I know I need new computer when…

Web browsers (Firefox or Safari) run slow when iTunes is playing.
I can type faster than the browser can display sometimes (think back to the 14.4kbps modem era).
iPhoto takes forever to load, to save changes of photos, or to exports to Flickr.
Video podcast in 320×240 resolution drops frames when played. Don't even think about HD or H.264 encoded video.
And most important of all, eiron has a faster computer than either of mine!

Having said all that, my G4 800MHz Titanium PowerBook has been with me for over 4 years. And forcing it to drive my new Dell LCD monitor @ 1900×1200 resolutions doesn't help the speed matter either.

Now, should I prolong the suffering and wait till after Christmas to see if there is any bargains or price drop? Or I can just pick up one of those speedy Mac Pro from the SoHo Apple Store this coming Black Friday, especially with the 10% discount?

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November 20, 2006 2

Surpise of the week

As with every payday Friday, I woke up two days ago and went to check on my bank account on the net. Sure enough my paycheck had been deposited but when I double checked with Quicken, I noticed there was more than a few hundreds dollars extra this time. I thought the stupid HR has screwed up and somehow forgot to take out some deductibles; perhaps my 401k, or my health plan. But I didn't pay much attention (punt not intented) to it as I would find out when they handed out the payslip in the afternoon.

I didn't get the chance to find out though. Mid-morning, my immediate boss took me to the meeting room (the very same office that the director of development vacate not so long ago, we turned it into our meeting room) and informed me that I had been promoted to senior manager and along with that, a pay rise which, of course, explains the extra money in the paycheck!

So I guess I'll have to actually put more effort into my work, administrative-wise, since they are paying extra for it! 😀

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November 20, 2006 0

QotD: Top 5 Video Games

What's on your Top 5 video games list?
Submitted by mileena.

Geoff Grammond's Grand Prix 2 – I must have spent years of my life on it. Just ask eiron!
Syndicate & American Revolt expansion pack – best 3rd person shootup strategy game. Ever!
SimCity
Halo 2 – Great multiplayer game.
Links

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November 15, 2006 0

Atheist Professor vs. Religious Students

The God Delusion

If you want to see how an atheist rationally (and I may say, restrained at times) responds to an organised attempts by religious students to hi-jack the Q&A session, read this post and watch part 2 of the video. It is rather long, 69 minutes, but it is well worth your time I promise!

(For some reason, Vox's YouTube search does not find the video even though I can find it easily on YouTube site. Here is a short clip below.)

Richard Dawkins – Decree by Fiat

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November 14, 2006 1

Dream job?

Chicago Gold Coast

All the talks about moving to Chicago have really been just that so far, talks. Eiron and I discussed a fair amount about it but we decided (rather I am) to be sensible and won't make any decision until we pay the city a visit during my birthday weekend in December. If we like the city and can tolerate the cold, bitter winter than we will start planning our move next year. If not, we stay put and find another city to move to.

But it is increasingly difficult not to think about moving there now because of job like this one. An Agile/TDD/.Net software shop looking for senior software engineer to work with actual web site/products and machines? Products that I can point people (such as my parents) to and say, "This is what I do." I haven't been able to do that since my first job out of college. I think some of my code still lives on in China and Thailand. Just be careful when you take the light rail/train in Canton or Bangkok…

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