There is a workaround for the silly way in which Vista checks to make sure that you are actually upgrading a previous version of Windows. I wrote about this previously, where I actually had to install Windows XP to use the 32 bit upgrade of Windows Vista after I had “mistakenly” formated over my XP installation to install a clean copy of Windows Vista.
There is a way around this that I mentioned in the previous article though.
Install Windows Vista 32 bit on a clean partition using the partition tools, but do not enter in a license key. Once Vista is completely installed you can boot into it for the first time. At this step you will figure out that even when entering in a valid key (although for an upgrade), you will be unable to actually use it because Vista still demands that it be upgraded from a previous version and not a clean install. To get around this, just install Vista on top of itself as an upgrade which circumvents the whole purpose of this silly routine … making sure you have Windows XP or Windows 2000. When you upgrade your unlicensed version of Windows Vista 32 bit you will have no ill effects, a “semi” clean install, and a useless “Windows.old” directory that you can just delete. With this method you do not have to touch your XP disk, although you will have to install Vista twice. What a pain.
Category Computers |
Alright, I went to add notepad and wordpad to my Send To folder like I always have for each of the previous operating systems. Thanks to the “simplified” (and admittedly cleaner) users folder and the disappearance of settings, I could not find the way to customize the Send To command. A search in the Vista help produces basically nothing.
I finally found the solution. Just enter in the following in your power search box (Start -> “Start Search”).
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
Once the folder is opened just drag shortcuts of any program you would like to appear there into that folder. Not as easy as WindowsXP is it?
Category Computers |
An alternate title for this post could be “How I managed to memorize my Vista key in one day.”
In previous versions of Windows when you purchased the Upgrade version of the new operating system you could always just insert the CD of the previous version during the install to verify that you indeed had a previous version and were eligible for the upgrade version. In Vista, as far as I can tell, this is not possible. It actually checks for a previous operating system for an upgrade key. This makes for a huge inconvenience that in the end is completely retarded because there is a “workaround” that nullifies the whole process. (more…)
Category Computers |
This post is obviously a spoiler, I would avoid reading it if you have not seen the show! Then again you can probably predict the ending if you have ever imagine up a semi-happy ending to some kind of hero like possible disaster.
Was it just me or was the Heroes big finale on Monday more of a big Fizzle? All season we have a build up to a supposedly spectacular ending that involves a bomb that is supposed to go off (from mysterious circumstances no less) in the middle of New York City. What we end up with is a cookie cutter ending that seems taken directly from any number of super hero comic books. That is all well and good, because obviously Heroes is a super hero show inspired by such works. On the other hand, the show had a kind of sophisticated story line (quasi-Lost like almost) that intrigued us all season. To end on such a predictable and comic book like ending was a let down for me, personally, because I expected some sophistication and surprise.
There were some surprises that we encountered. The little girl, Lilly, who can see anyone in the world and their exact location, mentioned that she knew of a person that was more evil than Silar and could see her when she saw him. Seeing as we are short some villains after the Finale and that the “League of Heroes” is together (corny and predictable), they might as well fight this new super villain (if the next season wasn’t so weird, more on that later).
Peter must live. He is the main character, so I expect him to live through that. I will be disappointed if he did not. I am already disappointed because the future that the showed a couple episodes before the finale, the bleak dark future where Silar is president and Peter is jaded but powerful, the world is splintered, and there is a kind of silent war on “heroes” … now that was interesting! I want a season about that future, not the warm fluffy future where the bomb does not go off and love between brothers conquers evil. Give me a break, I really hoped after seeing that bleak future that Heroes would finally surpass Lost as a sophisticated show (and yes I know Lost has its silly main stream unsophisticated moments). Unfortunately, only a mere couple of episodes later they disappoint me with the finale no less.
Then there is next season.
We could have new people and new storylines and new ideas and new threats and new bad guys and new heroes. So I would prepare the audience for that idea, that it’s not just a continuing serialized storyline about only these people. It’s a little more the 24 model than the Lost model.
