Updates of fire

[greatbear]

This morning I wanted on teh intarwebz, but my computer awoke to a black screen. There was audio when mashing keys, but I figure, being a PC and not the perfection that is Apple, it just needed a reboot after being on for weeks. A reboot did nothing, but I noticed a curious behavior with the display. Usually the power light blinks when in between video modes or the PC is rebooting, instead, it was solidly on. I cycled the power and expected the little on-screen menu to pop up. Instead, there was fire. Actual fire, with the acrid smell of burning solid state deices and smoke. I dropped the backup display in its place and now am looking for a replacement. I'm jonesing for something larger than the 24" Samsung that stunk up the room, and something that will play nice with the new replacement PC that I built about a year ago. A bit of unexpected research and shopping is in order, as well as an unneeded expense.

I have a batch of photos to upload for LJ posts and such, but my Flickr Pro account lapsed and it's nothing but wonky now with the limited features and groups, so that will have to wait as well. My time has been taken up with outdoor projects and our rekindled efforts to put in a decent vegetable garden. My attitudes towards gardening have been guarded at best since losing Mom, being that it was her primary and ultimate passion. Just looking at the various beds makes me sad and uneasy, so for the past several years the gardens received minimal care is any. Jeff tried to take the mantle of suburban farmer, but his time is limited. This year, however, I am finally getting a bit over my apprehension (and outright breakdowns) when faced with Mom's favorite activity and the memories it brings flooding in. This year, if I can keep the critters out of it, we should have the most productive garden ever. I'll be installing the various electronic countermeasures to protect our crops.

You can probably guess already that it's gonna be called... The Garden of Mayhem. Hey, I have branding continuity to consider, after all. ;-)

Last week I had pulled all the wheels off the trailer, checked and adjusted the brakes and regreased the bearings as well as other mechanical checks, then hauled it up to Pennsylvania and Jeff's parents' driveway. I took along lots cleaning supplies and the bigass pressure washer which we used Saturday and Sunday to clean up our vacation home in preparation of our upcoming trips. I just hope my health issues don't ruin things like late last year.

Speaking of vacations and trips, who's gonna be in Provincetown for Bear Week (or in spite of, for all you post-whatevers)?

Comments

[eric-mathgeek.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping to go down for the day on Friday. I can't attend any other day that week.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Well, ya gotta let me know when ya get in! We'll do food, drinks, groping, whatever. =D

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

It was minor, but I am out one 24" display as a result. One of my old servers had a mishap that blackened a good portion of the case and interior workings. The kicker? It never stopped working perfectly. Even the interface board that actually blew (and had a hole burned right through it where three capacitors had evidently shorted out) continued to work fine. I figured since the offending components were completely obliterated, I'll let the thing keep on working. X-D

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

I just hate it when appliances flame on.

Glad you are all okay there.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Luckily this thing acted up in a relatively minor way, and when I was home. Despite all the crazy tech around here and the 400 amp electrical service supplying it all, I've had very few outright burnouts like this.

[dendren.livejournal.com]

seems like *tons* of folks will be at PTown... unfortunately no for me though. Instead I am supposed to go to a picnic in SF for the few of us bear week orphans left in town LOL

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Aw, darn. Can't you hide in someone's carry-on luggage? ;) =D

[dendren.livejournal.com]

LOL I'd be way over the size and weight limit for carry-on and then they'd have to check me at the front of the plane and that's always such a hassle ;)

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Howdy, Phil

I'm sorry to hear about your monitor flameout. I have to say, looking at those gorgeous 27-inch beauties that tempt me every time I set foot in an Apple Store, I share your desire for one of the new giant displays.

I'm glad to hear you are able to once again enjoy gardening. I know what you mean about the memories, as gardening was one of my mother's passions, too. I'm lucky that enough time has now passed that when I am in a garden, the conjuring up of memories is a positive thing, and makes me smile. I'm glad that time is healing your heart and helping you get there, too.

Big hugs!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

It's still a problem at times, I get overwhelmed with memories when something triggers them, and I have to take a break. I think she'd be proud of our progress.

HUGS

[redmoonriver.livejournal.com]

Yay for unexpected and unwanted expenses!!! *HUGS*

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I wanted a new display eventually, but that's just it. Eventually. Not now, and the old one would have been used on another PC. Blergh.

[slothel.livejournal.com]

Us, as usual!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Well, of course. It seems any place I have gone where bears abound, youse guys are abounding too. Not a bad thing.

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

I got a pair of BenQ LED lit LCD monitors (EW2420 and G2420HDBL) and have been thoroughly pleased with them to date. Their low price did not indicate that they would be of as good quality as they turned out to be. Now that Circuit City is no more, I'm not sure where you could just walk in and find one, mine were from Frys (www.frys.com), which has stores all over the bay area.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

There really isn't many b&m stores here that have a really impressive display of, well, displays. It's the usual Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, which are also expensive. I'll probably buy online, but things like displays I prefer to see in person first. But, I have broken my "rules" for home theater components, I bought the receiver and speakers online without auditioning them, and have been totally satisfied.

I want something decent, with accurate color and color calibration support. This is leading me to IPS-based panels, and, so far, all the better ones I have found rely on CCFL backlighting rather than LED. This is not a dealbreaker, I just lose out on some energy efficiency and end up with a warm monitor. The LED panels don't seem to be to the point of putting out the best color possible because of the nature of the white light they produce. The other LED issue for me, and it's a big one, is that some panels "strobe" the lights to adjust brightness in a range where I become aware of it. It's the same problem as low refresh rate on CRTs for me. I have a cheap laptop that does this. Even many cars with LED taillights do this to change the brightness between running lights and brake lights. As running lights at night, the things strobe, and I can pick them out in a sea of taillights in traffic at night. I know, I'm strange when it comes to my aging receptors LOL. O.O

[otterdaemmerung.livejournal.com]

You can probably guess already that it's gonna be called... The Garden of Mayhem.

In the Garden of Mayhem, baby, don't you know that I wuuuuv yoooou...

Or maybe you should have called it Xanadu:
For I shall dine on horny dudes, and drink the m... er, ahem, yeah, Garden of Mayhem is better. ;-)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[ptownnyc.livejournal.com]

I, of course, will be there for bear week. As promised, I expect molestation.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Ya damn skippy there'll be mole stations. ;)