Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 02 January 2009

Hits: 2261

So a very busy Christmas and New Years, with the last minute deadlines, visits to family, social commitments, etc. But I found time to make a list of New Years Resolutions. Actually, not really make a list, rather update the same list that's been kicking around for the past 20 odd years....

Pretty much the same, only I've scratched out lots of the places where it used to say "more", now it looks something like this:

Exercise More.

Eat More.

Make More Money.

Have more sex.

I've also added the Blog More to the list this year, a tack on as it's something new....

It looks like this:

Blog More

I didn't scratch the More off because I've never blogged before. 

And so hopefully I'll find time over the next few days to catch up on this blog. Mostly rants and such, a few ideas, lots of dreams (sadly none recorded...). This in-between the despairing assessment of last years finances and achieved goals....

There's of course the standard list of things to give up, as there are every New Years. Like smoking, fast food, housekeeping. I always throw the last one on so I don't feel like a complete failure....

Anyways, a Happy New Years to all and hopefully you have better luck with your resolutions than I have....

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 04 December 2008

Hits: 2321

Running Windows XP, service pack 2, this morning, in the midst of work I decide to power down the computer.

I haven't powered it down for a few days, choosing to hibernate instead, I've been busy with projects and like to keep the folders, files and websites I'm working on up when I log in. But the computer has gotten slow, IE has begun to freeze and crash, and so I think it's time for a reboot.

And when the screen reappears I'm confronted with the "Blue Screen of Death."

Windows can't find an essential file in Windows\System32\Config\System folder. "The file .... is missing or corrupt".

This is not good news.

And I frantically try and remember when I last did a full backup of the computer. Not so long ago, but I'm working every day and the thought of losing even a days work is frightening.

Terrifying, in fact.

My passwords are on the computer. All 129 of them, every one different, randomly generated alpha-numeric and ascii. Email, websites, administration.

And so I attempt to repair it, it asks me for some "Windows backup recovery floppy disk" - in large DOS type characters somewhat centered in the middle of a blue screen, only somewhat centered, oddly enough every other line seems to be a few characters off center to the left or right.

I don't have a floppy drive.

I don't have the required disk, either, and I have every DVD that came with the bloody computer. One of the few times I've every run a legitimate version of windows and the supplied inventory of disks aren't doing the job. Drivers on one disk, windows on another, trying disk after disk, each one rejected by the blue screen of death.

I remember when I did technical support, the blue screen to the computer was the end of the road. If there were no disks in the drives only the onsite people could fix it. And reviewing the case notes, most of the time they didn't.

SO I try the backup computer, a garage sale find for $2.00, but it won't recognize the network connection, and I can't get online to troubleshoot the network connection. Maybe it's the computer. Or maybe it needs a Shaw high speed installation disk. Can't be too fussy for a toonie.

I'm going from terrified to pissed off. Mentally I'm wondering who to blame for this catastrophe, I've decided it will be my brother. He got me started on this whole computer thing, he can suffer my wrath. And he worked for Dell, which makes him a co-conspirator. If he doesn't own up to it I'll blame his wife. But it's important I blame someone.

I'd call him, but his number's on the computer.

I'd email him, but....

And so I repeat the steps over and over again, inserting various disks, trying to get the PC to boot off one of the dozens of drivers, utilities and windows disks I have laying around. I have to be careful I don't reinstall the operating system, as this would be bad. Very bad.

Eventually I eject the disks finally and do a reboot without; the computer comes back, working again. "For how long...." I wonder.

And after this close call there are the inevitable hours spent backing up all my information from the disk. All of it. Every last bit. Well, not ALL of it, but everything I'd miss.

Then it's back to work.

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 28 November 2008

Hits: 2369

It's easy when you work from home. You don't need to dress up for work, and so you don't, you stay in all day, in PJ's or sweats sipping coffee.

It's a good life, there's no office politics, no commute you reflect as you sip your fourth cup of coffee for the day and wonder if it's still too early for a nap. You stop shaving, first every other day, then only whenever you remember, your new "time management" strategy, time saved shaving is time that can be used on projects. And bathing isn't so important, when you don't see people every day, and so you save time and money by not running the hot water. 

The beard and hair grow longer, but you're not too concerned, you can get it cut the next time you're downtown.

And you love this working from home, no laundry for the dry cleaners, your schedule's your own, until one day you have to run downtown and you notice the homeless are guarding their shopping carts from you, are they afraid you might steal their bottles? And somebody you don't know offers to buy you a coffee, finally you run into an ex co-worker who stops you to chat, she's concerned, and you see yourself in the reflection of a window behind her, the uncomfortable realization growing, a painful flash of self consciousness....

You've let yourself go.

Details

Written by: Rod Boyle

Category: Miscellany

Published: 23 November 2008

Hits: 2251

I have 2 cars. The first, an blue 80's Chrysler Daytona. A friend gave it to me about 4 years ago, it's been a good car, I've put around 80, 000 Km on it with a minimum of maintenance, 2 alternators, a tune up, runs great. But the doors have stopped opening, or to be more precise, closing, when you open them they fall down off the hinges, and so we keep them closed and hop in through the windows. Apparently this is a common thing for this car. "It's Cool" I tell the kids, but I don't think they believe me. What parent is an authority on "cool"? And the electric's are a bit funny, and so the windows don't always close when you're inside and the speedometer doesn't always work, but these are small things, it's a good car, it runs great. A couple of months ago, though, it got a flat, and so I parked it in the driveway, it's been filling with snow and leaves ever since. 

TO fill in the gap a friend gave me her old car, a black 90's Volkswagon Jetta, she had just bought a new car, "this car", she warns me, "could die at any moment", and so forwarned gives me the keys. And I've been driving instead, flagrantly disloyal to the blue car, the children liking the novelty of getting in through the doors, the boy had been getting self-conscious of jumping in through the windows of the old car when I picked him up from school (he wasn't buying my arguments about how this was "Character building", he saw it as proof instead of my lack of worldly success). And he's sort of proud that I've got this new car, this Volksagon, his mom has one too, so I must be coming along in the world.

At first the black car sort of runs OK, but not really, it over-revs, my door and the windows stop working as soon as I take possession, the engine smokes as if it's on fire whenever I stop for a red light or get stuck in traffic. But it's better than nothing. Soon, however, the cars fate is sealed, the transmission dies, there is no prospect of affording another, it's beyond repair, time for me to call the Kidney foundation, or that number I found tucked under the windscreen - 'Cars Towed by Vince'...."how could they tell?" I wonder..... 

I'm pissed off. I've just filled it with gas, with antifreeze, I checked the transmission fluid, but it's always the way.  

I have 2 cars, but I'll be taking the bus.