Naming Conventions

As a lot of you may already know, I try to stick to a norse mythology naming convention for technological items I own–my older PC was/is Freya (it now belongs to my father… or is at least used by him.), my main PC is Mjolnir, etc.

But I’ve recently renamed a bunch of stuff, as the old titles just made no damn sense.  What follows is a list of the names of my current gadgets/computers, etc:

Freya – My dad’s computer, used to be mine–a Hewlett Packard I bought from N20.<br />
Mjolnir – My main gaming PC–I don’t seem to use it as much as I used to as a few parts are currently being replaced.<br />
Nasir – The only non-Norse thing in the list–my Dell Inspiron 1300 which I got for use with school studies, etc.  It currently is used by me every day in lieu of Mjolnir.<br />
Yggdrasil – My Linksys WRT45GL router running DD-WRT.  It gives the wonder that is the internet to all of my gadgets, consoles, and PCs.<br />
Ratatosk – (New as of July 8th 2008) – My hacked Fon La Fonera 2100 router running DD-WRT, and serving as a wireless bridge to hook my Xbox 360 up to the network and ze internet.<br />
Gleipnir – My PlayStation Portable–It used to be called “Ragnarok”, but that just made no damn sense, mythology-wise.<br />
Iðunn – My Nintendo Wii–I don’t use it nearly as much as I should, considering how much trouble I went through to get it.  Still fun for parties/gatherings of a lot of people, etc, but my friends and I usually end up just playing Rock Band on Quin’s Xbox 360.<br />
Ullr – My Xbox 360–Was originally Odin II, since Odin was my Xbox, but I’ve retroactively removed the name from my old Xbox, as it was sold on eBay to a new owner.<br />
And finally, Draupnir – Draupnir will be my PlayStation 3 when I purchase it.  If all goes according to plan, I should be doing so sometime around the 17th of July or later.  Just need to find an 80GB MGS4 bundle first.  (Easier said than done!  Most people claim they’re as rare as either a Wii or Wii Fit as of late.)

So there you have it–the list of gadget names.  Why?  Because I wanted a place to write them down where I could remember them, honestly.  It gets confusing, especially when I rename a few.  I’m pretty sure I’ll unconciously refer to my PSP as “Ragnarok” for a while still, but it really made no sense as a name.

(P.S.  As an off-topic note, I’m really back into Magic: the Gathering as of late.  Can’t wait for the Eventide release on the 25th!  Booster box, here I come!)

July 7, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Draupnir, Freya, Gleipnir, Iðunn, Journal, Magic, Mjolnir, Nasir, Projects, School, Ullr

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Update – May 19th 2008

As you can see, I couldn’t think of what to call this post.  It’s just an everyday update that will sum up what I’ve been doing over the last few days/weeks/or however long it has been since my last post.  You could probably do the same thing by checking out my Twitter statuses for the last week or so, but whatever.  That would defeat ze purpose of having a blog.

–

Over the last couple of days, a lot of good and bad things have happened.  Of note on the bad side is my laptop has been really glitchy lately–random crashes, optical drive not reading discs half the time, losing my wireless connection at random for several hours when I can access it on my PSP, Wii, or mom’s laptop.  Really weird.

Of note on the good side is I got my Class 7L learner’s driver’s license.  Well the yellow-paper one, as the actual plastic card is coming in ze mail.  I passed the test first try and only got around 3 – 5 questions wrong out of 50.  I also got a job at a local Costco reseller called Warehouse Shopper’s Express.  I often go shopping there for bulk foods anyway, so I know my way around, etc.  I don’t even know what exactly the job entails yet since I haven’t yet started training, but I’ve been told it will have a lot to do with the ordering/database portion of the store.

I’m 70.33% of the way through Grand Theft Auto IV, but I still haven’t beaten it.  I’m on the final mission, and while I haven’t had any trouble with it what-so-ever, part of it seems quite glitchy.  I’d go into more details, but Quin said he might be picking the game up after seeing me play it, so I wouldn’t want to ruin it for him.

I can’t seem to unlock much in Mario Kart Wii.  I’ve been trying to come in first in the 100cc Special Cup, to unlock the ability to race as a Mii, but I can’t seem to do very well on Bowser’s Castle or Rainbow Road (two very turn-centric courses).

In other Nintendo-related news, I’ve been considering getting Wii Fit and some Wii Points to get some WiiWare (so much Wii) but I’m not sure I’d use Wii Fit enough, and Wii Points have never been at the top of my shopping list.  Other than the Wii front, I still want a DS Lite, but I just can’t afford the $150+tax local stores charge, when I could get it for $150 after tax in the city.  If I do get a DS, however, it’d be nice to try out some Wii/DS connectivity.

