Don't leave me now!

The Christmas before I commenced that fabulous 4-year journey to college, my parents did what thousands of parents do for their education-bound children every year. They bought me my first computer. It was a laptop; a Dell Latitude D600 and it was the first computer that was my very own, that I didn't have to share with anybody. It came with a wireless card, and a full suite of Microsoft Office programs, and really, not too much else, save a few music-playing programs. The computer was to be my constant companion through college and beyond. I don't think I realized until very recently how much I have come to rely on my computer for the many aspects of my life.

Aside from my own acute internet addiction, I installed games and Photoshop, Flash and Javascript, Firefox and an interminable parade of various design programs. I downloaded music. I designed posters. I chatted with friends.

My computer was only really a problem in one way - it seemed to HATE peripherals or anything that might become attached to itself by wire. Not too soon after I received my computer in December of 2002, my computer earned itself the name of The iPod Assassin, brutally freezing 4 iPods within minutes of linking up to them, and slowly poisoning the 5th over the course of a year, 'til the poor thing wouldn't hold a battery charge longer than 10 seconds. All this within 3 months of my gleeful unwrapping of my new computer confidant. There were other incidents too, more about those later.

In a way, I invested so much of my love and personna into my comptuer, that it became a part of me, even despite its ocassional angry whirring and amidst it's uppity denials.

But today, it finally happened. The iPod Assassin, my worthy adversary, workspace, and noble trickster of a computer has completely given up on life.

Yesterday he was fine. Today, attempts to restart left only an insidious black screen which claimed that the original set-up file was corrupt and that I needed to install the "original CD-Rom". Dells haven't come with a CD-Rom for yeeeears. Having already transferred all my music to my mac, I'm not too terribly concerned about my media files, but I AM fairly worried about my Adobe Photoshop and CS1 which I only have installed on the PC.

A new copy for my mac will run me about $999. Money I'm not prepared to spend. Also, my Mac has NO internet connection to speak of when I'm at home, which means I'm writing personal thoughts utilizing my work computer. It's bad form. Plus, my work laptop (eerily, the same model as the Assassin) has no AIM to speak of, no firefox and only an old (old, old, old) version of internet explorer. And I'm not allowed to install new programs on it.

Part of me worries that The Assassin somehow knew I'd brought a computer home of the same exact model and decided in its crotchety old way to make me pay for my indecent two-facedness. By finally committing the greatest of all computer sins, suicide.

Be warned: this computer looks normal enough. But actually, it's quite evil.
It has a propensity to overheat to the temperature of a hell-mouth, and attempts to restart
lead to a sad, half-hearted series of whirrs and clicks. Also, it will eat your soul.

I'd always frowned and then laughed it off when it sent it's electronic brethren into the deep electronics void. Killing off iPods left and right; annhialating digital cameras and printers with wild abandon; dooming yet another USB hub to the garbage (3, so far), and growing crankier and crankier in its old age. It even incapacitated the USB-powered lavalamp Techkat gave me for my 20th birthday.

The Assassin is fully 6 years old now, practically ancient for a computer, and I probably should have realized that it was getting on in years, but still, I'd hoped we'd have a bit more time together than this! I'll be bringing him to a friend who's a computer expert tomorrow and hopefully we'll be able to get him back on his feet. What will I do without him? Is it time to start my search for a new Windows-based laptop? What a terrifying thought.

Upcoming Film: Iron Man

Iron Man enjoys lurking, long flights to the beach,
and staring menacingly through to your soul

Having already seen Forbidden Kingdom, it's time to look ahead and see what else is out there. With much trumpeting and fanfare, Marvel announced it's live action attraction of Iron Man, the story of wealthy billionaire Tony Stark as he develops a technological army-of-one and eventually decides to utilize that power for good.

I haven't really read any of the Iron Man comics, but I've always been a fan of Marvel and their movies so far have all been nothing short of stunning and all have been stuffed with fabulous plot. And frankly, if anyone can play Tony Stark's willfully destructive and highly alcoholic personality, it would be Robert Downey Jr. And, lucky us, that's exactly who's playing him.

I really have nothing else to add here, except that I'm excited to see how they handle some of the physics of having a suit made of metal. Comic-book explanation only does so much, and it's much more impressive to see something of that sort of mass on the move.

With Iron Man coming out on May 2nd, I desperately want to see it on opening night with my friends, but my work schedule doesn't really allow that (getting up at 4am does not interact well with midnight showings... ouch). So I won't be seeing Iron Man opening day, but perhaps on the following Sunday. If you get a chance to see it before I post my reactions, why not leave a comment here and let me know what you thought!

Misti's Link of the Month: Consumerist

I've decided that from now on, in addition to the normal links we'll offer on the side bar, Techkat and I will each have the option of choosing a "link of the month" which will allow our readers to see some of the websites we spend a lot of time viewing.

