Media Center Edition 2005 kept crashing with the TV / Recorded TV option.   Turned out after a bit of digging and googling (one fellow had the answer) it Didn't like the Intervideo WinDVD.   I think I know why.  I have a Hauppage TV Tuner.  In the Add/Remove it looks like Hauppauage provides a decoder from Intervideo.   I'll bet the version from Hauppage meshed with the original WinDVD version.

 

Easily solved.   PowerDVD was suggested (or any other compatable DVD decoder).    Downloaded Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 as a trial.  That did the trick.

 

Can't wait to get the Vista Upgrade!

 

I'm dying to see what the "Vista Media Center" runs like!

 

Only bad part was the part crapped out yesterday while it was recording Star Trek.  An episode I was dying to watch.  

 

Time to buy an Extra UPS.   APC has a nice one out there for under $200 that you can assign an IP address to.   That is actually nice if I want to restart certain power outlets or devices remotely.

 

 

Ok THIS is not cutting edge.

 

But finally, FINALLY I got some time to myself to play.   I haven't had this in a while.

 

TV on the computer.  (Oooo Big &@#$#@ deal!).

 

Ok well I always thought it was kinda cool.  But the last time I had this was when the first ATI All-In-Wonder card was out.  No stereo.  Their software.   Hooked on a 27" RCA TV playing Quakeworld.

 

But with Media Center Edition from Microsoft this rocks!  I don't get to watch much TV, and typically anything I would want to watch is at some goofy hour.  I'm too busy working on the computer to muck with the stupid VCR tape (And God forbid the tape gets chewed, it's not attached to the PC)

 

So I will be moving the whole system upstairs soon onto the TV.  The really frightening thing is with the DVD Player Burner in it, a decent set of 6.1 speakers it pretty much replaces the entire home system.   And with Media Center Extender for xBox i can still watch the goodies downstairs.

 

Sweeeeeeet.  Microsoft.   Kickass job on this one!  Can't wait to get the Vista version of this!

 

 

It was only last Christmas I managed to find two Gerbils!

 

"Ooooo Ahhhh" The crowd goes wild.   Why is anything like this so amazing?

 

Because for about a year and a half I would wander into pet stores, looking for the silly things.   Little animals more hyperactive than me on 12 cans of Jolt and a whole bag of sugar!

 

But nowhere could they be found!  

 

Hamsters.. Check.

Rats....Check.

Mice....Check.

Chichillas...Check.

Three Headed Orangutans...Check

 

Anything and EVERYTHING except for Gerbils.   All across the GTA.  

 

Well victory was mine.  I found a pair.   A male and a female.   One light brown and one black.   "Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum"  (The male got nicknamed "DumDum".   Don't even ask!

 

I now have a small growing army of Gerbils.     Soon they will be act your front door collecting old 6502 chips and Jim Butterfield Articles.   Afterwards in the next phase the growing surplus of articles from the Bastard Operator from Hell will be used to train them in all the best techniques of network administration. 

 

Be wary world.   The Gerbil revolution has begun!  Nyeah hah hah hah hah.

Dear diary.

 

It was only about 2 months ago I felt a glimpse of the dream touch my life.  

 

Microsoft emailed me about a potential job interview.

 

My life paused.  Shock awe panic! 

 

What if they say yes?

 

What if they said no?

 

What happens if I have to move?

 

Eeek!  The random thoughts that raced through my mind!

 

Although this time I didn't get the job, I am counting this as a small blink into the future.

 

I have tasted the concept of Microsoft hiring me.   The scent is too strong to ignore.  I want more.  

 

As such I resolve to redouble my efforts!  Microsoft or BUST!