I saw National Treasure: Book of Secrets early.  It was on Pay-Per-View on TV, but only on one channel, and only once.  That’s so awesome that it was on before the DVD comes out tomorrow.  It was a damn good movie, too.

Anyway, I have to finish this post early now since my laptop’s wireless connection has dropped twice since my dad turned on the Microwave.  Coincidence?  I think not!

May 19, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Gleipnir, Iðunn, Journal, Nasir, Projects, School, Ullr

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One Fine Day

Yeah, so on May 1st (last Thursday) I had a great damn day. I took the day off from school, etc, ’cause I had been in a pretty bad mood the last couple of days, and it seemed that every single thing anyone did was ticking me right off, and I could tell that it was going to lead to me yelling at someone, or hitting someone.

So I removed myself from the environment that was causing such problems, and boy did I feel better when I went back to school on Friday.

Anyway, that’s not the point of this post. The point of this post is to detail why Thursday was such a good day, and what exactly I did on my day off, so here goes:

I woke up at 7ish to my dad paging me over the intercom, telling me that breakfast was ready. We didn’t have much food in the house, as we hadn’t gone shopping in a while, and it was finally pay day, so if I didn’t get up, I wasn’t going to eat ’til after shopping, or even until dinner that night. So I got up.

I went upstairs, had eggs, ham, and hashbrowns, I hung out with my parents for nearly an hour, and then went back downstairs. I had a shower, got dressed, watched an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s fifth season, and then started doing some math homework. My mom went out for a hike with her friend Ada around 8:30, and my dad was home ’til around 11ish. I talked to him a li’l more before he left, but not all that much. Once he had left, my mom came right home, and I asked her how long it was going to be ’til we went grocery shopping. She finally gave in, and said around an hour, so I went back downstairs and watched an episode of Buffy again to kill time.

Finally, I went upstairs, and we left. I had reserved a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV for myself at London Drugs, since I had a hell of a time getting anywhere else to get me a copy. In fact, I had reserved the game at Seaside Video three weeks before it came out, but they never bothered writing it down, so I didn’t get the copy of the Special Edition they had promised me, and instead had to call London Drugs, and just got lucky that they had a copy for the 360 available, and would hold it for me.

Anyway, we stopped by the Bank of Montreal, got some cash, drove all the way into Gibsons, and when I finally got to London Drugs, I bought the game, took it back to the van, and put it under my seat so it wouldn’t get stolen or sit in the sunlight while we were in shopping at IGA Marketplace.

This is the IGA in Gibsons where my dad works, so we saw him in there a few times, and he even helped us find meat tenderizer. Anyway, the important thing is that when I got there, I went to the Pizza Hut Express that they have there, and got myself a medium pepperoni stuffed-crust pizza, and it was easily the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted, ever. Or maybe that’s an exaggeration. Either way, it was damn good, and I loved it.

We finished grocery shopping, loaded up the groceries into the van, drove back to Sechelt, and stopped by the mall to go to Shopper’s Drug Mart to pick up pharmaceutical supplies (shampoo, Q-Tips, floss, etc) and after that, we headed over to Seaside Video once more, and I bought Mario Kart Wii.

After getting home, bringing in all the groceries, putting them away, etc, it was already nearly 4:30, and Smallville was on at 5, so I just spent half an hour with my mom, and then went downstairs to watch Smallville and eat the rest of my pizza as dinner. After that, I finally sat down at my 360 around 6:15, and played GTA IV for the first time. I had been waiting for the game to come out for months, and crying about not having it since the release date, but I finally had it, and I played it ’til nearly 8 o’clock.

After that, I headed upstairs with my Wii, Mario Kart Wii, Wiimotes, Nunchuks, etc, and played the game with my mom for nearly 2 hours. I tried it online, and after a while got bored of it again, and my mom was tired, so I took it back downstairs, put the Wii away, etc, and played a bit more GTA IV ‘fore watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and falling asleep.

The only way that day could have been any better was if I had gotten a tonne of free cash, or won a shopping spree or something, found the secret to eating whatever you want, and not gaining billions of pounds, or had gotten [Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian] without doing the crazy-long quest. ;)

May 3, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Buffy, Iðunn, Journal, Projects, School, Ullr

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I’ll be the Marth… e.g., noob.

First of all, here’s the video that explains the title:

Now as you might’ve guessed after watching that, I got Super Smash Bros. Brawl, for the Wii.

