Stupid Bank of America

Went to deposite Donald's check for the rent, at the usual B of A ATM location near Bally's and Stater Bros. Except the ATM wasn't working.

So I came home, went online to look for other ATM locations. Says the next closest one is on Badillo, just a bit further east of Citrus. E. 212 Badillo. Driver over there, nothing. Though there's a Wells Fargo across the street. Good thing I also checked for the next closest after that while I was online, as well. It's at Edwards theater.

I figured I might as well take this chance to find out if there's a better way to get to and from Edwards, since it's always congested at Lakes Drive. When I get there, and put in my ATM card, there's no deposite option.

Arrrrgggh!!!

Then I remembered that the map seemed to show there was more in the direction of the mall. Makes sense. So I drive over, and finally find a B of A branch, with a working ATM.

Finally in AGP mode

For the longest time, I couldn't get my GeForce4 card to run in AGP mode. I tried many different settings in the BIOS, and still no go. Whenever I check my nVidia settings, it'd say that I'm running in PCI mode. It's so frustrating.

Finally, I the keywords I used to search for finding the solution worked better today, and I found it--turns out Windows 2000 doesn't have the proper driver for my motherboard's chipset, so once I found the right one from VIA (the maker of the chipset used on my motherboard), it works in AGP mode.

About damn time.

I should run a 3D benchmark test to see how it is now.

Too early...

Been up since 8:30 am... 'cause I'm supposed to take Donald to the airport today. Sleepy.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

JJ's laptop... again

I guess the DVD-ROM is really just broken. Today, JJ brought his laptop back and asked me to find the address for HP/Compaq's service center, so that he can send it back for repair.

HP's website won't show the location of the service center for the Presario notebooks, instead wanting us to either call or email their tech support to make sure it need to be sent in. So during lunch, I looked up the replacement parts available for the Presario, and found them available for around $450.

So JJ ordered it, and it should be here in about a week. Since he's going back to Taiwan tonight, I guess I'll install it for him while he's gone. Though if the package is addressed to him only, I doubt I'll know when it gets here.

Excellent.

The meta tags worked their charm. No more hitting the refresh button to get the new content.

Let's see if that worked

So now, after I "publish" this entry, and click on the "view blog" link, the new entry should just show up...

Slighty cooler temps

It's been slightly cooler this week than last week, which is good, as I don't have to keep my AC running all the time, and waste electricity.

I'm changing the template for this blog slightly, so that it is no longer cached. That way I don't have to hit refresh each time I post a new entry.


Spare PIAA Healight Bulbs (H4): 2
Spare PIAA Foglight Bulbs (H3): 1

Another PIAA bulb bites the dust

Well, it looks like my passenger-side headlight has burned out. I'll have to remember to replace it before I drive home today.

Another day...

• I saw the Charter cable truck outside as I was leaving for work today, so that should mean that they've sent some guy to make sure the line here is good. Hopefully I won't have those signal problems again soon.


• Donald's car stalled on the freeway today, so he had to take it to the shop. Turns out the distributor is bad, so they need to replace that. They're going to fix his AC while they're at it, too. I had to pick up him and take him back there to pick up his car when they were done. Luckily, it didn't take too much time out of my work day.


• Go my new CD/MP3 player today. So far so good. Need to test it in the car to see ... or rather, hear ... how it sounds. Since it's only got a phone jack, the audio quality might be as good. We'll see.

Ha hah!

I kept forgetting to check if there was something I missed in blocking Friendster's ads. After checking the source code, I found it--there was a onLoad event that called for "displayAds"...

Added that little string to Adblock, and voila! No more ads.

Installed!

Moved a bookshelf. Had to break off a little bit of the sliding window fitting thingy. But it's working. Pretty well.




Charter's signal went out again. So I called their support line again. They will credit me for two weeks.

Lucky!

Got the FedEx tracking number from the online store yesterday... said that the portable A/C unit is scheduled to arrive today. One day earlier than the MP3 player I ordered last week!

Thankfully, the FedEx guy was here before I left for work, as I had hoped (and prayed) for... so I don't have to worry about the hassles of having to pick it up or something. I'll have to rearrange my room a bit when I get home so I can get this unit working.

I only had a short prayer for it to happen this way. Thank God it did.

