I'm still all googly-eyed over my own new toy. After having played with it some more, though, it seems that I'm only getting about 1280x720 resolution, which isn't native. But it's still freakin beautiful! I'm going to have to check for new drivers and whatnot, to see if I can get to native, which is like 1366x768 or something crazy like that. I'm very happy as it is, but it can still be better.

Yesterday, I hooked up my Praystation 2 to it. It made my Praystation very happy to be hooked up to something that sexay. The picture is fantastic, and this is with regular cables. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to hook up the high-def cables and see how happy my Praystation will be then. (^_^) It seems, though, that there aren't very many wallpapers out for my current resolution (although I like this one. Maybe there's more out there for the native one?

I'm very much looking forward to playing with my new toy. Unfortunately, I've got lots of current homework due in Calculus on Friday, and this may seriously hamper the amount of playtime I get.

*sigh* <3 32" LCD TV <3

Today, I finally bought the TV that I've been dying to buy for like a year and a half. It's a 32" LCD TV. It's one of the lower-end models, but it's still phenomenal. The resolution is a bit lower than I'm used to, but it's freakin huge! The brightness is way less than the higher-end models, but it's still waaay brighter than a regular LCD monitor. I'm going to have to turn it down, in fact...

It's going to serve quite well as a monitor. It even weighs less than the one I had there before. :P I think I'll end this post, but I'll add a picture...

Worth a click. Please, please please please, please let my local car dealership get one of these.

Business as usual, though. Work, school, etc. Spam is out of control. I wanted to watch a video just now, in order to put it on here, because I found it funny, but I had to create an account on that service in order to make it happen. Simple enough, right? So I enter my stuff, click the "send confirmation e-mail" only to find that the Spam is out of control in my mailbox. Again.

I've come to the conclusion that my current webhost is no good. There is a mailbox on my account whose address is PRIVATE (that is, the only thing it's been given away for is personal e-mails from real people that I know in real life). It gets Spam, too. It's not a word found in a dictionary, nor is it a common name. There's no way in hell it could've been "guessed" by so many spammers. Therefore my webhost *must* be selling addresses. Additionally, they have "automatic upgrades", from which you must opt-out. Ironically, the most recent "automatic upgrade" was a SPAM filter. Heh. No thanks, I won't pay you $35 a year to solve a problem that I'm convinced you caused anyways. But, I'll tell you what I will do -- I'll go give my money to another company, and change the address at which I answer e-mails. How about that?

When I do that, though, I better get a form ready on my website so that those who don't talk to me regularly can still get ahold of me.

Anyways, the video sucked, so I won't torture you by putting it up here.

It's raining outside. It makes me want to not do very much today, even though normally I like the rain. I don't want to walk to the car, I don't want to drive to work, and I don't want to stay there for the rest of the day.

I guess it could be worse though. I could be constantly in a rush (like, now, I can take a few minutes to gather my thoughts), I could hate my job (and therefore once I get to work, the day will just *drag* by), and I might not have a good game to go home and play. Yeah, things could certainly be worse.

I saw the movie Babel over the weekend. I feel inspired to write. The film centered around communication (or, specifically, lack of), but the imagery of the film is spectacular. I was very fascinated how it tied together four distinct cultures in four different parts of the world, and the way it conveys life in those four parts. I feel like I'm an enlightened person for having watched it. Plus, there's lots of Japanese fuzz. (ha!)

Kidding aside, though, it re-awakened in me the desire to see Japan. Someday, I want to live in a modern 30th floor apartment, and look out over a large Japanese city, and get to see a brightly lit skyline in the middle of the night. It makes me hope my friend Suzuki-san comes through with his promises of photos of real-life Japan. (^_^)

Today, I'll not get very much real work done.

My day started at about 06:30. At work, I got chatted to for like an hour (my neighbor, Chris, and I get along well). Next thing I know, I've not even made it through my e-mails, and it's time to go to Calculus. Had a quiz (I think I did well, in spite of not getting more than a few homework problems done). Now, time to go back to work. Gotta stop of by the college, first, though. Once I get back to work, I'll get to work for maybe half an hour, then I have a lunch meeting. Then I'll get another hour of work, then two meetings back-to-back. I have so many freakin meetings today that Chris is going to attend one of those meetings for me and take notes. :P

Back to the salt mines!

I'm getting organized again. *waits until the panic dies down*

It includes daily to-do lists, weekly to-do lists, and so on. So i'm compiling lists, which will give me lots to do for many days. :P I think I've spread myself too thin -- so I'm going to concentrate a bit on a daily battery of tasks. Once I go through my daily stuff, you'll understand better. But first, I want to tell you about my new job.

