http://blog.alastria.com Saving money so I can waste it later Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:51:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Time Warner Cable for the past few months, has been testing the idea of bandwidth caps.  In it, you're allotted a certain amount of data per month, then get charged overage for every GB over the cap that you go.  If that sounds like cell phone companies and their "minutes" ... http://blog.alastria.com/2009/04/08/to-time-warner-cable-re-you-suck/ When I use XP, I simply cannot use it on a day-to-day basis without ObjectDock.  I use it primarily for both my main apps, and for quick access to certain folders.  It's handy to be able to just fling my mouse over to the side of the screen, and have ... http://blog.alastria.com/2009/01/13/why-doesnt-windows-7-have-docklets/ Story time, kids...  For Christmas, I got a new laptop.  I had needed one badly, and I managed to get a deal on Black Friday that was too good to pass up.  I mention this because, on the laptop was ..  Windows Vista.  Something which heretofore, I had never personally ... http://blog.alastria.com/2009/01/13/my-initial-windows-7-thoughts/ Like many others out there, I decided to try the newly released "unofficial" beta version of Windows 7 build 7000.  Based on what I've seen, I will be purchasing once it comes out. Overall, I'm very impressed with the quality and completeness.   But where the rubber really meets the road ... http://blog.alastria.com/2009/01/03/windows-7/ It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my father, Jim, has passed away.  He was 71 years old.  He died of a sudden heart attack yesterday afternoon at 4:15pm.  I'm absolutely stunned, because he had no history of heart problems, and was fine just the day before. Needless ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/08/12/so-long-dad/ It sure is hard to find icons that can be used in software.  You know, in menus, toolbars, tabs, etc.  No one hardly talks about it in programming, because most software designers (this one included) are not artists.  I would make the icons myself, but I couldn't draw a decent-looking ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/07/08/my-kingdom-for-an-icon/ I have not been able to post here in a week, and I apologize for that.  But after 3½ long years of having the same ol' Athlon 64 3400 system, I have finally moved into the modern age.  I am now writing this on a brand new quad-core Q6600 overclocked ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/05/29/finally-a-new-pc/ One of the best deals around is Woot!  Especially when they have a woot-off.  One of the most elusive things to get is the Bag of Crap.  If you don't know what this is, let me explain. When Woot! is having its woot-off, one item will suddenly appear called "Random Crap" ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/05/20/woot/ I was reading an article on Newsday.com about Mike D'Antoni going to coach the Knicks (for the life of me, I have no idea why). But the article mentions one thing which got me thinking: The Knicks also have a lottery pick in the upcoming draft and, if things fall ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/05/14/the-rigged-1985-nba-draft-lottery/ http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/617846.html A followup to my post yesterday, our local paper had an article today about overzealous weather policies by local TV stations.  Let me say again, I whole-heartedly agree with WBTV's recent change to cover severe weather w/ a crawl, and only break-in to coverage when absolutely necessary. By insisting on breaking-in ... http://blog.alastria.com/2008/05/10/so-i-wasnt-the-only-one-to-complain/