Banks, computers, and weekends

It is stupid for bank computers to care about what day it is.

I'm watching, right now, to see if a payment went through. Now, it was done by check, so I expect it to take some time (it's been about two weeks, though.) Still, since then (and with my latest paycheck,) I've made other purchases, bill payments and the like.

None of them, save two (grocery shopping and a stop for lunch afterward) show up at all. These, of course, were done friday.

Now, part of the whole "electronic payment" spiel is that it's faster, reliable, etc, etc, etc. Yet, because it's the *weekend,* and in fact Columbus Day tomorrow (well, today, I suppose,) I won't see any of this until Tuesday at the earliest.

Do computers need a day off? No. Do they have religion? No. Do they care about holy days, holidays, time with the family, heading out to have a beer with the mainframe and checking out that cute laptop that just came into the office? No. So why do I have to wait for all this *basic information* to show up? Why, when no human is needed for the process (save me, to make the purchase or payment,) do we have to *wait* and be completely without information?

Maybe it's my bank. There are all of four offices - I wouldn't even call it "regional," since you'd assume you'd be able to find it at least throughout central Florida. Maybe a larger bank - anything from Suntrust to BoA or Chase - actually does this. I'm very tempted to ask. I *live* on information. What would happen if I'd lost my card (and, working at home, I don't actually LOOK for it that often.) Would they have free rein with it until Tuesday - no, probably Wednesday, with the extra day of "processing?"

Hey, bank guys. 21st century. Computers. Instant access to information. I want to make sure I didn't miss a payment somewhere, that what I've verified elsewhere is actually *going through.* Just freaking do it!

/rant off.

Woot!

OK, so it's the little things that cheer me up.

The other day, I got my new work schedule - since I'm in a new group, we re-bid shifts, and I got one I'm not *thrilled* with thanks to my lack of seniority. (But, hey, I work from home - not like (a) I can't talk with friends, and (b) I have a drive, right? So it's not all bad. Besides... rebid eventually.)

Well, on a whim, I went on eBay. There, with a nice big "Buy it now," was a kit I've been looking for for at least a decade - just waiting for me to buy it.

Namely, this:



"Big deal, it's an airplane, why look?" Or, for the slightly more discerning, "Others make better kits." Yeah, yeah - but my search for this has gone on for a while. See, I built (and have in my stash for a post-divorce rebuild once I get my own place, or at least a modeling "workshop,") the early release of this, the "A-18." When I built it, I noticed stuff on the mold - filled in gaps and a note of a "white" release.

The prototype.

I've wanted a prototype Hornet for a *long* time. And this - in the blue and gold - is the prototype edition. (Not the prototype of the kit, obviously, but a released model of the aircraft prototype - just to be specific.)

I'm a very happy camper.

Appreciating cleverness

I appreciate cleverness.

The only reason I mention this is cleaning otu my computer's case, getting some of the dusting out done. Getting into the nooks and crannies of my Antec Sonata II, I pulled off the drive blanks - and remembered one of the nice little bits about it. There, on the back of the blanks... the drive rails are stored.

I made another new system recently for work. Its rails? In a rack taking up a drive bay. Not even particularly securely. Convenient, somewhat, but clumsy...

More places need to take little touches like that into consideration.

Books!

I'm a voracious reader. I'm also not rich. :)

That said, I'll tell ya, I've gotten to love Books-a-million and Amazon.com.

Books-a-million is a chain that often has books on *great* sales (and a decent selection of books in any case.) Books I wouldn't normally pick up, I'll grab there in hardback for as much as, if not cheaper than, a softcover.

For instance, I just went over there. Got my mom one of the Bourne novels (in hardback) that she hadn't seen for $8. Picked up Sandworms of Dune (I just haven't been fond of how they've been "closing" the series, and was going to just skip this one)... for $7, hardback. Picked up a book I'd never heard of ("Mistress of Dragons) for $4, hardback, and some good Terry Pratchett (all pratchett is good) in hardback... also for $7.

Individually? Each of those go for around $25. So, $100 worth of books for just under thirty bucks, and it'll keep me reading for at least a week. (No, I'm not kidding, I will go through them that fast.)

In addition, the people there generally love books - so I got turned on to a new series (well, old series, but new to me - 1983 or so it looks like) called the "Uplift saga" by David Brin. Well, they didn't have it in stock, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money... so Amazon to the rescue. A penny a piece for the first three, plus shipping. Twelve bucks, three books (the first three, there are more.) This after getting my copy of "At dawn we slept" replaced for five (waiting for it to show up) and "Midway," by the same author... also for five bucks.

Reading is important. Literacy is vital. Cheap is awesome.

