Sorry this post is so delayed but I figured that good fart humor is funny even if it is a bit late!  Anybody close to the Bullock clan knows that one of our time honored traditions is to give each other fart cards.  The more occassions the better.  The women are fair game as well.  It seems that the most fart cards come out during Grandpa's birthday and during Father's Day (for all Bullock fathers).  Anyways, this is the one that I received from my wife last month for my b-day.

Posted @ 11/22/2006 10:35:00 PM | 0 comments

I finally broke down and bought a new computer a couple of weeks back.  However, due to a couple of issues, I'm just to the point where I'm using it regularly.  The last computer that I bought new (as to buying used machines from my employer) was a 386 that I eventually upgraded to a 486.  Jeez, I'm starting to show my age.  The main thing that forced the issue with the new computer was the network storage that was serving as my backup and media repository decided to kick the bucket (at least until I get a new drive in it).  I've been using an old Dell Latitude laptop but it definitely is slowing down as I have been asking more of the machine than it was intended to do.  I could have replaced the drive but I didn't want to keep putting money into a half baked solution.  I needed something that could keep up with me and the times.  Here is what I ended up with:

• Shuttle XPC SD37P2
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
• Corsair XMS2 DDR Memory (2 x 1GB)
• 2 Western Digital Caviar 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB CACHE SATA 3.0Gb/s (running RAID 0)
• eVGA GeForce 6800XT 256MB 256-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card
• SAMSUNG 940BX Black 19" 5ms LCD Monitor
• ASUS DVD Burner
• Microsoft Office Basic 2003 SP2
• Microsoft keyboard and mouse

I ordered everything from Newegg.com and have been very pleased.  I even had to exchange the original video card that I ordered (wrong interface) and get a new one.  That was very easy to do and there was no resistance at all.  I originally thought I would order from Dell.  However, after I realized that they don't tell you what you are really getting (they don't give full specs), you have less flexibility in how you want to customize your box, and fewer payment options.

I didn't realize that I would need a floppy drive to install RAID 0 on my box so I rebuilt the box a few times until I finally broke down and borrowed the floppy from the kids box.  I have to say that this box has more horse power than any computer that I've used.  Yesterday I was running e-mail, browsing the net, listening to a CD I was also ripping, and restoring some files from the other CD player.  I don't think the CPU's got over above 40% tops.  In addition to me ordering the wrong video card and borrowing the kids floppy drive, I only had a couple of other issues during assembly and installation (yes, I put everything together!).  My network card wasn't working until I found the CD that came with the Shuttle box that provided several custom drivers (the other that was critical was the audio driver but I had not realize it yet as I didn't have my speakers hooked up).  My box would not recognize my printer regardless of what I tried.  I've used the printer from two other boxes and had no issues.  It was like I couldn't talk to the printer at all.  I finally had to choose the option that let me force the IP address of the printer, instead of letting setup discover it.  I also bought a fiber optic cable to run from the computer directly into the stereo in my office.  Now, I can listen to any of the my digital media as well as surf XM on my computer but play through my stereo for superior quality and sound.  I'll try to remember and get some photos over the new couple of days and post them here.

Posted @ 11/09/2006 11:31:00 AM | 0 comments

Posted @ 11/09/2006 10:30:00 AM | 0 comments