The "How Was Your Day?" Thread

[Alekta]

Today is only halfway through and it suuucks. Aresian has the flu, I feel like I'm having a damn gall bladder attack again, though it is getting better, and I had like three hours of sleep. :'( Now when I try to nap I feel like I'm going to throw up so I'm lurking around looking for something to do till my nerves settle.

Also worried games with too much action going on (Oblivion or any platformers) might make me motion sick. I should cuddle up with a good RPG maybe...

[AlexThePenguin]

Lack of sleep is bad for gall bladders.

So is cholesterol. Especially the skeletons thereof. That's what almost killed me. :D

Anyway, we got our marriage license today.

We can do this thing LEGALLY now! :D

[Mikero]

Um...

On friday night I went to a friend's birthday party where I saw some friends I hadn't seen in a while. Yesterday (sat) just as a different group of friends were arriving at my place for a hard to schedule hangout I found out that one of those friends from the Friday party got into a car accident and died on the way home from said party.

So, like, today I've just been talking to people and stuff. I don't know how much I'll be online or anything for a bit. Could be more or less than usual really. I can use the distraction.

[ASR]

That's harsh, man, especially since you were there so close to the time it happened. This sort of thing, when it's somebody close to your age and that you shared some history with, it really brings up those issues of mortality. Last year, a close childhood friend of mine got hit by a bus. I hadn't seen him in a while but we were really good friends as kids, and we even shared some birthday parties together. It was tough to get through, but you'll get there.

My condolences.

[Johncarllos]

Sorry to hear that Mike.
Good luck with getting through it.

[Jakey]

The closer you are to someone, the harder it hits you, the longer it takes to get past it. One of my close friends committed suicide last summer. That was pretty tough. Still is. If you wanna talk, lemme know bro.

[AlexThePenguin]

That's rough, hon. My condolences.


In other news, I met my in-laws last night. They seem to have accepted me into the flock.

[Abominator]

You JUST met them?!

Anyway, hope you're doing OK Mike, I've had too many good friends die in various unpleasant ways over the years, it does make you weigh things up in a different light.

[AlexThePenguin]

I've talked with them for years, but never met them face-to-face.

Posted on: 10-03-2011, 14:48:57

Hours away from the wedding. I don't feel nervous, but definitely restless.

It'll be a great wedding. Eclectic mix of guests, and a ring ceremony and handfasting in one. Lots of good food. Lots of good people.

Should be good fun.

When I next report back, I will be Mrs. Wilfong.

[Johncarllos]

Why not combine the names into Willsfong? They are so similar.

Well, too late, now.
Anyways, congratulations.

[Chron]

Name combination is actually a pretty neat idea.

Think of the permutations possible!
Like Joe Rock and Jane Fullner!

Rollner!  Or... oh wait I see a problem here.

[Majikn]

I don't know why but when combining words, especially stuff like names, I pay attention to how many letters from each name are used.

Recurring letters are avoided unless placed in an manner indicative of who's name it's from.

GOOD THING I DON'T MAKE THE DECISIONS

[Fatso]

Portmanteaus: SERIOUS BUSINESS.

[Mikero]

Thanks for the wishes guys, and Jake I can't imagine how terrible that is for you. This whole really helped me see why we try to help people away from suicide--It's more about preventing our pain than theirs, in a way. Not that my friend commited suicide, but I was just thinking that I couldn't put my family and friends through that. My sympathies to you Jake.

And Opal.

Ha ha marriage joke! I'm back(ish), baby! Real talk though, congradulations guys!

[AlexThePenguin]

So yeah.

Mrs. Wilfong, eclectic wannabe billionaire.

[Johncarllos]

Willsfong. Wahoo.
Congraturations.

[Speed Racer]

$370 to fix my damn car.

[Majikn]

I just realized the other day that it must have been five years as of February since I joined this place. I think it was 2-11-06.
John, was it 06?
We both joined around the same time.

Matrix has helped shape my identity. I think I've learned and taken something from every member here.
Even freakin' dzx9.

[AlexThePenguin]

Going from wedding to working with one day's partial rest is exhausting. Shoulda taken off the week.

[Snare]

What did you learn from me, Majikn?

