No Name Blog

I just figure out that Bionic Woman is not a remake of the cult 70’s show The Bionic Woman, it is a remake of Alias. The only thing really different is that Jamie Summers has robotic parts that make her superhuman, other than that the show is almost the same as Alias. Cute looking lead actresses with unbelievable fighting abilities and we don’t really know who the bad guys are.

Another small difference between both shows is that Sidney’s family life involved her father with cameos of her mother. Jamie has a younger sister and I am sure that if the show doesn’t get cancelled we’ll have cameos of their father. I will wager that he is a bad guy, yes you read it here first and I hope that remember that I can predict the future.

Well I guess that is it for now, I have to go out and beat up a mime.

p.s.  I don’t really advocate beating up mimes, I only used that line for comedic reasons.  Remember If you see a mime don’t beat him/her up just ignore them and they’ll go away, You hope.

Two of the best television shows I’ve seen this year had their season finale in the past eight days, Mad men and Damages. Mad Men, AMC’s flagship, had its finale last Thursday. It ended with with hope and abandonment. There is hope for the Drapper family and Peggy Olsen turns her back on her new born baby.

Damages’ season ended last Tuesday, and what an ending it was. We got a lot of answers to questions we had and we got a lot more questions to answered in the second season. I can’t wait to see next season for new answers and probably questions too, we’ll see.

Two more shows will be ending this coming week, Californication and Weeds. I have to say that the shows that premiered this summer are a lot better than most of the shite that premiered in the fall. Cavemen should be what they really are: dead a long time ago and fossilized. Carpoolers should be in car accident. Viva Laughlin supposedly got what it deserved (I didn’t watch it): what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

With these examples we can see why viewers are dropping the major networks for the cable networks.  The major networks are trying to please everyone and they are failing,  while the cable networks are trying to please certain viewers and that seems to work.

Well that is it for now.

They cancelled Viva Laughlin before I could actually watch it. I guess it is considered the worst pilot ever made. Was it worst than Cavemen? I don’t know because I won’t watch it, what would be the point?

I must say that I haven’t written about 30 Rock yet. So here it goes, damn 30 Rock is good. Is that a short enough review for? Straight to the point isn’t it? Watch it you’ll laugh, if you don’t laugh you are clinically dead.

Tonight is the last episode of Damages, I can’t wait to see what happens in the end but I am sadden that I have to wait until next year for more shows. Here in Canada, Pushing Daisies is on Tuesdays and I really like this whimsical show, I strongly recommend it.

I am still watching Journeymen and Life. Life still has potential but Journeyman is going downhill, I might have to can it soon.

Well I guess that is it for now.

First off I’d like to say that I am sorry that I did not write on Friday, or yesterday, as promised in Gutsy Gibbon’s First Step. Friday was a very hectic days so when I got home I decided to take it easy and not work to hard on the computer, so all I do is transfer some files from New-Toy to Precious so I don’t have to do this on Saturday.

Yesterday when I got home from work I went back at it. My goal was to complete the Kubuntu 7.10 installation on Precious, install Windows XP (for Games) and Ubuntu 7.10 on New-Toy and if I still had it in me to install Ubuntu in Kramer the laptop.

The first thing I do is start my XP installation on New-Toy and while this is going on and on and on and on and on (get the point it is slow, painfully slooooooww) I install all the packages I can think of that I’ll need. Stuff like Samba, ssh, x2x (to be able to use one keyboard and mouse for more then one computer), gstreamer plugins, flash player, mencoder, mozilla-mplayer, gtkpod (for the iPod), GPixPod (again for the iPod), unrar, etc, etc, etc I am sure that I have forgotten a few packages but it is quite easy to install them when I’ll need them. I set up the desktop the way I like it. I don’t really like the wallpaper/desktop art but no more time to waste to change it at the moment.

I have to mention that when I used Dolphin, the new KDE file manager, I like the look and feel of it but there is no tab option like in Konquerer, the consolation is that there is split view where I can open two folders at the same time. I guess I’ll have to make due with that. In Konqueror I usually opened up to four folders at the time.

When XP is done installing I try to install NOD32 on it but my back up copy of the anti-virus is on Precious and I don’t have my Ethernet drivers installed. New-Toy as never had XP installed on it and I did not expect to install it on that computer so all the CDs are put away God knows where. So I have to download all the drivers I need from the net. I start the downloads and I start installing Ubuntu 7.10 on New-Toy. Same thing happened with the “Scanning the Mirror” being stuck at 82%. I watch television while I wait. When I go back to the computer everything is done in less time that Windows XP was “completely” installed.

I log in and I again get a restricted driver notice. I do install the nVidia driver so that I can use the desktop effects. The basic setting is, let us say, basic. I install the CompizConfig Settings Manager and set up the desktop effects to my liking. I again install all the packages I’ll be needing. I have to mention that both New-Toy and Precious had the correct screen resolution when the were turned on. This is the first time this happens for me since I apparently have abnormal monitors. Everything else is working, sound, Ethernet, modem, printers. I have to download and install drivers for my XP installation, which is simpler? My choice, on three computers, is easy.

