[Jeff]

Captain Awesome, on 15 September 2012 - 09:43 PM, said:

Holy shit that sucks, Jeff. I don't know what I could do without caffeine. However, have you tried just drinking black coffee? Perhaps its sugar or another common ingredient amongst soda pops. I've been trying to cut down on those things, they're poison. Coffee is wonderful and I'd kill myself without it.

It could be worse. I've actually read recently that there's some individuals in this world who are allergic to everything except for water.

[Master Fibbles]

I decided that flipping quarters is only so useful for making decisions...so I made a Magic 8-Ball.

[Jeff]

I haven't had any Pepsi yet, and my throat actually feels better. No headaches either from caffeine withdrawal.

[Kathy]

Captain Awesome, on 15 September 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

Coffee is wonderful and I'd kill myself without it.

That is rather sad.

Not the actual killing part of course.

[Jimmy]

You don't understand.

[Kathy]

Most likely.

Anyway, I'll try not to drink tea for a week to test this caffeine withdrawal. Should be interesting.

[Hendricks266]

Unless you're drinking hella black tea there isn't a whole lot of caffeine to be found.

[Kathy]

I like my tea black as hell.

[Hendricks266]

Since my internet connection currently uses a piece of shit ACTIONTEC combined DSL modem/wifi router that likes to overheat and delay packets after a long hard night of torrenting TF2, I decided, fuck that shit. For a while I had a Siemens SpeedStream 4100, one of the best DSL modems ever made, just laying around because the wired router I was going to use in tandem with it (a Linksys BEFSX41) had some special incompatibility that locked the modem down. (TX at one point said he found a workaround but by that time I already had my current setup, and...) Currently, I need to have wireless access as well as wired and family picked up a used Dynex DX-NRUTER (pictured) that I was going to try to use along with the SpeedStream.



So I try to set the thing up, plug in the power, hold the reset pin for 30 seconds, and it resets. I wait for 10 seconds for the power light to stop blinking, and it resets again. And again. Indefinitely.

I think to myself, "Fuck," and look up how to flash the router firmware. A copy of the original firmware is nowhere to be found on the internet, but luckily DD-WRT support exists. I find the following good instructions:

http://infodepot.wik...NRUTER#Flashing
http://www.dd-wrt.co...pic.php?t=46016

Except that they don't work. The device doesn't respond and keeps blinking away. It has a much deeper brick than I would have thought at first glance.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...rom_a_Bad_Flash
http://www.dd-wrt.co...pic.php?t=51486

The second link contains this:

Quote

If you get a few ping responses of ttl=100, or even 1, that is the CFE saying "Send me a firmware! NOW!"

I start running "ping -t 192.168.0.1" on the device and to my surprise it gives me a TTL=100 response every 5 or so pings, otherwise timing out or Destination host unreachable. I time the firmware upload at the right moment when the ping responds and it actually catches traction and uploads. I wait in eager anticipation... and more 10 second blinking. The ping pattern returned just as it was before. Either the device is truly broken (which it does not appear to be, only two years old, and I opened the case and found no damage) or the firmware is failing to install.

The wiki link above include a special set of directions for the Linksys WRT6000N if DD-WRT fails to install:

Quote

Since the WRT is being recognized as the wrong model by DD-WRT because of corrupt NVRAM settings, this will help us clear the NVRAM.

The strategy it uses is to reinstall the default firmware, perform a reset under that firmware to clear the NVRAM, then install DD-WRT. The problem is that there is no available stock firmware available, and no way to clear the defaults. Or, the actual problem is totally unrelated, I should stop wasting my time, and I should press my luck buying another one.

[Jeff]

Burnett, on 16 September 2012 - 08:09 PM, said:

Most likely.

Anyway, I'll try not to drink tea for a week to test this caffeine withdrawal. Should be interesting.

They say the first 48 hours are usually the worst. After that it's not that bad. Headaches go away after about 48 hours. I think it also depends on how much caffeine you drink. For example, if you consume a large amount, such as 500-700 mg per day, you will suffer debilitating migraine headaches. Versus if you only drink a small amount, it won't be as bad. Another thing I've read is that if you consume lots of water during the process of going off caffeine, the symptoms can be much easier to handle.

I remember reading this one article where they took this guy who had 2500 mg per day off of caffeine and he was screaming at his kids. Others who had around 600 mg didn't go to work or went home early.

[The Commander]

New Zealanders are crazy, no?
Geoff Mackley is renowned for filming most of the epic nature type things you see on news/tv and was the star of Discovery channels "Dangerman"

[Hendricks266]

[Master Fibbles]

That is kind of ironic...probably intentionally. It is kind of funny in a chauvinistic kind of way.


In other news, I hate working in a place where I can't even install software to do my job. Now, I wouldn't have to install anything if the campus police knew how to use their own software...on the upside, I know that there was (I assume he got canned) a guy working in the bookstore on campus who was stealing money.