It’s epic, it’s intense, and I love it. I’ve been playing the Adventure Mode (“The Subspace Emissary”) but have only played about.. 3 hours into it. Now I might just be slower than anyone else who played it, so that means I’ve got Link, Yoshi, Pit, Kirby, and Mario fighting.. something.. And I just saw Ganondorf for the first time. There *is* a percentage that it gives you, but the only one I can remember is 29%. I doubt that’s right. (I saw Snake in a box earlier, but haven’t found him yet.. did I miss him or something? =\)

Anyway, after all that play time, I’ve only unlocked Marth, so I figured the title of this song was fitting.

I read somewhere how to unlock Toon Link you need to beat Classic mode with Link, but after doing that, I didn’t get him, so I dunno. Some people claim you have to beat it on Hard (Normal was hard enough, thank you very much.) or after already completing the Subspace Emissary. Thats bullcrap. I want Toon Link. I’ve never played The Wind Waker, or Phantom Hourglass or anything, so I’d like to see what all the hub-bub is about.

Anyway, I’m still working on getting Snake and Sonic, so tomorrow (after shopping and swimming after school) I’ll probably devote another two hours to it.

March 10, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Iðunn, Journal, Projects

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Cleanliness is next to Godliness

You know what they say. (See above.) So I decided to take a proactive stance on fighting messes that seem to accumulate around me. A long while ago I decided to keep my room food free. Not that I don’t eat here, but the plates or garbage that go with said food leave the room after the meal, and in no way do they stay overnight.

I always make sure that after popcorn or pizza, I air out my room to get rid of the smell, and make sure to put away all of the garbage/utensils/plates, etc. If I do this, I seem to get less mice or bugs interested in my house. Ever since last year, when I had a mice die in my wall, and leave a horrendous stench that no amount of opening windows, turning on air purifiers, or air fresheners could get rid of or even mask long enough for me to get some shut-eye.

After that happened, I started making sure that I clean up after myself in regards to food.

I didn’t, however, take up cleaning my bathroom or bedroom… evar.

A month or six ago… (search the blog for “new toilet”, and you’ll see when) I was preparing to have someone come in and install new water-usage-friendly toilets in our house, so I was forced to clean the pig sty/garbage dump that was my bathroom. I had to mop, I had to clean off the gunk that had accumulated behind the toilet, and in the sink, and in the shower. Now let me make clear how disgusting this was. I had lived in the house for 4 years without ever cleaning my bathroom beyond opening a window and putting the tiniest bit of comet in my sink and toilet. Yeah. I’m a lazy bastard, I know.

After fully cleaning it, and getting the new toilet, I vowed to keep it at least habitable by man without developing asthma or some sort of degenerative lung disease. I mostly held true to that vow, and thoroughly cleaned my bathroom once a month for the longest time.. ’til a few months ago when I realized while I had been cleaning the toilet at least once every month or two, and my sink every one to three… (not good, but I’m still lazy) I had neglected my shower, other than the automatic “Scrubbing Bubbles” shower cleaner that was in it.

I spent a day cleaning it out, and airing out the room, and let me tell you, it was DISGUSTING. The amount of black gunk, mildew, and mold that had accumulated… no wonder I dreaded having a shower in the morning… I could hardly breathe in it. But after cleaning it, it was superb, and still is to this day. (Though it has started to smell a li’l again, I don’t know why, as I still thoroughly clean it.. it just smells like soap scum and mildew very slightly when I first run ze water.)

So today I cleaned my bathroom again, as usual, but for some reason, I decided: “Hey, I’mm’a be adventurous.” Now this is not only because I was already cleaning, but because I had seen Nintendo’s warning about dirty Wii’s not being able to play Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Kotaku, Destructoid, Joystiq, and Digg. Not wanting to have to deal with returning my Wii again (I actually have a different one than the one I first bought, as they sent back one with a different serial, and of a slightly heavier weight… I don’t know what the difference is.) I decided to google “get rid of dust”, and was HORRIFIED to find out about dust mites.

Now if you have any problem with the fact that in your every day life there are small microscopic creatures living all around you, and indeed on and in you, that eat dead skin, excess oils, old food, and what not, do not (and I mean DO NOT) search Google for “dust mite.” ’specially not a Google Images search. Ever since I have, I’ve felt constantly itchy all over and what not, though that could also be from sweating, from cleaning.

Anyway, I (for the first time in about 2 years) brought down the vaccum, and vaccumed my room out thoroughly, and have had my air purifier (with HEPA filter) running all day. I flipped up my bed, took off all the bedding (although there’s only one sheet and one blanket, as I used to sleep just on the mattress, since in my sleep I kick off all manner of sheets, etc.) and washed it in the washing machine on extra hot, and put it in the dryer on extra hot…

It’s not yet dry, but when it is I’m going to be putting on one of those sheets with the elastics on the corner to keep it secured to the mattress, a second fitted (but not secured totally) sheet, my normal sheet on top of that, and my blanket on top of that. Clean pillow cases, and dusted/beaten pillows. That should help me sleep without sneezing/coughing, etc.

