Do you have friends that tell you that Soccer is for kids? Once you "grow up" you are interested in more adult type games like Football and Basketball and other games that end with ball. When I hear this sentiment it is usually a non New Englander / non European. When I hear this sentiment, I'm reminded of my high school days and I have come up with a solution for all of us who love the game of soccer. We can teach our friends that it is not for kids.
Take your friend outside to a soccer field in November (preferably a rainy day) and dress them in some nylon shorts and shirt. Let them run a couple hundred yards without stopping. Next, ask your friend to run direcly at you and try to get the soccer ball from you. Just as they approach you, kick the ball directly at them as hard as you can. The proper kicking technique on a below 55 degree day will produce an interesting "ping" sound and your friends expression will look as if you have just smacked them with a 2x4. As they lie on the ground and contemplate the stinging sensation that a 60mph soccer ball on a cold day can produce, this is the perfect situation to begin a discussion about whether or not Soccer is for kids.
Alas, soccer is a fun sport for everyone. Well ... everyone except the unfortunate person who gets hit by a 60mph soccer ball on a cold day.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Too many icons
Have you noticed that your toolbar at the bottom of Windows gets cluttered with all sorts of silly little icons, many of which, you don't know how or why they are there? I have twelve of them right now glaring at me from their home next to the clock. Yes, these sneaky little pictures of runners, disks, cameras, shields, and other things somehow manage to weasle their little pictures onto my toolbar without even so much as a hello. Tracking them down and getting them to go away is very tricky. They are the messy pile of papers on the edge of my otherwise clean virtual computer desktop, and I intend to shred them. Well, at least the ones that I didn't invite to the party. Here's a few tricks to try and get rid of the ones that you don't want. I suggest option 4, but hey that's just me.
Here's a few ways you can try and get them not to start up with Windows.
1. Right click the icon and click options or preferences. See if there is a checkbox somewhere that you can uncheck that says "Run when Windows Starts". Uncheck it.
2. If that doesn't work, there is a little known tool called msconfig that will help you. Go to your start menu. Select "Run..." and type msconfig and tada... the system config box pops up. As a general rule, don't touch anything here unless you know what you're doing, but on the startup tab, you can usually find the icons that you don't want ... like "qttask" (Quicktime) and uncheck the box for them. I don't suggest unchecking something just to find out what happens.
3. If all else fails, don't ever turn your computer on. That way those icons will never show up on the screen. You also won't be able to read my blog anymore because you won't be using your computers and all the more productive your life will be :)
4. If you can't help yourself and find yourself turning your computer on, there is a great tool called a rock. Find one of these versatile tools, preferably a large one, and proceed to beat your computer until it no longer functions.
5. If you don't wish to destroy your computer, then download Linux and spend the rest of your life searching online to figure out how to get it working (see the Linux link on my main blog page). After several months of option 5, you will find yourself reverting back to option 4.
Here's a few ways you can try and get them not to start up with Windows.
1. Right click the icon and click options or preferences. See if there is a checkbox somewhere that you can uncheck that says "Run when Windows Starts". Uncheck it.
2. If that doesn't work, there is a little known tool called msconfig that will help you. Go to your start menu. Select "Run..." and type msconfig and tada... the system config box pops up. As a general rule, don't touch anything here unless you know what you're doing, but on the startup tab, you can usually find the icons that you don't want ... like "qttask" (Quicktime) and uncheck the box for them. I don't suggest unchecking something just to find out what happens.
3. If all else fails, don't ever turn your computer on. That way those icons will never show up on the screen. You also won't be able to read my blog anymore because you won't be using your computers and all the more productive your life will be :)
4. If you can't help yourself and find yourself turning your computer on, there is a great tool called a rock. Find one of these versatile tools, preferably a large one, and proceed to beat your computer until it no longer functions.