I had an anxiety attack last night. Over something pretty retarded. I still feel kind pooey, though.

[ASR]

That's okay!

[Johncarllos]

I just realized the other day that it must have been five years as of February since I joined this place. I think it was 2-11-06.
John, was it 06?
We both joined around the same time.

Matrix has helped shape my identity. I think I've learned and taken something from every member here.
Even freakin' dzx9.

Ditto.
I'm very sure it was '06. Been here quite a while...

[Vinchenz Rock]

2003 or 2004 for me.

I feel bad because I don't really socialize with you guys much outside of here... and slowly we're posting less and less each year...

I want to talk to you guys on AIM and stuff but I'm bad at it. :/

Anyway, I've been up all night with a few other members of my group. We're #####ing exhausted like you can't believe. And pissed. The other few members of our group, the ones that have important ##### to do pretty much were like "yup we're tired good night". They've been pulling this all semester. Which is retarded because they're better than this. So #####ing annoying...

I don't know if I can do this anymore. Having to pull all nighters while barely getting any work done because half of our team ain't pulling their ##### together. The few of us who are pulling all nighters can't just keep up with the work we have to do. It's killing us.

Bleh. I hate ranting. I'm just so tired... and I can't sleep until like 9PM still... Been up since 6AM yesterday. So tired...

[Mikero]

Monday the guy who's desk is next to mine at work said he was selling his MacBook Pro if I knew anyone looking. I pointed at myself.

Yesterday I payed for it and he gave it to me. Fastest electronics decision and transaction I've made in a dragon's age.

So today, I can actually come back and talk to you guys without it being an ORDEAL. And this machine is #####ing mad sex, I gotta tell ya. 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, Mac OS X 10.6.7 and Windows 7 Professional, Adobe CS5 suite, Final Cut and Soundtrack Pro, and other programs it's loaded to the tits with. In perfect condition! He also threw in a case for it and a wireless mouse so it was a STEAL.

But I'm mostly excited to have a laptop that actually operates correctly.

[Johncarllos]

Awesome! I'm glad you got such a kickin' system.

[ASR]

Glad to have you back on what will hopefully be a regular basis... though who knows what "regular basis" even means around here anymore.

I need a new computer, too. I love the feeling of getting a brand new pieces of electronics. Nothing beats loading up a new computer and customizing it for the first time.

[MOX]

Macbook Pro? The one with the aluminum unibody? NICE.

[NekoMaru]

My day sucks so far, why? Because it's still F**KING FREEZING IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL! I don't wanna live in stereotypical canadian weather!

[Johncarllos]

Alec, build yourself a desktop computer. It is a great feeling.

[Majikn]

Cold in April is unusual, but becoming a trend.
I put my winter coat back on after the end of a slight reprieve in temperature, it goes back down and stays down for a few more weeks, and then...

I don't know how you can stereotype climate, though.

Also I have this feeling I'll screw up horribly if I try to build a computer because the parts I order will not fit or something. So I'm gonna get some local tech guys to do it.

[Johncarllos]

Use me. It's insanely easy nowadays.
Just plug things in and follow the instruction in your mobo manual. I put mine together in an hour.
I can design you a tower for under $700 that'll tear apart most games.

Although, buying a pre-built computer through a third party (not like HP or anything) costs similar, but the experience is good for when you ever need to upgrade anything.

[ASR]

For years I've been telling myself I'm going to build a computer. I'll get around to it eventually. It's something I've always wanted to. I once got really closing to starting one, and I watch another kid do it at military school. (We weren't allowed to have real computers, but they gave us monitors with a built-in terminal that basically had nothing but Microsoft Word on it... so this guy built a computer in a cardboard box and kept it under his desk inconspicuously, hooking it up to his monitor.)

[Majikn]

My computer was 1200 dollars in 2006, built by the same guys and it was more of a gift for graduation. It doesn't actually seem suitable for upgrade with what's on the market right now.

And right now I don't even have a limited budget because I'm making more money than I actually expected.

[Mikero]

Personally I love this cool April. I like to wear jackets, and I like to wear hoodies under them.

