Fear the Vader

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The deed is done

I started the ball rolling today. I placed my order for all the stuff I figure I need to build an excellent PC. Even though the mission was to spend some money, I still wanted some bang for my buck so I didn't just buy the most expensive items in each category.

Here's what I came up with:

• WD Caviar 200GB Serial ATA HD 7200/8MB/S-ATA-150
• Corsair Value Select 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz
• MSI K8NNeo4 Platinum Socket 939 Motherboard
• Samsung Black 16 DVD Burner oem with software
• AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Sckt 939 (Venice Core) BOX CPU
• Diamond Radeon X800XL 256MB PCIe
• Diablo Red ATX Samurai Case
• Coolmax ATX 550w PS w/ Silent 120mm Fan Black

plus keyboard, mouse, webcam, XP, Office, and Pinnacle MovieBox USB 9 all for under $2300 Canadian. Once it arrives some time next week, the fun of putting it together starts. I guess its kind of like Dr. Frankenstein putting the parts together and waiting to see if it becomes alive.

I also found out through placing this order that my credit card company is looking out for me. I decided to use my Mastercard from Canadian Tire to finance this purchase. I get Canadian Tire Money on the card and this big purchase was too tempting to pass up on the extra payback. I had never used this card on-line before. Within minutes of my submitting the order, a credit card representative phoned me to make sure it was me who had made the purchase. I don't know if all credit card companies do this sort of thing as I have never purchased this amount of stuff on-line before, but I was impressed and relieved to find out that such a change in my spending triggered a response from them. I know they are protecting themselves as well as me but it's nice to know a company gives a crap at all.

Revolving Door

It's that time again. Although I have resisted the "New Computer" urge for over a year now, I finally have an excuse. I need to spend money. Well at least my business does.

My business has made more money this year than last. Working from home has drastically reduced my expenses so I have to find a way to whittle a little income away. So I will make the ultimate sacrifice and buy a new computer rig. I'm due anyway. The one I am using now is three years old.

This time though, I am going to buy the parts and put it together myself. It is amazing how much you can save putting the parts together yourself. I'm guessing about $500-$800. Should be fun and scary at the same time.

Technology..better?

Turn the clock back ten years, maybe fifteen. Place yourself at the same event. The friend/family member would have called your home and left a message. You would have got the message on your return home. No one panicked because they couldn't get you immediately. It seems like now, people expect to be able to get in contact with their family members at any time no matter where they may be.

Work seems to have the same attitude. Last time I checked though, the relative pay of people in positions where they carry cell phones hasn't changed when compared to their counter-parts from a decade or two ago. Think about that. A person who was ,say, a sales manager 15 years ago probably didn't have a way to be in constant contact with the office. He was probably paid well and worked 5 or 6 days a week for his salary. But when he left the office, his time was, for the most part his own.

Fast forward to today. Sales Managers are paid about the same today as they were back then if you take into account regular cost of living allowances. In fact, with so many companies freezing salaries in the '90's, they may even be paid a little less. But today they are generally required to have a cell phone with them at all times. So they are basically available to work 24/7. I find that bizarre.

Then today a lady, late-40's-ish pulls into the drive through of a fast food place while she is on her cell. She stops at the menu post and looks like she is reading it. I guess that's ok but then she pulls up to the speaker and tells the person on the other end to hang on a second while she finishes her call! I couldn't believe it. Lady, put the phone down and order your damn food!

This "always available" concept reminds me of a funny story. I was out at an event several years ago and had to use the public washrooms. As I was sitting there minding my own business (so to speak) the guy in the next stall over gets a call.

Guy in Stall: Hello?

...pause


Guy in Stall: Ah, ya...ya..well...ya..ok...

...pause

Guy in Stall: Well I'll check it when I'm done here. I'm not in my regular office right now...

Not his regular office? Too funny. That implies he's at his irregular office.

So callers beware. You never know where the person is or what the person on the other end is doing. I think if nature calls or you're just out with nature, it should be ok to be unavailable. I like not being available.

Felt like a change

Decided to change my blog template. Kept the stuff from the old template I liked and trashed the rest.

I've been busy with work and family stuff. But I have been able to squeeze in some games. Of course.

I finished God Of War for the Playstation 2. It was very well done and reminded me of the Prince Of Persia games. Puzzles, story and action. I rented it so I couldn't replay it and unlock all the extra content. It's rated "M" for Mature (over 17) so there is plenty of gore. There is even some nudity and sexual themes. But what do you expect from a Greek god? Recommended.

Check out this flash game of the original Prince of Persia game.

On the PC, I have played through one campaign of Pirates! There are lots of things to do in this game and many ways to play out your career as a pirate. The game allows you to increase and decrease the difficulty as you progress so that you never feel that the game is impossible but you can still challenge yourself. It's rated "E" for Everyone so it's not a game you'll have to hide away until the kids go to bed. Recommended.