5. If you don't wish to destroy your computer, then download Linux and spend the rest of your life searching online to figure out how to get it working (see the Linux link on my main blog page). After several months of option 5, you will find yourself reverting back to option 4.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Running across America
On my drive to work this morning as I was listening to the radio, the show had an interview with a guy who has been running across america since Mother's Day. He started in Newport, CA and is now almost through PA. He runs between 20 and 50 miles a day and he ran a 56 mile day in Missouri!! I can't imagine. 56 miles is two marathons + 4 miles (www.runwillyrun.com). What can you do today with determination and perseverence? Or better yet, what can you do for God with determination, perserverence, and His guidance?
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Add my blog to your My Yahoo / MSN etc... Home Page
Go to your My Yahoo Page
Click on "Add Content"
To the Right of the Find Button, Click on Add RSS by URL
in the URL field type http://feeds.feedburner.com/JaysRandomRantsRaves
Click Add
Go back to My Yahoo Page
Click on Change Layout
"Jay's Random Rants & Raves" should be down at the bottom of the wide column.
Move it wherever you like.
It should work pretty much the same way if you use my.msn.com. It's weird, sometimes it'll work and sometimes it won't. Give it a try :)
Click on "Add Content"
To the Right of the Find Button, Click on Add RSS by URL
in the URL field type http://feeds.feedburner.com/JaysRandomRantsRaves
Click Add
Go back to My Yahoo Page
Click on Change Layout
"Jay's Random Rants & Raves" should be down at the bottom of the wide column.
Move it wherever you like.
It should work pretty much the same way if you use my.msn.com. It's weird, sometimes it'll work and sometimes it won't. Give it a try :)
Friendster
Our friend, Laurie, just introduced Kristen and I to a new internet thing called "Friendster." It's pretty cool and I think you should all join. It's basically a way to keep connected with the people that are important to you, no matter where they move to. Sort of like Classmates.com, but better. If you haven't received an invite from me, just go to www.friendster.com and sign up. It's really cool, and who knows, you might find one of your long lost friends that you wished you had kept in contact with and now don't know where they are or how to contact them.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Setting up Windows (XP or NT) & Linux on the same Hard Drive
Last night, was able to set up my computer hard drive to have two operating systems and I can boot to either one. It's awesome, now I can still have my expensive Windows for games, but I can have free Linux for everything else. I got instructions here (http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/answers.php?action=viewarticle&artid=441) and this is how I did it. It can be done without erasing Windows, but that requires some software like "PQmagic." It was easier for me to just erase the drive. Here's how I did it. I'm using Windows XP Pro and Linux RedHat Fedora Core 3.
Step 1: Zero Fill the hard drive (zero fill means completely erase everything)
Step 2: Create Two Windows (XP) Partitions, but don't format your entire drive. Leave a bunch of space for Linux. Don't partition or format any of it in this step. I use two partitions because FAT32 is necessary for this process and NTFS allows me to have very large files. I have an 80GB hard drive, so I set up one FAT32 drive as 5GB and another NTFS partition of 15GB.
Step 3: Install Windows XP (I installed it onto my FAT32 partition)
Step 4: Install Linux RedHat - when you get to the section about formatting the hard drive, choose the Automatic Formatting option and then choose "use Empty Space".
Step 5: Jot down the root (/boot) partition name (i.e. /dev/hda# where # is the number of the partition - example /dev/hda3) - this is important. Also, jot down the name of the FAT partition.
Step 6: When asked about the Boot loader choose "Advanced options", then click next. Do not install the boot loader onto the "MBR". Instead choose the /boot partition name that you jotted down in step 5.
Step 7: Reboot to your Linux disk, but instead of choosing the regular install, choose "LINUX RESCUE". This will get you to a screen prompt.
Step 8: type "mkdir/mnt/windowsdrive"
Step 9: type "mount /dev/hda# /mnt/windowsdrive" (where # is the number of the FAT partition that you jotted down in step 5)
Step10: type "dd if=/dev/hda# of=/mnt/windowsdrive/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1" (where # is the number of the root (/boot) partition that you jotted down in step 5
Step 11: reboot your computer
Step 12: Windows XP will boot automatically. Go to the FAT32 Drive and copy the bootsect.lnx file to your C drive.
