"Nuke it from orbit, it's..." written by Jim on estrip.org

01/03/08 10:52 - 22ºF - ID#42743

Nuke it from orbit, it's...

...the only way to be sure.

Too many years doing systems, networking, and server administration for Windows has left me scarred. I left that whole mess many years ago, but it seems the corporate standard is still Windows XP, and as a web programmer these last 4 or so years, I still have to test stuff in IE.

My method to keep everything free of viruses and yet not have to run anti-virus software is to install a clean copy of XP, make three clones (one to keep pristine to regenerate from and one for IE6 and one for IE7), and then destroy the working clones every month or so to make sure nothing goes wrong with them.

I'm having to recreate my base XP image tonight though, since I'm moving from one VM system to another. I can't believe I'm still dealing with this old friend of mine. It's a bit nostalgic to go through the setup process again.

On the plus side, every year that goes by and Vista takes over, that's a nail in the coffin for IE6, and more I feel free to say: 'oh... well I've used Vista, but I don't know how to fix it/upgrade it/install it/troubleshoot it, sorry!'. I'm figuring around 2011 I can stop supporting XP/IE6. That means that XP will have been in use by me for about 10 years. That's sooo much longer then I'd ever thought possible.

Technological growth is still quick, but certain technologies are slowing down. Desktop computers and operating systems won't really advance by leaps and bounds any more. Most of the low hanging fruit is gone.

Sure, I'll update my hardware often (I'm already a bit crazy about being limited to 2gb of RAM), but the OS just matters less and less. As much as I love my Mac it is mostly because I feel like it stays out of my way and becomes more invisible all the time.

Permalink: Nuke_it_from_orbit_it_s_.html
Words: 328
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

01/03/08 09:26 - 22ºF - ID#42742

Iowa Caucus

On the Democratic side the results seem to be coming in in the order that I wished for:

On the Republican side the anti-reality wacko and slimy politicians are on top:

Permalink: Iowa_Caucus.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: nerdery

01/03/08 03:36 - 18ºF - ID#42739

vmware Fusion

I just switched from Parallels for Mac to VMWare Fusion, so that I can run windows and solaris on my MacBook. I'm converting all my virtual machine images right now. It runs so much better, I can't believe it. I should have switched forever ago. It was on sale last week and I'm lucky I bought it. No more fighting with craptastic lockups and slowness.

I'm just waiting for the last thing to migrate over now and then I can delete Parallels. Wishing I had 4gb of RAM though, it's hard to keep multiple VM's open at the same time with 2gb plus my usual apps open.

Permalink: vmware_Fusion.html
Words: 107
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: vintage kooks

01/02/08 08:50 - 17ºF - ID#42728

BEHOLD THE TIMECUBE

EARTH HAS 4 CORNER SIMULTANEOUS 4-DAY TIME CUBE WITHIN SINGLE ROTATION.

Religious Singularity is evil,
Academic Singularity is evil.
Singularity is damnable lie,
Educators altered your mind,
You cannot think opposite of
what you were taught to think.
You have a cyclop perspective
and taught android mentality =
lobotomized analytical ability.
Educated singularity stupid -
You can't think4 corner days.

TIMECUBE

jenks writes at 10:55:14 01/03/08 - Comment #29843: whoaaa.
that is some serious psychopathology right there.

enknot writes at 10:15:31 01/03/08 - Comment #29837: YOU are the lowest form.
YOU can't procreate alone.
YOU destroyed the village.
YOU destroyed the family.
YOU destroyed childhood.
YOU destroyed naturalism.
YOU don't know the Truth.
YOU pitiful mindless fools,
YOU are educated stupid.
YOU worship cubeless word.
YOU are your own poison.
YOU create your own hell.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.
YOU must seek Time Cube.

ok... who's game to start a band named Time Cube that draws all it's influence and songs from this web site? I've saved the whole site to my HDD, so they can't destroy our source material. Um, you must have a undying passion for cubes, and hallucinogenic drugs... (but only legal ones like, salvia, fruit cake, and menstrual cycles.) and if you ever show up to practice sober your out of the band! Seek the cube! Obey you thirst!

joshua writes at 10:08:54 01/03/08 - Comment #29836: Here is Gene Ray's wiki page - :::link::: - the man used to be a marble enthusiast and wanted to set up a world marbles tournament!

joshua writes at 10:06:43 01/03/08 - Comment #29835: Wow - this is good, ol' fashioned crazy. This was my favorite:

I have requested that the UCS, or
Union of Concerned Scientists, act
to evaluate Nature's Harmonic Time
Cube Principle of Creation - for the
welfare of children, nature and the
future of all humanity. The dumb,
stupid and evil bastards have ignored
their obligation to their humanity
fellowship to research Time Cube,
and deserve to be spit upon publicly.
It is their moral duty to test Time
Cube, and a curse of evil if they ignore
the greatest discovery of humanity.