A tale of two UPSes

So, living in Florida with the utterly crap weather we get (yes, we do - sorry, it's bake or soak, no matter what the brochures say, with a short period of freezing) a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply, or Battery backup) was a must-have for me when building my current system.

(It's my gaming system/main system, since upgraded. Basically, every non-notebook system I make is going to have a UPS to go with it.)

At the time... well, initially I figured "Just something to deal with brownouts and minor power drops" would do the trick, so I got a woefully underpowered ... something... from APC. Bad choice on my part - it didn't have the power to really sustain for more than a few seconds, but it was cheap and at the time all I figured I'd need. But this isn't about that - replace the battery (it's a few years old now) and it'll be great for small electronics, routers, phones, etc. No problem.

No, I went out to Best Buy and bought a Geek Squad 875va UPS. Nice display, decent size, and it does work well - I have (depending on what all I'm doing) 10-15 minutes of power. Plenty to wait out most small strikes, shut down gracefully and the like.

My gripe about it? The horrid software that comes with it (or is available for download.) It doesn't seem to like to start, or stay started, or detect the UPS (connected via USB cable - yes, I've changed the cable, ports, etc.) When it DOES, I frequently get "Cannot detect/Battery detected" back and forth. Not sure why. On top of it, while it does work when the monitoring software RUNS, the software interface wont' CLOSE. How'd they screw that up?

The software is, to me, important - it's what will auto-shut down the system with 5 minutes of battery power left (by how I normally set it.) If it won't run, or can't detect the UPS, well... it's not of much use to me. Uninstall, restart, reinstall every month or every other month just won't cut it.

The software is one of two reasons I didn't go with them for my work system. (The other reason being it's apparently not available now.) I have another, very similar system for working at home. For this, I went with APC - one that's a little lower rated (750va/450volts,) but close enough. (The other system isn't drawing as much anyway.) For that - I get powerchute software. Not only is the interface nicer, but the software behaves very well.

Honestly, if GeekSquad had decent software, I'd have no qualms about buying another UPS from them - but for the next system (whenever it may be,) it's getting another APC UPS. It just feels more reliable, not to mention the information is readily available on them pretty much anywhere. Geeksquad has to get its stuff together.

Disappointment, happiness... hey, it's life.

Well, seems I had a few.

Yes, I got my monitor back from Viewsonic. It generally works - though I can't say as well as it used to. Give me a dark background - of some sorts, a black and white picture shows it - and it "sparkles." But not often enough to really figure out what's doing it. I have a feeling I'll be looking for a monitor soonish. Fortunately, the same size and 1680x1050 resolution isn't as expensive as a few years ago.

Then there's artwork. Over a year ago (yes, I know) I saw a post from a friend who has a DeviantArt account about someone trying to get together money for books for school, and so was having a sale. New-ish artist, cheap sale, so sure, why not. Well... because it's an experience that will, at times, keep people from trying new artists. She goes by "Miserie." It's been, as mentioned, over a year (end of April 08 to the "Forget it, I give up, let's call it closed" note I sent on July 1 this year.) Two pieces *were* delivered - not spectacular, one actually rather disappointing - and this after being in "sketching" since October, finally seeing drawings earlier this year down to a "They just need coloring, I should be done soon!" about three or four times. No communication (until you get ahold of Paypal, then oh gee, her email that wasn't working suddenly is!) and lots of promises with little delivery. Talking to someone else on her list, I got the same "Yeah, I pretty much gave up on ever seeing the piece(s)" as well. So, if you're looking for an artist for a quick commission, avoid Miserie.

OK, enough grousing. I've had good stuff happening as well. Since I ended with art, I'll start with it, too - another artist that *did* pay off for me to try out, and who I've gone back to for my characters multiple times, Semaj007 over at DeviantArt. He's inexpensive, fast, and turns out pretty decent pieces. I've certainly been happy with what he's given me. Such as the piece to the left, two of my Dominators (a City of Villains archetype.) This is one of the latest I've gotten from him. I've had several pieces done by him, and have yet to be disappointed.

I've got to say, in general, that's my experience with the various people I commission over on DeviantArt. I do, admittedly, go back to the ones I like repeatedly. Not all are fast, or cheap, but I've rarely been disappointed. Most are a pleasure to work with, and - the biggie for me - communicate with you throughout the process. It makes the entire experience enjoyable.

