Rants, Inc.

My Strange Obsession with Ceiling Fans

dalegaspi — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:51:58 +0000

When I needed a ceiling fan for our family room about 7 years ago, I was all set to buy whatever brand Home Depot had…but when I visited a friend’s house with their newly-installed ceiling fan, I just realized then that not all ceiling fans are created equal.

The ceiling fan was beautiful, moves air efficiently…and very quiet. The brand? It was a Casablanca. I almost had a heart attack when I found out the price then (around $400)…but I was told that it’s all worth every penny.

Well, 7 years later: I still have that Casablanca Panama on our family room with nary a problem. I was so happy with it that I had installed 3 more: one for my home office, one for the master bedroom, and one for my daughter’s bedroom (all Panamas)…I am planning to have the same fans installed for our 2 remaining bedrooms.

Back to the iPhone…For Now

dalegaspi — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:31:42 +0000

The BlackBerry novelty has definitely worn off…I could not stand using the thing anymore…so I’m back to my iPhone as my main mobile phone for the time being and have the BB as my phone of choice if I anticipate to use tethering.

I started to use the iPhone without any protective case (i.e., the way Jonathan Ive wants the iPhone to be used)…I forgot how thin this thing is.

BlackBerry Annoyances

dalegaspi — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:56:32 +0000

With just over a week with the BlackBerry, I think I am *this* close to going back to the iPhone. BB’s individual features/functions are either brilliant or just plain abysmal; there is no middle ground.

Here is a list of of BB annoyances that I can’t stand

- automatic spellcheck is retarded.
- there is no synergy among applications, even the RIM-created ones; each application acts as if they are the only running app in the BB. Ironically, the only app that works nicely with RIM apps is Beejive.
- browsing experience is not bad–it’s horrible. BB needs its new Webkit browser NOW!
- BB standard fonts are UGLY.
- Why can’t I force-quit applications?
- Where is my Mint.com app?

If you’re using a phone to check email and very minimal browsing, BB is OK. Otherwise, getting a BB is just a way to punish yourself.

First?

dalegaspi — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:40:58 +0000

I’m beginning to like this new BlackBerry. I’m still amazed by its loooooong battery life, and Bluetooth tethering that just works great with the Mac. Now, if RIM just release that Webkit-based browser, I’m all set.

(I wrote this post on the BB Wordpress app)

BlackBerry FTW?

dalegaspi — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:43:39 +0000

I received a BlackBerry Bold 9700 as my new electronic dog leash company mobile phone. My Apple fanboy in me lamented for a few days on why my company hasn’t made the iPhone its standard mobile phone.

However, as I put the thing through its paces…I just learned that it’s not so bad. Sure, it’s FUGLY and the lack of touchscreen makes it antiquated in comparison with the newer smartphones…but it gets the job done. I installed GMail, Google Sync (for Contacts) and a few apps that I use a lot on my iPhone.

Now I have become that gadget freak that I never want to be: a gadget freak with TWO mobile phones. Why is this so? Two things: BlackBerry’s amazing battery life…and the ability to tether without having to root (a.k.a. “jailbreak”) the phone!

Hey 2K: FIX BIOSHOCK 2

dalegaspi — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:39:52 +0000

Bioshock 2 seems to be forgetting where I am in the game. First, I already defeated the Big Daddy in Ryan Amusement Park to collect the little sister and SAVED the game before turning the console off. When I booted up the game and reload, I WAS BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEVEL.

Now, I’m already about to collect my fire plasmid and the stupid game hanged on me. I thought this game auto-saves? Now when I started, it’s back at El Dorado…BEFORE I FIGHT THE DAMN BIG DADDY AGAIN.

I am NOT finishing this game.

Hackint0sh Upgrade: Firewire port

dalegaspi — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:57:04 +0000

I added a Firewire card to my hackint0sh and just when I thought everything would just work, It didn’t. OS X (10.6.2) cannot detect the Firewire ports. But bless those folks at InsanelyMac, it turns out that I just need to delete AppleHPET.kext from /System/Library/Extensions, and voila! Firewire works. Apparently, this driver conflicts with the Firewire PCI driver…or something to that effect…I don’t care…as long as my Firewire works!

Up next: Add a new HDD. I also replaced my 250GB storage disk with a 1TB.

–

Aperture 3 is finally out! YAY.

Updates from my Boring Life

dalegaspi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:52:28 +0000

- I’m almost done with my 2009 taxes; just waiting for one of my bank’s 1099.
- I signed up for my first 5K of the year for late March (anything earlier would be too damn cold); and one 10K for early June. Still gunning for a half-marathon by fall…but we’ll see what happens.
- I am upgrading one of my Hackint0sh’s drive to 1TB and adding a Firewire card…I thought I could live with USB…but it’s too slow.
- ZZzzz…

Hackint0sh: Security Update 2010-001 Success!

dalegaspi — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:26:16 +0000

The latest update install is a success with this flavor of Hackint0sh.

Darksiders

dalegaspi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:47:01 +0000

Darksiders is the absolute best game I have played in a long while since The Shadow of the Colossus. It is brilliantly designed; hats off to Mr. Madureira. I am looking forward to the sequel and to all games you will be making.