I do change the wallpaper on New-Toy to Elephant, note to self find a blue Elephant wallpaper for Precious. Once everything is done on New-Toy Ubuntu. I restart the computer with XP to install the drivers. I spend the rest of the evening/night installing drivers, anti-virus, anti-spyware, a good firewall, burning software, updates and a secure web browser (Firefox). Time is up it is 11:30 and I call it a day.

This morning after I get home from my morning walk I decide to install Battlefeild 2 and Bioshock and a few more game on the XP partition. I try them out for several hours,in fact about 4 hours. I don’t play computer game very often but when I do I play them for way too long. Nothing creative done yet today except that now I am transfering files back to New-Toy from Precious and I am putting yet more music in my iPod, when will I listen to these songs? Soon I hope.

I decided not to install Gutsy on my laptop at them moment I wait until I have more time to devote to this endeavour. I guess that is it for this overlong post. From what I have seen Ubuntu has another great release under their belt. Now we have to get ready for Hardy Heron Ubuntu 8.04 when it comes out in April.

This has been posted to both my blogs, Adventures in Computing and No Name Blog. Usually this would only have been posted in the Adventures blog but I wanted to see how much traffic it would create on the No Name Blog.

Kubuntu 7.10, code name Gutsy Gibbon, is now installed on my oldest computer, code name precious. I bought the computer after seeing Lord of the Rings – Fellowship of the Rings when it was at the theatres. I have to say that the installation was slow this time around since I believe that a lot of people could not wait to install it and the repositories are swamped by us impatient nerds.

I popped in the installation CD chose to manually partition my hard drives. I did this because I used to have windows on this computer and I decided to ditch it. I’m ashamed to say that I will install it on my other desktop computer to try out Bioshock and a few other games.

The installation was going fine until it got to 82% a was taking a lot of time “scanning the mirror”. After waiting fifteen minutes I stopped timing and went to watch some television. I watched The Office after I checked to see if the installation was done. It was. I did a reboot. When the computer came back on, my log in screen was slightly different from Feisty (Kubuntu 7.04). I now can choose which user to log in with. There is not much choice since I’ll be the only person to use this computer.

I notice that when I am logged in my screen resolution was correctly detected. I also have a notice that there are some restricted drivers available. All I have to do is click on the Restricted Icon to see which one. The nvidia driver is the only one available for this computer. I choose to install it. It takes 15 minutes to download and install (again because all us nerds want gutsy now).

I then decide to install gstreamer plug ins so that I can watch video on the computer. This again takes time, It is fine wanting to update as soon as possible, but next time I’ll wait a few days before doing the install.

This is where I end tonight because it is getting late. I’ll continue tomorrow and keep you updated.

The Gusty Gibbon has been released in the wild.  What is a Gutsy Gibbon?  It is the new release of Ubuntu 7.10.  If you are adventurous please try it,  It is a great Operating System.

I am going to reformat my computers over the next few days to upgrade to this release and if you go to Adventures in Computing I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

I just watched the second episode of Carpoolers and it is officially off of my viewing list. This is the third new show I have dropped since the new season started. The first was Cane, too soapy for me. The other is, of course, the dreadful Cavemen, that show does not even get a second chance from me. I think we should start a petition to get it off the air, wait a minute, it’ll get cancelled if we stop watching it.

As you can see I haven’t been watching a lot of television lately, I am a week behind. I’ll start catching up once I ween out the garbage and/or the shows that are good but not for me. Tomorrow is my mothers birthday so I’ll be going to visit tomorrow we’ll be taking her out for supper and I’ll have to get her gift. I still don’t know what to get her. Speaking of gifts last week I bought my first Christmas gift, I hope that by the end of the month I’ll be done, so wish me luck.

On Thursday October 18th Ubuntu 7.10 will be released and by Sunday October 21th I should have my three computers updated. I know that this blog is not supposed to have computer talk on it, that is why I have another blog called Adventures in Computing, but hey what the hell I should be able to talk about whatever I want on my blog, right?

If you have been reading this blog you’ll know that I have downloaded Radiohead’s new album In Rainbows. I enjoy it very much. I decided not to review it, there are way too many reviews out there so I won’t add mine. I’ll just say it is very good.

That is it for now, stay tuned for more exciting postings.

This morning when I woke up the first thing I did was check my email for the unique download activation code for Radiohead’s In rainbow. Great I had received it three hours before hand. I click on the link and I download a html file called TooManyDownloads. What the …? I try it again and I get:

“I’M SORRY, BUT THIS ACTIVATION CODE HAS ALREADY BEEN USED.

IF YOUR DOWNLOAD WAS INTERRUPTED OR YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES:
downloadinrainbows@waste.uk.com

Damn! Damn! Damn! You damn dirty Apes! I then sent an email to the customer service telling them that the downloading did not work. I then got dressed went for my walk.