This computer was a thousand, which is a steal for it. Last night I was looking through the games and noticed Angry Birds and The Sims 3 are on here along with other stuff. I don't really care about either of those two but I'll probably try out Sims and get caught up.

I really want to see this insane cardboard box computer.

I don't know how you can stereotype climate, though.

Yeah, that stuck out to me too...

[Johncarllos]

Sean, a $1200 computer now would blow nearly everything out of the water.

Unless you want an Intel i7 and Nvidia set up. i7s are a waste unless you are doing insane calculations and computers are loading a lot of that off onto graphics cards now.

[Mikero]

I really don't think 1200$ gets you such an amazing computer, actually...

I don't really know a lot about this stuff but a lot of new 'just alright' computers cost more than that already.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, though.

[Majikn]

Yeah, it's an older computer though. So what was $1200 five years ago is probably not much now.
Either way it just doesn't perform so well anymore. I've formatted it and defragged it and stuff.
My best bet seemed to be to upgrade the RAM, but I also see a benefit in having two computers. One I can plug up with all kinds of downloads and freeware that I might use on the spot, and one for actual performance. I wouldn't keep both running at all times, of course.

Then again I kind of really just don't know what I'm doing and that is the biggest reason I've been so hesitant to actually take action.

[Johncarllos]

My computer is at a total of $670 and can max Borderlands, Mass Effect 2, nearly max Crysis warhead, and damn near anything I throw at it at 1080p.

[Majikn]

Well, that just about frightens the ##### out of me, John.

By computer you mean specifically the desktop itself and not the input/output devices?
You might convince me to just do exactly what you did, if I feel competent enough to emulate your skills.

[Johncarllos]

It's easy peasy. It could almost do all of those things before the last $100 I dumped into it.

Putting it together is damned easy, too.
Screw the Mobo to the case, bolt in PSU, bolt in DVD/BluRay drive and HDD, carefully attach processor and mount heat sink/fan, carefully put RAM in slots, slip video card in right slot, screw into place. Attach cables from power supply (many to mobo and fans). Attach SATA cables to DVD and HDD, attach power to video card.

Boot with OS install disc in.

Create a newegg account and I can slap you together a 'wishlist' for however much you want. If it's over 800-900, I'll be going with Intel for a processor (more expensive), and over $900, NVidia for a video card (more expensive). Not necessarily better performance (although it often is), but for better drivers that require less friggin around.
Top processors are the Intel i7s and AMD 6core Phenom CPUs,
Ram: 1600Mhz DDR3 is typical, $45 for a 4GB stick. The RAM that works with the i7 is more expensive though, but it is better utilized.
$220-$300 on graphics should be enough for damn near anything.
$50+ on a Power supply.

The big decision you have to make is whether you want a solid state drive.
Solid state is insanely fast but pricey, over $2 per gigabyte typically for the cheapest. My hard drive is 7200rpm (current standard) and was $48 for 500GB. 1/20th the price per gig.

A few days worth of research and a decision on what's important as well as the price point and I can put together whatever you want under a budget.

Hell, mine could max all source games at 720p at $450, before a videocard (using integrated graphics on the Motherboard).

Get at me on AIM if you're serious.

ALSO: All dollars are in US. I'm not certain if Newegg ships to Canada or what the prices are.

[MOX]

i.e. you're just connecting a bunch of cables inside a computer case.

[Chron]

I'm still trying to figure out why you would install the processor and heatsink AFTER putting the mobo in the case, PSU and drives.

Maybe that case didn't have a tray for it or something, so that solves the case part, but that's still usually the first thing most people do, since it's easier to work on it without all of that other crap in the way.

[Johncarllos]

I feel that's it's more protected in the case, personally, less chances for it to slip off the antistatic bag AND you're better grounded with the PSU right there to continually ground yourself on, just in case.

It can be done any number of ways, but a friggin monkey could be trained to do it.

It's not like how it used to be when you had to tell the computer all of it's parts in the BIOS correctly or they wouldn't work. The components and BIOS talk with each other instantly and easily.

Edit: by BIOS, I mean MOBO, durrrr

[Mikero]

For some reason I didn't realize you built it yourself. Now I see why it's so cheap.

