I would KNOW if someone was a gun owner!I was having a discussion with a couple of guys at my store about the Batman premiere shootings when another customer decided to pitch in with her craziness.<br />
<br />
"I would KNOW if someone was a gun owner, because they are all nut jobs!" she claimed. "Like I know you three don't own guns because you seem too normal."<br />
<br />
The two guys and I just looked at each other, and the lady said goodbye and left. Then one of the guys says "Uh, I own a couple of guns."<br />
<br />
I laughed. "Dude, I'm wearing a Springfield Armory hat, but she can tell I don't own any guns."<br />
<br />
I really, really wanted to lift my shirt when she said that she knew that we didn't own guns. Yeah, really? I must just be borrowing this one. Sorry lady, you don't know crap. <br />
<br />Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-54602702320263202992012-07-11T13:57:00.003-04:002012-07-21T19:04:04.730-04:00Glass - Is it fragile?So, I ordered another display case for my store because the three I started with are inadequate for the amount of merchandise I am taking in. It takes a week to get here, and the Fedex guy couldn't figure out how to get his tractor trailer in the parking lot. I admit, it's a rather small lot and it's one way traffic, but every other delivery company in the US has been able to get in here and behind the stores. But, I digress.<br />
<br />
The display case arrives, and one of the biggest packages is marked "FRAGILE - GLASS." Guess which package sounds like a fucking high pitched maraca? Awesome! (Like a hot dog?)<br />
<br />
So now I have a glass display case which is missing the major glass parts. Super. And I was in the process of rearranging the store based on the placement of this new case. Sweet!Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-5780842257511282612012-07-11T13:48:00.001-04:002012-07-11T13:48:11.285-04:00Catch UpSo, if you're reading this blog - is there anyone out there? - then you realize that I haven't posted jack since last December. The reason for that is that I graduated from college with a degree in business and immediately set about opening my own business. Ambitious, I know. If that doesn't tell you all you need to know about why I haven't posted in so long, then I can't help you.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I wound up opening my own video game store. I'm sure you can find it if your Google-Fu is up to par, but I don't want to name it here simply because I make a lot charged commentary here that I don't want linked to the name of my business. <br />
<br />
And so that's what I have been up to in a nutshell. Business, kid, life.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-33181121115417136792011-12-05T14:49:00.001-05:002011-12-05T15:03:40.524-05:00Bonus ClueHere's a bonus clue for all you stupid people: Always, and I mean ALWAYS, question things. Do not ever, under any circumstances, accept that what you are told is the God's honest truth of the matter. It may very well be, but don't accept that it is unless you have looked into the matter. <br />
<br />
Case in point, a recent article wherein a climatologist claimed to want to clear the air about the "misconception" that the majority of climate experts do not agree about man-caused global warming. he claimed that the majority do agree, and that any claim otherwise is certain media outlets lying to support their own views. For two pages he went on about the consensus that man has indeed caused global warming. And yet, nowhere in the article did it mention how he knew that the majority of climate scientists agreed. Did they ask every climate scientist on the planet and compile the answers? Did they send out a questionnaire? Did he only ask people that attended a Global Warming conference? Or - more likely - did he just fucking make it up?<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, a lot of you will just swallow his story whole, accepting that as the truth without even stopping for a moment to ponder how it is possible that there is a consensus according to him, and yet there is no consensus according to others. There's not even a consensus on a consensus.Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-72913998214799998282011-12-05T13:27:00.001-05:002011-12-05T15:12:31.686-05:00The 99%My fellow Americans;<br />
You are the 99%. That's right. 99% of you are FUCKING STUPID.<br />
<br />
I read the news and your comments on it every day and I have come to the conclusion that the reason that this country is so fucked up right now is that you are all morons. After every news story is a series of comments by readers (Or more accurately, watchers, as so little of you can actually read and comprehend what it is you are reading) wherein you bicker back and forth like children about whose side is better. Liberals vs conservatives, Democrats vs Republicans, you fight like you are championing your favorite sports teams. Yet, in all of your fighting, none of you ever seem to be able to address things in a logical manner. Instead, you simply tow the faction line. Republicans are for things because some famous Republican said it was so. Likewise the Democrats. God forbid you think for yourselves.<br />
<br />