When I got back I checked my email. Nothing. I decide to check a torrent site to see if someone was uploading it. Low and behold there are lots to choose from. Do I download or don’t I? That was the question this morning. I order a download but did not receive it so is it stealing from the band or getting what I paid for? I was so desperate to hear the new album, I succumbed to temptation. Now I will have to suffer in damnation for the rest of my life. I’ll mention at this point that it has been about 14 hours since I sent my email to the customer service and I still haven’t received a reply.

I first heard Radiohead back in 92 or 93. I liked the song Creep from their first album Pablo Honey. I purchased the cassette because I was not willing to shell out the extra cash since I was not sure if I would like the entire album. Pablo Honey was an OK album. When the released The bends in 1995 I did not purchase it, I did not like the songs that I heard. When OK Computer came out in 1997 it intrigued me but not enough for me to get it. I did not want to spend $25 on something intriguing. When Kid A came out in 2000, I did not get it right away. I only got it when I got a CD sampler in CMJ New Music Monthly that had one of the songs on it. I was hooked. I purchased Kid A and OK Computer. I was blown away, maybe a bit late but better then than never. Amnesiac came out in 2001. It is my favorite Radiohead CD, I’m amazed every time I hear it. I know it is not a CD for everybody but nevertheless it is the one I listen to the most. Amnesiac got me to buy The Bends. In 2003 When they released Hail to the Thief I got it along with Pablo Honey on CD. Hail to the Thief is not as good as Amnesiac or Kid A or OK Computer but it is enjoyable.

Jump four years and the release In Rainbows. Radiohead does not disappoint with In Rainbows. It is another step in their evolution. You cannot say that every Radiohead album sounds the same because they are willing to try something new. If you are a fan get the album and even if you are not a fan get it anyways maybe it will broaden your horizon.

I was thinking of breaking down the album into individual track to review but decided against it. Right now I have to listen to it again; the whole thing not just one song at a time. It is an experience listening to Radiohead. Let me say one more time get the album if you are a fan or not, listen to it a few time with no interuptions, let it take over your life for an hour and then do it again. After a few listen you’ll like, if you still don’t like it go back to listen to Britney Spears, you get what you deserve.

What is one of the worst things in life, other than watching Cavemen on ABC? Going to the dentist.  That is what I did this morning.  They X-rayed me, they did a clean up of my teeth and a check up.  I have to get one of my wisdom teeth pulled.  It is way in the back and my dentist cannot do it so he is referring me to a specialist.  You know what that mean eh? Specialist = Big Bucks.

What is the worst part of going to the dentist?  Is it the needle?  Not for me.  Is it the drill?  Not if I’m well frozen.  Is it scraping of the plaque?  A close second. The worst for me is the conversation the dentist trying to have with e while he is working on my teeth. It would not be half bad if he would only ask yes or no questions, but he asked me questions like what did you do over the long weekend? My answer was something like “agaaagggeeeaaaogooaaageaag.” Did you get that, apparently my dentist understood that I said we made a big fire and put away the lawn furniture at my mothers place.

He then asked where? “abaaaagooochrriiiiivier.”

“Nice place that” he replied. I was thinking to myself how the hell did he understand that?

He then asked me “is it near the golf course?”

“Oocdeeoogersiiidooogdegiiigeeer aaaaaabbbbbeeeiiiiiveeegoooots”

“Only five minutes, that’s great.” he says. Do dentists get training in understanding people mumbling? They must because every time I go we have long conversation where I don’t even understand what I say but he does.

I can’t wait until he asks me to explain to him Einsteins theory of relativity. I already know what I’ll say “Zegadofeeedubuntu…..”

Remember to brush your teeth three time a day and floss after every meal.

About an hour ago I received this email from update@waste.uk.com:

THANK YOU FOR ORDERING IN RAINBOWS. THIS IS AN UPDATE.

YOUR UNIQUE ACTIVATION CODE(S) WILL BE SENT OUT TOMORROW MORNING (UK TIME). THIS WILL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO THE DOWNLOAD AREA.

HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOWNLOAD:

THE ALBUM WILL COME AS A 48.4MB ZIP FILE CONTAINING 10 X 160KBPS DRM FREE MP3s.

MOST COMPUTERS NOW HAVE ZIP SOFTWARE AS PART OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM; IF YOUR COMPUTER DOES NOT, YOU NEED TO GET WINZIP OR ZIPIT INSTALLED PRIOR.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEM HERE:

PC: http://www.winzip.com/
MAC: http://www.maczipit.com/

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS DOWNLOADING YOUR FILE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR DOWNLOAD CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM AT
downloadinrainbows@waste.uk.com

Other than the fact they are YELLING at me, I am happy to know that I’ll be able to listen to Radiohead’s In Rainbows on my iPod tomorrow morning, Yeah.

Now we know that it will be DRM free 160kbps mp3, therefore the calculation I did in “Radiohead – In Rainbows What Is It Worth To you?” seems to be fair. If you are still hesitant to order the album I’ll write a review of it tomorrow.

Hopefully you’ll be back tomorrow for this review, see you then.