1

General Discussion / Re: Spring? Where??

« on: April 27, 2013, 07:26:50 am »

It felt like Summer over here in WA state yesterday.  I had to wear shorts to work. 

2

General Discussion / Re: ATI FireGL V5200

« on: September 01, 2012, 07:40:47 am »

Professional cards often support all of the gaming-graphics features that their non-professional counterparts do.  Its just that certain extra features are enabled (as already mentioned, for CAD, etc).  It doesn't have much video RAM, but should be able to run some newer games with limited settings.

Some of the best bang for buck at the moment for NVIDIA cards would be the GTX580 (or the GTX660 TI if you want a card that consumes less power, produces less heat).  I run a GTX660 TI myself.

When it comes to raw power, lots of people at work (at a major software company) recommend the GTX670 (instead of the GTX680), but I'd rather use a normal GTX680 instead of a "binned-down" one...

3

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: April 18, 2012, 02:13:33 am »

(Hello!)

Seems like most starter kits give you a 5-gallon plastic or glass carboy and a 6-gallon plastic bucket with or without a spigot.  I like to use 2 plastic (PET) carboys (one 5 and one 6-gallon) and just save the bucket with spigot for bottling.  I don't recommend using those buckets for fermentation.  The lids don't seal very well, and they aren't very reusable.

I rack the wort into a 6gal carboy for primary fermentation, rack to a 5gal for secondary, then rack to the 6gal bucket for bottling.  High gravity 5-gallon batches seems to like the extra room during primary, less likely to get gunk stuck up in the airlock.   

I convinced some work friends to brew a batch with me over here.  I just bought a condo in Redmond (WA) and have some extra space for home-brewing now.  I wish I had the space and gear for all-grain though.  Someday...

4

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: What someone got for christmass...

« on: January 05, 2012, 03:32:08 am »

What is the mindset?  I'm pretty sure there was a business meeting at that company that went alone the lines of this:

Guy1:  "Do we like money?"
Guy2:  "Yes, we like money!"
Guy1:  "How to make more???"
Guy3:  "5,000% markup!?"
Guy1:  "Guy3, you are a GENIUS!!!!"

The rest is just details. 

All jokes aside, this is pretty normal for products marketed towards business customers, rather than individual consumers.  The upshot is that when you can't even find an affordable product yourself, there's probably a way you can just make one yourself.  Examples: directional and/or high-gain antennas, high quality bass speakers, build-your-own computers.  Once upon a time, it was far cheaper to make (cut and crimp) your own computer network cables from a large spool, rather than purchase pre-built cables.  DIY is great.   

5

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: What someone got for christmass...

« on: January 04, 2012, 04:59:52 am »

But but but... it has directional indicators on the cabling!  That way, you know which way the electrons move.   

Seriously though, there ARE some cables for digital signals that are really expensive and NOT a rip-off, but those would be for cabling that exceeds the normal specs.  Think along the lines of copper cable runs that are 2x/5x/10x the max spec, so there are latency issues to compensate for, maybe wave squareness issues, etc.  Example:  consider the real difference between Cat5e and Cat6 standards.

END LURK
-Gilgamoth

6

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Just for fun... a little japanese?!

« on: August 05, 2011, 03:56:39 am »

The normal way Japanese people pronounce my name is funny enough as it is.   

7

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: The Problem with wanting a Career.........

« on: June 13, 2011, 11:10:50 pm »

I would bet Computer Engineering (programming).  The two go together.  Think electronics/computer hardware and software combined.

I dated a woman who studied both.  She still didn't know how to put together a PC from parts though.  She was on the honor roll, fluent in like 5 languages, obviously very bright, so I'm not sure how that worked.  Then again, she was dating me, so she must have had a few screws loose.   

8

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Hi everybody!

« on: December 23, 2010, 02:43:48 am »

 

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Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Calling in Sick

« on: November 28, 2010, 02:21:00 am »

If you take away a cat's claws, they will just bite instead.  It can be a painful injury for the rest of their lives too.    

Personally, I was never worried about my cat attacking me in my "special place"... but I did grow up with an irrational fear of imaginary toilet snakes.  I think its a guy thing.

10

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: You know you are aclimated to Alaska when...

« on: June 29, 2010, 03:56:18 pm »

I made a snowman while wearing shorts as a child.  My mom flipped out.  By the time I got back inside the house and warmed up, my knees felt like they were on fire.