I constantly read about how bad unions are for the economy. And yet, I cannot ever seem to get a straight answer about why this is. People will talk themselves in circles with statistics and rhetoric, and never ever come close to anything resembling a logical answer. The real reason that you think unions are bad (or good) is that you were told to think they were bad (or good) by your party of choice.<br />
<br />
Today I was reading an article about gold mining in West Africa that is being done by children in horrible working conditions. After the article were thousands of comments by watchers about how this was awful, and it must be the Republicans' fault. No, it is awful and it must be the Democrats' fault. No, it's because conservatives are evil! No, it's because liberals are stupid! Why can't it just be awful? Why can't people ignore party lines and get together and do something about awful things like this?<br />
<br />
Because you are all fucking stupid. <br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong. The 1% of the population that can actually think for themselves are not necessarily the same 1% that have all the money. A good chunk of those people are stupid as well, they just happen to have been born into money or to have good fortune smile on them, or whatever. I mean, look at our last president. He's certainly a rich man, but nobody would accuse him of being smart. (Well, OK, maybe some Republicans who have to in order to justify their support of him.)<br />
<br />
Here's a brilliant idea. All of you assmonkey retards who can't seem to think for yourselves, you need to stop listening to Rush or O'Reilly or Hannity or whoever and start listening to me. Stop letting party loyalty get in the way of actual progress. Stop letting party loyalty drive this country down the fucking drain. Here's a secret: BOTH PARTIES ARE THE SAME. They both believe in getting power, influence, and money from suckers who buy into their bullshit. Neither party gives a good God damn about you, your family, your friends, your community or your rights. They will crush you without a second thought to get what they want. Both parties claim to stand for the Constitution of this country, and yet both parties are actively working to subvert and nullify that same document. <br />
<br />
By the way: Statistics. Because you are stupid, you don't know this, even though a good percentage of you went to college and SHOULD know it - STATISTICS ARE FUCKING MEANINGLESS. If you take nothing else away from a basic, entry level statistics course you should at least take that. All statistics are subject to error and interpretation, but more importantly, all statistics are subject to outright tampering and ill intentions. If a company is paying another company to prove its views are correct, the company providing the statistics is going to skew the research in a way that gets the paying company what it wants. Why? Because they want to keep getting paid and the best way to do that is to satisfy the customer.<br />
<br />
Have you never wondered why both sides can come up with statistics that support their views? How is it possible that guns both increase and decrease crime at the same time, depending on which side you are on? Shouldn't it be one or the other? Yes, it should, but if you ask a research group to prove that guns are bad with statistics, they WILL. It's not the truth that's important, it's what they want to hear.<br />
<br />
Also - Reactionary Law Making: Stupid beyond all reason. Politicians feel the need to try to pass legislation anytime anything bad happens because it makes them look like they are doing important work, which makes you keep them in power, which makes them rich and powerful. Logically, you cannot make bad things stop happening by passing laws. It doesn't work because bad things do not obey laws. They wouldn't be bad if they did, now would they? You can pass all of the Sarbanes-Oxley acts you like, but at the end of the day corporations are still going to fuck people over while your legislation crushes small business men and women. You can outlaw every gun on the planet, but criminals will still use them to kill people. Stop infringing on everyone's' rights by freaking out and demanding SOMETHING be done anytime something bad happens. Punish the guilty, not the innocent. Please understand that politicians do NOT care about protecting you from bad things - hell, they cause a good percentage of bad things themselves - they only care about making it LOOK like they care, so that they can benefit from it. They use bad things to increase their standing with you. <br />
<br />
So, in conclusion, 99% of you are stupid. Please, for the sake of humanity, realize this. Realize that you are being led by the nose by other stupid people who do not have your best interests in mind. And then stop being led by stupid people, and listen to what the 1% of thinkers in this country have to say. And that is: STOP MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON SIDES LIKE SOME BUNCH OF FUCKING CHILDREN.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