Portable A/C unit

So I've been running around trying to get a portable air conditioning unit that wasn't too expensive... No such luck.

Did another web search for good prices, and noticed that Walmart had some decent deals for them, and since it would only be about 10 bucks more expensive with taxes than to get one online, I decided to check out the local Walmart to see if they had it. And of couse, they don't.

The guy I asked there says, "If it's online, then we don't have it." What kind of logic is that? I'm sure they must carry some of the crap they have listed online. Whatever, the guy was just being a dumbass.

Home Depot didn't have any, either. I would've thought they'd at least carry some kind of A/C solution.

So I ended up ordering online. Hopefully won't have too much trouble with having it delivered to the apartment.

Automatic proxy scripts

Just gonna post it here for easy reference, so I don't have to log into some forum I posted this to just to get it.

This first came up when I needed to use a proxy to access only a site or two (my own ISP was having problems with its DNS). Mozilla had the function of allowing me to use proxy and specify a few sites that could bypass the proxy. I wanted the exact opposite, and it was suggested that I should use a PAC file.

First, enter code similar to the below posted into a plain-text editor, and save it with a .pac extension:

function FindProxyForURL(url, host)   

    {   

      if  (shExpMatch(host, "*domain1.com"))   

        return "PROXY proxy.com:80";   

      else if (shExpMatch(host, "*domain2.com"))   

        return "PROXY proxy.com:80";   

      else   

        return "DIRECT";   

    }

By default, Notepad will save the file with a .txt extension, and most Windows systems are set not to display that extension. So most people will have to change their folder options to "show known extensions" in order to change the extension to .pac.

Once that's done, set the browser to use Automatic Proxy (it's usually the last option). Since it asks for the URL, and the file is stored locally, it'll have to look something like file:///C/Folder%20Name/filename.pac.

Keep my fingers crossed

Let's hope they've fixed it now... the signal only lasted for around 20 minutes after the second call last night. But it was late and I was tired, so I decided to call it a night.

Luckily, when I woke up this morning, I see that the signal is there again.

Well, that didn't last very long...

At 12:36 AM, the signal went out again. I waited for about 15 minutes (while trying to reset again) before I called Charter.

Same thing, reset the cable box, and they sent the signal, and now it's back..

Let's see how long this lasts

Came home around 12:00AM tonight. Sure enough, the cable was still out. Tom was here trying to watch the Chinese channels, which were, of course, digital and unviewable. He says that the signal kind of came in and out, and when it was in, would only last for around 3 minutes at most.

So I called Charter, and the lady who picked up asked me to unplug the power to all of my cable boxes and then plug them back in again. She also said that there were some signal problems in the area.

Well, hopefully she boosted it enough ... or whatever it is that they can do there ... so I won't encounter the problem again. But just 9 minutes ago, it went out for about a minute, and came back again. So I guess we'll see.


Also tried to unsub from DVD Box Office's mailing list. I thought I had already unsubbed before, but I guess we'll see. It says "Gaming list" so maybe they subbed me to others or something.

Charter Cable Issues

The cable line crapped out on my last night... No Internet connection, all the analog channels were fuzzy, and the digital channels were non-existent. Lasted for at least the hour or two that remained awake doing other stuff. Was going to check this morning when I got up if things were back to normal, but I forgot.

Hopefully I'll get home to find that everything has returned to normal. Or else I'm gonna have to call them again...

CD MP3

Gotta get myself a new CD MP3 player...

Kinda broke my old one when I came home. I swung the little carrying bag to my back, like I always do, and it fell out.

It might actually still work, but I need a new one anyway. That one is, what, five or six years old?

Blogger vs. Yahoo

One of the complaints I've been hearing a lot about on the forums regarding Firefox is the inability to compose messages in Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, etc. in "Rich Text Mode" (HTML).

Yahoo and Hotmail do it via ActiveX, among other things, which basically limits the usage to IE users. If they switch to using JavaScript, instead, like Blogger does, then more browsers would be able to use it.

Not that I would personally like to see more HTML-formatted email messages. But it's simply ignorant to say that Firefox/Mozilla is lacking in the abilities department as far as HTML composing in a web form is concerned.

For instance, this message (and all messages on my blog thus far) is being composed in Firefox. And I'm not having any problems with the "Rich Text Formatting" at all...

