07/11/09 09:30 - 70ºF - ID#49267

Surfboard 4100 Modem, j'accuse!

So my slow internet problems were due to a cable modem with a known-funky chipset (when it comes to interoperating with Macs on a network).

For two years we've paid for the highest tier of TWC cable internet, and usually had max download speeds of around 200kbs. Then the last month or so it's declined down to about 20kbs for every download, which was ridiculously painful. As in, I could download stuff faster on my phone over cell data networks then I could at home.

That's when I started doing research and found out the problem. I bought a new modem, and we're getting 3mbs average downloads now, and scoring at 14mbs on the speed test sites.

SO MUCH BETTER. We could have had this along :/

CURSE YOU SURFBOARD AND BROADCOM, YOU INTERNETS SPOILING WRETCHES. YAY CISCO/LINKSYS CM100!

Very angry/happy now. I want two years of premium service payments back from TWC. Plus the $3/month rental fee for the TWC-supplied modem. But, OK, I no longer have third world internet access at home.

Permalink: Surfboard_4100_Modem_j_accuse_.html
Words: 175
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

07/11/09 10:51 - 74ºF - ID#49262

Auto-Tune The Jim

I just spent about an hour messing around with auto-tune, and let me tell you, even that can't save my singing voice.

I might try again later, but it was so bad I'm not going to post any snippets of my singing like I'd planned to.

So much for technology!

Permalink: Auto_Tune_The_Jim.html
Words: 50
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/11/09 09:28 - 75ºF - ID#49261

Meow?

Permalink: Meow_.html
Words: 5
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: lulz

07/10/09 04:35 - 81ºF - ID#49253

YOU GOT ME RIBBONS

Source:

Permalink: YOU_GOT_ME_RIBBONS.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/10/09 12:41 - 80ºF - ID#49248

So hungry

Yay lunch.

Permalink: So_hungry.html
Words: 7
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/09/09 01:48 - 75ºF - ID#49242

Bug

Permalink: Bug.html
Words: 6
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

07/08/09 04:52 - 70ºF - ID#49235

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

We beat that dude to his left by a pixel and a half. That was close!

Permalink: PROUD_TO_BE_AN_AMERICAN.html
Words: 19
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/08/09 12:10 - 65ºF - ID#49230

Free Lunch!

UB Tech summer lunch.

Permalink: Free_Lunch_.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

07/07/09 09:36 - 62ºF - ID#49223

Physical Thing Is Physical

Akai APC40 is back ordered!

That is the problem with physical contraptions, as opposed to code/mental things.

Toys take weeks to arrive. It is the really frustrating thing about working with electronics, too, realizing 90% of the way into construction that I needed a 50 cent chip that would take a week to get here and cost $5 shipping. At least this is ONE thing one time, just back ordered until the end of July.

My wrist hurts from using the mouse, I can't wait to use this instead.

P.S. Paul zip up those sound files and email them to me :)

P.P.S. This is what the APC40 is for:

drew writes at 09:48:49 07/08/09 - Comment #49802: very cool toy. I want to play, too!

jason writes at 08:31:25 07/08/09 - Comment #49800: My God. I had no clue you were interested in music. That is one awesome, beautiful toy.

tinypliny writes at 10:09:09 07/07/09 - Comment #49784: Cool - I will be dropping it off @ the 24 tomorrow. Check it out for a week.

jim writes at 10:04:38 07/07/09 - Comment #49783: Both I think :)

tinypliny writes at 10:01:53 07/07/09 - Comment #49782: Ah, that is wise. I can't do that at all. I end up with ultra-cramped wrists. Give the tablet a shot? Or the controller a shot?

jim writes at 09:57:56 07/07/09 - Comment #49781: Tinypliny: moving from the elbow/shoulder instead of twisting at the wrist. I pretend my wrist bones are fused together... If I move the mouse with my wrist I get pain within about 30 minutes so I know when I do that :)

jim writes at 09:56:26 07/07/09 - Comment #49780: I'd like to give it a shot if you don't mind, despite my concerns.

tinypliny writes at 09:56:07 07/07/09 - Comment #49779: Keep us posted on how this works out! I would be really interested in hearing about it. :)

I don't know how you can operate a regular
mouse without lateral motion??!! Do you have some kind a rollerball mouse?

tinypliny writes at 09:52:47 07/07/09 - Comment #49778: But that's just it. You don't write. Writing requires precision control, constricted grasping and pressure for making the mark on paper/surface. With the stylus, you will just be waving it like a stick in air. There is no constrictive motion. If you like, I can loan my tablet to you for a few days, so you can check it out. Drop me an email - I can leave it at Paul's.

jim writes at 09:51:56 07/07/09 - Comment #49777: And I don't move my wrist laterally - the problem is that I can't seem to maintain good posture when using a mouse for extended periods of time. I have managed to get excellent posture and really good ergonomics, but something about using a mouse makes me slump.

I am about 99% keyboard only in general computing tasks, and with this MIDI controller I can be about 90% non-mouse in making music, so I think it'll work out fine.

paul writes at 09:51:30 07/07/09 - Comment #49776: You have mail

jim writes at 09:49:14 07/07/09 - Comment #49775: The only thing that causes me pain aside from using a mouse is writing / pens unfortunately, so I'm not sure if that'd work.

tinypliny writes at 09:46:43 07/07/09 - Comment #49774: Jim, if you wrists hurt from using mice, you NEED THIS --> amazon.com/review/R104JOWJNFTKTS/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

It is, hands down, the best thing ever for wrist pain. It is exactly like using a pen (and waving it in the air - so no strain). It completely relieves lateral movement at the wrist joint (which is primarily the cause of most strain).

Permalink: Physical_Thing_Is_Physical.html
Words: 127
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/05/09 07:29 - 71ºF - ID#49200

Beer Tube

Pearl Street Brewery