I heard rumors that season 2 will be a prequel, however I have not confirmed that on the internet except for the fact that a twin mini-series will run while Heroes takes its break sometime next season called “Heroes:Origins” that explains the back stories of the characters. However, it seems here that we will see the some of the same characters but the writers are giving themselves the opportunity to trash, forget, or create characters at their discretion. You have to be cautious here though, since the story is character based. As Lost has found, introducing new characters can be a tricky affair, and many times people tend to just plain hate new characters because they appear so shallow to the old characters that have been well developed. However, unlike Lost, Heroes characters are not all that well shaped and developed. Instead of having to develop complex character personalities and back stories (ala Lost), Heroes simply adds a simple back story and personality and lets the audience concentrate on their super power. So shuffling characters in and out may work out for Heroes. Only time will tell.
I will say, it is a blessing and a curse, this final episode. One thing that I hate is an epic cliff hanger that I have to wait all summer to find the ending to. One thing that I love is an epic cliff hanger that I have to wait all summer to find the ending to. In the case of the Heroes finale, I won’t have to deal with either situation because it was not epic or much of a cliffhanger at all.
Category Television |
I am in the process of reviving this blog and finishing some kind of easy redesign. WordPress has grown a lot since I started using it, so I am incorporating many things quickly with themes and widgets, but will have to customize everything over time.
I am very busy lately since I graduated with a new job. It turns out that you have very little free time after college. Trying to fit everything you want to do and everything you have to do is hard in the few hours after work, and then the weekends you are busy doing even more stuff.
I would say stay tuned .. but chances are I am the only one reading this. Plus that weird guy Tom who keeps reading my blog.
Category Stuff |
I am in the process of redesigning once again to a more modern and functional theme based on K2. Have more time to work on this now that I have graduated from college.
Stay tuned.
Category Stuff |
It’s fairly easy, and a construct of existentialist philosophy.
There are two branches of explanation to the meaning of life. These are broken down into consequences and content. Consequences would be an expectation that life is building up to an ultimate goal, or that anything a human being does has an inevitable consequence and meaning. On the other side is content, where the meaning is within life itself.
Now under each of these categories there is a subjective and objective explanation as to the meaning of life.
Subjective Consequence
This is best described in religion. Instead of confronting the meaning of life, or looking for it in consequence that can be measured or observed, we look beyond our own world and explanation into the heavens. Thus the meaning of life is not discovered or attained until death, and then it is only subject to a deity or other religious belief. The problems with this are the same old problems with religion when discussed in a philosophical context. There is the problem of God and the status of God as evil or good, the notion that one must die to know, and the lack of any kind of reasonable evidence in our everyday experience.
Objective Consequence
Rocks. This is how my professor in existentialist philosophy put it. Objectively, that is using evidence in the real world, and observed logical conclusions, the consequences of our actions are just a different pattern of atoms. If I decide to throw my pencil across the room, then it is across the room. If not, then it is still here. The consequence of such actions, in context of the meaning of life, is that when all is said and done and billions of years have passed, rocks in outer space may be in a different place.
Subjective Content
The meaning of life is whatever makes me happy and whatever I see as valuable to me. This sounds like a reasonable claim. However, it is not. This is a leap away from the question, avoiding the meaning of life by assigning value to meaninglessness. It is the path of empty desire. Self fulfilling and is more of a distraction than anything else.
Objective Content
Meaning comes from everyone around us, and is evaluated objectively and logically. The ultimate truth of which comes with death. Everyone dies. Therefore the one objective and most reasonable answer for the “Meaning of Life” is death itself.
Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, huh? Those existentialist are sure the life of the party.
Category Philosophy, Religion |
This man has obviously never been laid
Our favorite asshole lawyer, Jack Thompson, has discovered *gasp* that people are actually naked under their clothes. This revelation came when Jack discovered that the game Oblivion accurately rendered women nude under their shirts.
