Dead Netbook

My netbook has gone to a different place. That place being my closet, as I ponder what to do with the dead thing. It's over a year old, has never been dropped, and has never really seen heavy use, but it fails to power on, yes, even when plugged in.

Technical support was no help. I know it is out of warranty, but I thought they might know some way to jump start it besides the power button. They suggested I reinstall the OS. Which from my experience would require the device to power on. Then they sent me an email asking me how to rate support. Which I tried, but their server seemed to be having an issue contacting their database AFTER I filled out my survey.

I guess my expectations were a bit high. My old laptop, which is again in use, is quite in the elderly stage of laptop life. I've gone into the details on it's quirks and issues in the past, and it's not gotten any better. But, it boots up and runs when I hit the power button.

For the most part my heavy old laptop, or my Android e-book reader/tablet doesn't measure up to the netbook. So, for the time I'm going to have to do without, a new device isn't in the budget. Or so I keep telling myself as I shop for laptops.

Usual Morning

Going through the usual motions of getting the children for school I said to my son, J-Rex "Do you have your shoes on yet?"

To which he replied with indignant tones, "No, I've only got one sock!" 

I had already mocked his solo sock several times this morning, but it was apparent that I must increase the mocking.

I said to Mopsie "Point at your brothers one sock, and laugh."

At which she pointed and loudly brought forth a sharp and giggly "Hahahah!"

I realize now that I must not use this super power for evil.

Either way I still had to instruct my son on where to find a pair of socks to wear, and he was yet again surprised by this knowledge.

Curse Your Inevitable... Wait, what?

One Saturday morning as the family heads to my sons weekly soccer game my son spoke up.

“Do you member the one time you had the girl in the car?” He asked.

Now for the uninitiated in the language of a J-Rex, member in this case actually means remember, and girl means any female which is probably bi-pedal.

My wife asks “What are you talking about?” and I get the look. For those not familiar with the look it is somewhere between “how have you wronged me” and “why have you not burst into flames yet?”

Now, the only girl, according to my son's definition, who rides in my Jeep would be Mopsie, the sister of J-Rex or my wife. I am without a doubt stumped, and while I might have said something similar to my wife, I might have just made stupid sounds, after all I was getting the look.

“You know, the one who tells you what to do!” J-Rex then said in his exasperated tone.

I'm pretty sure I said “Whaaaa...???” never quite getting the T on that word. The look from my wife intensifies. I'm trying to think of what he could be talking about and I'm coming up with nothing, while trying to not look guilty for something I didn't do. Which might explain my inability to finish words.

My son still exasperated added “Member? You wore helmets!”

Now I'm certain something isn't right, I have never wore a helmet in the Jeep. Never had a reason to. Then it dawns on me what he is talking about and all becomes clear.

“Are you talking about a video game?” I ask him, to which replies “Yes” in a tone which implies that it was obvious.

Looks like using the female co-driver in Dirt 2 might be a bad idea.

Impromptu Game Review: Desktop Dungeons

Netbooks, much like their competition, are very limited in resources. That can be a challenge when trying to find a good time waster. Though, honestly it isn’t much of a challenge. My netbook will play many old games without issue, which suits me as I like to play some classics from time to time. I’ve also found a few new games my netbook has no issue with, such as Torchlight, Defense Grid, and World of Goo. Never the less, I still like to keep and eye out for something else to play.

The latest game to beat my battery into submission is a game called Desktop Dungeons. It’s a old school top down dungeon crawler. Constantly teasing you to beat the level, and often just getting you close enough to retire or die. Each level is fairly short, but that didn’t stop me from trying again and again. I will beat the gorgon boss, maybe this time before I get battery warnings.

I could talk more about it, but you can download it faster.

Desktop Dungeons

Blog Webs

Amazingly enough, moving didn't kill me. Though I did almost collapse in a convenience store. We've been moved for quite some time now. I've not visited Azeroth since before we moved, and my commute time has easily been cut in half. So why does my blog have cobwebs? Honestly, I've not made any time for it.