Step 13: Add c:\bootsect.lnx="Linux" to the end of C:\boot.ini and save. (Can't find boot.ini? That's becuase it's a hidden system file. Go up to tools-> folder options and uncheck the Hide Protected Operating System files.
Reboot your computer.
You will now notice that when you boot your computer up, you will be given 30 seconds to choose whether you want WindowsXP or Linux.
This post was written for Ben Bensen's enjoyment :)
Step 1: Zero Fill the hard drive (zero fill means completely erase everything)
Step 2: Create Two Windows (XP) Partitions, but don't format your entire drive. Leave a bunch of space for Linux. Don't partition or format any of it in this step. I use two partitions because FAT32 is necessary for this process and NTFS allows me to have very large files. I have an 80GB hard drive, so I set up one FAT32 drive as 5GB and another NTFS partition of 15GB.
Step 3: Install Windows XP (I installed it onto my FAT32 partition)
Step 4: Install Linux RedHat - when you get to the section about formatting the hard drive, choose the Automatic Formatting option and then choose "use Empty Space".
Step 5: Jot down the root (/boot) partition name (i.e. /dev/hda# where # is the number of the partition - example /dev/hda3) - this is important. Also, jot down the name of the FAT partition.
Step 6: When asked about the Boot loader choose "Advanced options", then click next. Do not install the boot loader onto the "MBR". Instead choose the /boot partition name that you jotted down in step 5.
Step 7: Reboot to your Linux disk, but instead of choosing the regular install, choose "LINUX RESCUE". This will get you to a screen prompt.
Step 8: type "mkdir/mnt/windowsdrive"
Step 9: type "mount /dev/hda# /mnt/windowsdrive" (where # is the number of the FAT partition that you jotted down in step 5)
Step10: type "dd if=/dev/hda# of=/mnt/windowsdrive/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1" (where # is the number of the root (/boot) partition that you jotted down in step 5
Step 11: reboot your computer
Step 12: Windows XP will boot automatically. Go to the FAT32 Drive and copy the bootsect.lnx file to your C drive.
Step 13: Add c:\bootsect.lnx="Linux" to the end of C:\boot.ini and save. (Can't find boot.ini? That's becuase it's a hidden system file. Go up to tools-> folder options and uncheck the Hide Protected Operating System files.
Reboot your computer.
You will now notice that when you boot your computer up, you will be given 30 seconds to choose whether you want WindowsXP or Linux.
This post was written for Ben Bensen's enjoyment :)
Monday, August 22, 2005
Boston Traffic
It seems cars and traffic bring out the toddler and preschooler in all of us. No one ever questions a toddler or a preschooler when they cut in line or push and shove because they haven't learned yet, that everyone is entitled to their turn in line. They've been waiting and we should be polite and respect them and wait our turn as well.
Kristen and I drove in to Boston on Saturday and I commented to her. "When you're sitting in traffic, you can tell the people who should have taken an extra year of kindergarten." It's true, what is it in people's minds that makes them think that they're entitled to drive their car to the exit ramp and push their way to the front of the line? Did they buy a more expensive car and so they shouldn't have to wait in traffic? Do they not realize that 90% of the traffic slowdowns are not because of accidents, but because of pushy drivers that force other cars to slam on their brakes? I suppose not. And from their point of view, the fact that they caused another person to have to wait in a traffic jam doesn't bother them.
Since I can't do anything about it, I'll just have to let the bullies of the traffic world have their fun. I'll do my part and take my turn. While I'm waiting in traffic that is partly their fault I'll offer up a prayer for them, that someday God will replace their selfishness with Christ's love and selflessness.
