h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks, Kelli. I've posted, but I have to go offline for the rest of the day. If she has any other complaints or if an answer seems necessary over there, could someone please pick up the issue for me? Thanks.

Hi Beebelfish and Luna.

Am feeling a bit ely today: (or is 'ely' a noun?) It's been a nerve-wracking weekend. I stuffed Z's PC as a result of breaking my own cast-iron rules (don't do stuff with PCs if you don't know what you are doing). I spent Friday and now part of today filling in that competency form for my permanent application here, and I've found that fairly nerve-wracking. But what *really* worries me is that I realised today that the changes that Sony made me make to my PC were to the BIOS not to the system, and that changing the hard-drive will not magically made the CD drive work. If it won't work with an external CD drive, then I have an expensive pale purple door-stop, at a time when I really need a PC and I *really* don't want to have to buy one. I am finding it very hard to settle to anything right now. And I kept on running out of time this weekend.

However - Dr Who was fab; I did fix C's PC for her, which is good techno-karma, if nothing else; and in various other ways it was a pretty weekend.

Regarding deconstructionism - Z observed something interesting the other day. Well interesting to me. He says I think like a scientist. Since all I have in that field is a solitary Maths O'Level, (public exam taken at 15 in my case) I find this rather surprising. I thought I thought like an intelligent person. But I do find it almost impossible to participate in discussions like the one which happened so fascinatingly yesterday. I have a bad tendency to say "if it looks like a naked emperor, walks like a naked emperor, and quacks like a naked emperor, then it's a naked emperor". Or sim'lar.

It is clear to me that I don't think like a post-modernist, and the more I find out about theory 'n' stuff, the more grateful I am that I don't.

for Z with his presentation.

Ben

Feeling pretty good this morning, not much in the way of withdrawal.

B, well done on the application form. Filling them out is hard.
I'm sure Z's PC is not broken or truely stuffed up. I could offer more advice on fixes if I knew a bit more about what went wrong but don't worry about that too much.
How is the external cd drive attached to your computer if it's usb then as long as the usb works it'll be fine. Trying the external cd on another machine with a similar OS should check that the cd is working.

Z's PC will be fine. What happened was that the monitor refresh-rate was pretty slow, and the flicker was distracting me. Dumb bint that I am, I decided to change it. It was a linux system, and you know the rest. He's not going to rebuild it until after his final final, (May 6th), so he can concentrate on studying without online distractions. So really I did him a kindness. Of course I did.

Mine is another kettle of bicycles. The CD Drive built into the docking station did not write CDs and when I contacted Sony to get them to fix it, they gave me detailed instructions for upgrading the BIOS, which resulted in it not reading them either. This was in the middle of some domestic drama or other, and I gave up on trying to get it sorted.

What I have said to the PC guys today is that if they can get it to work with an external drive, I'll buy one off them, (depending on how many pennies it is ).

The USBs worked fine. The reason I hadn't tried it with an external CD drive was that I could get the s/w and upgrades I needed online and didn't really need a CD drive enough to go through the pain of buying one. It did read and write fine to an external hard drive via the USBs. So-o-o-oo. Fingers crossed, but only time will tell.

Ben

*soothing pats for Ben and Z's computers*

I just went to my upcoming entry in order to subscribe to it - it now has a picture in it So I have got an editor's pick I hope it doesn't actually hit the front page until we get the old format back though, I miss the little introductions and the picture doesn't seem realted to the entries, at least not in plain skin.

Any news yet David?

k

He'll only need to reinstall the whole shabang if he really wants to. For something like that it should be fixable without a reinstall. Either reinstalling the broken part (X or tweaking the config file that has sent it up the swanee).

You're right about the cd in the docking station sounding ed getting a usb (or similar) external should fix things there.

Well, *I* know that, but unfortunately neither of us are good enough at Linux for that to be a graceful process.

It was an interesting experience actually. We managed to avoid a row. (I deserved scorn and retribution for what I did, because I do know better than that, but he raised above that and managed not to rant at me. I was extremely impressed). My reaction was to start reading the books and to tell him to Write Notes About What He Did and Stick Them To The Wall With Blutack. His was a little more 'oh, f**kitt, let's neuk it all and rebuild from the glowing ashes'.

Good comfort about the CD drive problem. I should be looking for a contract - this is SO not a time for me to be without a PC and needing to buy one.

Ben

Since the last two times I allowed anyone else near my PC it when bang in a big way and took days to sort I now have a simple rule. People Who Are Not Me May Use Tim But Orac and Zen Are Mine and Mine Alone.

Well, as I said, I *do* know better, which is why I was so riled at myself. My excuse is that I was dodging a migraine, and therefore not being intelligent, and his excuse is that the was asleep and therefore no being intelligent.

We went to Waterstones and got the latest version of Linux and a cool book about it, and I got a *really* cool book about User Requirements, and also a good book by the guy who set up DHL in Baghdad after GWII called "Baghdad Business School".

I spent a lot of Sunday stroking my books.

Ben

I've never heard it called that before

The people that have buggered my machine should know better, and I should've known better when I buggered my Father's machine. I've come to the conclusion that computers are like skis- they mould to fit the use of one person, and another person, no matter how good they, or how close a fit they should be, can never use someone else's properly.

As an aside, Microsoft spell checkers seem to want to gentrify words- they suggest 'beggared' for 'buggered'

*looks at Z's and B's computers with baffled and worried expression

I hate computers when they go wrong - one of the few things which reduces me to tears of rage.

Today I learned some new technical tricks - managed to follow the instructions and load up my Shuffle.
Won't, however, be able to take it to the gym becuase it has to remain plugged-in for its initial 4hr charge.
I am hoping that it isn't an Shuffle - if it chooses too many fast tracks, I'll kill myself on that X-trainer.

The only other 'thing' which frequently reduces me to teary rage is The Recalcitrant Youth - but there is some light at the end of that particular tunnel; he's possibly going to Chile with Raleigh International, if we can raise the 3.5K in three months.
I've thought of having a 'Chilli for Chile' night in the local village hall.

with that application B
that Z's presentation went well

*muffled voice from under the cushions*

No news yet, Kelli. I went home at lunchtime and all that had come in the post were two flyers (one blue, one yellow) concerning a certain even on 5th May we're not supposed to talk about!

*under the cushions, David has his fingers crossed for Z's presentation*

"... never heard it called that before...."

*mutter, mutter, mutter* whrt rrr you rrmplying? *mutter, growl, sulk*

Seriously, am I the only person here who strokes new books?

Ben

Um, I hold them to my forehead when I've got a hangover, does that count?

I not only stroke new books but sniff them too.

Glad it's not just me. I do sniff them too, if they smell nice.

The business one has lovely shiny paper, and diagrams...

Ben

I sniff books. The only thing better than a new book, is the smell of an old book.

Courtesy

OK, if that's what Z want's to do fair enough.

Anyway time to go home. I'll finish the current book on the way and then it's time to get another out of the pile of books.