One time, some relatives from Southern California came to visit.  It was about 65 degrees at noon and they were shivering, even with a sweater on.  I thought that was pretty silly.  I was wearings shorts and a t-shirt.

My brain pretty much shuts off when it hits 80 though.

11

General Discussion / Re: New SWTOR cgi trailer

« on: June 18, 2010, 07:49:33 pm »

http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/video-documentary-4

That video on the official site really sold it for me.  It shows gameplay footage for lots of classes.

12

General Discussion / Re: New SWTOR cgi trailer

« on: June 18, 2010, 07:19:33 pm »

I'd like to play a bounty hunter, but not if it forces you to play for the dark side.  You should be independent.  Same thing goes for the Smugglers.  I'm sure The Internet has pointed that out.  I guess Bioware just had to draw a line in the sand...

13

General Discussion / Re: Need a don't worry be happy moment?

« on: May 07, 2010, 06:46:11 pm »

Wait, there was no scene where I had to carry vegetable to the market for some spinster Hobbit
who wouldn't take the advances of her erstwhile suitor....

The Hobbit matchmaking story arc made want to run to Mordor and jump into Mount Doom...
But the scenery was pretty.

Hey, that wasn't in the Shire!  That was in Bree!   

Anyhow, the farther you travel from places like the the Shire, the less likely you are to get quests like that.

14

General Discussion / Re: Protecting Yourself Part 1: Definitions of Common Terms

« on: April 29, 2010, 05:14:21 pm »

I think this thread has gone off-track and we should all reconsider before posting any further messages, whether technical or personal.

15

General Discussion / Re: Protecting Yourself Part 1: Definitions of Common Terms

« on: April 29, 2010, 02:17:29 am »

Layer 2 switches are not dumb devices by virtue of being layer 2... unless they lack Spanning Tree Protocol.  

Also, for any arguments about what device is really what, there's no need.  Every networking appliance above (and sometimes including) OSI layer 1 is really just one form of a specialized/simplified computer... unless its not.  In which case, I'm stymied.  Beer time!

16

General Discussion / Re: Need a don't worry be happy moment?

« on: April 23, 2010, 10:02:53 pm »

You don't have to be a hobbit to enjoy the shire.  There are some great virtue deeds to earn out there for all classes.   

17

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Hi everybody!

« on: March 19, 2010, 05:42:27 am »

Urragra, you rez'd the thread.  You must be rolling a healer. 

18

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: February 26, 2010, 09:17:33 pm »

Amber Ale:

5.5gal batch
7.0 lbs dry light malt extract
1.0 lbs cracked crystal malt (120 degree L)
1 packet safale US-05
2 oz Cascade Hop pellets (bittering)
1 oz Northern Brewer Hop pellets (bittering)
1 oz Cascade Hop pellets (aroma)

Thoughts?  Should I add another grain adjunct for mouthfeel or something?      I'm trying US-05 to see how it compares to WLP001 (White Labs American Ale Yeast).

19

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: February 16, 2010, 08:00:16 pm »

I tried to Bottle my blackberry pale ale last night... until something went wrong.  The flow from my bottling wand (spring loaded stem that attaches to a hose connected to the bottling bucket) seemed pretty weak.  I figured that the valve in the bucket was clogged, since the liquid seemed fairly clear in the hose.  Nope.  The wand itself was clogged.  I have to remove it and fill some growlers I had at hand.  Tried to fill some 12oz bottles, but it was too foamy.  I ended up throwing out about 2 gallons since that part ended up being kind of pulpy.  I think blending the blackberries was a mistake.  I've got 5 growler jugs and 2 12oz bottles out of the batch, which was only about 4.5 gallons anyhow.

I tasted a bit, and it wasn't great.  The aroma was very nice, but the flavor was on the sour side (from the berries, not from anything bad).

I also tried one of my porters, since it was carbonated by this point.  It was okay.  I really really want to make a NORMAL amber ale now.  I've had enough with experiments for a while.  I can make an amber ale that is ready to drink in just a month, better after 2 months...

20

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: February 12, 2010, 11:27:56 pm »

Quick update:  The hefeweizen actually turned out really well.  It changed dramatically after being bottled for two weeks.  It tasted better with a little lemon though, but that is normal for most hefes.

