So this weekend I recovered the files from my PC laptop's hd. The aforementioned adapter worked like a charm with one notable issue (which isn't it's fault.) The laptop drive was NTFS - and none of the user names translate between the computers. (IOW the "tsanders" user on my Windows PC isn't the "same" user as tsanders on my laptop.) I had two folder that this presented a problem - my user folder, and the Windows folder. The fix for this is to look at the "Security" tab for the folder - in there an Adminstrator can become the owner of a folder. But the trick is that in order to see the Security tab in XP Home you have to reboot into Safe mode. There's another layer to this which is that this DIDN'T work to change the owner of the Windows folder - there's some other trick they've used to lock it out. I could SEE the security options for the Windows folder, but I couldn't change them, nor could I take ownership. I decided I didn't need anything out of my Windows folder that badly, but it's worth being aware of! Another fun tip - Windows XP doesn't seem to read USB keyboards for the safe mode menu. I had to plug in the old-style PS2 connector in order to choose safe mode. Follow me on that - you hit F8 ON THE USB KEYBOARD, and it reads that, then brings up a menu where you can't navigate using the keyboard it JUST READ a keystroke from. I hate Microsoft.

Krispy Kreme's newest venture Which is odd enough, but it gave me a great idea! If you created a recipe for caffeinated donuts I think you have a very successful campus business opportunity! That's one hell of a cram food there. Mmmmm . . . buzzer donuts!

You whippersnappers! Today Karin and I signed a counter-offer and wrote an escrow check for a lovely house in Blossom Valley, close by the Blossom Hill exit for 85. So in about 5 weeks (end of August) I should actually OWN a lawn to complain about. Now all I need is a rocker and a cane, and maybe some false teeth and I'm set! There will be a housewarming sometime in September I'm sure.

Oh, look at me the blasphemy king! First, let me establish my exact relationship with the Metroid franchise. I actually don't know when exactly the first Metroid came out. I had limited experience with NES - my parents got one when I moved back from Germany but I was preoccupied with A) hating New Jersey and B) gettting the hell out! I never had a SNES - although I did have a Genesis late in the day. Truthfully though, I had a 2600 and I'm not real familiar with another console until the PlayStation. Anyway, my first Metroid game was Metroid Fusion for GBA. Which I bought (oddly enough) while in New Jersey visiting my family. And played the shit out of it while flying back to good old California. I really liked it. A lot. I belive Jeff Gregg will testify to my drunken phone call saying how cool it was during a layover. So Josh slightly misrepresents my stance here. Not on purpose mind you, but I figured I'd eluicidate. Metroid Fusion downright LURES you into what Josh calls the "minimalist route". At no time is there some sort of "OK, just explore a bit" mission briefing. You always have some very specific goal - usually with some sort of fake urgency behind it. Right up to the point where I stopped playing - you have to run away from the big bad fake Samus suit. I was mystified - I just could NOT beat it. I talked about it at some with length with Chuji. His conclusion was that I should have about 12 health tanks at that point in the game. I have 6 in my save. :-( I literally cannot get past that point. Wait it's worse - where my save is I can't go get more tanks. I'm locked into this encounter I can't win. I will literally have to restart the game to progess. That's bad game design. I don't want to hear the justifications, the explanations about how great classic Metroid was. I'm giving all you designer weenies the hand right now, go ahead and talk to it. It SUCKS. The designers of Metroid Fusion should be kicked out of the industry for it. It's the angriest I've been at a video game in the last few years. I was so angry that it ruined Metroid Prime for me - I hate the whole FRANCHISE now. I didn't buy Zero Mission because I now equate Metroid with a tease, followed by suckage. I have an entire second rant about the random "blow up every wall" game design, and why it should have died in the 16-bit era, but I'll leave that for another time. Suffice it to say that if you're going to haul out THAT tired chestnut, make it optional - not required to finish your game.

If you have more GMail invites than you can use - this seems like a pretty good cause for them. Basically you fill out a form and they will hook you up with an active servicemember abroad who could use such an account to stay in touch with friends and family. (And possibly to forward pictures that the government is is trying to suppress I suppose - although that's not really the point.) Gmail4troops Better than selling them on eBay or giving them away as prizes for some web contest I imagine.