My user agent string:
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040707 Firefox/0.9.2

I'll probably have to come back and edit the colors and such, as it might not appear legible in the dark background color I've got for my blog.

The composition of this particular entry is being recorded, and should be available here (in a bit).

Joke becomes reality

Oh, the irony...

First, we saw the Trading Spaces spoof on Chappelle's Show--Trading Spouses.

We all laughed, because the concept is just too ludicrous for a real television show.


Or is it?


Fox Network's new "reality show," Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy is exactly the same general concept, and a desperate cry for help. Far be it for me to expect quality television from the same network that brought us Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire and Joe Millionaire, but this just pure sludge. Why do I have to keep hearing promos for this stupid show, even when I'm nowhere near a television?

Nikon Coolpix and Mac

Jason from work is having problems getting his Coolpix to work with the iMac he's using in the office, so he asks me to check it out for him.

Couldn't do much with it. Everything installed just like the instructions says, but when the camera's connected to the iMac and turned on, nothing happens. Maybe an updated version of the software would help, though I kind of doubt it.

How do you uninstall programs on an iMac? I can't find the option anywhere...

How hard could it be?

If a form looks like this, would be it reasonable to assume that most people would know how to use it?

File:

Apparently, it is too hard for Prof. Kuo.


Unbelievable.

Dumbest trend of 2004

I've been seeing these Asian (most likely Chinese) women with these "face shields" that double as visors. It's basically a visor with a very long flap, where the flap is made of darkened transparent plastic. You can pull the visor down, and it'll cover your entire face.

It's probably all the rage in Taiwan or some other Asian locale... I overheard a conversation a few weeks ago where someone bought one for someone else and what-not.

So far, the women I've seen wearing these monstrous things are all older women. That should tell us something about its true place in fashion.

Television

Watched (most of) SciFi channel's The Buried Secrets fo M. Night Shyamalan... Interesting. Probably fake. Afterall, it's on the SciFi channel.

They did make some attempts into making it look real, though.

Entertaining, but tries a bit too hard, I think. Like the part where the director watches the tape of Johnny Depp and Adrien Brody, back and forth several times. Yeah, we heard ya the first time. Not need to try to drill it in our heads, as if the audience is really that stupid.


Also watched about half of TNT's The Grid; it seems slower than I had hoped it would be. I guess it's supposed to be building up to something. I'll try to finish it tomorrow (have it on tape).

Aaarrrgggghhh!

Aparently someone hit my car with something while it was parked at Dockweiler Beach... yesterday while taking off my nosemask for the car wash, I noticed some chips and scratches below the driver-side rear window.

That's gonna be a pain in the butt to try and repair/repaint. Guess I should be ordering from PaintScratch.com soon.

Dockweiler Beach

Went to Dockweiler Beach after finishing the noodles with Nicole, Adeline, and Lily. Never been there before, but it's basically at the end of the 105 East.

Pretty good place, although it seems rather crowded. It has many bonfire pits, so would be good for an all-day gathering. The bike trail doesn't stay flat for very long, so isn't as good for a beginner rollerblader like myself.

Uh-oh

I've invited people from the fellowship over for 牛肉麵, and since Susan
and Kin don't know my address, I sent them my address via email. The
problem, though, is that Susan's mailbox is full, so the message just
bounces back to me. And I didn't ask for her phone number.



So I guess I'll have to wait til Nicole gets here to see if she knows Susan's number.

It's that time again

One of my fog lights burned out again, I think. Couldn't see its reflection while driving to work today. Gonna check it and put a new one in if it has burned out.

Some Firefox/Thunderbird themes

Haven't found these listed at any of the usual theme sites. Includes an IE5 theme for Firefox.

Random ramblings

• Decided to try out Launchy for Mozilla last night. Then Mozilla began to crash on startup. Since something like this had happened before, I decided to try the same solution as before--remove the "-mail -browser" commands I had. Then Mozilla could start okay, but still had problems. So I tried to uninstall it. Something in the profile was messed up, but I couldn't find it. Finally broke down and removed all my profiles, backing up what I could. Started with a brand new profile, and things seem to work fine now. Hopefully I haven't forgotten any extensions.


• Good drive to work today. No heavy traffic, and no jerks driving. No such luck going to lunch, though.


