Dinnertable PC Moves to Computer RoomHardware construction of the new PC is pretty much done and it has passed the Smoke Test (no smoke when plugged-in and turned on). In fact this was probably the easiest build I have ever done (at least that's my view at this point). Video/mobo/DVD Writer all came up as expected. Next will be the install of Windoze Xp Home. SATA drive was recognized right off the bat by the mobo. I was curious if my (fairly) old disk utilities would work (for partitioning) and they (Partition Commander) worked fine. Above is a "normal" pic followed by a pic that I took with the flash turned off using only ambient light. I should note that this view was taken while the PC's guts were not squared-away due to impending Smoke Test. I made it beautiful later when I knew things were Ok.
This is going to get interesting, maybe. Here I sit somewhere north of Garden Valley and the National Weather Service has characterized the incoming storm (now on the WA/OR coast) as at the head of a "massive" water plume. They use the term "water plume" to describe the moisture fetch of storms that hit WA/OR/CA coasts. I don't think I've ever seen them use the term "massive". There's a heavy snow warning for GV and a winter storm advisory for Boise.
Of course, this is the NWS...which probably means there will be no storm whatsover and that everybody should break out the suntan lotion and marguerita components. Film at 11.
Today's Quote:
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. - Ayn Rand
Dinner Table PC BuildSpudlet's PC is coming along. The workbench was occupied by Stitch's Evil Black Rifle (EBR) so the next handiest place to work on the new PC was the dinner table.
And here's a pic of the new motherboard:
And another of the case...again...
After Action ReportThere's some serious snow up there!! It's supposed to be sunny in the mountains all week while an inversion builds down here in the valley. Ugh.
Pre-snow storm pic. Taken a few weeks ago by Stitch. This is looking to the west from one of our windows.
Interesting Weekend Ahead...thanks to Restless Earth...Yesterday Boise received the most prolonged and hardest rain that I've ever seen here. This would be nothing to a person from Seattle, but for us non-rainforest types it was novel. But while it rained hard here in the valley, it snowed hard up in the mountains. Horseshoe Bend, a little town about 15 miles north of us, got 12" of snow yesterday. Odd, because that town is usually in the "Banana Belt" with Boise.
But the big news that'll keep me busy this weekend was the fact that Garden Valley/Crouch has received more than 24" of snow in the past 36 hours. This morning I contacted our neighbor up there to confirm the rumors that I had heard and he indeed confirmed that it snowed very hard there, steadily, for close to 24 hours. The snow has slowed down, but by this weekend I could be looking at close to 30" of new snow since last weekend. The weather is supposed to get both drier and colder here starting tonight so the Kubota is gonna be busy this weekend as snow showers are predicted up there through the period.
My neighbor in Garden Valley thinks I should be trading stock futures. Something called an "S&P 500 e-mini". He seems to do alright with it. I've been looking into it and what I've found more interesting than the actual trading is the way fund managers use futures as hedges.
The earth was pretty restless off the coast of south-central Orygun today. 5.6 according to the USGS.
Well, gas prices continue to head north with the local best price (that I saw) of 2.06.9 per gal of 87 octane.
Young Tater Tot has found a job at a truck stop. He was tired of his job at Papa Murphy's and decided to venture forth. Since he is completing the second semester of his senior year in high school, he is only attending school part time (got enough credits earlier on). Thus he has joined the ranks of the full-time wage slaves. He works awful hours for less than $2/hr more than what he was making at Papa's. But at least he has to drive 15 times further (no kidding) to/from work. Ah, the mind of a 17 year-old.
Getting a very chilly rain here today with the mountains getting another dump of snow. The storm door has definitely been open here since Christmas and we need it to stay open awhile longer due to our very dry autumn.
I am saddened to report that I paid 2.01 for gas last Friday. Apparently gas prices have been going up over a widespread area (like...the USA).
My newest project is the remodeling of a part of our place north of Boise. I have torn down two walls, relocated one vent pipe, and am about to do a bunch of rewiring. Tons of fun, let me tell you. But...I did volunteer for this...