Like most Republican prudes, Jack has never seen a naked woman and believes that people come from storks, at the ordering of God. He was also dropped on his head as a child.
I really do not understand the issue here. He does not even mention what I have already pointed out the most shocking aspect of this mod. How does plain nudity offend anyone, *unless* they are retarded prudish idiots? Maybe someone needs to talk to Jack about how babies are made.
In a game where you have missions to murder people and can kill people with swords and magic at will, the one thing the media and zealots pull out is a couple breasts. My solution? Get laid. I swear how messed up is this country? Isn’t this fairly analogous to art? What’s next, a condemnation of naked Barbie dolls? Perhaps you should rate them mature. People are naked, this is a fact. People have sex, this is a fact. There is no choice in the matter either, both of these things have to happen to continue living as a species. What does not have to happen is senseless violence. The fact that in American culture the thing that is natural is taboo and the thing that is not is totally integrated into our culture is just plain sad.
Category Games, Politics |
Kobe Bryant likes to prove his points in the playoffs, and he does not care if it means that the team goes home for the summer. He is the most vindictive bastard in the NBA and will make his team suffer because he feels slighted by the press. Tonight Kobe took only 3 shots in the entire second half and only scored 1 point off a technical shot. What an ass. I am only mad because I was forced to pick him in my playoff fantasy game and I thought he would fire away because with the Suns finally reaching their normal tempo, the Lakers pretty much had little chance playing an uptempo game.
We have seen it before. The Lakers take a loss when Shaq and Kobe are on the same team, a loss where Kobe takes a bunch of shots, and the media criticizes him. The next game Kobe comes in and takes not only less shots, but so few it leaves everyone scratching their head. There are only a couple explanations for this.
- Kobe was taken out by defense – This is the most improbable. Kobe himself recognizes he can get any shot he wants, he has said so. We all know he can.
- Kobe was told by Phil Jackson to not take shots or he thought his team had a better chance to come back by passing off – No, again not likely. Phil Jackson has no problem with Kobe taking shots. Down by 15 at the half and watching it go up to 25 by the 4th should be a good reason to start taking the ball .. if nothing else to throw the crowd off.
- Kobe was criticized for taking too many shots in Game 6, he “shows them” that they need him more than he needs them – Vindictive bastard raise your hand. I guess he made his point. You want me to take no shots? We lose by 30+.
Point taken Kobe. Thank you. Go home.
Category Basketball |
Everyone has heard of the Hot Coffee controversy courtesy of a modification to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that allowed you to have “sex” with a pixilated nude woman in the game. It was retarded, as Maddox pointed out, because it is a freaking game where you run around and steal cars and shoot police. To claim that the worst part of the game is the terrible sex scene really says quite a few things about the American value system.
Thankfully, a nerdy role-playing game called Elder Scrolls: Oblivion has outdone the stupid Hot Coffee crap. In a nod to realistic gameplay, the designers have left in skins and models for females that include *gasp* breasts. The default game covers *gasp* breasts with a default bra or whatever that thing is that covers them. So what do you think one of the first mods released is? Of course, the topless mod!
The caveat? Well kids were complaining they cant see their electronic breasts immediately after loading their modification. See, the women still have clothes on as they walk around the game world. Anger ensues. Anger leads to violence. The best way to get to see the boobies is to murder a woman character and strip her of clothes. Oh the humanity! That’s right, in this game you have to find a woman, kill her, and then strip her of all clothes just to see her naked. Now all you “games lead to real life violence” people can start crying about it. Yes, your kids are ritualistically killing women in a video game to see their naked corpses. Sounds pleasant?
I am certainly laughing. I will be keeping count of how many nerds go crazy and start killing women to see them naked in the real world after playing Oblivion. In the meantime let me continue my nude killing spree.
Category Games, Politics |