PS: Kristen would like to point out that I wasn't offering up prayers when people were cutting me off, but that's what I should have done.
Kristen and I drove in to Boston on Saturday and I commented to her. "When you're sitting in traffic, you can tell the people who should have taken an extra year of kindergarten." It's true, what is it in people's minds that makes them think that they're entitled to drive their car to the exit ramp and push their way to the front of the line? Did they buy a more expensive car and so they shouldn't have to wait in traffic? Do they not realize that 90% of the traffic slowdowns are not because of accidents, but because of pushy drivers that force other cars to slam on their brakes? I suppose not. And from their point of view, the fact that they caused another person to have to wait in a traffic jam doesn't bother them.
Since I can't do anything about it, I'll just have to let the bullies of the traffic world have their fun. I'll do my part and take my turn. While I'm waiting in traffic that is partly their fault I'll offer up a prayer for them, that someday God will replace their selfishness with Christ's love and selflessness.
PS: Kristen would like to point out that I wasn't offering up prayers when people were cutting me off, but that's what I should have done.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Strategy Game Ideas
As promised in yesterday’s entry (xanga), I had a great idea for a video game. I’m jotting down details as I have time.
From my point of view, strategy games have one major flaw. You have to tell every single worker and unit what to do. You shouldn’t have to do that. You should be able to prioritize your goals, and be able to do it in different ways. For instance, say you have 5 workers and you want to build roads, construct a market, and build walls around your cities. A game should ask you where you want the market, the walls, and the roads and let you prioritize how quickly you want each one. Your workers divide their responsibility and work on whatever they need to in order to finish the top priority item first. And, there should be several ways to prioritize. One (the Ancient Egyptian way) would be slave labor (that would cost more in military resources). Another would be higher pay (that would cost more in gold / silver other resources). You see where I’m going. Anyway, in computer speak, this means a lot of complex formulas and calculations, But hey, what’s a 3 ghz processor for if not for millions of complex formula calculations a second right.
Anyway, that’s the beginning of my idea for a strategy game. You’ll see it out on the shelves sometime in 2015. ( Until then, I will continue to command my mindless computer drones.
From my point of view, strategy games have one major flaw. You have to tell every single worker and unit what to do. You shouldn’t have to do that. You should be able to prioritize your goals, and be able to do it in different ways. For instance, say you have 5 workers and you want to build roads, construct a market, and build walls around your cities. A game should ask you where you want the market, the walls, and the roads and let you prioritize how quickly you want each one. Your workers divide their responsibility and work on whatever they need to in order to finish the top priority item first. And, there should be several ways to prioritize. One (the Ancient Egyptian way) would be slave labor (that would cost more in military resources). Another would be higher pay (that would cost more in gold / silver other resources). You see where I’m going. Anyway, in computer speak, this means a lot of complex formulas and calculations, But hey, what’s a 3 ghz processor for if not for millions of complex formula calculations a second right.
Anyway, that’s the beginning of my idea for a strategy game. You’ll see it out on the shelves sometime in 2015. ( Until then, I will continue to command my mindless computer drones.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
VCR to DVD recording using Linux
I'm trying a new (well, sort of old) thing now. I've got a bunch of VHS videos that I'm trying to burn to DVDs. Windows sort of works, but I'm persuing my interest in Linux and trying to record TV onto my computer, then burn it to a DVD. I have a WINTV-Go card as a TV tuner.
So far I have installed these:
Linux RedHat Fedora Core 3
mencoder - for recording from the VCR
transcode - for transposing to DVD format
K3b - for burning
I'll keep you posted on progress.
So far I have installed these:
Linux RedHat Fedora Core 3
mencoder - for recording from the VCR
transcode - for transposing to DVD format
K3b - for burning
I'll keep you posted on progress.
The big switch
I've just swiched from xanga becuase I wanted a blog that let me post web links on the side of my page. I would have had to pay money to do that at xanga, so welcome to my new blog site. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I will enjoy publishing it.
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