DOH!!!

Figured out what the problem was with the DSL. A certain someone put the DSL filter for the phone (which filters out DSL signals) on the phone line that connects to the DSL modem. Basically the filter was filtering out our signal and that’s why the DSL was so damn slow… >__<

Bittersweets

Well, I received quite a few computer related packages today, some good, some not so good. My very considerate roomate from Cornell sent me my comfy chair, so now I actually have a chair for my computer desk. I also received word that I could hook up the DSL since the service had been turned on. Because I already had experienced just how much of a piece of junk Verizon’s software is (stupid flash presentation!), I knew to call up help immediately and simply get the login and password for the account before connecting through Windows’ Network Connections. This time the process only took 5 minutes and I was online and surfing on my desktop on DSL! So why am I on the laptop right now? Using free AOL dialup? Here comes the bitter part: something is wrong with the DSL service and the connection is actually significantly slower than dialup… This is one of those days where you realize that the world really is unjust.

So with no broadband, I spent much of the evening working on a site revamp for my art site. I think I might be going with a greenish theme. I’ve found that when I don’t feel like drawing or I don’t have any way to upload pics, I work on new banners and site designs ^__~. I was cutting up a pic in Photoshop, but I was off by a pixel in length in my cuts, and the index is all messed up at the moment. I’m hoping to have the whole thing done and ready by the time the DSL works correctly. Perhaps my stuff will get here soon so I can draw with a tablet; I’m really looking forward to this. I’m not sure where I will store the sudden influx of junk, though…

I Hate Greyhound

I finally made it back from my trip, and I had some of the worst bus experiences ever. On the way there, the bus broke down and instead of sending a new bus, Greyhound decided to try to fix the bus and drive it anyway (despite not ever figuring out what the problem was). After waiting for 4 hours, they tried the bus again and, predictably, the bus stalled on the highway. The bus driver then attempted a U-turn on the highway, but the bus just died as soon as it was perpendicular to the flow of traffic. This caused me to miss several connections and I ended up having to take a bus time that landed us in Washington D.C. at 5 pm on a Friday before a long weekend. These were not fun times (although I did see a big group of cosplayers at the station, which was rather interesting).

I was willing to chalk this up to a freak occurrence, but on the way home, while only 6 miles from my destination, the bus broke down. It wasn’t the same bus either. Greyhound decided to send a mechanic instead of a new bus. Needless to say, this was unsuccessful. The one amusing point in all this was when the smokers began to practically riot when the driver wouldn’t let them off to smoke while we were broken down. See what nicotine does to people? Eventually the driver capitulated and let them smoke right in front of the bus. We sat on the side of the road for about 2.5 hours in the complete dark and I didn’t get back until around 3 am. There was a definite Jeepers Creepers, scary monster that only awakens every 23 years to consume humans for 23 days, feel to the whole night. Greyhound is the bane of my existence.

Over the break, I had the enjoyable experience of playing Zone of the Enders. I thought I had purchased the sequel, but I was wrong. It was still pretty good looking, however, and it took me a while to realize it was the first ZoE. The problem with the game was that it was much, much too short (I beat it in under 6 hours). The versus mode was really fast-paced and fun and it helped make up for the short life of this game, but I couldn’t get over the feeling that they should simply have tacked the first ZoE onto the second ZoE as a training/tutorial level. The main character, Leo, was almost unbearably whiny too. I now understand why many people hate Shinji Ikari. After finishing ZoE, I tried Mystic Heroes. It was a chibi Dynasty Warriors type game, and personally I didn’t like it. Originally, I was drawn to the cute graphics, but the gameplay just didn’t impress me. The multiplayer versus mode was rather boring and there were so few maps to play.

In other gaming news, I saw a reference to CaseArts in one of the latest PC Magazine issues. Because one of my friends works for CaseArts, I noticed right away the reference to the Houston company in the article about building high-end computers. In a strange twist of fate, the author of the article chose to use a flower design that was very similar to the design that I had made fun of…

Over the Labor Day weekend, I managed to squeeze in a trip to Chinatown in NY. I had some especially good xiao long bao and checked out some VCDs. They had Naruto VCDs with misleading covers (featuring characters that had yet to make an appearance) and I was disappointed to discover that they only had up to episode 39 or so. I also couldn’t find any new San Yan Zi CDs, and I ended up empty handed in terms of digital media. I did have some luck, and got my hands on several lotus paste moon cakes, though. Phat lewts! I didn’t have any time to search for manga stores, or else I probably would have spent too much money ^__~.

Some Goodies

Well, today was a good day in that I found out we get lots more channels than originally thought! That’s right, Bravo, Cartoon Network, ESPN 2, MTV, etc., etc. It was a momentous discovery. Almost as impressive as finding the casserole dish with a cover at Target. Plus, the DSL equipment should be coming pretty soon. I’ll be visiting family this weekend, so probably no blogs until Tuesday.

I caught the MTV Video Music Awards show. It was pretty boring and I turned it off in the middle of 50 Cent’s performance. The VMAs are not nearly as entertaining as the Movie Awards are. The Movie Awards have great spoofs and the hosts are more interesting. Chris Rock hit some pretty low, but funny lines early in the show, but by the end he was basically reduced to one-liners to introduce presenters.

I had an interesting discussion with a cab driver today. He had been a cabbie in NYC before and so we got to reminiscing about the good old North. He told me about how he got pulled over by every cop in Williamsburg when he started, because he tried to pull stunts like driving on the sidewalk to get around slow moving cars. Man, those NYC cab drivers are hardcore.

WOOT!

Dear Valued Verizon Online Customer,

Great News! We inadvertently notified you in a previous message that Verizon Online DSL was unavailable on your telephone line. We made a mistake and are glad to inform you that your line is pre-qualified for Verizon Online DSL service. We have begun processing your DSL order and you will be notified regarding the status of your order shortly. No additional action from you is necessary; your order is in progress.

Woo hoo, this made my day so much better.

Blargh!

Found out today from stupid Verizon that DSL is now not offered in the region. Great. Since the apartment doesn’t have a separate address, stupid Cox Communications won’t supply cable modem service. This just sucks. This Virginia is the “Internet C@pital” garbage is such a load of BS. I’m also not enjoying having to walk everywhere. Suburbia isn’t too friendly when you don’t have a car.

The most depressing thing about this DSL issue is that it sorta prevents me from getting any good new anime or multiplayer gaming done. I am racking my brain cells furiously, hoping for a solution.

I came across this thread extolling a certain Volcano High. Why was this movie considered good? I waited for hours to see this as the in-flight movie (while taking a trip to Taiwan), and I was rather disappointed by it. I thought it got cornier exponentially as the movie went on. For some reason, this reminds me that I saw the movie Equilibrium while in Blockbuster the other day. *cough* Fahrenheit 451 *cough*.