Other good news is actually getting a job - actually getting one and switching to another. I started out on a temporary (two month) contract. I actually probably would not have taken it, given how it would affect my unemployment (break, then probably not able to resume) but I had to bring in some money and I was hoping to get my foot in the door at the company. Well, just after starting, I got another call - one I'd almost given up on, but right now am glad I didn't. I now do tech support (still,) but I work from home. Yes, I telecommute. And I fix peoples computers remotely. Obviously can't do much if hardware's broken, but there's a lot I can do. Enough it surprises folks. Just barely into it, and their training could use a little work, but I'm getting settled in and comfortable, and I'll be trying to speed up what I'm doing (not that I can always help it when the receiving end is a slow computer) and taking multiple people at once. Yeah, don't even need them on the phone most of the time. Just point us at the computer, we'll call when we're done. It's nice, at least for now.

That said, I have *got* to start making more money. I've been in the mid-teens, salarywise, for quite some time. And yeah, working at home is nice - I put about $10-$15 aside for gas, which more than covers me for the week, pick up stuff to make for lunch at home and such, so I have fewer costs - but that said, I should be making much more by now. So, I'll be trying to find a way to do that. While I'm at it - ESPECIALLY since I'm working from home - I've got to find a way to get exercise in. I really need to work on it - too many years of sit-down jobs have taken their toll, and now I don't even have to move far to go to work. Plus, after all, my high school reunion is next year... I've got a lot of work to do on me. :)

So good, bad, and "know I need to do." What can i say, isn't it that way for everyone?

Viewsonic, yay, UPS, blah

So my monitor died Sunday night. 

I'm looking at my second system (the one I'm on at the moment, with an old 15" CRT,) and my nice system with a 21" widescreen from Viewsonic, just sitting at the desktop... goes solid white. Resetting doesn't help, still plugged in tight, I'm hoping it's the video card (recently replaced) - nope, plug it into the other system and it's still white. 

Got an RMA from Viewsonic in no time, telling them what I'd done to troubleshoot and scanning (on another system) the receipt. Two years sucks as far as a monitor going out (2 1/3, really,) but at least I'm still in warranty. Pity I won't have it back for two weeks or so (though I'm getting a standin, initially meant to replace the 15", from a wonderful lady friend of mine.) 

I go to check shipping. I can't get it for under $75 from UPS, and that's going to take at least a week. Reasonable time... over $100. Now, I can get a 19" Acer at the same resolution for $105-$115. I am NOT spending that just to ship! 

Whatever people say about the post office, they are *great* for shipping. $48, with insurance and confirmation, and 2-3 day delivery. 

Yeah. Think I'll go with them - and it's off to Viewsonic by 10 AM. How the heck does UPS stay in business charging that much more? 

Anyway... I'm now computing circa 2002 or so. Man, this is a tiny monitor... 

Give it a rest

I'm so *irritated* with Republicans - and with Fox "news."

I mean, start with the state I'm in right now, Florida. We've got crap for public schools. Exceptionally short days (and it looks like they're wanting to cut more.) Lousy job market, like everywhere else in the country. And yet, our republican governor doesn't want to touch the stimulus money... Why?

Sour freaking grapes.

The Republicans seem determined to make asses of themselves and not work with President Obama. Party-line votes against everything. Attacks and calls where they hope he'll fail. Weren't these the same jerkwads who, when GW was in office, basically said anyone who didn't agree with the president was essentially unamerican, if not supporting terrorists?

What the hell is wrong with these people? Serve the COUNTRY, not your petty little self interests. Why were there "no Republican ideas" in the Stimulus package? Because your damn "ideas" helped get us into this mess in the first damn place!

And then yesterday... Fox "news." (I can't call them that without the quotes - or stressing the sarcasm in the word "news.") Picture of the President shaking hands with Chavez and accepting the book he was given as a gift. He's at a summit of American leaders, working with the others in this hemisphere - y'know, being a part of the world instead of trying to say "Hey, agree with us or we'll invade."

What does Fucks News have to say? "Look at this picture. Does he seem weak here? What would President Bush have done?" G-Damn. Bush would have invaded. Probably looked at the book and said "What the hell do y'all want me to do with this? Got anything with a goat in it?"

Guess what, numbnuts. Bush lost us a LOT of respect. Bush lost any sense of the US having a true moral high ground. Of being a country to look up to. Bush turned us into an aggressor state. Bush was FUCKING SHORT SIGHTED. After Afghanistan - when we SHOULD have kept going there, kept our eye on the prize and stabilized them, making sure there was NO reason for anyone to take the Taliban or al Qaeda seriously... no, no, he had to go after Iraq, where we had Saddam contained with international support, and, of course, where he (Hussein) was unfriendly to islamist extremists. Instead, with Ye Olde Shrub-for-brains invading, he's created MORE anti-American, anti-Western feeling, destabilized a SECOND country, made dealing with Iran harder, and generally fucked the world.

And these assholes on Fox want to slam Obama, holding Bush up as some "great" president instead?

What the hell drugs are these hypocrites sharing with Rush?

