Naturally, as soon as I post that I’m notever fixing a computer for anyone ever again, my mother and my father both can’t keep World of Warcraft from blacking out their machines when my 13-year-old brother plays it. Since I built the computers, it must be something I did right?

Luckily, the helpful MetaFilter folks had some excellent suggestions on where to begin. I’m fairly certain it’s a video card issue, from the vague descriptions they’ve given me, but I’m going to follow the plan below to save myself future headaches. If you can read, you can do it, too!

How to fix Mom’s computer [Scribbling.net]

So, when a spam arrives in your junk mail folder with the subject “WOW Leather Blowout!” what is your first reaction?

Is it excitement over the prospect that a player of World of Warcraft has created several items with his leatherworking trade skill, might be selling them cheap, and that your level 19 druid might take advantage?

If so, you approach my level of nerdiness. If this post left you confused, then your presence here is likely a mistake. Welcome, there’s nothing for you here.

Frodo: I can’t do this Sam.

Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, the shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.

Thanks, Sam.

Steelbuddha: Huzzah!
SB: Gary Coleman with a voice bubble saying “Huzzah!” makes me laugh.
Bjorn Nelson: has that happened?
SB: It has. Right here on my IM.
BN: but is it tangible?
SB: It’s amenable.
BN: man, photoshop that shiite

SB:Direct Instant Message session started

BN: hahaha
SB: Good times.
BN: great times
BN: what does my icon look like?
SB: It’s a polar bear.
BN: I’m a polar bear. look at me! Wheeeeeeeeeeee
BN: sucka
BN: I eat fish and people
SB: Hehehe.
SB: Oh, I see you Polar Bear. You thank you’re so much better than everyone else because you’re on the Coca-Cola commercial.
BN: those guys were sell-outs
BN: real polar bears drink Pepsi (TM)
BN: (out of character) dude, Polar Bear the RPG is awesome
SB: What’s that?
BN: what I’m playing right now
SB: AWESOME. literally LOL.
BN: I swing at Gary Coleman with my +12 Eternal Axe
SB: Dodged!
BN: *drinks a coke*
SB: GaryColeman wields a vicious “Cardigan Sweater” at you !
BN: COKE RAGE +100
BN: arrrgh
BN: *suffocated by sweater*
SB: Resurrect now?
BN: yes plz
SB: You awake in the “Tavern.” There is a barmaid here.
SB: Barmaid says “holy shit! A polar Bear!”
SB: Barmaid runs.
BN: TIGER HAND +150, directed at Barmaid!
SB: Barmaid dies.
BN: *gloat*
SB: You gain 11 exp.
BN: da da da dun dun da da daaaa (FF victory music)

Which File Extension are You?

Need a good curse for Samhain? Raven St. Crowley provides. Also: rockin’ dirge.

I’ve installed WP-Blacklist, so sonny@moonlightshadow.us and lilo@suddenenlightenment.us can stop with the zen poker comments. You’re welcome, fuckers. Any people who read this and know how to make hell for people via email, feel free to bomb these jackasses off the face of the planet.

With love,
Me.

Possibly the greatest commentary on modern politics. Possibly not.

I dig this song; it’s catchy and the video is certainly cleaver. *Cryptkeeper laugh*

I’ve seen this elsewhere, but today I posted it for Tim McKee and for prosperity.

Also, a late announcement: MHG, she has a blog that is slowly being pieced together between our viewings of Buffy episodes. She calls it Raggedy Android and it threatens to be the coolest thing ever. Cooler than Snoopy in that WWI pilot gear, cooler than Thulsa Doom, cooler even…than the movie Sidekicks*.

No, seriously it will be a worthy read, as it already has proven. Go peruse now, you ignorant bastard.

Bonus geek quotient points if one know the connection between Thulsa Doom and Sidekicks, which only revealed itself after I looked for the links.

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

Thanks, Jed Wards, for the idea.