May 2005 | benclark.com

Sun 29 May 2005

Linux isn't for the weak of heart

This Linux computer is going to drive me nuts.

All I want is a web server, file server, DVD transcoding server, and MythTV backend/frontend -- that's clearly not too much to ask from the hardware, and certainly well within the means of the OS, but it's starting to be far too much work for me to get configured.

Considering that I have been fiddling with this for the better part of three months, it's almost getting to the point where I want to give up the whole thing. But I know I won't, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Sat 28 May 2005

Best man, man

What exactly does a best man do?

Fri 27 May 2005

Possible amp replacement

I think I know what I'm going to buy to replace my Crate 30w --> a Tech 21 Power Engine 60.. but only if it's loud enough.

Fri 27 May 2005

Eyes and ears

I think I may may buy Tiger at the end of the summer, before I move.

Last night at band practice, my amp finally said, "you know what, I suck, and I don't want to play your brand of grunge-influenced rock anymore. I'll stick around as a PA subsitute, but no more distortion plz thanx."

So, the search will begin for an adequate replacement.

Exchanging some e-mails with Carrie this morning re: my trip next week really puts me in the mood to get my ass up there.

Thu 26 May 2005

Dragging my feet for no apparent gain

I. am. so. upset.

The _only_ reason I dragged my ass out of bed this morning is to come to work and talk about the Lost season finale last night with Jaime. But he decided to be a no-show. So I'm stuck here because someone needs to be in the offices, but I'm pretty run down.

Wed 25 May 2005

Pumpkins Stuff

Top of the mornin' to ya. Update on some Pumpkins stuff.

Billy Corgan: Walking Shade music video available for streaming. It's not bad, actually. It's sort of a combination between the Cure, the last two Smashing Pumpkins albums, and the Zwan album.

Listen to Jimmy Chamberlin Complex Life Begins Again on iTunes and tell me this doesn't rock. You might want to buy it from Half.com.

Wed 25 May 2005

Visit ... Nebraska!

Having just watched a Visit Nebraska commercial, I'm reminded how sad it must be to promote tourism in a state that doesn't really have much to offer.

In elementary school, I did a report on West Virginia. I don't remember what I ended up saying was the reason to go there, but I'm sure it had something to do with mountain hiking.

I almost want to call that toll free Visit Nebraska number and request the travel guide. I wouldn't have the heart to tell them I wasn't actually planning a trip, I'd feel too guilty for getting their hopes up in the first place . . .

Tue 24 May 2005

Book meme

1. Total number of books owned?
Somewhere between 2 and 200, most likely right smack dab in the median. I have a lot of books. I'm trying to sell some of them on Half.com right now, but I'm probably taking most of them with me to Indiana. Because I love books.

2. The last book I bought?
I'm not really sure what the last one was... Probably Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, though. :(

3. The last book I read?

Tue 24 May 2005

Solid-state hard drive

This announcement about a solid-state hard drive could revolutionize the portable music player market.

Mon 23 May 2005

Moving Musings

My dad may have been kidding around when he said this, but it found the mark: which will ultimately give me the most stress, the application/acceptance process or moving to Indiana?

Sun 22 May 2005

The Heat of a Thousand Suns

I'm in Venice for my brother's high school graduation. Weird to see the kid all grown up, or at least some close approximation. I still remember when he was a goofy elementary school kid with too-big ears and a shy demeanor. He eventually grew out of both, and it's cool to see him at seventeen and doing quite well. Nevertheless, it's more than a little disconcerting that this much time has passed.

Fri 20 May 2005

Star Wars, Episode III - Initial Reactions

Star Wars wasn't all bad. It wasn't all good, either. The last hour was far more entertaining than the first hour, and unlike some reviewers and fanboys, I find it hard to ignore the sluggishness of all but the last few action scenes. If it wasn't "the last Star Wars movie ever," I would've walked out of the theater hating it -- but obviously, we can't have that, so I'll give it a B- and be done with it.

Thu 19 May 2005

I got free Star Wars tickets!

I had been waiting to post this until I knew for sure I was getting them, but guess who scored free tickets to the ~~8pm~~ 6:30pm showing of Star Wars? :)

Mon 16 May 2005

The New BenClark.com

Details about the new Benclark.com:

Hardware
AMD 64 3000+ (Socket 939)
MSI K8T Neo2 motherboard
1 GB DDR400
80 GB hda
200 GB hdd

Software
Ubuntu Linux (based on Debian) -- amd64 native port
Apache2 + php4

Mon 16 May 2005

BenClark.com returns!

Benclark.com is back up and running. Uptime *over* *one* *day*! (lol)

Wed 11 May 2005

One of those random music surveys

1. Of all the bands/artists in your cd/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by? -- Counting the box, I'd probably have to say the Smashing Pumpkins dominates my CD collection, followedly closely by Ben Folds and Soundgarden.

2. What was the last song you listened to? -- "Pardon Me" (Incubus) on the radio this morning.

3. What's in your ~~CD player~~ iPod right now? -- Oh, something like fifteen-hundred songs.

Sat 7 May 2005

E-mail Transition

I decided to self-host benclark.com, with the exception of my e-mail, which is currently being switched over to an economy account at GoDaddy. The 24-48 hour transitional period means that I will be without e-mail for that long. If you absolutely need me, use LJ to send me a text message, or an e-mail.

In other news, I'm in Venice for the weekend. Play by play when I get back on Sunday.

Update: My e-mail is working again as of Saturday 2 PM. If it got bounced back, resend it.

Wed 4 May 2005

Got my mind on my money?

Had a fun band practice last night. I think the highlight of the evening was the hardcore version of 'Funky Hat.' That was good things. Got to yell and scream a little, hadn't really done that since high school, been too busy trying to be melodic.

Today I get a package in the mail (well, from FedEx anyway). Some new hardware I bought from Newegg. I'll blog more about it later.

Tue 3 May 2005

Flickr Pro

I have two free Flickr Pro Accounts to give away. Let me know if you want one.

Mon 2 May 2005

Babelfish Meme - Results

Answers to babelfish meme.

Song 1: "Muzzle," The Smashing Pumpkins, from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
I fear that I am ordinary, just like everyone. To lie here and die amongst the sorrows, adrift among the days.

Song 2: "Ohio is for Lovers," Hawthorne Heights, from Silence in Black and White.
Hey there, I know it's hard to feel like I don't care at all, where you are and how you feel, with these lights off as these wheels keep rolling on and on. (And on and on.)