3 Rings?

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Just to add to the already fantastic news of losing my drive and the computer dying, I've just done the update for xbox live and it seems to have bricked my Xbox 360. I am now the proud owner of a bright white box with the three rings of death.

I guess I'll have to RMA that along with the memory for the new computer, and the old computers motherboard.

Random Good News: I rented Day Watch.

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New Computer? Yes Sir!

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So my old computer was having issues. Bad issues.

The power supply on it was apparently shady, and I was continuously losing hardware pieces one at a time. A few weeks ago my video card went out, then directly after the real disaster struck.

My media drive went bad. This drive holds all my mp3 files, movies, and such. Considering my mp3 collection had grown to somewhere in the 20k range this is quite a loss, but that's not what pisses me off. What really sets me off is it's also where I had my personal photos and such, not only of me, but of all my friends for the past few years.

So Rachel and I decided that enough is enough and went ahead and ordered me a new computer. Here I present you with the specs:

CPU :: Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 (Zalman 9700 CPU Cooler)
Mobo :: Asus Striker Extreme
Video :: XFX 8800GT 512MB DDR3
Memory :: [x4] 1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
HDD :: [x2] WD7500AAKS 750GB HDD
PCU :: Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W
Sound :: Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty

This, needless to say, is a considerable upgrade on my previous computer. In fact, it takes my old computer, bends it over, and has its way with it.

I've got it set up now, I took some pictures and will put them up on flickr soon. It runs Crysis and UT3 on Very High settings in 1650x1080 with no noticeable framerate dips. All in all I'm quite happy. Now to work out a good backup solution for the future.

Random Good News: The Patriots are 12-0. Go Pats!

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Katrina 1AM

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The hurricane is interesting thus far, especially as I watch the local media coverage unfold. The first thing to note is that while you often see TV reporters and TV stations report on-site during the worst of events this is not one of those occasions. To the best of my knowledge there are no operational TV or Radio stations operating from within Orleans Parrish. The local ABC affiliates have combined to put their best people serving the news, the local weather takes on a back and forth format as the local weatherman and the Orleans weatherman go back and forth explaining the issues. Everything simulcasts to both markets. This, for the most part, has gone over well.

The second thing I've noticed is the tone of the interviews and the interviewees. During storms of the past you would always have the people interviewed before being the tough soloist "This is my home I ain't going nowhere". This time the recurring theme in all the interviews, both with local officials and residents, is that lives are much more important than possessions. Possessions can be replaced, lives cannot. This seems a little more sensible to me as well. Not only does that help penetrate the thick skulls of the people who think nothing could ever happen to them it helps to pass that message along to the community. And it is without a doubt the correct message.

The thing in this situation that I admit myself to being a little detached from is the other message that they are trying to send. The last reports have said that the storm surge facing New Orleans will overwhelm the levies with ease. Those of you who have never been to New Orleans may well never see the city as it was before this storm. 3/4 of this city is below sea level, the levies were built (and never tested) with a category 3 storm in mind. The talk here is of New Orleans being under 15-20 feet of water with ease, of tall buildings collapsing, of power outages running into months. Of a complete disruption in the power grid.

The hurricane will continue past New Orleans, moving northerly at it's own pace. The worries will move from what will happen to N.O. to how will N.O. recover and how much will the rest of the country suffer while it is doing so. Port Orleans and LOOP shutting down is one million barrels of crude oil not making it into this country. Add this to the incredible rainfall from this storm having the capability to overrun dams as far north as New York and Pennsylvania and likely no one in this country won't feel the effects of Katrina.

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Katrina

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I'd like to thank everyone who has been calling and emailing today, it's touching to have so many people worried about ones welfare. As most of you know I live in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge area and as such am in queue for an ass raping of a category 5 magnitude. The closest I've come being Hurricane Andrew I'm somewhat sober over what can happen, but I have an extrodinary amount of luck so more than likely I will get through this without issue. :)

The electric company has issued statements saying to expect the power to be out for days, be realistic to acknowledge that it could be out for weeks, and not to be too incredibly surprised if we lose power for upwards of a month. I don't know what the hell I'll do without power for that long... Cry more than likely.

On the off chance that we do have power I will jump on here and try to keep everyone updated, either by IM or posts here. Those of you who have my phone number are welcomed to call, I've even gotten out to buy a corded phone so as to be able to talk with no power. Teh Yay!

Again, thanks for all your messages and calls. It really felt great to have such support. :)

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