Writuar: Unleash your Writing Animal!
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So, for various reasons, I am currently debating getting a laptop, primarily for web development purposes. I've got a vague idea of what I need: a decent screen size (at least 15 inches, I'm thinking), don't care if it's light or heavy, decent amount of RAM (at least 3 gigs, I'm thinking), enough processor speed to handle Photoshop plus gobs of browser tabs plus gobs of Vim windows. Beyond this, though I find myself overwhelmed by choice.
Plus, add to this my quandries on that whole Windows 7 thing. I know it supposed to be significantly better then Vista, but when doing some brief research into laptops, they all came with 64-bit Windows 7. Now, I don't know a significant amount about 64-bit, but according to my brief research, it will not run some older programs. I haven't found anything saying *how* old of programs it won't run. Like, will I be able to run Civ 3 still? Or, what about MS Gif Animator and Hex Code Helper (two rather antiquated programs which haven't been updated since probably the late 90's, but are quite good at what they do, so I still use them). Anyhow, I'm hesitant to jump on the 64-bit bandwagon right now.
I could make the jump and get something with Linux (Ubuntu, perchance). It's going good on my netbook, and I feel like if I'm going to be in any way a decent programmer, working in a Linux environment would simplify my life. Just too used to Windows at this point. I could figure out some sort of virtualization program to use (VMWare?) and install XP? Or, for that matter, I could figure out how to dual boot and have both Linux and XP? Or, maybe I can get a laptop with Windows 7, and install Linux to dual boot with it. It's also really hard to even find laptops sold with Linux on them (well, that's not a netbook, at least).
So anyhow, this is what my brain has been mashing around lately.
So, about a year ago, I did Nanowrimo (aka National Novel Writing Month). I wrote a Choose Your Own Adventure style book, primarily as a means to test out the Storypath system I'd recently built on Writaur.com. Anyhow, I liked what I wrote, and have spent chunks of the last year editing it and finessing it and all that good stuff. Well, it's finally done, and is available for the low low price of $10 at multiple fine internet establishments, namely Createspace and Amazon.
Quest for the Fountain of Life can also be read online for free! This way, people can preview the book first, and hopefully share the link with their friends.
I'm still trying to figure out how to market this thing, so I appreciate any suggestions on that, as well as any feedback on the book itself. Thanks!
So my car needed an oil change. We picked up the oil and filter, and, as the wrench I've been using was Carolyn's, I looked for a new wrench. All they seemed to have at Advance Auto were these weird belt wrenches, which I'd never used before. As Drew needed help figuring out stuff for his car, there was some guy helping us (who couldn't have been a day over 20). I asked him about the wrenches, and he said he didn't recommend the belt wrenches, and that you can remove your oil filter easily by whacking a screwdriver into it and twisting it off that way. I was wary of this method, as it sounded both messy and potentially difficult to achieve given the angle I had to position myself into in order to reach my oil filter, but I thought I'd give it a whirl as he seemed to adamant that this was the way to go.
Well, it was both messy and awkward. I'd hoped I could just twist the filter off with my hands, as I had a Fram filter on and they have a really good gripping surface. No go. Tried it with one of those kitchen rubber lid twisty things, still no go. Tried whacking a screwdriver into the filter using a hammer. Got it in, and found it impossible to turn, so I had to whack said screwdriver in further. By this point, residual oil is dripping down the screwdriver, onto my hand, down my arm, and onto the hammer. I kept having to rest my arms, as there were all of these car parts in the way and I needed to hold both arms at angles not comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Got the screwdriver in enough, and twisted. It turned, just a little bit, until the lever that the screwdriver made ran into other car parts. Still couldn't get the filter off with my hands, even with the loosening. So, made another hole. Everything is doused with oil at this point. Hole took entirely too long to make, as I was sore and pooped. It worked, eventually, and I got the filter off. Had to throw my poor blue hoodie away, though, it was unsalvageable.
Didn't do Drew's car yet, no way in Hell are we undertaking that method for his car. Don't even know where the parts are gonna be on his, as he's never changed his own oil before. So we went to Lowes and Home Depot, neither of them carried oil filter pliers, the bastards! I've located a pair, though, at Checkers Auto, so I'll have to stop by there tomorrow or whenever next is convenient. Incidentally, there is an infinite amount of schlock carried at Lowes and Home Despot now, what with their tupperware bins and home accents and stuff. It's like everyone wants to compete with Walmart. Soon you'll be able to buy underwear and bananas at Lowes/Home Depot, too.
In other news, I just got a lb. of ceviche from the grocery store for a little over a buck a pound. It's got a kick to it, too.
Put Xmas lights up, along with our wee little purple tree. Once Xmas is over this year, I look forward to scarfing up reject lights and decorations off of Craigslist so next year will be fabulous.