Yes. These jerks make me sick.

3 years, 15 days

So...

Rearranged some furniture. Primarily so my printer was in a better place, and I could actually get to the drawers in the filing cabinet. And I found a few things...

My divorce papers, which I sort of knew were in there. And I realized it had... I'm not sure if "Only" or "Already" is correct, honestly, but it had been 3 months, 16 days (March 6, 2006) since my divorce was made official.

What a rollercoaster. I was dazed - enough that I lost some things precious to me - when I left. For the first year or so, I broke down more than once. Then... a long period of just *anger* at her and her manipulative bitch mother... yeah, you can see who I mostly blame, I guess.

That said, I still don't know what to believe from all she told me. And she made plenty of chocies on her own.

That sort of brings up the other thing I found... a composition book with some of her... she'd call it poetry, it's mostly ramblings though. Reading through it, it was 3-4 years into the marriage...

well, I don't know what to think from reading it. Nor do I have a current phone number, or know if I should spend postage to send it to her. Hell, I don't know if she's still alive even. Or how I'd feel if she weren't... our past has been pretty poisoned by both her actions and the manipulations of her mother. Hell, if she isn't alive, it's probably from her mother's paranoia about doctors.

Yeah. I'm a bit torn... yeah, part of me just wants to burn the thing, but another says it's not even mine, so... I just don't know. I don't know that I'm even angry any more. Resentful, I'll buy.

Divorce, by the way, sucks.

Assassin's Creed

OK. So, $20. Picked up Assassin's Creed. I've actually wanted to for a while - it seemed interesting, might be an interesting story, mix of stealth and combat, etc.

Not bad at all, especially for that price, though I'm not that far in yet. And even on my not-top-end hardware (Athlon 5600x2 2.9 ghz, GeForce 7900, 2 Gb RAM, XP Home SP3, Viewsonic 1680x1050 monitor) it's *gorgeous.* Not hard to pick up, either - yeah, the "modes" thing sounds like it might be a bit much, but once you get into it... not an issue.








I have to admit, it's fun pickpocketing, climbing up buildings, diving into haystacks to get lost, and the "Eagle vision" they give is rather interesting. Gameplay's fun, it's not combo-crazy or anything, it's pretty straightforward.

There are exactly two things that bug me, though, both having to do with this being from a console.

One - *save points.* There's no "Save" or "Quicksave" that I've seen... no, once certain points are reached, you save. I hate that. If I want to leave now, I dont' want to lose my progress.

The other... exiting the game. It's a good five step process... exit memory, exit animus, exit, then for some reason it asks for a profile again - so select and exit AGAIN. I know for a console you just exit and yank the disk - why does this have to be sucha process on a PC?

Guys...
"Exit"
"To menu" or "To desktop," with a "cancel" option. That's all it takes. Not five minutes of screwing through menus to find every exit option.

Other than those two... tis fun.

Was it real?

So, a very good friend of mine is pregnant. She's going to be a mother in - I believe she said April. Regardless, it's close. She's got a baby belly, and wonders if the kid's practicing for soccer with all the kicking it does.

She's going to be a good mom, I know.

But at one point, not all that long ago, she was frustrated with her husband, and I pointed out to her that while it's very real to her, with swinging moods, missing punctuaton :) and hormones gone wild... for him it may not be.

I couldn't help but think of my ex. And that I doubt now that she was *ever* pregnant. We never actually got her to a doctor - she went by a cheap indicator from wal mart. And she came back from visiting her mom... well, no longer pregnant. I don't remember ever seeing any hospital bills come up from a miscarriage, though she said she went to the hospital... and for me, the whole thing just wasn't real. (No, I learned over the years not to trust her, even without her disease messing with her mind.)

But this isn't about trusting her, it's why it didn't seem real to me. See, I wanted kids. My "ideal" life was to go to college, settle in a career and make enough money that my wife would only have to work if she *wanted* to (heh, yeah, long before this economy.) Raise a couple kids, drive a minivan, the whole nine yards. So this was something I wanted, something I'd thought of. I'd hoped I'd be as good a parent as my own were.

When she told me, my reaction was a bit of excitement, and a bit of "ok... now what?" OK, a lot of the second. Don't recall seeing the test. And of course we had months to worry about all the baby stuff.

But all the stuff, stereotypical and biological, that men expect from a pregnancy... well, it never got far enough along, if it existed, to happen. So it exists somewhere in the same realm as "Getting the winning lottery ticket" and "Having a knockout blonde parachute into your lap with a few million dollars and a twelve pack of beer." (OK, redhead for me, but I digress.)

I wish I could trust her, but I can't help thinking that it was her mother manipulating the fact she was just *late* to get her to jerk me around.