Category: tech

Missing Pieces

You may have noticed my blogroll is missing. Never fear, I’m bringing it back. I decided I didn’t like the top banner so I’m tinkering w/some other options. I’ve already added the categories and archives back (see left column). I like things on the home page to be clean and simple.

I like the dropdown menu idea however, I want it to look more like the existing column links. Not being java friendly, I’m experimenting with some code. A few of you already noticed some unexpected glitches. [1]Can you say “oops”? I know, I know, it if ain’t broke don’t fix it. Well I can’t help it. It’s what I do.

References

References
↑1 Can you say “oops”?

Micro-Hell!

If you missed my twitter update, my Xbox 360 promptly died again yesterday. Needless to say I was furious. I spent 45 minutes on the phone this morning chewing MS a new asshole. The first rep had the audacity to sound annoyed that I wasn’t willing to wait 3-4 more weeks to ship it back again.

After promptly reminding him how much I spent on the console and the lack of service, I asked for his supervisor. Said person was equally unhelpful. Another 20 minutes later, he tells me they will send me a new one but only after I wait for them to ship me a return box for the old one. I’m leary of that happening however, with no other recourse, I’m stuck waiting. He did say he entered an official complaint to MS at my request. I doubt that will go anywhere.

MS got huge points for their XBL [1]Xbox live service however, their tech support rivals that of Sony. Unproductive, uncaring, and a flat out waste of time. If it weren’t for so many games jumping over to the MS camp, I’d probably give it up after my experience today.

I got unlucky enough to get one of the defective batches. MS has already corrected the error in newer models however, it does nothing to make me a return customer.

References

References
↑1 Xbox live

Gay High Holy Day 3

I managed to recategorize the 2004 posts so far. Jesus H Christ Mary Joseph & David! I will never try to upgrade my blog w/o first doing a full backup again! Anyway….

So the last gay holiday of the season is this weekend, Folsom St. Fair. The city is already jam-packed full of guys.

Yours truly is going to be busier than a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest. The roomies bf is in town late tonight. I have a friend coming from Mexico tomorrow who has never been. TFA also surprised me, he has a lay over Saturday as well. Lord, the weekend was already busy but damn!

Even more, I have to run around tomorrow doing prep work. Thank the stars I dropped the laundry off already. Plus, I have to drive down to the Union Hall and drop off paperwork. [1]Big drama at work this week, more on that later.

OH! I almost forgot, the Xbox comes back tomorrow! Hopefully, it will be in good working order.

Anyway, a good weekend to all. I have 4 days off so I’m exited.

References

References
↑1 Big drama at work this week, more on that later.

Ooops! II

I totally fucked up tonight and corrupted my categories. Actually, I corrupted the entire blog but managed to fix it. However, I have to start over an reassign categories to all my posts! What a fraking nightmare.

If anyone knows of a plugin that allows you to batch add categories please let me know.

Geek Unbound II

So desire got the best of me yesterday and I ended up buying the new PS3. It was on sale so only paid a tad more than I paid for the Xbox 360. I have to say so far I’m not overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice console. But, to hear Sony talk, it blows the Xbox away. Not so. The graphics are about on par w/the Xbox 360.

I’ve always been a PS fan so I’m happy I managed to squeeze out the coin for a new one. It does play all my old games. [1]So far. I noticed a very odd glitch in that the some of the unused buttons actually repeat the primary button functions. I have the demo of FEAR on Xbox and I bought the full version for PS3. The xbox version looks much better. It may be because FEAR came out too soon to be radically re-written for the new PS3 architecture.

The big reason I made the purchase was for my favorite game, Ratchet & Clank. Adam clued me in a new version only for PS3 is coming out in October. R&C is my all time favorite video console game and I just couldn’t forgo being able to play it. I still play all of the last 4 versions often.

Microsoft gets big points for their online services. The XBL (Xbox Live) is incredibly intuitive and user friendly. Setup was simple and fast. The PS3, not so much. The menus are overly obscure and broken down too far. Some are even redundant. I also had a big problem registering my console so I could buy stuff online. Even though my billing address for my CC is my PO Box, it kept polling for my physical address. I had to call my bank, add it, and then retry it. Very annoying. MS charges for their online services but at $40 bucks a year, not a big deal. PS3 online is free however, another failure on the part of Sony. For such a nice console the online site is lackluster to say the least. The icons and logos are reminiscent of the old sega consoles. A huge disappointment. You can tell they really rushed it. I hope they get their act together and spruce it up.

The PS3 did have a variety of new ports this time for storage. Compact flash, SD/Mini SD, and Sony’s proprietary memory stick. [2]which never caught on w/anyone but Sony Sadly, no port for memory cards from the PS2. So you can’t port your saved games to the PS3. Another very annoying feature. [3]I found out from Adam, they do make an adapter. He is loaning me his. Such a sweetie. I have yet to watch any HD DVD’s on the PS3. I hear it is spectacular so I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

Over all, I think the consoles are pretty even on graphics rendering. However, Microsoft is the clear winner in mind. Maybe Billy is finally taking a page out of the Steve Jobs book and making his staff focus as much on aesthetics as function.

References

References
↑1 So far. I noticed a very odd glitch in that the some of the unused buttons actually repeat the primary button functions.
↑2 which never caught on w/anyone but Sony
↑3 I found out from Adam, they do make an adapter. He is loaning me his. Such a sweetie.

Nifty Tool

This is cool! Ever have a website with a search box that you wished you could search directly from Firefox? [1]If you don’t use Firefox, shame on you. You know what I mean, the little google or yahoo search box built into the browser.

Well, now you can! I was catching up on my geek reading when I came across this little tidbit. You basically download the extension for Firefox. [2]Sorry IE7 fans, only works w/Firefox. Maybe you should make the switch. Then any page you visit with a search box, just right click inside the search box, click “add to search bar” and you’re done. You can now search said site directly from the browser.

For example, I setup my blog. I can click on the little search box in Firefox, select my site, and then search my blog for any term(s) I want! How cool is that? [3]If you are clueless as to what I’m saying, click the link for a screenshot preview.

References

References
↑1 If you don’t use Firefox, shame on you.
↑2 Sorry IE7 fans, only works w/Firefox. Maybe you should make the switch.
↑3 If you are clueless as to what I’m saying, click the link for a screenshot preview.

The Morning After

So last night with TFA was very nice. It was good to see him again. After almost 3 weeks, I was jones’en to see his handsome face. [1]Yeah, I was excited to see other parts but I won’t be going there He tends to be a very private person so I think knowing that I blog scares him a little. hehehe. I’ve assured him it is all very general and often has more to do with me. Wouldn’t you agree?

I will say it is very nice to find someone who’s energy matches my own! OY! Such a strong connection. I’m liking where this is headed so far.

References

References
↑1 Yeah, I was excited to see other parts but I won’t be going there

Fly By

So the flight attendant [1]Here on out referred to as TFA has a layover tonight in SF! I’m so excited I’m falling all over myself today. LOL It has been 3 weeks since I’ve seen him. I’m definitely looking forward to it.

You can figure out the rest on your own.

References

References
↑1 Here on out referred to as TFA