EDIT: Please do not take this as a bash on the Occupy protestors. I do not agree with all of their viewpoints, but by God, at least those people are smart enough to realize how insanely fucked up our country is and they are trying to wake the rest of you morons up. Here again, however, we find people who were themselves protesting as Tea Party activists bashing on the Occupy people simply because they think they are a different sports team that must be opposed. Stop picking sides and work together, you jackasses. It's fucked up for all of us, so instead of bashing on the people who are working to change it, how about helping them instead? Or are you too stupid to even realize when you are in trouble and need help?Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-3278459314736305802011-10-05T23:54:00.001-04:002011-10-05T23:54:43.070-04:00Dr. Derpy<a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BSNGWBNCYFPA/ref=cm_cr_rev_detup_redir?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1XFM8DJHDBHUS&cdPage=2&asin=B004XZL980&store=pc&cdThread=TxM64A5SJAE0JI&newContentID=Mx2RBUKVIYUTL3K#Mx2RBUKVIYUTL3K">Check out this Amazon Review </a><br />
<br />
Let me sum it up for those of you who are too lazy to click the link: Dr. Derpy buys an Acer Iconia A500 tablet, roots it, and can't figure out how to get his BOOTLEG movies to play on it. He can't figure out how to get Office to work, and he's too cheap to spring for an app. He also hates the touchpad keyboard, but has no clue that almost any keyboard on the planet works with this tablet.<br />
<br />
Seriously? You are a DOCTOR. Why do you feel that you need to STEAL movies? Why can't you afford an APP? Do you not know how GOOGLE works? Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-26923227334538540652011-09-28T01:59:00.001-04:002011-09-28T02:00:04.874-04:00Getting your Amazon Unbox videos to play on your XBOX360<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/xbox">http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/xbox</a><br />
<br />
I have been looking for a way to play my Amazon videos on my TV for a while. I was almost resigned to purchasing a Roku box when I stumbled onto this page by accident. Amazon does NOT make this easy to find. The 360 is not listed as a compatible device, but ti turns out that you can easily watch your Amazon videos through it. Sweet! Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-79114443824828487972011-09-11T17:37:00.000-04:002011-09-11T17:37:51.803-04:0009-11-2001Dream Theater - Sacrificed Sons<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fg4aX2RPDvQ" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Walls are closing<br />
Anxiously<br />
Channel surfing<br />
Frantically<br />
<br />
Burning City<br />
Smoke and fire<br />
Planes we're certain<br />
Faith inspired<br />
<br />
No clues<br />
A complete surprise<br />
Who'll be<br />
Coming home tonight<br />
<br />
Heads all turning<br />
Towards the sky<br />
Towers crumble<br />
Heroes die<br />
<br />
Who would wish this on our people<br />
And proclaim that His will be done<br />
Scriptures they heed have misled them<br />
All praise their Sacrificed Sons<br />
All praise their Sacrificed Sons<br />
<br />
Teach them<br />
What to think and feel<br />
Your ways<br />
So enlightening<br />
<br />
Words they preach<br />
I can't relate<br />
If God's true Love<br />
Are acts of Hate<br />
<br />
Who would wish this on our people<br />
And proclaim that His will be done<br />
Scriptures they heed have misled them<br />
All praise their Sacrificed Sons<br />
All praise their Sacrificed Sons<br />
<br />
God on High<br />
Our mistakes<br />
Will mankind be extinct?<br />
There's no time, time to waste<br />
Who serves the truth<br />
For Heavens' sakeJeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751121487269535269.post-52928698538718677302011-08-20T23:34:00.001-04:002011-08-20T23:35:47.908-04:00Motorcycles and Occam's Razor.So, I was driving home from the park today on my bike. It was after sunset, the highway was pitch black, and I was following my wife. Then my engine starts jerking and losing power for a few seconds. Then it starts happening more frequently. Then it dies.<br />
<br />
My first instinct was to look at the trip meter. I don't have a fuel gauge, so I have to keep track of mileage so that I know approximately when to stop for gas. My trip meter only read 108 miles, and I have done a bit over 120 before stopping for gas, so I thought that was clearly not the problem.<br />
<br />
So, there I am, on a dark country highway with a bike that will not start. I tried setting the choke and it started for a second and then died again. I pulled out my handy Streamlight flashlight and started checking the plugs and the wire connections. My wife called and I was explaining to her what happened when it dawned on me: <br />
<br />
I. Am. Retarded.<br />
<br />
On my last long trip, I forgot to reset the trip meter after getting gas about 40 miles from home. Instead of the 108 miles I thought I had driven on that tank of gas, it was 148 miles. My gas tank only holds 2.5 gallons, so the fuel level had dropped below the normal feeding line. Had I not forgotten to reset the meter, I would have felt the sputter, looked at the meter, and automatically switched to the fuel reserve until I hit a gas station. Instead I spent a good ten minutes panicked on the side of the road.<br />
<br />
Derp.<br />
<br />
So, the lesson for today, kiddies, is to ALWAYS RESET THE &*^%ING TRIP METER!Jeremy Starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02707386900992139477noreply@blogger.com