It's a good time to start this, because my life has changed a bit in the recent past. I've gotten promoted -- I'm salaried management now, woot! My entire life isn't in a rush like it was before -- I'm living at a leisurely pace for the first time in many years. And it feels gooooood. :) It might have to do with the position I'm in, the hours I'm working, the fact that I'm getting paid significantly more, etc. Very likely a combination of all these things.

Since I don't work in a call center anymore, everything's no longer on fire all the time. Before, I worked 12-hour days at an hourly wage, to put out fires all night. The advantages were that I got 3-day weekends every week, plus I loved the night shift. I enjoyed the people I worked with, and enjoyed my job. There came a point, though, where they pulled out a different chair for me, and I sat. And I like my new chair. Now, stuff's almost *never* on fire. I get better hours (e.g. dayshift), I get paid *way* better (although I have to work 45-hour weeks now), and I've got special dispensation for school hours. Pretty sweet, if you ask me. Plus, I get to be a nerd -- I get three workstations (Windoze, Linux, Mac). I work around 3,000 other nerds. Life's pretty good if you ask me.

My daily routine will include building my daily schedule and lists (except on Monday, on which I will build my weekly lists too), work, calculus, a tiny bit of Japanese, a tiny bit of computer stuff (setting up new downloads, burning DVDs, system backups, updating Webpage), updating Journal, and likely playing a game. I also have so many freakin TV shows that I'm currently watching, that I need to get on with that, too. Not to mention my Final Fantasy habit that eats up hours each day.

Hmm. I just realized I go to work to escape my hobbies. Heh.

Today's Time Wasters: USB Humping Dog (buy it here), Superbowl Commercials, Opt out of unsolicited mails/calls/cookies, Wil Wheaton's Blog

I'm baaack!

I've finished the framework for my website and created some pages with some good stuff on it. They're not anywhere near complete -- it will be a work in progress for a long time, but it's basically finished, nonetheless. Alpha was finished when everything worked, and now Beta's pretty much done too. I solved the music problem by using a flash mp3 player instead of a perl backend -- much easier than learning a whole new language. I'm still working on Perl, but I like this solution better. (This one gives me volume control, too, for example.)

So browse on over to http://www.atucker.net/ and check it out. Try not to get caught in a temporal browserframe causality loop (2 pts for technobabble!), as this exact page is referenced on that site. (^_^)

Sugoi!

My new website is postponed while I research Perl. Basically my idea is to not only have a music section with a few downloadable snippets of songs, but to also have entire songs load at a reduced volume in the background. The problem with this is that I have way more music that I want to share than I do pages in my webpage. So I've decided to go with a random song chooser, or maybe a round-robin kinda deal. Either way you'll eventually be able to look at a playlist and download a bit of a few of the songs.

Had I intended to keep it down this long, I would have put /something/ up in the meantime. Sorry 'bout that. New goal is to have *something* up there by Valentine's day.

In case you're interested, nothing new on the homefront. Started Calculus again (still in school). Still working like a dog (woof, woof). My data PC (Garnet)'s White Mage lv 50 (BLM 30). Dark Knight up to 21, woot! Finally got Chains of Promathia installed, just in time for Treasures of Ahi-Urhgan to come out. Not really procrastinating on anything, just too busy to get anything done (mostly with FFXI and schoolwork).

By the way, Yoko Kanno rocks.

My new and improved webpage (still not dynamic) has a full skeleton. It's more complete than the prior incarnation already though, and I'm more excited about this one than I was about that one. Although all the links work, it's still in alpha. And I've sorta figured out how to integrate my LJ into it without paying for it, coz I'm a big geek like that.

I'm planning on adding content and having it published around Christmas. Go me. ^_^

The song below is from the Chobits soundtrack.

My new website is in alpha testing and development. This means it's too far from complete to be usable, but much better already than my old one. The layout is designed, but there's not enough content yet. For those of you who are involved in the fantasy, you'll notice a big likeness. ^_^

You'll also find on that website new references to the Dirge of Cerebrus there. *swoon* And apparently there's a playable demo of Final Fantasy XII (which, by the way, is released conventiently a mere 11 days after my birthday) in the same package as Dragon Quest VIII, which I wouldn't mind either. Also coming in the spring: Kingdom Hearts II. Yep, 2006 is going to be a busy and expensive year for me and video games.

Coming soon: my christmas list :p

Welp, about two weeks ago, I started a revamp on my website, www.atucker.net. My plan is to link this livejournal to it, and make it a color scheme that can vary according to the content of the pages.