I brewed a strong porter, but used a yeast strain (Wyeast 1968) made for ESB that is notoriously tricky.  I also dry-hopped it, so it took much longer to get the hop pellet bits to settle out of the beer.  This was a strong one, so I'm still aging it.  It had a strong diacytl odor (think fake movie theater butter), which was supposed to have been eliminated by the long fermentation time I gave it.  I'm hoping that will mellow in time.  Since this beer was well-hopped, it should actually age well.  Its been in the bottle for about 2 weeks now.  I'll give it a try within the next month or so.

I'm currently about to finish brewing a blackberry pale ale.  Its lightly hopped and had 4 lbs of blended blackberries added in the secondary fermenter.  Its in tertiary now.  I'll bottle it this weekend.  It should be drinkable as soon as its carbonated in the bottle...

Next up:  definately an Amber Ale.  This was my favorite so far and begs a revisit...

21

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: December 21, 2009, 02:45:43 am »

I bottled my Hefeweizen the other day.  It's supposed to mature quickly in just 2 weeks, which is the same amount of time it should take to fully carbonate.  In its current state, it tastes a lot like Paulener brand Hefeweizen (not a good one in my opinion), but with more of a banana flavor.  This probably won't live up to my favorite local hefe, the one from the Ram brewpub.  Of course, beer tastes a lot better when its not flat and at room-temperature.   

I used something like 50% wheat malt in this batch, which is fairly high.  I think a lot of other hefes are more like 30% wheat.  Those probably have less of the wheaty tobacco smoke kind of flavor.

22

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: December 13, 2009, 03:43:50 am »

Okay, I'm bottling my "good" cider tomorrow.  I did a gravity check, and it was close to 1.000, which should make it a very dry cider.  Just like with the previous batches I've made, at this stage, it has a pleasant apple aroma, but a harsh flavor (this one seems spicy and acidic, reflecting the apple varieties flavor).  I'm thinking that this batch will turn out well once it settles and matures.  I'm not even going to crack open a bottle until its aged 2 months.

The cider I made from mostly Tree Top brand juice has actually improved nicely after 2 months of bottle-aging.  It still tastes kind of artificial though, which is appropriate, I guess.

For those of you who were not present in LOTRO when it occurred, my batch of Hefeweizen turned into a bit of a beer volcano.    I made it a bit too strong and filled the fermenter too full. (Yes, beer can be "too strong."    )  There was foam and yeast byproduct (the dark heads) shooting into the airlock chamber and fizzing out the top of the airlock lid.  I moved it into the bathtub in case it was going to blow out the whole airlock.  Thankfully, it didn't blow its top and there was very little to clean up after.  The force of the volcano seemed to expell or force to the side the dark yeast byproducts that some brewers skim from the top of the head during the initial fermentation.  That should make the hefeweizen have a cleaner taste, so this may have all been for the best.  I've already racked it into the secondary fermenter, so this should be about 3 weeks away from being ready to drink.

The slow maturation time of my previous two batches (and one of my current) led to my reserves running low (oh no!!!), so I need to pick a new beer for my next batch.  Any suggestions?  No?  Looks like it'll be a porter then.   

23

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: December 06, 2009, 07:35:32 pm »

Well... I decided to do a Hefeweizen instead of a dark ale.  Its brewing right now, with a healthy-looking active yeast.  I limited the boil time for most of the "weizen" dry extract I used to just 10-15 minutes, so its supposed to keep it to more of a golden color, rather than brown.

My "good" batch of cider is still in its secondary fermentation.  I hope that one turns out to be good...

24

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Homebrew - Any tips?

« on: November 19, 2009, 01:44:30 am »

The bock-ale turned out very nicely, it just needed more like 2 months to mature in the bottle.  Very tasty. 

I've got a new cider brewing as planned, made from Braeburn, Pink Lady, and Fiju ciders from a local farm.  I added a little brown sugar and some of the juice concentrate.

Next up is either an oatmeal stout (non-dairy) or a strong brown ale.

25

Flotsam and Jetsam / Re: Thwart Computerized Customer Service!!!

« on: November 17, 2009, 08:58:41 pm »

LMAO!!!

or start swearing... you get an agent real fast! 

I've tried that many many (MANY!) times with HP.  Didn't work.