[Johncarllos]

I had that revelation last summer. Good income and computers cost so little now, why not? I've always wanted to, it's just been $1000+.

[MOX]

You aren't going to be saving THAT much money by building your own PC if you take extra software into account. Though only a lil more expensive, you can buy pretty fast pre-built computers from companies like HP and Dell.

Building your own PC is good because you can choose which components to focus on and which components to skimp on. When you pick the components of your own computer its easier to figure out if something is wrong or to replace either a CPU or video card when you want to upgrade. Each component you buy also has it's own warranty and customer support. If you buy a computer from say Dell, you would have to talk to customer service and possibly be talked into spending hundreds of dollars for simple fixes.

If you're buying a computer from Apple, then yes $1000 won't get you much. Though to be fair Apple's computers have great industrial design are made with materials like aluminum. They make every other computer look ugly/uninspired in comparison; there's a reason why companies like HP and Asus are trying to make  Macbook Pro'esque laptops.

[Mikero]

That new iPad-inspired HP tablet/laptop thing looks terrible and ugly and terribly, by the way.

[Vinchenz Rock]

Well, it's all over now.

I just got back home from an all-nighter gaming marathon that we had at our school. It was our reward for slaving away at code and modelling all semester. It was incredibly fun, I played Minecraft like I haven't before and we played it on a server. I just finished making a volcano.

As I said bye to the classmates I may never see again... I suddenly realized something. The last three years of my life were the best years of my life. I do not believe I'll have an experience as great at this ever again. I had (mostly) great Teachers, people who actually wanted us to learn and went out of their way to make sure we got the most out of their teachings. In fact, if it weren't for one of the teachers I wouldn't be half the programmer I am today. I would still be the lazy slob who would honestly just be a dead weight. This teacher got me to go out and learn things on my own and to try things in our assignments that other people would be too lazy to implement. I thank him a lot for that because it's honestly changed my life.

All of my classmates were the smartest, kindest, most respectable people. We were all friends and we would help each other out no matter the situation. I have never seen a more perfect set of classmates to be honest. We truly were completely compatible with one another. I've never and do not think I'll ever see such a group of classmates ever again. I'm proud to be a part of them. I'll truly miss them.

But my most treasured personal acquirements come from two people who I met, befriended, and became close brothers with. The three of us have a tight bond that will never be broken. I trust my life with them and I know that they trust their lives with me. I would never do anything that would cause them harm, no matter what happens. I'll be living with them starting January.

And now that it's all over... now what? I'm a little depressed because I no longer have vital work that needs to be done... and that I'll never be a part of such a perfect classroom ever again. I'm... already bored to be honest. I guess the feeling will go away in time.

Well, it's not truly all over. I've failed a few classes second year second semester due to being a lazy, dead weight slob. The fact that I've passed all of my classes this year proves that I got what it takes to go back and get those classes finished. Unfortunately, they are spring classes so I'm going home for the summer... and for four months after that. That is why I'll be living with my brothers in January. I'd much rather stay for the summer but I decided with logic in that going home and working there will help me out a lot more then staying here and working while having to pay rent and bills.

But THIS is all over now... a few of the great teachers will be returning... living with my brothers... but one vital ingredient is missing and that is the perfect classmates (which my brothers were a part of). It simply will not be the same.

As I said, the last three years of my life were the best three years of my life. I'll eat my words if I ever contradict myself but I have this feeling that it won't happen. It's a depressing feeling... but the experiences will live on forever in me.

...

I know, I know, tl;dr, but I just had to get this out. This came from deep within my soul and I needed to share it.

[Johncarllos]

Yeah, college kicks ass!
I have fewer bonds like that, but I do have some good bonds.
I have a friend I made this year, a freshman (me a junior) and we get along friggin great, she's one of the better friends I've ever had.
Aside from that I've had my girlfriend, which things have been up and down with over time, be it's been more than 2 years now.


My day:
As president of our University's Outdoors Club, put on a Paintball event which anybody on campus would attend. the day's fees would be half payed for by the club's funds. Well only 5 people ended up going so everyone played for free and got free Chinese after too.
Last round of paintball for the day: 9 kills, 1 death.
I SMOKED the other team.

[Speed Racer]

Don't forget - tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day!