So you'll see a big difference on that page. This will be, although on a different domain, a part of it. We'll see how it works out. ^_^

Mozilla Firefox rocks.

I've installed it on both of my Windows computers because I like the tabbed-style of browsing. Instead of having 198692865928 Internet Exploder windows down at the bottom, I have a bunch of tabs I can use for Mozilla, underneath the address bar. Soooo much easier to use. Plus, I can use startup tabs. That's pretty cool too -- when I launch Firefox, it starts with the half dozen places I'm most likely to use. Currently, that's here, here, here, here, mail, and my most current long-term browsing experience (currently here).

Just thought I'd share that.

I replaced my CD-MP3 player again. My first one I still have, although I've outgrown it. My second one was inadvertantly smashed. My third one I returned because it sucked (its beeping was *annoying*). This one is the $50 Sony CD-Walkman model. It's awesome, and plays VBR MP3s with ease. Plus it lasts on one battery as long as most of the others last on two. ^_^

Additionally, I'm moving. I hate moving. And it's summer. I hate summer. But I *really* hate moving in the summer. In order to facilitate a fast move of my computers and all their accessories (read: junk), I've eliminated most of my CD jewel cases in favor of large CD binder books. I found a bunch of games I want to play again (Star Trek Armada, baby) and ones that I want to play for the first time (Myst series) that I own. Plus, I also found that, when I consolidated anime DVDs, I have a metric buttload of anime ^_^

But I still hate moving.

I'll start by telling you I've not had a particularly good week.

One of my four working computers -- Raine, one that has a particular function -- has broken. FTP server, teamspeak server, file server, secondary workstation, the one that has my f'in mail client on it -- all down. Worse yet, hardware problems which, when I fix it, will likely cause a reinstallation of Windows. Might not even put Windows on it at all -- might just go forth with Linux.

Since I work for the world's largest retailer, I get certain benefits that other people don't get. Tonight, they're throwing a little party (concert) featuring Will Smith, and tomorrow's concert stars Shakira and Jimmy Buffet.

Well I didn't get to go to tonight's concert because of someone else's personal reasons. I think tomorrow will be ok, but who's okay with missing a free Will Smith concert? Plus, after only 4 hours of sleep, I was irritated awake by people bothering me. Then I wake up to find that my neighbor has hit my car with his own car's door in the parking lot. And in addition to that, I find I missed another appointment to drop off some DVDs.

And all da sudden, I started feeling very, very lonely.

*sigh*

There are some things that I just don't make time for. Timely updates to LiveJournal is one of them. :p You should see my to-do list though. It's so long it's beyond crazy. It's just stupid. Nah, it's beyond that too. It's uberstupid.

Not much new, just very busy. Still downloading anime fansubs and whatnot. Still playing Final Fantasy XI. Still working like a dog, and being treated like one. :p After I finished Chobits, I watched NieA_7. I was really impressed by Chobits, as most people tend to be. It is quite top-shelf, and I'd recommend it to damn near everybody. NieA Under 7 is just the opposite -- it's one of those that you have to be in the mood to see. Now, recently, just finished watching てんくのえすかふろね (The Vision of Escaflowne). It was a good one too, although the ending was just a sukoshi disappointing. Gonna watch the Escaflowne movie before work on Saturday, and then gonna start on Read or Die next week. (Note that the Escaflowne movie got 7.0. That's pretty damn good rating. Check it against your favorite movie on IMDB.)

Got plans to update my website. I figure if I spend about 30 minutes per day (SURELY I can spare that), I can give it one big hella-revamp. That's what it needs. I think I'll just give it the generic 404 until then.

Alrighty, gonna go rip some DVDs. Hit me up if you want the ISOs. :p

I'll tell you what an Aketon is. It's a piece of armor that makes you move faster in Windurst and gives you a greater chance of finding crystals. They're a Rank 10 piece of equipment, but more than anything else, they look badass. :) I took some screenshots for your viewing pleasure. Take that! And that! And that!!

The downside: It cost me 500,000 gil. Has already come in handy with finding more crystals, though... will eventually pay itself off. I imagine it will also be saleable for about the same amount I bought it. Heh a Rank 10 item. I bought it at Rank 3. Now I just need to get myself a couple of Astral Rings and I'll be in good shape :)

I collect Japanese Animation heavily. I try to buy what I can, like the music I listen to, but if it's abnormally expensive (imported, rare, etc) then I'll just obtain a copy from The World At Large. The result is a lot of fansubs. If anyone wants to trade whatever Japanese Cartoons you've got, I've got the means (i.e. FTP Server, DVD ripping program, whatever's needed).