[Kathy]

Mr.Flibble, on 17 September 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

In other news, I hate working in a place where I can't even install software to do my job. Now, I wouldn't have to install anything if the campus police knew how to use their own software...on the upside, I know that there was (I assume he got canned) a guy working in the bookstore on campus who was stealing money.

Normal users at work shouldn't install anything, it is IT department's job. It seems they aren't doing it.

[Master Fibbles]

I work in the IT department. That is the frustrating thing.

[Jeff]

Mr.Flibble, on 17 September 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

I work in the IT department. That is the frustrating thing.

I've heard that IT is one of the most stressful industries to work in. Clerical is the least stressful.

[Kathy]

Mr.Flibble, on 17 September 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

I work in the IT department. That is the frustrating thing.

Not really. If you're not helpdesk/sysdmin then I don't see the need to install your own software. That depends on the company's policy, though. But I wouldn't allow anyone install anything. You want some program to work with? All the licences are ok? Your supervisor is ok with that? Then helpdesk installs within a day. Sure, you won't do it yourself, but I suppose you're not the one responsible for the operating system.

And I know what happens when users can install software. Malware and warez. No, thanks.

[High Treason]

Hmm... I've got a cold and have had no sense of taste or smell all day, it just came back and I've realised my mug smells and tastes strongly of kerosene, which I have handled today so the smell probably is kerosene.

On this Software installation thing, I can understand your frustration. Where I used to 'work' they got rather angry with me for running a benchmark, my reason for running it was legit and the license was in check (they were strict on those - rightly so - so I was always careful about that), they were giving me some nonsense about it wearing the system out faster or something... The machine was around 10 years old though, so maybe it worried them. (4:30 AM rambling commences... now)

The reason I ran it was that they had asked me to repair the workstation as it kept randomly re-booting, seemingly due to a corrupt Windows installation, as ris was down at the time (this was before they left me to handle the network) I spent ages re-installing that and went back to my desk only to be called back by a user saying the machine gave him a BSOD. I grabbed some new RAM and installed that, seemed to work so I left it alone. It broke again.

I went back with a multimeter (they approved this method! ) and my stack of CDs, tried stressing the CPU and Memory and observed the voltages (we didn't have many spare PSUs because one of the techies liked messing about with the 120/240 switch on the back, probably did with this machine once) - all normal. Figured that if I couldn't make the machine crash I'd have to just remove it to the spares room, the company didn't like me removing machines and it meant that I'd have to stay late getting another one to work and trying to get the network guy to come in and set it up with that (I didn't have the password to join the domain at that point) so I ran a benchmark, figuring that it might cause the crash I had never seen for myself and help me to track down the source. Incidentally, it did crash and I found that the video card was faulty, so I replaced that and worte about it in the repair log.

As I said, they got angry about it. I told them I was using it as a diagnostic tool, their response was - wait for it - telling me I was henceforth forbidden to run diagnostic tools on their systems.

Lucky for me, when the network guy left, they pretty much just left me to get on with it, nobody else in the building really knew much about how computers worked after that so it was me or nobody. I guess the fact I was there through school and therefore was not getting paid probably helped with this.

[underTaker]

Fuck fuck fuck! My car has another breakdown! It's third time this year! This time there's oil leakage... I trully start to believe that this year will be the world's last year, everything is breaking down! Beginning with my computer, going through my dad's car and mobile phone and many other things finishing with triple breakdown of my car! It's propably becouse of extremly high curb near my house's drive, and my car low suspension.

Bad year!

[Hank]

underTaker, on 18 September 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

I trully start to believe that this year will be the world's last year, everything is breaking down!
Bad year!

OK. For you definitely. Broken cars are no fun. Still ...

My story - get out of semi retirement - get some interesting projects - my girl left because she can't handle being alone again but refuses to come with me. - So, I said fuck it - get a new girl - found it - she is coming to a far away country with me next week, she is much younger, and better looking, and actually gives me a hug in the morning - moral of the story.
I think try to just get a new car, and the world shall continue - just mouthing off.

[underTaker]

That's building in the spirit, Hank
There's always good ending to the story!

I like my car actually, despite it likes to be malfunctioning sometimes There is possibility that it is just damaged drive shaft's siemering. I'll take a break from driving for now and leave the car for few days at workshop, i hope they will do that quickly

[High Treason]

I had a crappy year last year... the year before too. In the end I just gave up trying to make anything good of it and decided that I really didn't care anyway. It's quite good, because now instead of being depressed, I'm just lethargic, I sit in my chair all day smoking like a chimney, not eating and not daring to touch anything because it will probably break or cost me money I don't have.

Long story short, the moral is, don't copy me.