I also vacuumed out the hallway leading to my room, and part of my bathroom (not that there’s much dust anyway) and am now about to go take up my bath mat (y’know, the thing in front of the shower, like a towel with rubber on the bottom?) and put it in the washing machine… or rather, I’m going to let my mom do that, and ask her how, because I still don’t know how to wash it.

I’m also going to exchange all of my dirty towels for clean ones, and then put some Drano down the sink drain again, as it has been acting up a li’l again. (There were huge disgusting black gooey balls clogging the drain before. Not hair, as I don’t shave.. or even comb my hair. Ever. So I don’t know what it was.)

Furthermore, I’m going to temporarily go without my beard, as I’ll be getting a haircut on … well some day this week. I was about to say Monday, but that’s when I get Super Smash Bros. Brawl, so that ain’t gonna happen. Tuesday I’m going swimming with my mom, and if we can find ze cash (I was originally supposed to fix someone’s computer to pay for it, and other stuff, but they just never showed up with their PC.) go out to Saffron for butter chicken and naan, because my mom hasn’t ever had the good stuff, just a horrible recipe from her work.

Anyway, when I get my haircut, I’ll be having my beard shaved off (not moustache or anything though.. well, maybe. I look like a complete fool without at least my moustache, but it’ll never grow in thicker if I don’t shave it…) and my moustache, I guess, and let them grow back in. I’m going to go clean shaven for probably a week or so, provided I don’t get too lazy to shave every morning. This is all just to ensure that my face gets a rest from having all that hair, and so I can see which I prefer. (Though I always find I look stupid without a beard, etc, apparently girls do not agree. ;))

—

The following (which could be bullet points) is just a smattering of ideas and happenings from my life that don’t go along with the motif of my post. Think of it as what scrolls along the bottom of the screen when Wolf Blitzer is talking about bombings in Iran.

In other news, I installed Ubuntu (7.10) on Nasir, and it now dual-boots that and XP. After fixing the art teacher’s laptop at school (which runs Ubuntu 6.04, for some reason) I realized how much I miss Linux, and decided to give it another go. Luckily it now fully supports read/write functions with NTFS, so I can store all of my files on the XP partition, and only have a 5 – 10 GB partition for Linux.

I’ve started watching Fullmetal Alchemist. I always wanted to, but just didn’t have access to it. Luckily my friend got me a source, and now it’s pretty good, even though I’ve only seen the first episode.

I got two manga..s? I can’t say comics.. graphic novels? Well it’s Manga, but I got Love Hina Volume 3 (1 is in the mail still) and Ranma 1/2 Volume 8 in English. I would have started at y’know.. 1 for Ranma, and gotten 2 of Love Hina, but when it comes to Bookmooch, you take what you can get. After leaving feedback for my two Garfield books that are still in transit (along with Love Hina Vol. 1) I’ll have enough to mooch another book from out of Canada, or two from in it.. so we’ll see what I get next.

I like Michael Jackson. I bought 9 of his songs, and made my own li’l.. Best Of In NobleArc’s Opinion album. They include: Thriller, The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney), Black or White, Billie Jean (Long 12″ Version), Beat It, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (2003 Edit), Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana, and Human Nature.

I’m quite happy with ze selection. I also found out that I absolutely hate a song by Michael and Janet Jackson entitled “Scream.” The music video especially bugs me, as you can’t tell who is the woman in it ’til Janet starts fondling herself on ze camera. It’s upsetting.

I get Super Smash Bros. Brawl tomorrow. The video store already has ‘em in stock, but apparently they need to go through processing. I assume that means calling people on ze list (like me) and giving them their copies first, as well as putting for sale stickers on them, with prices.. etc. That’s why tomorrow during the first break (9:50 – 10:05) at school, I’ll be running over to grab a copy. They open at 10 though.. so I might end up waiting ’til lunch, and just calling at break.

I tried playing Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus, but I really don’t like those kinds of games. I agree that Hideo Kojima is a genius, and I love some of the humor I’ve seen from the games, but I don’t like being sneaky. That’s the same reason I hate the Splinter Cell series. I’m still determined to give the original Metal Gear Solid and the two sequels a try too, though.

–

END TRANSMISSION.

March 9, 2008 · Filed Under Announcements, Gleipnir, Iðunn, Journal, Linux, Nasir, Projects, School

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