I hate having to reinstall Windows. I try to avoid it like death, but sometimes it's just inevitable. Asus sent a new motherboard, and as I've written before, new motherboards usually mean new chipsets, which mean new drivers, which mean Blue Screens of Death for Windows.

Thankfully, there were no blue screens of death. However, one of my hard drives stopped working shortly after this, but I think it was already dying. Regardless, my installation of Vista had become overly bloated, so I reinstalled anyways. Things seem a little more responsive, and I don't have a shitload of unneeded baggage trying to start when Windows does.

I eventually got the broken drive working again. Now I just need to get my other broken drive working so I can retrieve my pictures.

Eventually, I will switch over to pure Linux. I'm just waiting on the Linux port of Unreal Tournament 3.

On the Agenda...

(A) Re-do my audio cables that run from computers to my surround sound receiver. I didn't insulate them properly, so there's constant buzzing in the background. It's faint, but noticeable. Ideally, I'd like to replace the receiver and run an HDMI cable to it for digital audio. For now, however, I need to purchase new jacks.

(B) Finalize my Linux installation on my MacBook. I still need to get the touchpad, 3D acceleration, and wireless working properly. I can't wait to be able to play Unreal Tournament 2004 on it.

(C) On top of all that, I need to finish a ton of reviews. I'm still looking for more PC cases for review as well.

(D) Did I mention Pittco is quickly approaching? August 16th-17th doesn't seem all that far away. And yet there's so much to do!

Nick was home from college this past week, and I took a lot of time away from working on the blog and BIOSLEVEL to spend some time with friends. It was a good time for sure, but I always come to regret it when I realize how little work I've done.

Hopefully I get things back on track over the next few days. I'm way behind on several reviews for BIOSLEVEL, and some of the products were just released in the last two weeks or so.

I also rebuilt two of my computers in to new housing, with a few new components that were sent to me for review. Let me say that I hate reviewing some CPU coolers. A certain company that will go unnamed for now sent two CPU coolers that otherwise seem impossible to install on an Intel machine. Stay tuned for a review, if I ever get them installed.

On top of all that, I somehow started playing World of Warcraft again.

I purchased my MacBook back in November of 2007, shortly after the Santa Rosa chipset update. I'd use Mac OS X a little previously, mostly in the form of trying out OSX86 on my old laptop. After using it for several months as my primary mobile platform, I decided it was time for something different.

OS X is nice and all. User-friendly, intuitive, and works fantastic with the hardware Apple ships. I still feel it's lacking in some areas where Linux excels, such as configurability and the space for customization. Not to mention that there's essentially no decent games out for OS X. I can install Linux and throw on a native version of UT2004 and play away now.

Installation wasn't horribly difficult, but Mac OS X was needed at least initially, and I didn't realize this. Gentoo now boots without an issue on the MacBook. All that I need to finish doing is installing the programs I need and setting up the WiFi.

I'm hoping that I have all the hardware working correctly in the next week or so, and that includes the web cam and touchpad. My only other concern is battery life. It'd be fantastic if I get the same amount or more battery out of the machine with Linux.

I finally took the plunge and had a car stereo installed in my 1998 Chevy Prizm. It's a cheap Sony model, but it has a detachable faceplate and front auxiliary input. The auxiliary input is what I was after, however. Unlike my old car, a Dodge Stratus, the Prizm doesn't have a tape deck or CD player. I was forced to play my music over an FM transmitter that ate two AAA batteries every two-to-three days. Modern technology, eh?

I eventually broke the transmitter and started listening to the radio, which gets repetitive. Amanda suggested getting a car stereo, so I finally gave in and had it done. Rather than spending a few hours putting the wiring hardness together, I had the fine folks at Circuit City do it for a small fee.

It works great. Now I just need to fix my air conditioning or buy a new car. Greeat.

I typically enjoy my job at Buffalo Wild Wings. Really, I do. However, whenever something in management changes, things just go awry for a little bit until I get a feel of the new managers. Also of note is that I get a lot more freedom than most hourly employees since I'm also a shift leader.

This new woman is just horrible, however. At 34 years old, you think you'd be a bit more understanding of what's expected of you and willing to fit in to that expectation. Not with her, however. She's been the General Manager of a Ground Round and a TGI Fridays. I don't know the reasons for exciting either of these companies.

She came to my store by way of a demotion. She was General Manager of the newest Pittsburgh location, and well, sucked at it. She was demoted to regular manager and stuck at my store. How unfortunate. DESPITE being demoted, she's stated several times she has no intention of changing to fit BWW standards.

She's generally nice and friendly, and likes to talk to tables to check in. However, there's more to running a store than visiting guests and filling out paperwork. There's also these things called employee loyalty, employee satisfaction, and an employee-friendly environment.

She fails in relations with the staff. Instead of taking the tried-and-proven coaching method of using a store's staff like a team, she instead takes a command-and-control stance on things, even when it isn't her place to do so.

For example, she's been assigned as the kitchen maanger. Her first change was to re-do the nightly cleaning lists. IE, when a cook is getting ready to go, they must first complete their "outs", or cleaning tasks. The former list of outs were very fine-tuned with employee and manager input. The kitchen's never been cleaner.

Her changes were made without any employee input, and the loads are ridiculous. The first person leaving has the least to do, while the last person has the most. Why?

I came close to walking out tonight. If things wouldn't have re-arranged themselves to a satisfying ending, I would have. The Tuesday night kitchen staff, the only night I work in the kitchen, has a tried-and-proven method of working. She tried to change this, which is what almost had me leaving. However, we fell back to the old system after we all became annoyed with what she was trying to do.

Sorry to vent, but it's been a long night.