World Revolution

Well, I have changed the name of my dedicated linux box from Nexus, to Venus. Why? Personal preference.

See, I have this naming pattern for my computers: they always recieve female names. Many other devices I own get this treatment, but computers take priority on such naming. So, today, while messing with some DDR Supernova 2 simfiles, I recalled the song “Venus” and, that was that.

This also reflects a change in the use of the system: I quite honestly, as much as I have tried, cannot get reliable file sharing between it and my windows 7 box. I am quite sure with the “giver” software, I can communicate between Venus and Sara (when she is running in Ubuntu, anyway), however, that is only slightly useful.

I don’t know quite what to do with Venus, yet, aside from using it as just another viable linux box. Any ideas?

For the price of a small portable hard drive, I have made a trade with a work friend for an old computer tower of hers: namely, a Compaq Presario SR1053wm.  I upgraded the ram from 512mb to the 1gb (2 512 sticks) that were used in my old computer, Maria.  I was going to throw in my 6200oc, but that video card has NEVER wanted to work with anything linux. I have no idea why, but I think it is related to the fact that the card in question is a picky anal retentive piece of silicon shit.

Just, taking a guess at it, anyway.

Well, anyway, I have installed, what else, but Ubuntu 10.4 LTS, 32 bit desktop.  It behaves a little clunky, but that is to be expected: it ain’t 64bit windows 7, or OSX 10.4.whatever the heck they are at now, now is it?  Anyhoo, after a nice 30 minutes, I had the system up and running. Full 80 gig hard drive dedicated to ubuntu.  The machine will, once I get space, and a proper setup done, become my core linux box, acting as  part datacenter server, part backup machine, and part safe terminal (IE something friends can come over and browse the net on without me worrying about them fucking some thing.

I plan on using SAMBA to ensure total file sharing compatibility, as per a recommendation from Shakesoda.  The system sounds good, from what I have read, and I like the overall concept, so why not, right?

Interestingly, the motherboard supports both PATA and SATA. I should expect such from the wonderful time of 2004, but this is my first machine with such: I can only hope to get enough cash together to set up a backup array from drives bought at Best Buy (cmon, PATA and SATA drives, 500gb, for pretty cheap last I looked. How awesome is that?)

This, incidentally, means if I was to muck with GRUB, I COULD, in theory, load up my old XP HDD from Maria, and continue. However, after the machine itself died, I WAS able to get all the data copied, so that drive is actually useless for such. It is too old to use as a reliable backup drive of ANY kind, but is still in good enough shape to, well, be usable. Quite the paradox.

I could always install Haiku or something crazy to it, but I don’t know. Time will tell.

Whatever case, crazy home network, GO!

So occasionally, I get these spam emails about “photography school”, getting into the University of Phornix or other random stuff, right? Yeah, total spam, no doubt, but, the funny thing is, who they are addressed to…

“Rufus: Transform your passion for Photography into a Career‏”

The only question I have: WHO THE FUCK IS RUFUS?!?!?!?!

Well, wouldn’t it be my luck that 2 seconds after making this post I would remember my @att.net email account, and sure enough that would be the one linked to said account?

Just my luck, I guess.

Things are good now. As you were.

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Well, this sucks: Due to me forgetting what email address it is linked to, I cannot AT ALL access one of my youtube channels: XadaraEntertainment.

I was planning on getting it up and running with some content I had done with a friend of mine, but when I went to log in… well…I simply couldn’t. :/

I have done everything in the book I can think of. Odd thing is, it may be an issue with youtube itself, as it seems even with fixed passwords I cannot log into any account other than my main “personal” one, for comments, personal vids, favourites and the like.

So… until I somehow regain access to my account, I am blatantly FUCKED.

If only google would SHOW what email the mail for password reset was sent to this wouldn’t be an issue: I understand it is a security feature to simply not show such, thus a would-be hacker woudl not know what email account to break into, but c’mon… a persons email should be security priority one, just as highly as there physical machine itself.

Just my thoughts, however….

My new baby!

Finally got out today, and walked probably a mile back and forth, on lunch at work no less, to and from the local Guitar Center, to pick up a new turntable… and cartridge.. and preamp… For a stupid sum, no less, one that has caused me to have to very carefully plan my budgeting this time around.

Welp, it is SO worth it: not only can I begin to work on my scratching technique, and get a general feel for how to work with slipmats, it is quite a fine assembly for my main usage; simply listening to music!

Setting up the headshell with the cartridge was a total pain, but I got it, and with a few adjustments, I think I have the tone and stereo separation pretty good. I have the weight set nice, just below what I should use for scratching, but not so light my tracking is lost. This is to prevent wear on my more valuable and rare records (Oxen’80, Vanessa – Just a Game, my Michael Jackson collection, and a few other unique specimens), and to prevent needle wear: after all, even it SLOWLY wears down over time.

Ah, I am enjoying this so much. Right now I have one of my many copies of Thriller playing, but who knows what I will play before I head to sleep. Maybe my autographed Smooth Criminal remixes EP?

[EDIT] Seems I indeed DID mention this in my last post. Oh well!

So, I don’t know if I mentioned it, but, the needle on my turntable is broken.

This wouldn’t be an issue, except the needle and the cartridge are a single unit on my turnable.. one that is no longer made, thus, making it near impossible / impractical to find a replacement.

So, my end result? I have to go buy a new one. I don’t need anything too fancy: I just need to play records thru my stereo, and enjoy them. Nothing too major at all.

So, as soon as I can, I am heading to a nearby musicians store to snag one.

Well, it seems my Zune is on it’s last leg. Now, one would say, “ok, just get a Zune HD”

Problem is simple: I have over 100 gigs of music at this point, that I actually PREFER to carry on my person at all times.. so a zune HD is out.

That leaves me having to go to my enemy, Apple, to buy an iPod classic. Hey, who can complain about 160GB of space?

I don’t have it yet, and don’t know when I will be able to afford it, but soon, so very soon.

Otherwise, hmn.. What else?

Well, turns out the needle on my Turntable is broken. Bummer, as it will be a pain in the ass to replace: I might just break down and buy a new turntable… one that isn’t discontinued.

Hmn, well, beyond that, not much to say. I need to get to sleep, however; I have work rather early, and need sleep.

So, today I went about the task of checking up on the condition of some of my more notable, and more in-danger game consoles.

As close friends know, my room is always hot in the summer.. easily floating at 100 degrees most of the time.

Not good for a video game / record collector.. not at all.

So, today, I checked up on my Intellivision, and my Atari 5200.

Both are fine, games working fine, systems as expected.. but the funny thing is, the 5200 controller.

Start actually worked. I was amazed. as expected, the fire buttons are dead, and I didn’t care to test anything else, I just wanted to make sure the control function worked: it did, so I left the test at that. However, for the start button to still work is, quite an oddity.. it usually breaks down first thing, right after the fire buttons. Odd.. I might want to look into that, but honestly, the corrosion that causes these issues, you cannot even really see!

Next thing I need to do is check on some of my records, then test my 7800 controllers, which also means test the 7800. Hehe.

Yes, this blog is still alive. I have just had not much to post about recently.

That is all. Thank you for reading!

Oh, and the forums are now invite only. Too many spam bots. :\