Buraimaku: Brymac

January 30, 2009

Gateway MA3 MX6447

Symptom: Blue Screen of Death(BSOD) after logging in. Fan does not spin once Windows starts.
Googled cause: video card(ATI) driver version seems to prioritize GPU temperature over CPU temperature, causing cpu overheat before gpu signals fan to spin.

Solution attempts:

Clean fan and heatsink with brush and blower.
Uninstall ATI driver, unsuccessful... BSOD before reaching uninstall.

Solution Steps:

Backup data, prepare for reformat and reinstall of Windows XP Media Center 2005
Download Win XP MC2005 (laptop has license key anyway)
Laptop refuses to boot using the downloaded disk, but it works on another laptop.
Remove HDD and connect to usb. Make sure there are multiple partitions, one for the OS and another a temporary drive(FAT32). Attempt diskless install via: "Z:\I386\winnt32.exe /syspart:K: /tempdrive:K: /makelocalsource /noreboot" where z is the dvd drive is and K the fat32 partition. (note: DO NOT use sp3 installer, will give 'iaStor.sys' not found errors)
Place back HDD in laptop. Boot and install winxpmc2005
After XP, install ATI video driver and ATI Catalyst.
Installation is stable although fan still doesn't spin while in XP. still investigating.

January 29, 2009

New Challenger

For a while now, I've been following the series "Hajime no Ippo" aka "Knockout" aka "Fighting Spirit". The show is extremely inspiring and entertaining, with crazy humor and interesting plot. In a nutshell, its about a bullied youngster who found inner strength through boxing. The animated tv series ended just as the show's lead, Makunochi Ippo captured the Japanese Featherweight Belt. After one movie and a special, the watcher is left hanging, as the story wasn't concluded. 2002 saw the end of the series, thus after running through all the watchable media, I went to read the Manga. This sated the craving for a while.

After 7 long years, it was a welcome development that they launched the continuation of the tv series and subtitled it "New Challenger". This run would hopefully cover all plots up to the latest manga, which includes the following storylines:

Miyata's OPBF Title Challenge
Kamogawa Gym's latest genius recruit: "Itagaki"
Miyata's Dad's Past and the Filipino Champion "Randy Boy Jr."
The return of Gero-michi
Takamura's Rampage of multiple weight classes
and a lot more.

Please support the official DVDs when they come out, but for the fans that want to watch it asap, you can find them thru tokyotosho.com. A number of groups are subtitling the series: SpeedStar, Animebreaker, Saizen & Ignition-One, Mahero, Frostii. Speedstar releases the fastest, saizen&ignition-one would probably be a good version to keep (because they scanlate the manga too).

January 18, 2009

Queen B and Poopy Tea

The fine line between REM dream and reality is a weird place.

I was in a beach, which felt oddly similar to Tree Hill's. Going about my business, I felt that I was being bullied. People were shunning me and preventing me from doing things I had to do. All this orchestrated by a mischievous girl who greatly resembled Blair Waldorf.

Throughout the episode, I would randomly utter "Damn, I need to crap", although there was no immediate urge/pain/reflex to do so. People would then without fail, clog up the lines to the restrooms which was starting to get into my nerves.

Luckily enough, I chanced upon an occupied stall with no one waiting in line. After a while, I got impatient and looked over the stall door. What I saw was 'Blair' "brooking" herself, either tempting me or pissing me off.

So I woke up a bit dazed, then I ran off to the toilet. Damn poopy tea.

January 02, 2009

Two Zero Zero Nine

The year 2008 was a bit rough, with a lot of lows and some highs. May 2009 be fortunate, and I do hope to take more control of my destiny.

It's been a theme in my recent posts, but it's just over 4 months until I turn 30. Pictures from my last trip to pangasinan revealed an unsightly truth, that I'm overweight and out-of-shape. Time is ticking, bmac. Chop chop.

Strobist info: Camera on tripod, 10sec exposure. Handheld flash, radio triggered.

September 30, 2008

Memories of a burnt room

I found out this morning that the faculty room in Pisay's humanities building got roasted. I'm not sure what impact it has on current and future pisay-tizens, but as an alumni, I do have some memories and recollections of that large room.

One can go there to just sit down. It was generally quiet, had 2 couches and moderate ventilation. There was a certain something about it, both eerie and serene. Well, most of the rooms in the humanities bldg had this quality, with generations of the best minds leaving subtle traces of their four years stay.

I went to the faculty room to submit stuff like book reports, homework, etc. Sometimes there is an envelope to receive it, like the one in the picture. At times you have to slide it under the door. If either of those fail, you can just toss it over because these cubicles aren't closed at the top.

Speaking of open cubicles, there was more than one occasion that I had to go over them myself. No, nothing related to mischief or wrong doing, but upon the request of the occupant. One of my teachers left her keys there and could not find a janitor to help her out. Reluctantly, she asked me if I was willing to go over, which I was :P

This wasn't too easy as you have to avoid breaking the glass window, get dirtied by the dusty sill/edge and land somewhere not crushing anything including your bones. Better then that now at least, the door frame would probably buckle at my current weight :))

How about you? What memories do you have of the faculty room?

September 14, 2008

Sharpening Skills

Recently I've taken a liking to a weird hobby. After watching a documentary about samurai swords, I suddenly took interest in sharpening knives.

We have always had an old fine sharpening stone. It was already pretty broken up, but still usable. One day I was doing my groceries, and I found out that the store was selling brand-new stones. I was so amused at finding it that I bought it right away and wanted to try it.

I took a picture of the knife’s edge, before I started and when I was satisfied. For the pictures I used one remote flash and reversing the kit-lens to achieve macro.

I found the process of repetitive grinding very therapeutic. It does not take a lot of thinking, but just a bit of instinct and feel. I do not recommend this to people with unsteady hands nor those with soft/thin skin.

After finding out of my current fancy, my mom told me stories about my lolo. He was a native of Betis, Guagua, Pampanga and was a very skilled wood carver. He was very passionate about what he did and borderline Obsessive-Compulsive about his tools. He would spend time sharpening his stuff like chisels and saws. I’m a bit proud of inheriting some of his skill with his hands, height and maybe looks. Cheers, gramps. Keep watching over us.

September 09, 2008

Quoted!

Read the full article here.

Bryan Macabales, an information and technology consultant and chief operating officer of an outsourcing company, noted that for people who work at home, electricity and the Internet are almost like air. "It is something that you would rather use then pay for later," he said.

Thanks Ava!

30 Things: Rushing Towards My 30th

A friend challenged me to do 30 things I've never done before I turn 30. I'm not sure if I can manage to reach that number, but I'd be happy to give it a try. I'm not much for planning things out and chasing after them, so I'd rather list the 30 things as I go.

I've Speed Dated!
I've Sprained myself! :(
I've been Quoted! :D
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Any suggestions? :)