Sort of.  Well, I actually did take him seriously.  And while he's a scoundrel for not paying off his debt to ab03, I have to hand it to him on this one.

In a thread not too long ago he (as well as others) advised me to go with Vista and just buy the computer instead of building my own.  That's exactly what I ended up doing and so far I'm annoyed but fairly pleased. 

At 5am I was there at Best Buy not just to pick up the computer I ordered last night, but also to take advantage of a monitor deal they had going on.  Got the second to last one of those...a nice Samsung widescreen.  Also got a video card so I could run dual monitors.  Haven't set that up yet.

So I get home and install the video card.  Hook up the new monitor.  connect the mouse and keyboard.  Then, fearful of the horrors of Microsoft VIsta, I booted her up.  Of course it had nine billion updates to download, but really it's been working great ever since.  My mom's crashes ALL the time.  In fact I had a lot of trouble with it yesterday while I was there for thanksgiving.

It's going to take some getting used to, but for several reasons I think I'm going to like Vista.  And I'm writing this for two reasons.  To give Sharky his fair due, and to say that those of you who said photoshop and stuff wouldn't benefit from a 64 bit system were dead wrong.

The computer I bought is a quad core Intel.  Six megs of RAM installed, and I can get up to eight in there.  Vista, as large as it is, boots up in a 1/4 of the time that XP does on my old desktop (to be fair it is messed up).  Photoshop, Photomatrix, and Neatimage are only 32-bit apps but boy do they fly.  Photoshop itself will open in three seconds.  THREE seconds.  1 gig files are easy and fast to work with even though I also had a browser, e-mail client, anti-virus, and whatever else running in the background.  Compared to what I had (Pentium 4) and my laptop (dual core Intel), this thing is a super computer. 

And, finally, I have a question.  The box came with a 300w power supply.  The graphics card I bought isn't exactly state of the art, but its "requirement" was a 300w PSu.  So the question is, worst case...what would happen?  Would it screw up other components?  The graphics card?  Or would the power supply simply die?  Would windows give me some kind of warning? The case has loads of space in general, but the power supply looks like a pain in the ass to change out.

Final questions: I've never worked with dual monitors and I haven't set them up, either.  Is it difficult?  With the wide monitor I got today there's less of a need for it, but it would still be nice when I'm working on my actual job.  Anyway, I don't think I'll get into that until tomorrow...just wondering what kind of time I need to set aside. 

PS -- Sharky isn't going to like this but either I'm going to partition the drive or buy a separate one and dual boot XP pro.  Just in case.

The starters have to pitch some innings.  I've looked at every playoff team for the last  two years and their top three pitchers in terms of workload.

2008 AL:

TAM:: 596

BOS: 565.7

CHW: 633.3

CAL: 613.7

2008 NL:

PHI: 613.7

CHC: 600

MIL: 561

LAD: 595

2008 AVERAGE: 597.3

2007 AL:

BOS: 594.3

NYY: 566.7

CLE: 648.3

CAL: 580.7

2007 NL:

PHI: 544.3

CHC: 618.3

ARI: 633.3

COL: 547

2007 AVERAGE: 591.7

In comparison, your Texas Rangers top three pitchers:

2008: 491

2007: 429

The point is pretty obvious, isn't it?  I don't think one out of those sixteen playoff teams failed to have at least one pitcher throw more than 200 innings.  Many had two.  In any event, their top threes beat the Rangers top threes all to hell.  Millwood, TEX's IP leader for both years would've have made the third pitcher on I believe only one of those teams.

Okay, I know there are probably better places to post this, but the problem is with those places is I don't know who the people there are.  I'm not a computer person.  But I know there are computer people here and that's why I'm comfortable asking questions here.  And I figure there are enough computer people here that maybe this post could entertain a little conversation between them.

Okay, so here's what I need a computer to do.  Business stuff.  Typically I use Open Office but will be going to Seseme at some point.  Web surfing, of course.  The computer will be networked to another desktop and a laptop.  I don't play games, but you know, someday I might.  Probably not, but maybe.  What I do, though, is photography.  I want it to run Photoshop CS3 very quickly.  I want it to run Photomatrix very quickly.  And all that.  I'm also a musician and would like to do my recording on the computer at somepoint.  Not albums, but demo quality/songwriting sketchpad stuff.  And at somepoint I may like to get into video.  I usually do my editing at my friend's place for now, and he has a Mac and all the software. 

I did some business with a guy at Microsoft Los Colinas the other day and he gave me a copy of XP pro.  He said Vista's done and they're going to come out with some other kind of Windows that's faster "soon".  Anyway, I do not want Vista...I'm building this computer and I want the power to go to the apps, not the operating system.  XP has always treated me right, and I have a copy now for free so that's that.

I've picked out the components.  Now I just want to make sure that all of them will work together properly.  I'm also not sure about the video card.  Did I overdo it?  Does that affect the performance of photoshop?  If I could get something less expensive that would suit me that would be fine.  Also, I've never made my own computer before.  Is the power supply enough?  Are there things not listed that I left out?

Here's the stuff I picked out at NewEgg.  The first number is the price, and then it's the component with link.  Okay it will not let me make a link...I highlight a word and it gives me the option to "unlink".  Whatever.  URL, then.