Has it really been this long since I updated my LiveJournal? I should really get back to it...

Bunch of stuff has changed since I last updated...

I'm in the middle of a semester off from school. I had to take it for financial reasons, and burn-out reasons. The bank sent a letter going "We're going to start billing you for your education now, eh?" Whatever. I'm going back this fall, so you can have all 4 payments until then :p

Got the ol' tax return back... paid off a bunch of bills, and bought a bunch of junk. My computer needed an upgrade badly, so I drew a little money from here (taxes and bonus) and there (birthday money) and have bought some new hardware. For those of us who are geeks, I bought a new, conservative case instead of the flashy one I wanted to get, a mid-range motherboard (i.e. not top of the line, but far better than the one I have), a 2.08 GHz processor, a gig of RAM, and a new HDD with an 8 MB buffer (and a 5-yr warranty!).

The plan is to install Server software on my old PC (half, the speed, half the RAM), remove its beefy video card, leave in the big hard drives, and use it for my FTP, DVD Burning, as well as some other server-related things, such as remote dial-in and file-serving). When I get my new setup (go FedEx! come forth and bring me my spoils!), I'll use it as mah gaming machine, for I am obsessed with the wonderful world of Vana'diel (21 BLM / 18 WHM, baby!). (Note: This is about the time my LiveJournal entries stopped. I wonder if they're related? :P) It will allow me to keep a bazaar on my PC and still be able to do some other stuff without firing up my laptop.

I remember the days when I used to have one computer, heh.

I just so happened to be browsing the website of One Up Studios, while listening to some of their music (samples on their website!), and found that one of those guys from that outfit, who I've met before (at his "other job"), has a LiveJournal. How exciting! It's sorta inspiring to know more than two people with a LJ :p

And apparently a big chapter in Caster's Life" has come to a close. Man, that guy's life reads like a freakin Soap Opera. If you decide to look at it, note that the link starts at the beginning. The beginning is truly the best place to start for his story.

Anyways, fairly excited about Things In General. Will be nice to have some new, fast, flashy hardware to work on. :)

How long would you last in a zombie movie by zombi357
Username
Weapon of choice
Friend who turned that you had to kill	p3rfektion
Chance you will survive: 78%
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Been rather a while since I've updated. :p

Between school and work, I've not had much time to do anything. I work 40 hours, and, until recently, have been going to school for 10 hours. I dropped a couple of courses, but that still keeps me out of the house for 55+ hours per week.

Thought I'd dash that meme up there, so I can say I did one.

Created two new decks recently... my red/green beast deck is sickly and weak, and needs to be revamped badly (immediately after its creation, no less). My sliver deck, however, is strong, with two Sliver Overlords, as well as some other nasty tricks.

More later. heh.

Nothing truly monumental has happened in quite a while.

I got some good bargains at the company store, though :)

I got a Memorex DVD+RW for $60. It's just a 4x, but I've found it's plenty fast. I always assumed DVD players played DVDs at a rate of 1x, kinda like CD players play CDs at a rate of 1x. That's not the case... they play at about 0.5x. Which means my little 4x DVD+RW writes DVD+Rs at about 15 minutes per DVD.

Which brings me to my next purchase -- I bought DVD+Rs. They wheeled out a lot of DVD+Rs at excellent prices, so I stocked up. I now have like 400 DVD+Rs in my possession. I've burned a whole spool of them already (that's 50 DVDs) just backing up my MP3 and anime collections. I figured I'd sell the things for fun and profit, but I think at this rate, I better just keep at least most of them.

Generally, the things I buy at the company store are at approximately 50% of retail. One of the things that I found were a pair of $50 sunglasses. Guess how much I paid for them? ... Nope, lower. ... Nope, even less. ... Give up? A buck. I got a pair of $50 sunglasses for a buck. I, in fact, actually got two -- for a buck apiece.


School starts in a week. I'm both excited and ready, but not quite done with the summer at the same time. I got a whole two weeks, after my summer classes and all. Then I'll start with Calculus I, Discrete Math, and Elementary Japanese II. Yeah, I know a little Japanese. Hopefully by Christmas I'll know a lot of Japanese. :)


We went fishing this weekend. My father likes to go Jug Fishing. Before this weekend, I didn't know why. Now I do. The first fish we pulled out of the water this weekend was the largest -- damn near three feet long. This thing must weigh 12 to 15 lbs. It is the largest fish I've ever touched. It was truly exciting.

Okay, that's enough. :)