Even though we're almost done with April, my own link for April 2008 is Consumerist.com, a wonderful site devoted to being a crafty, thrifty, and well-informed consumer. Along with all the usual stories of how to avoid getting ripped off, check out their extensive Flickr pool, and great tips and suggestions on how to save yourself a hefty bundle.

And who doesn't like having more money for themselves???

April's Reading List and a love note to the library

April's been a great month for reading, what with my starting to take public transportation to work and the ample free time I have on my Mondays and Tuesdays off. I figured that in addition to my other geeky pursuits, I could share with you a list of what I've been reading and what I plan to read in upcoming months (which will be covered in my next post... I don't want to overwhelm you).

I have already created a "request" list at the Berkeley Public Library (note to self: get Oakland membership! You don't live in Berkeley anymore!) of all the books I saw at Barnes and Noble that enthralled me in one way or another. The best part of a library is that it's free (mostly. My taxes go there) and they're willing to provide nifty services like creating a waiting list for popular books and holding onto those you want until you get there.

A love note to the library:
Dear Library,

I know it's been a while since I visited you. When last I went, I took full advantage of your freeinternet (which I didn't have available at home because I'd just moved to California) and cheap printing and copying. You have an awesome selection of foreign films and world musiccds. Although your selection of science fiction books is lacking, you make up for it with enthusiasm. All my love,
Misti

Ok, also, get a look at the adorable branch library near me! It's a cottage. Sandwiched between 2 other cottages. It's tiny!


Reading List!

Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
An urban werewolf/vampire fantasy. The third in a series. I read it without putting it down and it was amazing. The book only gets better after you've met Ms. Briggs whose sweetness is tempered by an absolute excitement for everything she writes. Exciting and a good story!


Teach with Your Heart - Erin Gruwell
A memoir and dissection of the formative years of the Freedom Writers program started by Erin Gruwell. In many ways it's wonderful and heartbreaking and moving. It's also very disturbing to enter the lives of these inner city kids who have never heard of the holocaust but are living in their own sort of war-zone every day.


Everything Bad is Good for You - Steven Johnson
An essay (or maybe a thesis) on the expanding nature of pop culture and an interesting hypothesis of how Pop Culture is becoming increasingly complex and forcing us to think more; not less as so many critics have suggested. The book has some good arguments but some points seem to have weak support and portions seem more like a truncated college thesis.


The Kids are Alright: How the Gamer Generation is Changing the Workplace - John Beck & Mitchell Wade
Pretty much as described by the title, this book attempts to discern the way the gamer generation will interact with their peers and bosses when they enter the work-place. The authors use actual studies to back up their assertions. This book also has a keen window into the potential benefits of playing games. At least I don't feel as much that I'm wasting my time when I play games!


Intern: A Doctor's Initiation - Sandeep Jauhar
My work at the hospital has increased my interest in how doctors think and what sort of experiences change the way they view thier profession. In that vein, this book was the perfect descriptor of the formative years of a doctor as Sandeep Jauhar recounts his long and winding journey towards becoming a cardiologist. The book presents a lot of interesting anecdotes but also ends a bit too quickly for my taste.

Forbidden Kingdom, Redux!

So several things. I know it's been a bit of a while since I updated last. My main issue is that my job at the hospital, while not particularly exciting or helpful, is extremely exhausting and I often find myself collapsing into bed upon my arrival at home. With my energy so low, it's difficult to induce myself to get anything done at all!

But hey there, I have managed to enjoy myself a little. Today I headed out to see "Forbidden Kingdom" which I had earlier been raving about going to see. I can recommend it to you all now. Although there are some plot holes, it doesn't stop the movie from being enjoyable and Jackie Chan is downright lovable. The main character, played by Michael Angarano is uh... well, he's a hottie.

There. I've said it. I always loved him in Will&Grace as Jack's son, and he's definitely grown up. Although according to his profile on IMDB he's 20, he plays a fairly believable highschool student overwhelmed by a sudden bout of destiny.

(Quick note here: his profile places him in some of my favorite shows and movies, including Will&Grace, The Pretender, Sky High, Almost Famous... There's a training montage in Forbidden Kingdom where he's shirtless. It's awesome. My attempts to recreate the event for you all by scouring the internet have failed, however, and you're either just going to have to see the movie or use your imagination to get the full effect.)

The movie also nicely features a solid jibe at the disconnect between staged martial arts movies of the 60s and 70s and the actual process of learning the martial arts. Though, it's still highly romanticized here.

Really, there's a lot to recommend here, even though the plot is not particularly sophisticated. Here's a thought though; Jet Li has the dorkiest laugh ever, and I don't think anyone's ever really seen Jet Li laugh until this movie.

Go because: Jet Li laughing, Jackie Chan drunk, Michael Angarano shirtless, hair whips, pretty pretty special effects, gang retribution, sweeping landscapes.

Avoid if: You hate monkeys, you dislike montages, martial arts aren't your thing, you dislike the concept of someone getting their throat cut with their own sword.