Digital Video (realistic) Dream Machine:

I've been fleshing out plans for a new machine lately. I've moved away from gaming, which used to drive my hardware purchasing. Unfortunately, I've replaced it with a pastime that's nearly as cash intensive -- video production. Video production requires speed -- raw processor speed, hard drive speed, RAM speed etc... What it does not require is 3D processing power, which as a gamer was my main focus. To wit, I've wasted a lot of money on 3Dfx and GeForce boards, but now I need to start again from scratch.

Keeping this realistic (within my buying power), requires quite a few compromises, but in the end I should have a "rip and flip" video machine that will do near realtime or better video conversions and merciless capture and video I/O features.

• 400W Black Full Tower Case -- $100 -- Tons of bays, big power supply, and cool Alienware ripoff case design make this a winner.
  
• Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard -- $160 -- Nforce2 based mobo from a solid company, solid specs, includes USB 2.0/Firewire/Serial ATA for room to grow
  
• Athlon XP 2000 -- $100 -- The sweet spot in the AMD processor line right now. I might bump this up a little when I actually get around to buying, but I want to keep the amount spent on a processor around $100. Besides when the 2800 XP is $100 I can always pop in a replacement.
  
• 512 MB PC-2700 RAM -- $130 -- Fast RAM and enough of it.
  
• 120 GB Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB hard drive -- $150 -- Tons of storage space, though not the fastest hard drive around. A later addition would be a pair of smaller (40 GB for another $150) drives to run in a striped configuration for video conversions.
  
• ATI All In Wonder 7500 -- $125 -- The "Swiss Army knife" of video cards. Like most AiW cards the 3D performance of this card isn't great, but the TV tuner, video in and video out features, along with the remote control and good software make this card too much of a value to pass up.
  
• Lite-On 40/12/48 CD-RW -- $65 -- Good performance, good reviews, and good price. I'd like a Plextor, but hey $35 extra is $35 extra.
  
• Creative 52X CD-ROM -- $35 -- Cheap and reliable... mmm cheap.
  
• Teac Floppy Drive -- $15 -- Eh... It's a floppy.
  
• Keyboard ? -- $20 -- A keyboard, non-ergo, non-crappy.
  
• Intellimouse Explorer 5 button optical mouse -- $35 -- I love this mouse. Something that M$ got right.
  
• Samsung 19" SyncMaster 950B monitor -- $190 -- Nice 19" monitor for a good price.
  
• Altec Lansing 251 5.1 Speakers -- $75 -- 5.1 speakers for under a $100? Yep. Klipsch sound quality? Nope. Then again Klipsch 5.1's check in at about $500.
  

Grand total -- $1200.

I can cut some bucks by not getting a monitor and the speakers to get it below $1000, but this is a dream so let's keep 'em and figure out a way to get $1200:)

One of my favorite sports quotes of all time:

The hapless 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers had started the season 0-12. Going into their 13th game against the AFC powerhouse Pittsburg Steelers, things didn't look to improve much. They didn't. The Bucs got drubbed 42-0 to fall to 0-13 on their way to a winless season. After the game a reporter asked Tampa Bay coach John McKay, "What do you think about your team's execution today ?".

"I'm in favor of it," McKay replied.

Brilliant.

mcSey's Ten favorite bands

1. The Sound of Urchin
   
2. The Youngblood Brass Band
   
3. The Beastie Boys
   
4. The Meters
   
5. James Brown
   
6. Gene Ammons
   
7. Vinyl
   
8. Toots and the Maytals
   
9. Calypso King and the Soul Investigators
   
10. Tenacious D <<-- Laugh its funny

From MSNBC News

Scott Ritter of Delmar is well known internationally as an outspoken, former U.N. weapons inspector. Now more information is coming to light about Ritter's past and a disturbing arrest. His attorney confirms he was arrested in 2001, but neither she nor police will discuss the details.

It turns out that Ritter, who has been very critical of Bush's warmongering, may or may not have been arrested in 2001 for one of my "favorite" online crimes -- soliciting sex from a person it's completely legal to solicit sex from. It turns out he was probably arrested for attempting to solicit sex in an Internet (probably AOL) chatroom from someone he may (or may not) have thought was a 16 year old girl. Of course he did no such thing in reality. Instead he solicited sex from a definetly legal (probably 30-40 something, probably male) person posing as a 16 year old girl in an Internet (probably AOL) chatroom. Ritter was never charged. Forgetting the shaky, though precedent covered, legality of the arrest, this is the kind of thing that gets conspiracies started.