• I've noticed that big-rig drivers tend to be the most considerate drivers on the road.


• Anne called at around 12:30 today, frantic. Says her car won't move. After talking to her more about the situation, I finally found out that she was out of gas. Good thing it wasn't anything major. She was able to flag down someone to help her afterwards.


• I wonder if, when they're done with the road construction outside, they'll do anything about the tons of tire marks they left on the road.

Yu Yu Hakusho

I took some time to scan in and translate a short, completely unrelated story by Togashi Yoshihiro, the author of Yu Yu Hakusho. And here are the fruits of my labor:

"I Love the 90s"

I've been watching VH1's "I Love the 90s" series for the last couple of days. Made me look for the flying toaster screen saver.

Well...

Decided against getting stuff for the curry for tonight.

Uhh... what was I gonna do...?

Had a list of things I planned on doing after work today.... What were they?

Um... I think they were:

• Get case of Korean instant noodle
• Get ingredients for beef curry, maybe.
• Fill up for gas
• Dust car 'cause it might sprinkle tomorrow

I guess that's it. I should double-check to see how much I should get for the curry, though. Maybe I can just check at the supermarket.

Entertainment Weekly

In "The Shaw Report" from the current issue of Entertainment Weekly, it says:

In: Cocoa-covered almonds
Five Minutes Ago: Yogurt-covered raisins
Out: Wasabi peas


Did non-Asians really get into wasabi peas at one time? Or is that just a Hollywood thing?

Microsoft Updates

Microsoft release another slew of updates today. Luckily, I caught all those for JJ's laptop before I even realized they were new, so his laptop should be completely up-to-date.

Should've done this from the beginning

I downloaded and reinstalled fresh copies of Ad-aware and Spybot S&D on JJ's laptop.

Ad-aware found another 168 entries of spyware after I updated the reference file. >_<


The DVD/CD-ROM still only works part of the time.

Better Business Bureau

Heard on the radio today...

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has set up a website that rates charities. This information should prove helpful the next time I decide if I want to donate to a certain charity. ^_^

www.give.org

Another hot day

Weather.com says it's 87° and feels like 89°... The digital thermometer on my watch says it's around 92°; radio (KFWB) says it's gonna be 104° in the valley today.

Whatever. It's hot. My watch still says it's 90° now that I've been inside with AC for five minutes.


Meanwhile, there's some kind of construction going on outside today, they closed off the road for a while, and my car is covered with dust.


Tapioca Express' "Vege Bun" is not true to its name. Sure, it's got vegetables in it, but is still predominantly meat. Not that I mind--I expected as much when I ordered them.


Kin called earlier today. It seems two of the springs that were holding up his garage door snapped. Imagine that--both at the same time. Obviously not a good day. I told him how to set the garage door to manual so he could still get it open, but he's gonna have to call someone to install new springs for him, or to do it himself.

Hmm.

Looks like the blog's time is off by about 15 minutes.


...or maybe not. Guess it displays the time when I started the message, not when I finished and pressed the publish button.

Spyware, whee!

Ugh. Been trying to fix the boss's brother-in-law's laptop for the past few days. Ran (and updated) Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and CWShredder, as well as Mozilla Firefox, which is now set as the default browser.

System still exhibits some symptoms of being infected with spyware. So I download HijackThis to go through the list of things that might still be around, and sure enough, there were a few. (Google search for keywords definitely helped.)

It seems to run a bit faster now, so hopefully I've got them all. Windows Update certainly finished a lot faster than it did before. But man, is the hard drive ever fragmented.


I should go get some lunch soon...

It just goes to show

What a newbie I am in regards to blogs. Didn't even know I could have "team members" in my blog. Guess I should browse through some other people's blogs to see if this is a commonly-used feature. At least they explains why I got the option of getting email notifications of when a new blog entry is posted. I'll play around with the settings more in the next couple of days, I'm sure.

For now, it's time to go to sleep.

Because I'm bored...

...and it seems like the so-five-years-ago thing to do, I decided to try out this blog thing. Never was one for keeping journals, which was why I never felt the urge nor need to start something like this.

Not that I didn't think it was a good idea to keep some kind of journal. Just never had the resolve to keep up with something like that. So I guess I'll find out if I'll be able to keep up with this, or if it will fall to the wayside, just like all my previous journal attempts.