ben lowery

I started working on my new work rig, a PC based on a Core 2 Duo and an ATI X1900XT graphics card. This was my first build using PCI Express, and I ran into one problem: once the hardware was installed and I started to install Windows XP, I got a bluescreen after all the drivers loaded, right after the status told me “Starting Windows”. Windows claimed it was dying in PCI.SYS, a rather odd place to die.

After a bunch of digging around, I found out that PCI Express isn’t supported until XP SP2; I was trying to install XP base. I found some great instructions on how to slipstream SP2 into a base XP install and now the install is progressing nicely. For anyone else who runs into the problem, the bluescren says you die in PCI.SYS.

Have you ever had something stolen from your checked luggage? In the wake of the arrests in London and the new restrictions on carry-on’s, I’ve seen a fair bit of concern that importantant, valuable items will now have to be checked (camera gear, laptops, etc).  I could certainly see the concern about items being broken in transit; baggage handlers are not known for their careful handling of luggage.  But I also see fears about items being stolen, though I’ve never heard of anyone having something stolen from their luggage.  Just wondering.

Mandy and I are sitting in the airport (JFK) waiting to board and get on with a week of vacation.  First to Mendocino, then on the Placerville.  Should be a great week of R&R.  If you really need to reach me, I’ve got my cell and should be checking email once a day or so.

Also, and more importantly, today is our 1-year anniversary!  This time last year, I was just getting breakfast and getting ready.  It’s been the best year of my life and I couldn’t ask for a better person to spend it with.

The first track really says it all. I’m tempted to get this just based on the whacky review.

From Brazil, CSS is the first South American band Sub Pop has foisted upon the global marketplace. The title is Portuguese for “Tired Of Being Sexy” and the sound is a thick, pulsating thing full of haphazard synths and a come-on of call and response that tears down any attempt at posturing. It’s equal parts rock mantra and throwback into something new, transcending boundaries of genre and geography. It goes full speed into dance territory, into the unknown and untouched, to emerge all hot and bothered with wild electro-rock. Quick, tightly-wound, unfastened, and supreme.

I’m pretty sure there’s an inherent conflict of interests here, but the Ninja’s review of Pirates is pretty entertaining. Can anyone confirm or disconfirm the review?