I've also noticed I am becoming socially distant because I don't really know anybody that I have much in common with anyway (most people can't understand a word I say) and most of the time people are around, I sit in my chair in silence doing the same as always, occasionally mumbling to myself. I'm not even much better around my family, in fact, I often snap at people when they ask what kind of day I am having... usually because I don't remember anything from more than a few minutes back and conclude that it probably isn't any better than another day anyway and I am really hungry, yeah, don't ask me what I had to eat for lunch because I will probably punch you, chances are I ate bread, possibly with supermarket brand cheese and now feel ill as a result, the same thing I have eaten for the past 19 years, why would today be any different. At the same time, a small part of me worries that one day, they'll just stop talking to me.

I'd try to change but I can't figure out a way how, I've always been a miserable somewhat antisocial git and I always will be, on top of that, if I did think of something it would only backfire on me anyway. Of course there's always some idiot with a sunny disposition saying "Go out there, do something!" but as soon as I say "Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it." and ask them what they expect of me they concede that they have no idea. Practically everything I own is broken or breaking and I am heading the same way because I can't afford to get anything treated but the government still tax me to death to pay for idle people to get this stuff for free.

Also, it's nearly 5:30 AM and I am still awake... No surprises there, I can never sleep. I wish I could go to sleep whenever I wanted like some people (whom I often deliberately wake up out of spite because they tend to snore loudly in the next room when I actually could be asleep. ) - being asleep isn't much fun anymore though, because my dreams are really boring now. They used to be all messed up and stuff, but now they just seem like everyday life but look slightly like the otherworld from Silent Hill - my dreams have always looked like that... probably says something about me as a person but meh.

Bah, I'm gonna stop being emo and sit in my chair until I'm tired enough to go to sleep.

[Kathy]

So... do you have a reason to live?

[Fox]

High Treason, on 18 September 2012 - 08:30 PM, said:

Practically everything I own is broken or breaking

Actually that's true for everybody. Things are made to last a short time so you must buy a new one.

[underTaker]

I sometimes envy other's for their non-breaking-anything ability. @High, personally i think we should be like we are without forcing anything others want.

[Mikko]

High Treason, on 18 September 2012 - 08:30 PM, said:

I've also noticed I am becoming socially distant because I don't really know anybody that I have much in common with anyway (most people can't understand a word I say)

Nearly all of my friends have always been very different from me. I don't see how dissimilarity should be a hindrance. I cannot stand people who belong to my reference group, if such a thing even exists.

Quote

I'd try to change but I can't figure out a way how, I've always been a miserable somewhat antisocial git and I always will be, on top of that, if I did think of something it would only backfire on me anyway.

Maybe your problem is that you're a miserable antisocial "git" who wants to be a social person while you should just strive to be happily antisocial. Antisociality is a personality trait, not a defect; you should make the most out of it. In general the society puts too much emphasis on being social while instead the antisocial should be encouraged to be good at things that require independent thinking & such.

Fox, on 18 September 2012 - 10:45 PM, said:

Actually that's true for everybody. Things are made to last a short time so you must buy a new one.

Not for me: I've only had to purchase two cellphones in 12 years, one portable CD player (I retired it last December though because I bought an iPod), one iPod, my computer has never failed (except for a crappy fatal1ty mouse but I got the money back) - even my keyboard is from 1998 (my friend has been threatening to buy me a new keyboard simply so that he can take my current keyboard and smash it; apparently it's a huge source of annoyance to him)!

Things aren't made to last forever because it makes more sense for both the consumer & producer to invest the extra money needed to manufacture more durable goods to higher tech.

[Jeff]

Fox, on 18 September 2012 - 10:45 PM, said:

Actually that's true for everybody. Things are made to last a short time so you must buy a new one.

Yep. I wanted to use a new iPod Touch app, but in order to do so I basically had to buy a new iPod which is around $300 or so. I was saying to myself, "but the one I have works just fine". Unfortunately, I think that has something to do with planned obsolescence. Some environmentalists claim this is kind of what's causing all the stuff that winds up in landfills. If people only had to replace their iPods every 10 years versus almost every year, then there would be much less waste in the landfills. Of course, that's probably true for any electronic device. We do have electronics recycling programs here where I live, so it helps a bit.

I know, it's all about the money, but that's kind of partly to blame for the way our world is right now. I mean 100-200 years ago, the Earth was in much better shape. It's only in the last 100 years or so that it's seen a mass decline in the environmental and other issues. I'm not sure if it's fair to attribute that to money itself, but it had some part to do with it. Maybe it's this whole mass consumer consumption. I don't know, I'm not an expert. Just some stuff I've noticed.

[Jimmy]

It's a byproduct of capitalism's unsustainable concept of "endless growth." If things were made to last forever then bottom lines drop.

[Jeff]

Endless growth doesn't quite work with a planet that has limited resources.

[Mikko]

Those "limited resources" can be recycled over and over again and there are tons of unused resources ready to be used. There are infinite sources of energy within our grasp and world population will likely cap around 9 billion. So calm down niggers, the doomsday you're all so eagerly anticipating is no more likely to arrive than Jesus. Why is it that every generation is expecting an end of the world? Is that more comforting than the idea that the world will continue to turn just fine without you around?