It's about time I did something about that. What have I made time for? Well, I've caught up on some gaming I missed out on due to only playing an MMO and I've played a few MMO betas. My desktop is mostly new, though I do wish I had stuck with my usual building rule. Though, the system doesn't disappoint. Might could overclock it higher though...

So, I'm thinking I need to update more. Wonder if I can do weekly.

Moving, Recycling, etc.

It is official, I’m moving. The house is sold in all ways but the papers signed. Now the task of getting my stuff out of the house. Also, need to get everyone Else's stuff out too. The garage is a particularly big task, luckily it is almost finished. Nearly eight years of ”Where should I put this, oh lets put it in the garage.” has made the garage our storage area for everything. Especially my cache of obsolete computer parts.

I’ve found that Best Buy does have a use, they recycle monitors. Which I have too many old broken CRTs that I never knew what to do with. They charge $10.00 an item but then they give you a $10.00 gift card. Ironically, if you give them say 2 items, they give you 2 $10.00 cards as opposed to single $20.00 card. So, for recycling they give you 2 pieces of plastic as opposed to one.

I’ve also been recycling old computer cases, or trying to. Most of the plastic is a 6, which no one in this town accepts for recycling. The front of a case comes off quite easily once you don’t care how many pieces it comes off in. Also a good hit with a hammer will permanently keep the side of a case on without screws.

So at the dump I’m trying to toss a 6U server case made thick enough to hold the 30” case up while being held into place by only the two ears on the front when the guy tells me just to throw it with the trash, they don’t want those in the recycling with the washers and the lawn mowers. So, I do what he says. Feeling like I wasted my time pulling the plastic off, except it was a great stress reliever. Guess I should just recycle the whole computer at Best Buy next time.

Oh well, back to packing.

Five Years Ago

Five years ago I became a father. Though, my son has never called me that. He never seemed to like the title, so I settle for Daddy. It's better than poopy head, which I have been called and at which point he gets in trouble and I'm soon known as Sorry Daddy for awhile.

Unlike my daughter, my son was reluctant to enter this world. I can't say I blame him as my wife and I were about as ready to be parents as we could be. Which would be cautiously, reluctantly ready on my part, and ready to get the baby out on my wife's part.

The biggest shocker for me was that the doctor had convinced me that the arrival of my son was scheduled, and I believed it. He had a due date, and that was when he would arrive. End of story. Somewhere in the middle I realized that no one had informed my son of his due date and he wasn't likely to follow something he had never been told.

Then his due date came, and went, and nothing happened.

The doctor then decided when my son would be born, and we were back on a schedule. We arrived at the hospital at the appointed time, soon after that my wife was induced, and several hours later, while helping hold my wife's leg, my son came screaming into this world elbow first. My wife only gave the death ray stare once, and that was to a nurse. Amazingly, the nurse survived.

I was handed my son and I grinned like an idiot who had no idea what he was doing, the reason being that I was an idiot who had no idea what I was doing. They asked me if I wanted to help with his first bath and I said that I would. I figured it would be a good idea to have someone show my how to clean him, since I wasn't sure how to.

We were escorted around the hospital to the nursery, through a bunch of doors that said hospital staff only. It was cool, I was with the nurse. We got to the room and they gave my son a shot and some water in a plastic syringe, my son didn't like either. The shot returned a scream and he choked on the water. I freaked out and the nurse simply corrected the problem with a nose sucker, AKA a bulb syringe. After the freak out the nurse ushered me out of the room and I was relieved that my son was going to be in the hands of professionals and not me, AKA the freaked out idiot.

I then had a new problem to deal with. I couldn't find my wife. I retraced my steps to a door that said hospital staff only. Which I would have proceeded through, but I it was a one way door. So I wandered through the hospital until I found the delivery room. Which had no one in it.

Soon another nurse came in and escorted me to my wife, who was understandably tired. Not too long after they brought my son back, and he proved he could drink from a bottle with no problems. I was very relieved.

The first six weeks were rough, but it seems the rest of the years have gone by too fast. Happy Birthday J-Rex!