<!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

252.99 Motherboard/Processor Combo -- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=Combo.141498

<!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

59.99 Case (inc. 585w Psu)

 http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16811121004

<!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

54.99 RAM (4 GB)

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16820145184

139.99 HDD (WD 1TB)

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16822136284

27.99 CD/DVD RW

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16827151173

124.99 Graphics

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16814127379

24.99 Sound

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=N82E16829118105

I appreciate any thoughts or advice you can give me.  I've upgraded computers before and am not exactly scared to do this, but I've never made one from the ground up before so it is unfamiliar territory.  Thanks.

Since the last one has more than 600 comments and there's a debate tonight, I thought that it would be a good time to make a new one.

I have to say, the discussion so far has been surprising civil with the exception of whatever the hell is between Ben and Brettgartener.  I'm so proud of LSB I just don't know what to do.

So.  Debate tonight.  "Town Hall" format, which I think is stupid but they didn't ask for my opinion.  Anyway this format is supposed to favor McCain but I'm not sure anything's favoring him at the moment.

Um.  What else?  Oil...what did that end up closing at today?  We may see relatively cheap gas soon with the looming "Great Depression Pt. II" and the winter blends coming on line.  It's already below $3.00 a gallon in both E. Fort Worth and Oklahoma, which are very similar places.

Have a great evening.

You all knew this was coming.  Another politics thread.  I'd really like it to be just an economics thread but am realistic and know that politics plays a role and will be brought up. 

To start off I thought I would ask some questions of the group:

1. $700 billion dollars requested by Treasury to bail out struggling banks.  Good idea or bad? 

2. How bad could this get?  If the bailout package is passed, the dollar will fall.  Oil prices will rise.  There will be inflation.

3. At this point I don't think anyone can make a reasonable argument that our regulatory structure needs changing.  What types of regulations should be sought, and which should be avoided?

4. Lastly, how might the crisis ultimately affect you?

Try to be as civil as possible.

The last political "fan post" has been replied to over a thousand times, so it was only a matter of time before a new one came up anyway.  Don't yell at me for posting this.

If I may suggest avoiding certain topics when possible:

1. Experience as it applies to either Obama or Palin.  Unless someone has something new to say, it seems to me it's been beaten to death.

2. Palin as a grandma-to-be, or at least attacks on that.  I'd think that commenting on news coverage of it is cool, but no "drunken slut" posts.  

3. Unions and their alleged role in the downfall of the Big Three automakers.

4.  Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design.

I'd like to see a discussion that had no one or two word posts.  I'd like like to see a thoughtful discussion focused on real policy instead of wedge issues.

Of course the Republican National Convention is cranking up as I type, so that would be good to talk about.  I'm not particularly fond of the current speech (is this St Paul's mayor?).  He just said they'd paint the Mississippi river "John McCain red" from St. Paul to the Gulf.  I'm not sure that's very good imagery, given McCain's hawkish leanings.

Anyway, so here's a new political discussion if you want.

Okay, so it wasn't that long ago that it seemed like people either wanted the Rangers to trade him at the deadline or bring him back for next year.

With the numbers he's put up, he's due for a payday.  If you were part of the front office would you give it to him?  The guy has missed a lot of time.

Personally, I really dig the guy.  I love his approach at the plate and the attitude he brings to the team.  Not only that, he also seems to enjoy playing here and if what you read in the press is any indication, he's well-liked by his teammates.  But the missed time does bother me.  And while he's the kind of guy who is always going be good when healthy, he's probably not going to duplicate his 2008 numbers even if he could avoid injuries.  It seems to me that this was his career year and he'll likely drop off to some degree next year. 

It would depend on the money/years obviously, and I don't see him giving the Rangers a discount big enough for me to bring him back if I had anything to do with the decision.  When the team needed him the most, he was down with injuries.  Now I don't blame the guy for the Rangers falling out of the Wild Card race...I never thought they had the pitching to pass who was in front of them.  I did however think Bradley would come back and the Rangers would be able to stick around and stay close enough to make it a little more interesting.  That doesn't look like it will happen.

Anyway, what do you guys think?  Will Bradley play for Texas next year or not?  Would you be pissed if not or would you just accept it?  I don't think any Rangers fan would be happy to see him go, but if I'm wrong speak up.

I finally brought myself into the 21st century the other day as I purchased a fancy TV and upgraded my sat package to include high def. 

I have dish network, and no other options.  It's a long story but that's the way it is.  Anyway, it seems that either DN doesn't offer channel 27 in HD or channel 27 themselves don't broadcast in it.

FSN does have an HD channel, but in the guide it doesn't have any programming.  If you tune to it, it just says "check back here often to see if your favorite team is playing in HD" or something like that.

So, are all the Rangers' FSN games going to be broadcast in HD, or just some of them?  If it's only some of them, is there a way to know in advance which ones are and which aren't?  I've been recording the Rangers games and tuning in about an hour or so in, so there's enough time to skip through all the advertising.  I can set a manual timer for the FSNHD channel to continue doing this, but obviously it would be handy to know which games will be on it.

Thank you in advance, my amigos.

As most of us no doubt know, the great Tom Grieve is scheduled to go under the knife tomorrow for prostrate cancer.  Pray, make an animal sacrifice, create a picture out of macaroni, or whatever is you normally do to support one of the best color analysts in the game of baseball.

And as a reminder, FSN has a "In His Own Words" special tonight featuring Grieve.  This man was a player, scouting director, director of player development, general manager, broadcaster, and God knows what else.  Should be some interesting stuff in there, I'd think.