An outspoken critic of administration policy charged with an indefensible crime... My best guess is this is the last we ever hear from Mr. Ritter. He will get the message, "Be quiet and this will go away, but if you keep talking we keep alledging." This is the kind of crime that government can use to destroy someone without the slightest bit of proof. The accusation itself is enough to sully his reputation with the majority of media sheep. Those who will not look past the entrapping nature of the crime he's charged with. Those who will not look for real evidence of guilt or innocence if one assumes this is actually a crime. Check the lead of the MSNBC story above. His arrest is "disturbing" even though no charges were ever filed. When no charges are filed, I assume that the arrest was in error. MSNBC obviously assumes he was guilty of something if they feel his mere arrest was disturbing. Do you think that if he'd have been arrested for accounting fraud but no charges were ever filed that they would either label the arrest "distrubing" or cover it at all?

Just watched a great basketball game, and it was a pro game! I don't usually watch the NBA, but Yao vs. Shaq was too much to pass up.

John Le Carre's brilliant analysis of the current situation in regards to Bush's warmongering. Certainly passes the Seamus Heaney "Damn, I wish I wrote that" test.

A better economic stimulus plan. Laugh. It's funny.

Letter from Sullivan Ballou to his wife Sarah written July 14, 1862

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days -- perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure -- and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing -- perfectly willing -- to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows -- when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children -- is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles I have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

Ballou died at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1862.

Events I'm glad I missed

• Rape of Nanking
  
• Bataan Death March
  
• World War One gas attacks
  
• Hiroshima 08/06/1945
  
• The Khmer Rouge Killing Fields
  

Events I wish I'd seen

• The Liberation of Paris
  
• The Apollo 11 Moon Landing
  
• The first public demonstration in 1972 of ARPANET (later called the Internet)
  
• Woodstock
  
• 50th Reunion of the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg
  

Bush's approval rating sits at a solid 58% according to the latest Gallup poll. My question is simple, who the hell are they polling? Have you ever met anyone who has been polled on the president's approval rating? Have you ever met anyone who has been polled in any survey that you have heard about in the news?

I didn't think so.

Yahoo! News - The Who's Townshend Says 'I'm Not a Pedophile'

LONDON (Reuters) - British rock star Pete Townshend, guitarist with legendary band The Who, on Saturday admitted paying to view Internet child pornography but denied he was a pedophile and said it was for research purposes.

Talk about a no win situation...

TV Ads Say S.U.V. Owners Support Terrorists

But some local affiliates say they will not run them. At the ABC affiliate in New York, Art Moore, director of programming, said, "There were a lot of statements being made that were not backed up, and they're talking about hot-button issues."

Reformed convservative Arianna Huffington is running ads throughout the country claiming that gas guzzling SUV's owners support terrorism through the increased profits that go to oil producing states. Some of these countries then supposedly use this money to pay terrorists...

Iffy connection at best but I love her technique for one reason. It undermines those stupid-ass drug money support terrorism commercials. I don't buy a word of it, but I'm especially scared that Art Moore got a conscience about this. Since when does advertising have to be truthful?

In the grand tradition of Slashback, some quickies from today's web journeys.

• Talg's Blog -- Interesting "man on the street" Israeli blog. I'm still looking for a corresponding Palestinian blog.
  
• No I will not fix your computer. -- Good rant on the free tech support hackers are asked to give so often.
  
• A great T-shirt from wilwheaton.net.
  

Web Log Action from blogger truthlaidbear. A fine idea -- actual activism combined with blogging (as opposed to pissing and moaning like I do).

It's snowing here. Light lilting cold snow that blows and drifts. It's too cold for it to be snowing, but no one told the weather that apparently. The frozen tundra outside has my daughter and I cooped up in the house. We're working on her webpage. I'll let you know when it's done. I'm sure that you'll want to see it;)

I watched the Ohio State/Miami football "championship" game last night. Ohio State won 31-24 in double OT. One of the greatest football games that I've seen I tell ya. Double overtime for the national championship, an upset winner and disgusting grevious injuries (Willis McGahee's knee was bent into a /very/ unnatural position) -- what more can I guy ask for in a football game. After the Iowa/USC debacle the other night, the Fiesta Bowl was a great consolation prize.

DPRK Official News Agency: Past news

The U.S. is stepping up the preparations for a war against the DPRK, persistently turning aside the latter's constructive proposal for concluding a non-aggression treaty. The U.S. has frequently committed aerial espionage against the DPRK. All this is reminiscent of alarming moves on the eve of a war.
But the U.S. should properly know who is its rival.
If the enemy invades even an inch of the inviolable territory of the DPRK, the people's army and people of the DPRK will wipe out the aggressors to the last man.

North Korea's official "news" agency. Iraq's site has some fun stuff on it. Send email to Saddam!