They deserve to be spat upon publicly!!!

kookcity2000 writes at 12:25:33 01/03/08 - Comment #29828: euclidian space just got TOLD

jbeatty writes at 10:46:26 01/02/08 - Comment #29825: Pages? I only noticed one. It's almost as confusing as listening to that Jack Van Impe televangelist guy.

james writes at 09:03:11 01/02/08 - Comment #29819: what?

What?

I mean, he just goes on and on.

I have read three pages of this stuff, and I couldn't understand a single sentence.

I mean, the semantics alone were staggering. They made no sense what so ever, like a yogi porn star with crippling scoliosis.

dear god.

why?

why?

Permalink: BEHOLD_THE_TIMECUBE.html
Words: 59
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: estrip

01/01/08 11:10 - 33ºF - ID#42704

e:strip New Year's Party 2007/2008

Permalink: e_strip_New_Year_s_Party_2007_2008.html
Words: 56
Location: Buffalo, NY

01/01/08 04:36 - 33ºF - ID#42702

Happy New Years!!!

Permalink: Happy_New_Years_.html
Words: 2
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: work

12/31/07 12:06 - 31ºF - ID#42692

Windows Tech Support?

Does anyone know someone who can do Windows and network troubleshooting for small businesses? I have a couple clients that I'd like to help by finding someone else for because I am a web developer and don't really have time to stay current on Windows stuff when I have so much Web/Unix server work to do. They need someone who can install stuff and fix problems as they come up (15-20 hours a month).

Permalink: Windows_Tech_Support_.html
Words: 75
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: this american life

12/30/07 04:11 - 33ºF - ID#42685

Omaha Steaks

James and I received a giant styrofoam cooler full of Omaha Steak products for Christmas. Included are about a dozen or so 5oz steaks, and a couple small cheesecakes, hot dog packs, and another dozen hamburger patties, plus various vegetable packages. Basically it fills up our freezer.

The thing is, it is not so delicious as you'd think. The steaks are fine and tender and all, but they aren't anything you couldn't pay a bit extra for at the local butcher's, and get three times as much per dollar spent. The food is basically just so middle of the road and inoffensive that to me, it is not a premium product. I think the whole package that was sent to us probably cost at least $300.

UPDATE : I am of course grateful for the gift and only complaining about Omaha Steaks in general, not about getting them for gift in specific.

drew writes at 10:33:56 12/31/07 - Comment #29714: James, there are many ways to spend money to get a fat ass. Omaha steaks is only one way to go, but you could also buy 300 tacos at taco bell, and they would get the job done as well.

jim writes at 09:03:56 12/31/07 - Comment #29712: Moaning is what estrip is for!

I am just saying that they're overpriced and probably an ecological disaster.

jason writes at 08:53:00 12/31/07 - Comment #29710: Yo, I'll take some steaks!

brit writes at 10:53:18 12/30/07 - Comment #29704: I cannot fathom moaning about someone buying me a 300 dollar box of steaks....

lilho writes at 10:46:17 12/30/07 - Comment #29703: good paul i wont send you anymore.

paul writes at 07:07:58 12/30/07 - Comment #29699: Ya, I am not a big fan of most of it. I especially didn't like the bacon wrapped steaks because I would never use nitrate bacon for that. The one thing I really did like were the mashed potato balls. They were delicious and I would like a box of them now.

james writes at 05:02:15 12/30/07 - Comment #29698: The stuffed sole was so disgusting.

When I opened the plastic container in the cardboard box in the styrofoam cooler inside the giant fucking carbon footprint I thought I had accidentally opened up a lemon pastry of some sort.

Nope, that was frozen lemon butter which coated the thing like a cocoon. I followed the cooking directions to behold a tiny speck of fish wrapped around a lot of flavorless stuffing swimming in a sea of butter. Yuck.

So if you want to spend a lot of money on getting a giant ass, Omaha Steaks is the place to go.

(note: I am deeply grateful for the present.)

jim writes at 04:29:28 12/30/07 - Comment #29697: Yeah, we had the whole kitchen full of dry ice smoke. That was the best part. Is it possible to buy dry ice around here? In Salt Lake growing up grocery stores usually kept some for sale, but I don't think I've ever seen any for sale in Buffalo.

jenks writes at 04:26:13 12/30/07 - Comment #29695: but does it still come packed in dry ice? I think the entertainment value in that is worth the extra cost. ;)

Permalink: Omaha_Steaks.html
Words: 154
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: books

12/29/07 02:44 - 36ºF - ID#42677

Christmas Presents